Sunday, January 1, 2012

January Birthstone: Garnet

Garnet is the modern January birthstone.  The stone occurs in every colour of the spectrum, except blue. Any of these colours is permissible to wear as the January birthstone. 

The word garnet is derived from the Greek word 'granatum' that means 'pomegranate seed' which reflects the shape and color of the crystals.  Garnet can be found in the U.S. (Arizona), South Africa, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Myanmar (Burma), Scotland, Switzerland and Tanzania.

Raw Garnet Stones

Healing, strength, and protection are among garnets' powers and it is often worn to relieve inflammations of the skin. It is also believed to regulate the heart & blood flow and aid in curing depression.  The traditional metaphysical properties for garnet are awareness, commitment, regeneration, insight and removing negativity.

In earlier times, garnets were exchanged as gifts between friends to demonstrate their affection for each other and to insure that they meet again.  During the Middle Ages, it was believed that the red stones would stop bleeding. Many early cultures believed that garnets were helpful in preventing and curing blood disorders and infections too.

No comments:

Post a Comment