Garnet
Facts, history, legendShape of rough garnet crystal looks just like ripe pomegranate seed; this supposed how the stone get its name. The Latin word granatus (“grain”) as meaning for Punica granatum (“pomegranate”). Archaic name for red garnet is carbuncle was given to this stone from the Latin word carbunculus (“little spark”). Most of us know garnet as a deep-red colored gemstone. I bet that not all of us know that garnet group is actually included gems of almost every color; plus it could have such rarity as stones with special effects - color-change garnets and star garnets! Watch out for impressive names like Arizona spinel, Arizona ruby, Cape ruby, Colorado ruby, Montana ruby, New Mexico ruby, Uralian Emerald – all of these stones are gorgeous but they are also all garnets! Together with wide color palette garnet group included stones with different names. They are Pyrope (blood red ), Almandine (from deep-red to violet-red, almost as black), Rhodolite (bright violet-red), Spessartite/Spessartine (rich orange-red ), Spessartite-Mandarin (bright orange; is very rare and valuable), Hydrogrossular Garnet (gooseberry-green), Grossular Garnet – Hessonite/Cinnamon Stone (brown-orange to brown-yellow), Grossular Garnet – Tsavorite (lime-green to emerald green), Grossular Garnet – Malay/Mali (golden-brown to apricot yellow to peach pink and sometimes green), Demantoid (bright green, it is very rare and the most valuable garnet),Color-Change Garnet (extremely rare) – this is a list of the most familiar names of garnet world. Garnet has been known for centuries before birth of Christ. The intense red color of the gem led to the belief that garnet glows with its own light from within. Noah used the lantern made of garnet to safety navigate through darkness of nights. The Quran says that light of the 4th Heaven is giving by its garnet structure. Christians used garnet as the symbol of the Christ’s blood he shaded for people’s salvation. This supposed internal energy was giving a great potency to the stone. It’s long been known as the warrior’s stone. Soldiers from different cultures carried garnet as their lucky charms against death and injury together as for victory, peace and tranquility. Given as a gift, garnet symbolized loyalty and affection. A stolen garnet is believed to bring bad luck to the thief until the stone is returned to the rightful owner. PropertiesAll garnets are said carry the energy of prosperity, hope and enjoyment of worldly pleasures – each type of garnet is bringing these conditions to a different level of experience. All garnets are “make things happen” gemstones, assisting you to manifest dreams and desires into realities. Garnet is a good stone to drive away depression and tiredness, replacing them with feelings of joy, willpower and hope. Red garnet is a great “magnetizer.” It believed to be excellent stone to attract love, new job, creative idea or anything you need in situation where your personal energy is a key factor. Red garnet is not only “magnetizer” but also is a powerful protector against people who would steal your possessions, ideas or credit for work. It is good for inspiration and protection against writer’s block. Green garnet gives great success to the businesspeople. These qualities of the stones are very easy to remember – business makes money, money is green as green garnet! This gemstone is also a healer of bad feeling at work or at home; it has ability to bring feelings and matters into positive way. Symbolic Associations
ZODIAC SIGN: Virgo, Aquarius (all); Capricorn (red); Taurus (green) |