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Garnet
Garnet is deep rosy-red, pink or purple -- a group of different colored minerals with similar compositions, silicate of magnesium, iron, and aluminum, derived form the Latin word “granatum” meaning pomegranate, because of the crystal’s red color and seed-like shape. There is also Rutile garnet, Star garnet, grossular garnet (color range of almost all colors)
- During the Middle Ages was regarded as the gem of faith, truth, and constancy. Findings of garnet beads and inlaid work indicate widespread use of this gem in Egypt as far back as 3100 B.C. Today the chief use of garnet is still gemstones and jewelry making. On the Moh's scale garnets are between 7.0 and 7.5.
- “Stone of commitment” provides energy--Keeps energies flowing and will increase creative energies. Brings circulation to normal, clotting of the blood, purifies.
- “Stone of health” enhances internal fires, personal freedom, patience, personal magnetism, all chakras, integration.
- Balance awareness and well being, prevents fears and insecurity, draws or negativity. Good for use at second chakra.
- Most commonly burgundy red, Garnet comes in various shades of transparent to translucent red, pink, orange-red, orange, purple and green. Garnets get their name from the Latin "granatum", meaning "seed of the pomegranate", which the burgundy red varieties resemble.
- Grossular strengthens stability in lawsuits and challenges. Transforsms lower forms of response and reaction to loving forms of reply. Cooperative effort, fertility, vibrates to #2 and #6.
Mystical Properties:
- To receive a Garnet as a gift is considered good luck, however, if ever stolen, bad luck to the thief. In the Middle Ages it was used to ward off harm and increase chivalry, loyalty and honesty.
- Western Astrology assigns garnet to Aquarians and sometimes Capricorns, while in Hindu Astrology, "Hessonite" (an orange variety), is a very important gemstone, governing Rahu, or the Moon's North Node. Jewelers assign it to the January Birthstone. The red varieties are said to increase passion in all areas of life.
- Said to aid those interested in astral projection.
- Also the mineral of Connecticut and the gemstone for New York.
Healing Properties: Garnets come in many colors and different varieties are associated with different healing abilities. The blood-red varieties are often associated with blood diseases. Garnets are thought to help heal oneself/friends but bring harm onto enemies. The browner varieties are used by healers to draw out stress. The Demantoid variety has been used to alleviate chronic pain. The pink Grossular varieties sooth a stressed nervous system and are used by healers for stress-related diseases, such as anorexia, mistrust, and people needing comfort.
Scientific Properties: Composed of Magnesium Aluminum Silicate with Manganese, Chromium and/or Iron Silicate. Garnets usually form good crystals and this is one of the field identifiers for it--the cubic hexoctahedral or dodecahedral crystals.
Garnets are rather plentiful in very small sizes, however, the larger the garnet, the more rare.
Garnet is really a family of stones: Pyrope (generally the blood red variety), Almandine (Orangey-red to Brown), Andradite (Brown, Black and sometimes Yellowish-green to Yellowish orange), Grossular (Clear, Orange, Pink, Yellow, Green, Brown), Spessartine (Yellowish Orange), and Uvarovites (Deep Emerald Green), Tsavorites (Green to Yellowish Green), Rhodolite (Purplish red to red), Hessonite (Yellow orange to red).
Important localities include Europe, Arizona, New Mexico, South Africa and Australia. Hardness: 6.0 - 7.5 on the Moh's Hardness Scale.
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