G is for Garnet

Garnets are a particular favourite of mine. The more common Almandine Garnet which is blood red is a lovely stone, but I have a slight preference for the magnificent Rhodolite Garnet which lighter in colour.

Garnet is a collective name for a wide group of minerals. Most, but not all Garnets are coloured red. Grossular Garnets come in many colours and Uvarovite is always a bright green. I have included a brief description of some of the different types and colours of Garnet.

Almandine – this is the most common type of Garnet, is deep red to reddish brown in colour, and is the one usually found in jewellery. It is an iron-aluminium.

Pyrope – this is always red to deep red-black and is a magnesium–iron.

Grossular – this has the widest range of colours, including clear, orange, green, red, yellow, black and even grey.

– Hessonite is a brown-orange variety of Grossular Garnet.

– Raspberry is a magenta-pink variety of Grossular Garnet

Andradite – is sub-divided further into more varieties according to colour. It is calcium-iron.

– Melanite which is black.

– Topazolite which is yellow.

– Demantoid which is bright green.

Spessartine – this manganese rich specimen is found in orange, brown or pink.

Uvarovite – this is always green.

The particular colour of any Garnet will govern the exact effect, but it will always focus and activate. Almandine Garnet, the most common, is linked to the Root and Sacral chakras. It provides good health, stability, trust, friendship, personal power and passion.

It promotes balance and devotion and can assist the development of a deep enduring bond between partners. Red Garnet is the best energizing stone for the body as it will speed up all processes and increase the effect of any nearby stones. Garnet is useful for getting things going. Red Garnet will repel negativity, giving courage and confidence and building a protective shield around you. It will help you release anger and dispel depression. Red Garnet will bring success to your business and protect both your business and your home from anyone who would steal your possessions, ideas or credit for your work. It can keep children safe when swimming or near water. It is also useful for a pet that is unhappy or lonely. Garnet will remove negativity and promote romantic love, passion, sensuality and intimacy. It enhances career success, self-confidence and protection from evil. It stimulates the Root and Crown chakras to enable the Kundalini to flow. It also aligns the subtle bodies. Garnet is protective, grounding, balancing and calming. It will enhance strength and endurance. It aligns and energizes the lower chakras helping the body to regenerate. It attracts sincerity, purity and logic on the mental level and is very useful for writer’s block or a lack of inspiration. It can bring positive thoughts and boost energy so is excellent for imagination and manifestation. Garnet will keep you rooted in times of change or upheaval, providing balance and calm when things appear chaotic. It is a stone of commitment. Garnet is beneficial for the spine, bones, heart, lungs, blood pressure, cellular regeneration, reproductive system and sexuality. It can relieve rheumatic joints, lower back pain and the pain of gallstones. It will stimulate the growth of healthy antibodies against viruses, infections and winter ills. Garnet improves blood circulation and warms cold fingers and toes. Grossular Garnet is used for acid reflux.

: GROSSULAR GARNETS

Hessonite Garnets – the orange-red variety of Grossular are stones of creativity. This does not always mean in arts and crafts, but can relate to finding new ways of thinking and behaving. This in turn allows us to abandon old and outmoded patterns which may have been holding us back. Hessonite Garnets will refresh, renew and restore vigour. It is associated with home and family. It works best with the Sacral and Solar Plexus chakras.

Raspberry Garnets – this is an unusual deep magenta pink variety of Grossular, similar to the colour of Ruby, which has the ability to promote passion, love and emotional harmony. It has a very uplifting energy and resonates with the Sacral and Heart chakras.

Uvarovite Garnets promote charity and compassion. When good fortune or abundance seems to have abandoned us, this stone can help us to find peace within the process of change. It may also manifest abundance. Uvarovite can provide mental clarity and assist in finding a true soul mate. Often we may feel we have found this person, but our desires cloud our judgement and this stone will help us to cut through the illusion to reveal the truth. Uvarovite enhances fertility and promotes cooperation and collective endeavours.

Rhodolite Garnet is the name given to a mixture of Almandine and Pyrope.

Rhodolite Garnet tends to be lighter in colour than many other red Garnets and can be confused with Ruby. Its attractive red-violet colour comes alive when viewed in daylight. Garnet is used for protection and talismans against evil. It is aligned to the planets Mars, Mercury and Pluto. It will help you cope with crises and extreme situations. It can promote self-confidence and strength of character. Garnet enhances strength and vigour, healing and protection and a successful business. It may be beneficial for arthritis, pancreas, varicose veins, metabolism and the immune system.