Garnet is known for recognizing prosperity in one’s life. It may resonate with the first chakra and help to bring earth’s loving energy up through a person’s energy centers. This is known as promoting kundalini energy flow. Kundalini is a type of experience within the Hindu tradition. When awakened, Kundalini is described as rising up from the first chakra along the spine to the top of the head. The progress of Kundalini through the different chakras is believed to achieve different levels of awakening and a mystical experience.
Garnet gems have been considered precious for thousands of years and are found in early Egyptian, Greek and Roman jewelry. Red is the garnet’s principal color, but garnets actually come in several hues, including various shades of green, a light to intense yellow, a fiery orange, and some earth-colored hues. At Wild Gemstones in Boise, we have a mix of gems known as the ‘Love Trio.’ The trio are Rose Quartz, Rhodonite, and Garnet. Rose Quartz was chosen to signify the energy of love from people and the universe, Rhodonite for self love, and Garnet for love of the earth.
The deep red garnet that is in the Love Trio is a variety of garnet known as almandine. Connecticut chose amandine garnet as its state gemstone. The green one that is sometimes used in our necklaces is grossular garnet. Vermont has grossular garnet as its state gemstone. New York has the world’s largest garnet mine where many of the garnets found there are used for industrial purposes: to polish metal and glass. New York has designated garnet as their state gemstone.
Idaho’s state gemstone is star garnet. Star garnets are rare and mostly found in Idaho and India. The star effect is caused by inclusions of rutile. In order to see the star, the rutile inclusions must have the correct alignment to reflect light in a star pattern. More precious than either star rubies or star sapphires, the Idaho star garnet is usually dark purple or plum in color, with four rays in the star (occasionally the star has six rays similar to that of a star in star sapphire). The star effect is subtle and requires the correct lighting to be seen clearly.
Garnets have a hardness range of between 6.5 and 7.5 on the Mohs Scale with 10 being the hardest. They are of unique importance to scientists because they have a trait of recording temperature and structural histories. They can record pressures and temperatures of peak metamorphism and are used as geobarometers and geothermometers as well as to date the age of crystallization in geochronometers and thermochronometers to date timing of cooling.
Metaphysically Garnet may help to provide a grounding cord to the earth. In layman’s terms this is “having your feet firmly planted in the ground” and would be the opposite of “having your head in the clouds.” Grounding can help with being present in the moment and being fully aware of your physical body, creating a calmness within.