Stone of Courage
Garnet is a favourite crystal of mine, mostly because it comes in so many different colours and this makes it such a versatile stone. Most of the time I use Garnet as protection for travellers or to bring about a change in fortunes for someone, to help them open themselves up to the flow of abundance. For me Garnet is a stone of Protection or a Stone of Prosperity and I was quite surprised when during my first meditation with Garnet this week Archangel Ariel appeared and advised me that we would be discussing the courage Garnet can instil in someone.
The symbol for both Archangel Ariel and Garnet is a Lioness.
Because of how Garnet forms, it is a very stabilising crystal. It will calm the nerves and calm the mind to bring about clear thinking in any stressful situation; it is in these situations when one needs courage the most. With Garnet in your aura you will naturally know what the next step is, but courage is not just about what to do next, it is also about when to speak up and sometimes when to keep quiet, when to accept help and when to do things on your own. Courage is never about being the strongest person, carrying everyone else’s problems, it is about knowing when to give help and when to step away, allowing a person to do something or to work something out for themselves. Garnet can help you with all of this, as Garnet lets you see the truth in each situation through empathetic eyes.
Garnet is the stone that will make even the meekest strong and courageous.
History and folklore:
For many thousands of years now Garnet is seen as a semi- precious stone. It is said that Garnet was the fifth stone in the breast plate of the High Priest Aaron, relating to the Tribe of Dan in Jewish history. It is also said that it was a Garnet that was placed in a lantern to light Noah’s Ark.
In the Middle Ages Garnet was often given to one’s beloved to keep them safe on long journeys and warriors carried a Garnet in the form of an amulet for protection during battles whereas in India it was believed that an arrow head made of garnet would draw more blood. Also during the Middle Ages Garnet was often known as Carbuncle named as such because of the belief that Garnet soothes painful blisters and boils.
Garnet has been used for jewellery ever since the beginning of time, but it was in Victorian times that Garnet was especially popular as a gift of Fidelity to one’s beloved. Then Garnets from Bohemia (current day Czech Republic) were favoured, but Garnets are found almost everywhere.
Characteristics:
Garnet is the collective name for a variety of crystals with the same chemical composition. Garnets can range in colour from brown to a deep near black purple, with blue being the rarest and red the most well-known. Formed when Silicon and Oxygen combine with other elements, Garnet is very hard and durable with a hardness of 7.0 -7.5 and is very high on the reflective index making it ideal for jewellery.
As Garnet comes in such a variety, our focus is mostly on the red variety, Pyrope – red Garnet that only grows into small crystals, Almandine grows in larger crystals and Rhodolite is a mixture of Pyrope and Almandine.
Function:
Making the meek brave
As I am sitting here and wondering about what to write on the many functions of Garnet, Archangel Ariel’s gentle voice whispered the above quote .
Garnet simply makes the meek brave. It encourages us to be bold when needed, to take risks which one would normally avoid, all the while reminding you that whatever one does, it should have a positive outcome not just for you, but also those around you. Garnet encourages us to work alongside our community.
Crystal First Aid:
Gently wet a Garnet and rub vigorously over any non- poisonous insect bites to reduce redness, swelling and itchiness.
When I was first given this bit of information, my immediate thought was how will I know this. Moments later I noticed a little spider crawling on my hand. I had 2 spider bites on my arm. Of course I did not realise the significance, so later that evening I got bitten by a mosquito, once on my arm and twice on my leg. This time I remembered my Garnet, slightly wet it and rubbed it vigorously over each of the bites. Within 5 mins the itching stopped. Just before bed, I looked for the bites, even though I could still feel them the redness had gone and by the morning all the swelling was gone as well.
What to expect:
In the olden days there was a belief that only cut Garnets had the potential to heal and the healing power of an uncut stone stayed latent until such time that the stone was cut.
This however is not my experience; the uncut Garnet has a gentler energy whereas the cut crystal’s energy is much more focussed. An uncut Garnet will gently ease one into bravery, whereas with a cut Garnet one will surprise yourself with your own boldness. It will always give you an empathetic view on what needs to be done or said, but Garnet does go straight to the heart of the issue.
With Garnet you might find yourself more intuitively in tune with others.
Garnet works with the feminine energy in the body and will help to awaken the Kundalini energy (our creative energy). It is a wonderful crystal to do any Kundalini work with.
Kundalini work should always be done under the supervision of a qualified therapist.
Whenever one works with Garnet, you will feel that you have the power of a lion within you.
Garnet does comes with a friendly warning… it definitely increases one’s libido, but at the same time promotes fidelity.
Best Way to Clean Garnet:
Being a fire stone, formed in the depths of earth under immense pressure and heat, Garnet enjoys a gentle smudging.
Dry sage sticks are best for smudging, but any cleansing incense stick will do as well.
For smudging you will require a sage stick and smudging bowl:
Light the sage stick in the smudging bowl and allow for the smoke to take hold, once the smoke is heavy, blow out the flame, so you only have the smoke left… slowly and with intent move the Petrified Wood Crystal through the smoke a few times. When the crystal feels lighter, the crystal is cleansed.
Ensure that you put out the smoke on the sage stick completely by running it under water.
Smudging is especially good for jewellery, and as most Garnet jewellery is antique, it is suggested that when you smudge your jewellery, you clearly and definitively ask for any remnants of energy still lingering for past owners to be removed.
Uncut Garnets, however enjoy a gentle bathing in clear running water. Simply hold your crystal in the water for a few moments while holding the intention for the crystal to be cleansed.
Never clean your polished Garnet with steam as it will dull your crystal.
Charging Garnet:
Whether cut or uncut, Garnets are best charged by placing it in a clear Quartz Star of David layout. For this you require 6 small, clear Quartz points and a clear Quartz wand. Please ensure that all your crystals are properly cleansed.
Star of David Quartz Layout:
Place 3 Quartz points to form a 60 degree triangle so that the Quartz point at top of the triangle points inwards from the West. Now take the other 3 Quartz points and form a 60 degree triangle with the Quartz points, with the point at the top of this triangle point inwards from the East.
Place your Garnet inside the layout and connect the clear Quartz points in each triangle with your wand. The aim is to draw the 2 triangles with your wand.
Leave your Garnet overnight in the Quartz layout.
This layout is best done with the New Moon.
Where to Wear it:
Here Archangel Ariel’s message is very clear:
“Adorn yourself with Garnet!”
Wear it on your ears to clearly hear messages from this wonderful stone.
Wearing Garnet as a pendant close to one’s throat will give you courage to speak against injustice. Over the Higher Heart Chakra it will give you the courage to follow through on your convictions and over the Heart Chakra one will find empathy for those around you and find that you will be in support of the unsupported.
Wear garnet as a ring to fill your aura with the strong energy of this crystal. From here it will strengthen your aura, whilst keeping you grounded. Wear it on your non-dominant hand to draw prosperity to you and on your dominant hand to be more generous.
Crystal Affirmation:
‘With each small positive step my world expands into greatness’
Divine Spirit:
Archangel Ariel’s words of encouragement are:
‘Only the truly brave can break through the confines their minds’
Invocation:
‘Beloved Archangel Ariel, there are times that I am weak, please show me the way to courage and give me the strength of a Lioness!’
Meditation:
The following crystal layout is ideal for doing with a meditation to energise you or to give you an extra boost of courage. You require 6 Garnets and 1 Rose Quartz point or wand for this layout.
Place the 6 cleansed and charged Garnets around your chair or seat in which you normally meditate, sit down in the centre. Hold the Rose Quartz wand in your non-dominant hand and draw a ring around you clock wise, connecting all the Garnets. Hold the Rose Quartz wand in your hands pointing upwards.
Feel the energy of the Garnet fill your body and your aura as you meditate forming a perfect cocoon around you.
When you have completed your meditation, simply step out of the Garnet ring. Collect your crystals and cleanse them before putting them away.
I do hope that you enjoy working with Garnet this week…next week will be Red Jasper,the Stone of Stability