Find new meaning in your birthstones jewelry with their energy and their sacred stories. For example…

What do pomegranate seeds, Noah’s ark, and snake bites have in common? They’re all part of the myth and mysteries of garnets. Find out more about these amazing stones, which also happen to be the January birthstone.

What’s in a Name? :: Garnets, Pomegranates, and the Myth of Persephone

Garnet comes from the word “granatum” for pomegranate since the gems are similar in shape to pomegranate seeds. But there’s more to the story than that. These January birthstones are closely linked to the story of Hades and Persephone.

For those of you who don’t know the myth, Persephone was abducted by Hades and became his unwilling bride in the underworld. Her mother, Demeter, cried and cried for her return, but to no avail.

Demeter, the goddess of grain, was so filled with mourning that she refused to let anything grow until Persphone’s return. She created winter on earth for the first time.

Zeus became so exasperated with the situation that he begged Hades to let Persephone go. However, when she first arrived in the underworld, Persephone had been warned never to eat the fruit there or she would not be able to return to Earth. In her haste to leave, Hades gave her a pomegranate, which she took a bite out of.

For that one taste of pomegranate fruit, Persephone was destined to return to the underworld for three months every year. During those months, Demeter mourns, and winter comes to the earth.

This myth helped give prominence to garnets as the stones for loved ones and also to heal broken friendship bonds.

Crystals and Colors :: Geology and Gemology for the January Birthstones

Garnets are a complex silicate with a chemical formula of A3B2(SiO4)3. They have isometric crystals, which are symmetrical, cube based crystals. The most common garnet shape is called a rhombic dodecahedron, which is basically a 12-sided crystal, with diamond shape faces. This unique shape is the trademark of these January birthstones.

When we think of garnets, we think of red. That is the traditional color for January birthstone jewelry.

However, garnets actually come in almost every color of the rainbow, except for blue. These different colorations are due to impurities such as iron and magnesium which occur at the time the crystals are formed. Some garnet gem stones even have stars inside due to these added elements.

The most famous garnets are the Tsavorite green garnets. Tiffany’s in NY renamed them after the area in which they were found in the Tsavo National Park, Kenya. They were adopted as a gem by the American National Association of Jewelers in 1912.

Spessartine are another member of the garnet family. These stones are found in Angola but instead of the traditional red color, they are a tantalizing red-orange. You can find them now, worldwide, under the name Mandarin Garnet.

The most valuable garnets are green, then colorless, and finally pure red.

Noah’s Ark, Passage to the Netherworld, and Bullets :: The Colorful History of January Birthstones

The history of the garnet goes back to early biblical times. Noah was said to have used one to light the ark during the forty days of bad weather. The January birth stone was also said to be one of the twelve stones of King Solomon’s armor. This piece of armor was said to protect him in battle and aid him in contacting God.

Garnet gem stones were found buried with the dead of Scandinavia to light passage to the next life and in Egypt for payment and safe passage in the netherworld. Crusaders even wore them as protection.

As late as the late 19th century, garnets were used in the Kurdish wars in India. This time they were not worn for protection. They shot garnets as bullets to repel the British army. The January birthstone was thought to be more lethal than steel.

Garnets as Healing Stones

Garnets have been used as healing stones since Egyptian times. They believed garnets were an antidote to snakebite and food poisoning. In the 13th century, these jewels were used to repel insects, evil spirits, and to hide one from the evil eye.

As chakra healing stones, garnets work on the first and second chakra centers. The first chakra deals with creating a sense of physical grounding and security. The second chakra focuses on awakening, healing, and renewing the sexual center.

Garnets have been used as healing stones for:

• Problems stemming from gallstones
• Frostbite
• Arthritis
• Fever
• Increase antibodies
• Hormone regulation
• Healing depression
• Regulating heart and blood
• Strength
• Energy
• Stimulating sexuality
• Fertility
• Passion
• Self-confidence
• Inflammation (Think of this in the way you would use a heating pad. Because of the stone’s heat, you shouldn’t use garnet when ice is required, or if you have high blood pressure or are stressed out and angry with the world)

The different colors resonate with different energies and are believed to help with different issues.

• Green for mediation and focus;
• Orange for commitment
• Purple for mental stability
• Red for passion, self confidence, creativity, and reflection

Garnets are also used to increase the energy field as well as to build up a strong energy vibration. and present a power shield against muggers and other harmful people.

In Conclusion…

January birthstone, the garnet, has been used by kings and royalty, travelers and healers. Birthstones are some of the most beautiful gems known and have been crafted into necklaces, rings, and bracelets. Whether you were born in January, or just love garnets, I hope this information has enriched your appreciation for this wonderful stone.