Madame Z's Corner: Garnet

Madame Z provides monthly posts featuring a different healing stone each month. She gathers her info from many different sources including the books: The Pocket Book of Stones; The Way of the Green Witch; Healing Crystals and Gemstones; The Essential Guide to Crystals, Minerals, and Stones; and Grimoire for a Green Witch; the websites: That Crystal Site; Wings of Spirit; and Healing Crystals for You; as well as relying on personal experience. Healing stones are not a substitute for medical treatment. Anyone with serious medical or emotional issues should consult with a health care professional. When purchasing a healing stone, it is best to buy the stone you are drawn to. Healing stones should be cleansed and charged periodically. We cleanse our personal stones at least once a month, and sometimes more often if we feel they need it. Cleansing can be accomplished by holding the stone in a stream of water. A natural stream is best, but since most of us do not have access to one, filtered water is a good substitute. Some stones should not be placed in water. These stones can be placed in dirt or smudged with white sage. To recharge the stones, place in a sunny window or in moonlight for a few hours.

Our spotlight stone for January is Garnet. Garnet is the most well known birthstone for January, although there are a few others such as serpent stone and red zircon. When most of us think of garnet we picture a red stone, like the stones in the earrings above. However, it also can be found in other colors; green, orange, and black, for some examples. The majority of this post will focus on the properties of the red variety.

In Hinduism and Buddhism garnet is thought to bring wisdom and enlightenment. It is also believed to arouse Kundalini energy. Garnet is considered a stone of motivation, helping to dispel procrastination. It is thought to have a stimulating effect on the libido and to bring passion, vitality, and love to life. This amazing stone is believed to release negative energy in passionate people, but should be avoided when agitated or angry. Garnet is thought to ease emotional healing of guilt and shame, and to provide psychic protection.

Magickally, garnet is believed to balance energies and is associated with courage, rebirth/renewal, and creativity.

Physically, garnet is thought to bring warmth to the wearer, to strengthen the heart, and to aid in circulation. It is considered beneficial for the lungs and in the treatment of anemia, too.

The red variety of garnet is associated with the root chakra.


Black garnet is considered a grounding stone. It is believed to attune one to the elemental forces and is associated with the root and Earthstar chakras.

The green variety of garnet is associated with the heart and solar plexus chakras. It is thought to bring a feeling of inner peace and contentment.

Garnet should be cleansed with warm, filtered water, and charged with sunlight.

We experience red garnet as a very invigorating stone. It brings a feeling of happiness and vitality. Those extremely sensitive to energies may find garnet too stimulating to wear for long periods of time. While most will have no problem with garnet or any other stone, our human staff member, who is very sensitive to energies, has reported sleep disturbances from prolonged exposure to red garnet's energy.

We have no personal experience with the other varieties of garnet.