Garnet - Harmonizing Relationships

Garnet

Garnets species are found in many colors including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, black, pink and colorless. Because the chemical composition of garnet varies, the atomic bonds in some species are stronger than in others. As a result, this mineral group shows a range of hardness on the Mohs Scale of about 6.5 to 7.5. The harder species, like almandine, are often used for abrasive purposes.

Six common species of garnet are recognized based on their chemical composition. They are pyrope, almandine, spessartine, grossular (varieties of which are hessonite or cinnamon-stone and tsavorite), uvarovite and andradite. They crystallize in the cubic system, having three axes that are all of equal length and perpendicular to each other. Garnets do not show cleavage, so when they fracture under stress, sharp irregular pieces are formed. It is the birthstone for January. It is the state mineral of Connecticut. It is also New York's gemstone.

As a stone intuitive, I feel that gemstones vibrate and the vibrations can help us on our life path. Metaphysically garnet is said to bring prosperity and harmony to family relationships. Garnet is the stone of passionate devotion. To your family, your friends, yourself, and your purpose or goals. This stone enhances charisma, bringing out the wearer's best qualities.

What a wonderful stone energy for families! It can be particularly helpful in challenging times for families. For instance, blending a family. I just discovered this blog: shwanda.com about Carol Shwanda & her blended family of herself, her husband and their five kids, two boys and three girls!

August Birthstones - Peridot, Sardonyx, & Carnelian

The modern birthstone for August is Peridot. Peridot is gem-quality forsteritic olivine. Olivine is very abundant mineral, but gem quality peridot is rather rare. Peridot is one of the few gemstones that occur in only one color: basically an olive green. The intensity and tint of the green however depends on how much iron is contained in the crystal structure, so the color of individual peridot gems can vary from yellow-green through olive green to brownish green. The most valuable is considered a dark-olive green color. Peridot leads you to discover your higher self through perseverance and determination!


The traditional birthstones for August are Sardonyx & Carnelian.

Sard is a brownish mineral, and when it forms together with the straight white bands of onyx, the resulting stone is called Sardonyx. Sardonyx is a banded variety of chalcedony which is cryptocrystalline quartz. Sardonyx can be black with white bands or orange-red with white bands. It is said to increase courage and eloquence.

Carnelian Agate is also a variety of the silica mineral chalcedony colored by impurities of iron oxide. The color can vary greatly, ranging from pale orange to an intense almost-black coloration. The word carnelian is derived from the Latin word caro, carnis meaning flesh, in reference to the flesh color sometimes exhibited. Carnelian is said to assist in stimulating creativity. It seems to have a clearing effect, dispelling negative energies as it replaces them with positive ones.

Ruby - July Birthstone

Ruby - July Birthstone

A ruby is a pink to blood-red gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum (aluminium oxide). The red color is caused mainly by the presence of the element chromium. Its name comes from ruber, Latin for red. Other varieties of gem-quality corundum are called sapphires. The ruby is considered one of the four precious stones, together with the sapphire, the emerald, and the diamond. -Wikipedia

July is one of the few months in which the Traditional Modern Mystical & Ayurvedic birthstones are all the same: Ruby! One of the rarest gemstones known, Ruby has long be thought to represent contentment & fidelity. And according to stone intuitives Rubies are said to energize and stimulate the wearer!