January Birthstone

Garnet

While the gemstone garnet can be found in a surprising amount of shades, red is the color most often associated with the January birthstone. Garnet gets its name from the Latin word "granatum," meaning "pomegranate," since its deep, glossy color resembles the fruit's seeds. According to metaphysical properties, garnet is a gemstone with strong energy used to enhance creativity, love and faith while dispelling melancholy feelings.

January - Garnet - Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19)

For all those practical and prudent Capricorns, garnet is your stone. A clear, dark red gem, the protective garnet is used most often to ward off toxins and is known as the stone of commitment as it attracts love and promotes lasting relationships. Your natural ambition and discipline is enhanced by garnet's ability to stimulate creative imagination to the point of action, assist in dream work and increase determination, energy and courage. Specifically, hessonite garnet helps us to say goodbye to worn out ideas, views and behavior to make way for fresh thoughts.

Fight your well-known pessimism as garnet clears the path for new beginnings and helps dispel negative feelings that keep you trapped by fear or guilt. Whether you need courage to voice a new idea or to tell that secret crush how you really feel, be sure to arm yourself with garnet for a boost of confidence!

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Garnet Gemstone Properties

The deep, glossy red color of garnet resembles the juicy seeds of a pomegranate, which is perhaps why its name is derived from the Latin word for pomegranate seeds, granatum. In Greek mythology, a pomegranate was often given as a gift of passion and associated with eternal love. In ancient history, travelers wore garnet gemstones because they were believed to light up the night and provide protection from nightmares and accidents.

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