Which gemstone is associated with your birth month? What powers does it have? How can you best harness its energy? Tatler’s experts Valeri Ho and Nicole Chung help demystify birthstones and their properties
Welcome to the month of garnets. Derived from the Latin word granatum—meaning “pomegranate”—this gemstone has been revered throughout history. From occupying pride of place in the necklaces of Egyptian pharaohs to featuring boldly on Roman nobles’ signet rings, garnets have been highly valued since its discovery in the Bronze Age. Ancient Romans and Greeks were known to bestow gifts featuring garnets to travellers as a sign of protection, and to soldiers going into battle to shield them from harm.
In Chinese culture, garnets are believed to house a tiger’s soul after its death and is meant to evoke courage in the wearer while also offering them protection. Meanwhile, there are also those who struggle with low energy and wear this gem to draw upon its unique properties to increase their life source. To understand the powers of the garnet in greater detail, we spoke to crystal and gemstone experts Valerie Ho of Omsa, an online mystic shop that works with individuals to cultivate self-care, and Nicole Chung of Moon Child and Stones, a social club that demystifies crystal healing with straightforward explanations about their hidden powers, who gave us greater insight into the powers of this multifaceted beauty.
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Energy influence
Garnets are carriers of passion as well as serenity. They revitalise, cleanse and balance one’s energy, and are believed to help strengthen one’s confidence, inspire love and devotion, mend broken love bonds and open one’s heart. Additionally, garnets are said to be a tool for boosting creativity because the stone encourages the mind to think out of the box, giving its wearer an increased sense of self-assurance in their artistic endeavours.
