January Birthstones & Their Hidden Meanings

January Birthstones & Their Hidden Meanings

Here at Psychic Sofa, we have always been fascinated with the spiritual power that birthstones possess, and the healing properties they allow. More than just pretty stones set in statement jewellery, we believe that there is a mystical and spiritual bond between the wearer born in that month, and their birthstone. These special gemstones can offer peace, help in times of trouble, and provide both physical and mental stimulation that ultimately helps individuals accomplish their dreams. But more than this, and perhaps most importantly, their energy and aura provides people with the confidence they need to pursue their passions, overcome their adversities and take on the world. Pretty powerful when you think about it. Because we feel more people should know about these wonderful stones, we’ve decided to create a blog series that details each month’s birthstones, providing information on their meaning, spiritual power, and how to harness this effectively. We’ll answer questions such as, ‘What birthstone is January?’ and ‘What colour is January’s birthstone?’ among others. What’s more, we’re also running a monthly competition where you can win 1 of 10 garnet necklaces or birthstones related to that month - we really do want you to see their power for yourself - and they sure make great birthday gifts! From spinel, peridot and quartz through to sapphire, tsavorite garnet and pink tourmaline, our list of birthstones is endless. So, without further ado, let’s start with January’s birthstones - garnet, onyx, jasper and amethyst.

Garnet Birthstone Meaning, Popular Colours & Spiritual Power

Garnets have long been believed to hold mystical powers that provide the birthstone wearer with health, safety while travelling, and good friendship. Removing bad vibes, negative attachments and karma associated with past lives or people from your past, garnets are also said to aid anxiety, providing confidence to stride forward with the best of intentions. Just as a garnet resembles a pomegranate seed, this January birthstone is also said to strengthen the root chakra, and just like seeds, helps to start new beginnings and offer opportunities for growth. Spiritual growth is a key part of this precious gemstone’s power, and has been for thousands of years.

More than this, the January birthstone is adorned as a symbol of power. It is believed to bring strength and good fortune to those who wear it. Apart from physical strength, garnets also play an important role in boosting mental strength, extending to the realm of psychic healing. Believed to induce self-confidence, passion, devotion, loyalty, friendship, trust, and positive energy, garnet jewellery allows the wearer to have a clearer perception of themselves and the people around them - providing clarity during difficult times.

This birthstone’s most noted colour is ruby red, although this natural beauty is also available in a variety of colours, including lime green, orange, rose, deep violet and cinnamon brown. Red garnets are seen as birthstones of inspiration, strengthening and vivifying human nature. Pyrope garnet is the most well-known species, and means, ‘‘like fire’’ when translated from Greek. A very beautiful variety of this garnet is rhodolite that occurs naturally in a pink color. Almandine is a ubiquitous variety of Pyrope garnet also known as ‘Carbuncle’. Other types of garnets include: Andradite (red, green or black), topazolite (yellow or translucent), grossular (green) and melanite (black).

The garnet gemstone can also undergo colour change - much like a mood ring. The colour change effect causes the garnet gemstone to respond based on the temperature or type of light in which the gemstone is being viewed. For instance, the blue pyrope-spessartine colour changes from blue-green to purple. It’s always a beautiful sight to see. 

The History & Healing properties of January garnet - Health, Love & Well-Being

The gemstone was referred to as the gem of faith by the ancient Egyptians - seen as a symbol of life. It was believed to bring good fortune to those who perform good deeds while wearing the stone, and bad fortune to those who do bad deeds. The Romans also held the gemstone in high regard, adorning them as signet rings in the 3rd and 4th centuries and were favoured by the nobility in the middle ages. The gem was also used as a talisman to ward off plague and pestilence, and to protect warriors as they went into battle, as well as being praised for their healing properties by wise men and ancient healers who placed them in wounds to help patients recover faster.

Garnets became especially popular in the Victorian era. Royals adorned themselves with clusters of red garnet gemstones, forming large statement pieces. Today, garnets can be found in a wide variety of styles and jewellery, ranging from rings to tiaras.

Garnet plays a key part in health restoration, protecting wearers from ailments, boosting creativity, and rejuvenating an individual’s love life. 

In ancient times, the most abundant variant of the garnet was the red garnet. For this reason, they were linked to blood and the heart. Garnets were believed to help with the flow of blood in the cardiovascular system, help cure various inflammatory diseases, and assist in the treatment and prevention of hemorrhages. It was also believed that garnets encouraged the production of hemoglobin. This January birthstone could also boost DNA production and re-energize your blood, prevent cellular complications, and stimulate overall body metabolism.

The January garnet has healing properties for both men and women. Men, for instance, may wear January garnets to cure lung ailments and heart palpitations, among other conditions related to the circulatory system. Women, on the other hand, may wear garnet gemstones to reduce swelling and to foster hormonal balance.

When it comes to mental healing, garnets help to reduce negative behavioral patterns, enabling the wearer to let go of destructive and negative thought patterns and ideas. There’s certainly a lot this lovely birthstone can do.

Onyx Birthstone - Meaning, Colour & Spiritual Power

Along with garnet, onyx is another January birthstone. Throughout history, onyx has been thought to bring powers of protection, defensive magic, and aid in the reduction of sexual desires. Connected to the spiritual plains, it’s thought to reinforce the knowledge that there is no death, aiding in the understanding of the wheel of birth, death and rebirth. It brings about the knowledge that separation is an illusion and reunion will come. It aids psychic contact with those who have died, facilitates séances and mediumship, brings messages from the dead, and aids past-life and between-lives regression work. It helps future life progressions, and prevents and removes spirit possessions. It’s certainly a powerful tool, and it does so much more.

Onyx also brings the wearer, or psychic, increased strength, stamina, and self control. Reducing anxiety, worry, tension and nervousness, it can also provide clarity in times of stress, and reduce the frequency of nightmares. This January birthstone does this by offering insight into what is beyond the conscious, and activating the roots and reality of your memory. For physical ailments, onyx is used in the treatment of bone marrow diseases, dental, foot, blood and bone issues, as well as soft tissue disorders. It is also believed to aid in ailments such as epilepsy or glaucoma and is known to have powers to rectify damage done to skin cells.

Featuring deep black with white and grey bands of colour, onyx symbolises the three different phases of our ever-spinning planet. Black represents the cool and still night skies, grey is the sky at dawn and dusk, and white is the colour of the everyday. Together, these colours represent the interconnectedness of black and white - the yin-yang of the universe - which helps to restore balance to the root chakra. The healing properties of onyx are to soothe the stress of everyday life - because it works to bring harmony to the work-life balance with its grounding effects that make you feel safe, and anchors you to the earth.

For the best experience, tune into onyx’s power during the night - a restorative time when the world is quiet and calm, and focus to free yourself of everyday fears. These are the moments when real change and spiritual transformation is possible, which makes the crystal an essential part of your stone collection for spiritual awakenings.

Other January Birthstones - Jasper & Amethyst

Alternative gems include jasper and amethyst, and they offer great power too:

Jasper - A January special apostle birth gem, the jasper stone signifies, ‘’the divine truth of the Word in its literal sense, translucent from the divine truth in its spiritual sense.” – as stated by Scandinavian scientist and philosopher Swedenborg. A variety of quartz that comes in green, red, orange, black, yellow and blue - you can also find colour combinations of this precious stone. 

• Jasper allows us to face and deal with irrational fears and allows us to find inner peace, happiness, and a sense of oneness.

• Jasper encourages gratitude, which is extremely beneficial to our mental health, and how others perceive us.

• Jasper is a balancing stone and can help you to put down any burdens you may be shouldering that are not yours to carry. It helps clear the mind and is a powerful protector against negative feelings, moods, and vibrations.

Amethyst - The Aquarius zodiac birth gem, this January birthstone is associated with the highest, purest form of aspirations in life. Chastity, sobriety, and control over one’s thoughts are all attributes heightened by wearing the stone. The gem can guard against the anger of passion, and the violent or base nature of its wearer. The stone encourages calm, bravery, and contemplation. Amethysts are typically shades of purple, lilac or mauve.

• If placed beneath a pillow or worn to bed, it can reduce insomnia and nightmares.

• It promotes internal balance and harmony and brings stability.

• It also lends courage and is a powerful amulet for travelers.

How To Harness The Power Of Your Birthstone

When it comes to harnessing the full power of your birthstone, there are three main methods: Charging, grounding and adornment.

When it comes to charging, a popular choice is by sunlight. Leaving it in direct sunlight for up to 12 hours will help your birthstone to absorb the power and light of the sun’s rays. If you want balanced energy, you can place the birthstone in moonlight, specifically during a new moon, full moon or a lunar eclipse.

Another way to charge a crystal or birthstone is through the power of your intention. Place your cleansed stone in your left hand with your palm flat. Then place your right palm over the top of it, hovering a few inches above. Try to find peace and relax, with meditation strongly advised. Getting into a meditative state will allow you to feel more deeply, connect to your heart space and higher self - this being your higher mind, and access to your subconscious.

Once you feel centered and connected to both your internal world (you can feel your heart beating, oxygen circulating through your body and your blood pumping), and whilst you’re aware of the healing powers and metaphysical properties of your birthstone, set some intentions. These intentions can be for anything you desire, such as healing, growth, transformation, wisdom, grounding, inspiration, creativity and protection - for example. Ultimately, you charge your stone with specific intent.

Birthstone Grounding, Adornment & Divination

If you wish to connect to the grounding quality of the January birthstone and be mindful that this applies to the root or base chakra, you can bury it in some compost. Make sure the earth is fresh and it feels “clean.” Imagine that the earth, soil, or compost you choose is encompassing your gemstone in loving and healing embrace, purifying it of any and all impurities and negativity. You can leave it there for up to 12 hours. Grounding should be done as the final stage, after cleansing and charging.

Wearing birthstone jewellery, or carrying your birthstone with you can also aid spiritual healing, as can displaying it in your house or on an altar. Traditional birthstones tend to work best, as artificially-created, or lab-created stones won’t have the same properties, or benefits. While it is recommended that you wear your own birthstone, you can also wear other traditional stones in the corresponding month if you want to experience amplified energy - or the energy of a loved one who was born in said month. It's no wonder birthstone gifts are so popular, regardless of birth month.

If you wear your birthstone continuously, it could lead to feelings of too much energy, or being overwhelmed. We recommend that you take a break from wearing your birthstone necklace, bracelet or brooch if this occurs. Modern birthstones have excellent durability, so do not worry about placing them somewhere safe for a while.

How To Care For Your Birthstone - Cleansing Rituals

When it comes to cleaning, and cleansing your birthstone, it’s very important that you do this carefully, so as not to damage it, or hinder the spiritual power of harder gems. 

To cleanse your birthstone, rinse it under cold running water. There is no set rule, though some psychic readers suggest somewhere between 5-15 minutes. You can also leave your gemstone in a bowl of cold water for a few hours, although it’s advised that you do still rinse it first. 

Cleansing birthstones with water is great for clearing them of all negative energy and psychic impurities. Stones and crystals of any kind pick up on our thoughts, feelings, emotions and overall energy - absorbing frequencies at the unconscious, and spiritual level. This signifies that they need to be cleansed (and charged) before you can best make use of their healing effects, the next time around. You should also cleanse your gemstone after you’ve been wearing it, say as a pendant or protection stone, for a long period of time. After meditation it should be cleansed and recharged too.

From promoting inner harmony, and helping wearers find clarity, through to playing a key part in boosting creativity and one’s love life, January’s birthstones sure offer a lot of benefits. We encourage you to take part in our competition for a chance to win a birthstone necklace or loose stone for yourself or loved one, and to use this blog as a guide to harness their true power. For any further questions, or for spiritual guidance, why not have a telephone psychic reading with one of our trusted psychics today? You can reach them on 09057897752 (calls cost 80p per minute plus your network access charge) or on 01618640152, and they’re always available to help.