SUMMARY
- Meaning: Ruby, derived from the Latin word “ruber,” meaning red, is a gemstone that embodies passion, power, and love. Its vibrant red color is associated with the heart and blood, symbolizing life force and vitality.
- Healing Properties: Ruby is celebrated for its ability to revitalize energy levels, stimulate circulation, and encourage a zest for life. It is also known to inspire confidence, courage, and a heightened sense of self-worth.
- Protection: Ruby acts as a powerful protector, warding off negative energies, safeguarding the heart, and promoting emotional resilience.
- Usage: Whether worn as jewelry or used in energy work, Ruby enhances motivation, strengthens relationships, and promotes a sense of inner strength.
- Care: To preserve its luster, Ruby should be cleaned with mild soapy water and a soft cloth, avoiding exposure to extreme heat or chemicals. Recharging can be done by placing it in sunlight or near a cluster of Clear Quartz.
What is Ruby?
Ruby is a variety of the mineral corundum, an aluminum oxide, and is known for its vibrant red color, which ranges from pinkish-red to deep crimson. The red color is primarily due to trace amounts of chromium within the crystal structure. With a Mohs hardness of 9, Ruby is one of the hardest gemstones, second only to diamond, making it exceptionally durable. Rubies have been highly prized throughout history, particularly in ancient cultures where they were believed to possess mystical powers. The most valuable Rubies, known as “pigeon’s blood,” have a pure, vivid red color with a hint of blue. Rubies are found in countries like Myanmar, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Madagascar.
Find Your Power
Throughout history, Ruby has been revered as a symbol of passion, protection, and prosperity. In ancient India, Rubies were known as the “king of precious stones” and were believed to grant their wearer good fortune. Warriors would carry Rubies into battle, believing the stone would make them invincible. In medieval Europe, Ruby was believed to bring health, wisdom, and success in love. This gemstone has also been associated with royalty and power, often adorning crowns, rings, and other regalia as a symbol of strength and authority. Rubies are still treasured today for their intense energy and their ability to bring passion and vitality into all areas of life.
Ruby Healing Properties
Ruby’s intense energy is said to awaken passion, ignite the heart, and stimulate life force energy. It is a powerful stone for those seeking to enhance their vitality, courage, and emotional well-being.
Physical Healing Properties
Ruby is believed to be beneficial for the heart and circulatory system, helping to increase blood flow and support the health of the heart and arteries. It is also said to help detoxify the body, stimulate the kidneys, and improve overall energy levels. Some believe that Ruby can alleviate symptoms of exhaustion, lethargy, and low blood pressure. Additionally, Ruby is thought to have a positive effect on the reproductive system, supporting fertility and sexual health. The gemstone’s vibrant energy is also said to help with the healing of infections and fevers, promoting overall physical well-being.
Mental & Emotional Healing Properties
Ruby is known to be a stone of passion and love, inspiring feelings of devotion, commitment, and confidence in relationships. It encourages the wearer to embrace life with enthusiasm and to pursue their passions fearlessly. Ruby’s energy helps to dissolve feelings of doubt, fear, and anxiety, replacing them with a sense of courage and self-assurance. Emotionally, Ruby is believed to strengthen the heart, both physically and spiritually, helping individuals to overcome emotional trauma and develop emotional resilience. It is also thought to promote positive dreams and clear visualization, making it a valuable stone for those seeking to manifest their desires.
Metaphysical Properties
Ruby resonates strongly with the root and heart chakras, providing a powerful connection to the earth and to the source of life itself. By activating the root chakra, Ruby grounds energy and strengthens the physical body, while also stimulating passion and a zest for life. The heart chakra connection allows Ruby to open the heart to love, both for oneself and others, and to foster deep, meaningful connections. Ruby’s energy is also associated with abundance and prosperity, attracting wealth, success, and new opportunities. It is considered a stone of leadership, helping individuals to take charge of their lives and to pursue their goals with determination and confidence.
Zodiac Birthstone
Ruby is the traditional birthstone for July and is especially aligned with the zodiac sign Cancer. Cancerians, known for their deep emotional sensitivity, can benefit from Ruby’s ability to promote emotional strength and resilience. The stone’s fiery energy can help Cancers to overcome fears and insecurities, empowering them to embrace their passions and pursue their dreams. Ruby is also a beneficial stone for those born under the signs of Leo and Aries, as it enhances their natural leadership qualities and ignites their inner fire. For these signs, Ruby serves as a powerful talisman for courage, vitality, and self-expression.
How to Use Ruby
Ruby’s dynamic energy can be harnessed in various ways, whether through wearing it as jewelry, using it in meditation, or placing it in your environment to enhance your energy and passion.
Home & Office
Placing Ruby in your home or office can create an atmosphere of energy, passion, and motivation. In Feng Shui, Ruby is believed to attract wealth and prosperity, making it an ideal stone for business spaces or areas where financial success is desired. Its vibrant energy can also help to increase productivity and focus, making it perfect for workspaces. In the home, Ruby can be placed in the bedroom to enhance love, passion, and intimacy, or in the living room to bring a sense of warmth and vitality to the space. Ruby’s protective qualities also make it a good stone to place near entrances or in areas where you want to ward off negative energy.
Jewelry
Wearing Ruby as jewelry allows you to carry its powerful energy with you throughout the day, enhancing your confidence, passion, and sense of purpose. Ruby rings, necklaces, and bracelets are popular choices, as they allow the stone to be in close contact with the skin, amplifying its energetic effects. Ruby is also considered a stone of love, making it a popular choice for engagement rings and romantic gifts. When paired with diamonds, Ruby’s protective qualities are enhanced, while combining it with other stones like Garnet or Carnelian can further boost its energy and vitality. Ruby jewelry not only enhances your personal energy but also serves as a striking and elegant accessory.
How to Cleanse Your Gemstone
To keep Ruby at its highest vibrational state, it is important to cleanse and recharge it regularly. Ruby can be cleansed with mild soapy water and a soft cloth, but it is important to avoid harsh chemicals and extreme temperatures, which can damage the stone. To recharge Ruby, place it in sunlight or near a cluster of Clear Quartz crystals. This will help to restore its energy and keep it working at its full potential. Some people also like to cleanse Ruby by burying it in the earth for a short period, allowing it to absorb natural energies from the ground.
Geological Properties
Chemical Classification | Oxide mineral |
---|---|
Chemical Formula | Al2O3 (Aluminum Oxide) |
Crystal System | Trigonal |
Color | Red, ranging from pinkish-red to deep crimson |
Streak | White |
Luster | Vitreous to subadamantine |
Transparency | Transparent to translucent |
Occurrence | Found in metamorphic rocks, igneous rocks, and alluvial deposits |
Formation | Forms under high pressure and temperature conditions in the Earth’s mantle |
Cleavage | None, but has basal parting |
Mohs Hardness | 9 |
Specific Gravity | 3.97-4.05 |
Diagnostic Properties | Hardness, color, fluorescence |
Optical Properties | Uniaxial (-) |
Refractive Index | nω = 1.768-1.772, nε = 1.760-1.763 |
Birefringence | δ = 0.008-0.009 |
2V Angle | Small (up to 6°) |
Dispersion | Low |
Other Characteristics | Often exhibits fluorescence, may show pleochroism; some Rubies also exhibit asterism (star-shaped pattern) under certain lighting conditions |
Final Thoughts on Ruby
Ruby is a gemstone of passion, protection, and power, revered throughout history for its vibrant energy and life-affirming qualities. Whether worn as jewelry, used in meditation, or placed in your home, Ruby’s fiery energy will ignite your inner strength, inspire confidence, and bring a sense of vitality and purpose to your life.
How do you use Ruby in your daily life? Have you experienced its powerful energy? Share your thoughts in the comments.