A Guide to Carnelian’s Mystical, Energetic, and Purifying Properties

Placed inside mummified bodies, carnelian was believed to protect and guide souls into the afterlife. Its origin comes from the Latin “carnis,” meaning “flesh,” due to its reddish hues.

Etymology

This beautiful semiprecious stone is famous for its intense red color, ranging from fiery red to light pink, which reflects a variety of shades in the light, making it a highly appreciated semiprecious stone. 

Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179) refers to the red stone as “cornelius” in her work “Physica” and the same does Albert Magnus (1200-1280), years later, in some of his writings. 

The Oxford English Dictionary by James Murray (1837-1915) mentions the ancient name “corneline,” which explains the current English word, “carnelian.”

In Ancient Egypt, it was the stone of choice for crafting heart amulets, as it was considered a symbol of the soul of the goddess Isis. 

Jewelry made with this precious stone was found in almost all the tombs of the pharaohs, likely serving as protection and support in the afterlife. 

Muslims today still refer to carnelian as the “stone from Mecca,” wearing it as a talisman that brings happiness and fulfillment of wishes.

Historians debate the main stone on Aaron’s breastplate, Moses’s brother, with many believing it to be a ruby. Nevertheless, some suggest that it was actually a carnelian, as the stone was prevalent in Ancient Egypt and considered to have significant spiritual importance.

Carnelian's Healing Properties

Carnelian is a gemstone valued for centuries due to its various healing properties. 

In antiquity, shamans used to place it over the affected body area, believing that the stone would absorb the spirit of the disease and help with the healing process. 

During the Middle Ages, the stone was known as the “Blood Stone,” because the water used to wash the stone during the polishing process was colored red, as if the mineral had bled. 

This beautiful gemstone continues to be popular today, especially for those seeking inner peace and emotional balance.

Historically, carnelian was also worn as mourning jewelry during the 18th and 19th centuries. 

According to popular medicine, the type of carnelian used doesn’t matter as much, as the stone has the power to stop bleeding and speed up the healing process. 

For practicing magicians, carnelian is considered an effective tool for enhancing their abilities and increasing their chances of success in various rituals and incantations.

Carnelian is known for its powerful protective role against negative energy, physical attacks, and accidents, making it an ideal stone to wear regularly. 

People wearing a carnelian can benefit from good health, luck, money, success in business, peace, optimism, love, inner happiness, and satisfaction. 

It also aids with concentration, emotional balance, dream fulfillment, understanding perspectives, and keeping in touch with reality. 

Carnelian is good for meditation and prayer, as it helps in opening access to God.

Purifying Carnelian from Negative Energies

When purchasing a semiprecious stone, purifying it from negative energies, which may come from people who have worn or touched it before is essential. 

Each semiprecious stone is believed to absorb and emit the energy of the person who wears it. 

Therefore, purification is necessary to recharge it with positive energy. 

Experts recommend two methods of purification for carnelian. 

One is exposing the stone to the sun or moonlight in the open air for one day near a plant with strong purifying properties like sage, basil, or rosemary. 

The other method involves submerging the stone in alternating hot and cold water for five minutes each, then soaking it in sea or rainwater for several hours. 

After purification, the stone should be placed in the sun for several hours.

Benefits for Each Zodiac Sign

Each zodiac sign has unique characteristics, so the type of crystal or semiprecious stone can have a different influence and effect on each individual. 

Carnelian, in particular, has different benefits for each zodiac sign: 

• Aries – it can enhance their motivation and courage;
• Taurus – the semiprecious stone can increase their self-esteem and creativity; 
• Gemini – it can improve communication skills;
• Cancer – the stone can reduce anxiety and improve emotional stability;
• Leo – it can increase self-confidence;
• Virgo – it can help with decision-making and problem-solving;
• Libra – carnelian can aid in finding inner balance and harmony;
• Scorpio – the stone can increase their intuition and spiritual awareness;
• Sagittarius – it can provide motivation and inspiration;
• Capricorn – it can enhance their focus and determination;
• Aquarius – it can increase their originality and innovation;
• Pisces – it can improve their emotional intelligence and intuition.

Here are some other examples of crystals and semiprecious stones that react positively depending on the zodiac sign. 

Aries – aquamarine, fire agate, jade, kyanite, amethyst, aventurine, coral, diamond, citrine, rock crystal, hematite, red jasper, bloodstone (heliotrope), white onyx, ruby. 

Taurus – jade, agate, amber, sapphire, selenite, citrine, aventurine, carnelian, pink quartz, coral, diamond, lapis lazuli, iolite, rhyolite, and emerald. 

Gemini – howlite, agate, amethyst, aquamarine, carnelian, green obsidian, celestine, alexandrite, pink quartz, fluorite, apatite, aventurine, citrine, rock crystal, opal, garnet, jade, and pearl. 

Cancer – aquamarine, carnelian, amber, aventurine, black onyx, pearl, moss agate, chalcedony, fluorite, garnet, chrysocolla, ruby, emerald, rock crystal, opal, and moonstone. 

Leo – chalcedony, jasper, rock crystal, diamond, tourmaline, garnet, carnelian, citrine, jade, labradorite, onyx, ruby, fire opal, rhodochrosite, and sunstone. 

Virgo – moss agate, aventurine, sapphire, chalcedony, carnelian, moldavite, citrine, chrysocolla, chrysoprase, snowflake obsidian, rock crystal, amethyst, smoky quartz and rose quartz, onyx, garnet, jade, amazonite, pink jasper, purple obsidian, and opal. 

Libra – ametrine, citrine, aventurine, chrysoprase, smoky quartz, pink quartz, rock crystal, diamond, lapis lazuli, blue tourmaline, lepidolite, malachite, jade, kyanite, mahogany obsidian, bloodstone, onyx, sunstone, sapphire, fire opal, peridot, and moonstone. 

Scorpio – ruby, aquamarine, carob, opal, rock crystal, Botswana agate, garnet, malachite, peridot, moonstone, moldavite, labradorite, blue-green obsidian, rhodochrosite, topaz, pink tourmaline, and turquoise. 

Sagittarius – sapphire, onyx, malachite, fire agate, amethyst, lapis lazuli, azurite, chalcedony, carob, peridot, ruby, citrine, rock crystal, labradorite, smoky quartz, garnet, chrysocolla, chrysoprase, iolite, red jasper, moldavite, fire opal, topaz, and turquoise. 

Capricorn – black tourmaline, agate, turquoise, amethyst, bloodstone, hawk’s eye, fluorite, rock crystal, jade, white onyx, smoky quartz, garnet, and ruby. 

Aquarius – opal, agate, amethyst, hawk’s eye, zircon, amber, rock crystal, hematite, hyacinth, fluorite, garnet, sapphire, lapis lazuli, and turquoise. 

Pisces – aquamarine, citrine, fire opal, rock crystal, fluorite, lapis lazuli, opal, blue agate, amethyst, moonstone, dark blue sapphire, coral, hematite, jade, and turquoise.