Ruby

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

FOLK NAME: Carbuncle

 

ENERGY: Projective

 

DEITIES: Buddha, Krishna (not to be confused with the modern expression of Krishna-centered reverence)

 

POWERS: Wealth, Protection, Power, Joy, Anti-Nightmare

 

MAGICAL/RITUAL LORE: The ruby fashioned into a cabochon of a specific shape was known as "carbuncle" centuries ago. There is no stone of this name, though many books list carbuncle as a separate stone. Another example of the strangely convoluted history of gemstones!

 

This beautiful stone was considered the most perfect offering to Buddha in China and Krishna in India.

 

A widely held belief: Dreaming of rubies indicates coming success in business or money matters. If dreamt of by a gardener or farmer, the ruby denotes a good harvest.

 

This stone is one of many that is thought to grow dark when danger or negativity approaches its owner or when illness threatens. Whether this was physically viewed, symbolic, or an actual change in color or clarity of the stone is undetermined, but was probably a psychic phenomenon. In this sense the ruby can be used as a tool of scrying, as can most of the transparent stones.

 

 

MAGICAL USES:
Rubies are truly precious stones. Perfect specimens of a deep, blood red hue are outrageously expensive.

Lower grade, non-gem quality rubies are available at nominal cost and can be utilized in magic.

In 13th-century magic, rubies were well established as wealth-increasing stones. They were especially effective if engraved with the image of a dragon or snake before using.

Ancient magic from India states that the possession of rubies helps their owner to accumulate other precious gems, perhaps because of the stone's wealth-inducing qualities.

Worn, the ruby was thought to convey invulnerability, or protection against all foes, wicked spirits, negativity, plague, fascination (magical manipulation), and famine. It was also a special mascot of soldiers, guarding against wounds in battle. Basically, the ruby strengthens the body's own psychic defense system when worn.

The ruby in the home guards it against storms and negativity, especially if first touched to the four outside corners of the house.

Similarly, touching trees or the boundaries of a garden magically protects them from lightning and the affects of violent storms.

Ruled by Mars, the ruby is worn during magical rituals to increase the energies available to the magician or placed in the altar beside a red candle to lend energy to you when you're feeling depleted or drained.

In a similar line of magical influence, wearing a ruby is said to increase the body's warmth.

Jewelry set with rubies is worn to banish sadness and negative thought patterns. Such jewelry also produces joy, strengthens will power and confidence as well as dispelling fear.

Placed beneath the pillow or worn to bed, it assures a restful sleep, undisturbed against nightmares.

Star rubies, those rare stones with a naturally occurring six-pointed star, are thought to be particularly potent in protective and other forms of magic since a spirit was thought to dwell within it. Star rubies can also be used as divinatory tools by gazing at the crossed lines of light.

 

-- From Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem and Metal Magic By Scott Cunningham