By the glowing color of this crystal, the ancients thought that an inextinguishable flame burned within ruby. Not only its warm brightness, but its hue the color of blood shaped ruby meaning and metaphysical properties. What are the most magical ruby properties?

1 Gem of Kings

One ruby meaning is power. The French Mandeville of the 14th century says that ruby acquires and maintains power and rulers. Immense respect is likewise given to ruby in India, where the gemstone rests at the center of a powerful talisman called navaratna, which was reserved only for kings and emperors. Monarchs indeed greatly coveted and possessively guarded the gem for the ruby properties of bringing and keeping power.

Rare and inaccessible, the ruby was reserved by law to the king. Wandering mendicants and the poor, who with difficulty collect stones from hardly accessible mines, were bound to sell the ruby they found to the king. If a private party buys them surreptitiously and the fact becomes known, the whole of his estate is escheated to the government.

2 Ruby Meaning “King”

Arabs and Persians regarded precious corundum as one of the best gems. Next only to diamond in hardness, ruby and sapphire are among our favorites even to this day. Of the precious corundum, the Arabs and Iranis consider those of the color of the pomegranate to be the best. We call this clear, spotless and perfectly red corundum by the name ruby.

Ruby is the gemstone associated with the Sun in Hindu astrology. With the Sun being the king of planets, ruby is hailed the king of gems. Ruby is accordingly set at the center of India’s 9-gem talisman or navaratna, where the red precious stone is surrounded by 8 other gems, notably including other so-called king of gems, diamond and sapphire.

The immense respect accorded the ruby is manifest in the many names given to the gemstone in Sanskrit. Some of them clearly shows that the Hindus valued ruby more than any other gem. For instance, ruby is called ratnaraj, “king of precious stones, ” and ratnandyaka, “leader of precious stones.”

Europe echoes India’s admiration of ruby properties. In the 14th-century Lapidaire of Philippe de Valois, it is said that “the beautiful, clear and fine ruby is the lord of stones; it is the gem of gems, and surpasses all other precious stones in virtue.” The ruby superseded the sapphire, to which was assigned the same proud place as late as the end of the 11th century.

3 Ruby Charm of Good Fortune

The Arabs and Persians believe ruby to bring honor to the wearer indeed like the king of gems it is thought to be. Moreover, one who wears ruby as a finger ring obtains from the deity all the desires of his heart.

The Chaldeans similarly regarded the red gemstone as the most powerful stone to attract the best of fortune.

Leornardus of 15th-century Italy echoes belief in this ruby meaning, and states that the gemstone makes a mighty increase of one’s prosperity.

Indeed, prized of ruby properties is the gem’s ability to attract good fortune.

4 Protective Ruby Properties

A popular ruby meaning is protection. The Hindus believe ruby to confer perfect safety upon the owner. As long as he owned this precious stone, he could dwell without fear in the midst of enemies and was shielded from adverse fortune.

Sir John Mandeville of 14th-century Europe assures the fortunate owner of a brilliant ruby that he will live in peace and concord with all men, that neither his land nor his rank will be taken from him, and that he will be preserved from all perils. The stone would also guard his house, fruit trees and vineyards from destruction brought by tempests. All the good effects were most surely secured if the ruby, set in ring, bracelet or brooch, was worn on the left side.

The Arabs and Persians believe a ruby ring to make its wearer proof against lightning and cholera. Ruby is also said to protect its wearer by dissipating poisonous and infectious vapors. Indeed, ruby properties allow the gemstone to act as a shield against harm and misfortune, and preserve its owner’s bodily health.

5 Indicator of Danger

Ruby meaning of protection is visually present within the gem itself, which as a result serves as indicator of an impending danger. By changing color to black, ruby warns the wearer of the approach of any misfortune. The stone would not resume its original brightness until the peril had passed.

Wolfgang Gabelchover, a German philosopher from the 1600s, relates the story of his wife passing away after his ruby, a gift from his wife, lost its brilliance: “Within few days she was taken with fatal sickness that never left her till her death. And truly after her decease, the ruby’s former brilliant color returned spontaneously.”

The misfortune that the ruby foretells is not limited to physical danger. The ruby of Catherine, queen of Aragon, was said to have changed color when King Henry VIII considered divorcing her. Indeed, ruby properties of protection extends from physically preserving its owner to warning of unfavorable events.

6 Ruby Healing Properties

Ruby meaning of protection similarly applies to illness and physical hazards. Whether used externally or internally, ruby was used as an antidote against poison and plague. Arabs and Persians used ruby to counteract venom from snake bite, as well as poisons administered by enemies. The gemstone was also kept as an amulet against all illness.

To the Arabs and Persians, ruby properties of healing illnesses are most powerful upon direct contact. Worn over the eyes, ruby cures all complaints of the vision. Worn over the mouth, ruby takes away its bad smell, allays thirst and gives constant satisfaction to the mind.

7 Ruby Healing Blood

Ruby meaning in healing illnesses seems to be directly related to the gem’s color. Of the many diseases ruby may be used against, the Arabs and Persians particularly held ruby as a potent cure to cholera and the spitting of blood. Ruby causes free circulation of the blood throughout the system.

The red color of the stone linked ruby properties to human blood. The Arabs and Iranians believed that ruby purifies the blood, and brings back to its normal state the fatally quick action of the pulse.

Red as blood, ruby had the power to keep the heart and the circulation of blood normal. This as well as other ruby healing properties made the red gemstone the ideal talisman to gain and preserve physical health.

8 Talisman for Mental Health

As a protective charm, ruby properties of healing illnesses applies not only to physical but mental health as well.

Mandeville states that ruby appeases anger and maintains seductions. Ruby also banishes sadness. The Arabs and Persians believe ruby to invigorate the power of the soul. Its wearer thus obtains satisfaction of the mind and strength of the brain. Ruby is a useful charm against depression.

Arabs and Persians prescribed a dose of ruby taken internally to cure epilepsy and insanity.

Today, ruby is held as a symbol of contentment. This ruby meaning of bliss has endured and kept this gemstone relevant as a birthstone.

9 Protection Against Evil

Much of ruby meaning to keep mental health rests on the gem’s ability to drive away evil. The Chaldeans believed ruby to be the most powerful stone to repel evil. Ruby properties allow the red gemstone to remove vain and evil thoughts, keep its wearer’s temper in check, and inspire agreement and reconciliation. Ruby also controls amorous desires, thus holding its wearer back from engaging in promiscuity. It is interesting to note that this “king of gems” represses luxury.

Ruby drives away nightmares and wicked spirits, too. The Arabs and Persians believed ruby to prevent the devil from causing uneasiness of mind.

10 Warrior Stone

Red gemstones are said to have stimulating and animating effects. Ruby popularly signifies this stimulation. By the ruby meaning of passion and fiery energy, the gemstone helps its wearer acquire and maintain power.

The gorgeous ruby, the favorite gemstone of Burma, where the finest crystals are found, is not only valued for its beauty, but is also believed to confer invulnerability. Ruby makes one invulnerable to wounds from sword, spear or gun. Indeed, ruby properties put the gemstone on par with diamond in rendering its wearer invulnerable.

To attain this end, however, it is not thought sufficient to wear ruby in a ring or other piece of jewelry, but the stone must be inserted in the flesh, and thus become, so to speak, a part of its owner’s body.

Those who in this way bear about a ruby confidently believe that they cannot be wounded by spear, sword or gun. It is often remarked that the most daring and reckless soldiers pass unscathed through all the perils of war. In this manner, the ruby powers of protecting against injury may thus appear to be true.

A warrior’s stone, ruby brings bravery to whoever wears the gem.

Ruby Stone Meaning

A ruby charm boasts of many metaphysical properties. Ruby healing properties that keep the blood and body healthy were much valued by the ancients. The ruby benefits of enhancing mental health and bringing good fortune are much appreciated even today. Ruby spiritual meaning of granting animation and courage are also useful to those who seek vibrant energy and bravery. To this day, the ruby meaning of bringing contentment has stuck to this popular birthstone. Along with its natural beauty, these magical ruby properties have sustained the popularity of the red precious stone through the centuries.

Ruby as Birthstone

Do you know which month or zodiac sign ruby is birthstone of? Find out by reading my book  Power Birthstone.

What is your impression of ruby meaning and properties? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.