A powerful and energetic stone, ruby stimulates the life force and brings the light of the Universe into the darkened recesses of the soul . It clears and opens the root chakra, cleansing and releasing trapped energy and allowing for the flow of kundalini energy to rise through all the chakras. Ruby has been used for many purposes over the centuries. It helps maintain courage, shields and protects the wearer on all levels, and brings lucidity and gentleness of thought and action, it can be used to manifest wealth and to stimulate the sex drive.

Ruby is a variety of corundum (aluminum oxide) that has been colored red by trace qualities of chromium. The depth of coloring varies from a pale pink to a strong red. Although it is typically thought of as a valuable gem, fine examples are very rarely found. It occurs much more commonly as a very hard, but low-grade, transluscent rock — it is in fact, the second hardest natural mineral after the diamond. These days synthetic versions are so close to the genuine article that it can be very difficult to determine which are real and which are not. Ruby has a vitreous to dull luster and a white streak.