Garnet has been used to release bad karma, which can be considered a form of protection in this life.
As a root chakra stone, It's said to be excellent for manifestation and is used to ground one's dreams in reality, bringing abundance, prosperity, and realization of those dreams.
Garnet is also used to overcome crisis and trauma. It's used to bring one away from a sense of helplessness or victimization and imparting courage. It is used to assist in diminishing or eliminating abandonment issues. One of the ways said to bring these about is releasing old ideas and perceptions of self and others which allows one to see them as they are, rather than through a filter of fear.