The magikal use of Salt, Black Salt and others~~~~~

Dear Ms. Q,

Salt is one of the most important items one should always keep in both your regular kitchen cabinet and in your magic cabinet.

Now I know you are going to say "What is the Big Deal about Salt"?

Well besides it making food taste good, and if you eat too much of it, it will elevate your blood pressure, there is a huge history about salt.

Ancient man discovered that salt was important in staying healthy, flavoring food and especially preserving food.

Animals in the wild would go for miles to find a natural salt lick to add salt to their bodies, even domesticated animals need salt as well and farmers and ranchers would provide natural salt licks for them.

Ancient man would follow the wild animals to those salt licks once he discovered how important it was to him.  There over the centuries salt mines from ancient dried seas would be mined and the salt transported over trade routes to their destination.

It is known that the Roman Soldiers received as part of their pay a bag of salt, which was called (and I hope I spell this right) salerium from which we get the modern word Salary from, even some old sayings like "he's worth his weight in salt" meant that his value is very high.

Salt is an ingredient in the making of bread, a tiny pinch of salt can make something sweet taste even sweeter.  Salt in the Chinese culture is one of the major tastes of cooking.   In baptism, babies are given a tiny taste of salt to remember the bitterness of life.

Salt is found naturally in our bodies, and of course is found in the Oceans from which all life came.

So it has a lifesaving as well as a mystical spiritual meaning and use in our lives.

As I said Salt preserves food---Salt represents the absence of decay---in any form Salt is incorruptible, whereas decay is corruptibility.  Salt comes from the sea, seeking life, decay is the ending of life.

Because Salt is incorruptible, Evil is repelled by a symbol such as Salt, of an incorruptible life, because Evil exists only to create decay and death, evil seeks to corrupt.

If you've ever watched the T.V. program "Supernatural" they are always big on using salt, either Kosher salt, Sea Salt or sometimes they've referred to Blessed Salt and in a desperate pinch they even used Road Salt (the type to melt ice on winter roads).  

 In an episode of Season 2, Dean explains to a woman who does not know she is really a ghost, that they use salt because it’s pure, and that which is impure is repelled by it.

Now that is not to say that those people who become infirm or ill especially from old age,  have evil in them, No that is just nature returning to the earth which eventually will filter into the sea that from which we came.  Because that is natural decay.

But there is also unnatural decay

People who take to drugs, drink to excess, do evil acts upon others or other living creatures, invite evil into themselves, and by doing that allow those evil spirits to exist around them and in them. 

Have you not noticed those areas that are controlled by evil people are not flourishing, growing, improving?   No, for they are in a state of decay, an unnatural decay. 

This is different from those old west ghost towns, were people come and then go when the gold and silver have played out, No those areas that should have a chance to flourish cannot because evil is there, sitting there, corrupting everything and everyone there.

That is to give you an idea.

So when doing magical workings, to do warding’s, cleansings, purifications and such, salt is vital to such things.

There are many superstitions and rituals regarding salt from various lands far too numerous to list here, but a search on the internet will turn up many of them, if you are interested.

What are the different types of salt, and how do their characteristics differ?

Whether mined from underground salt deposits or obtained by evaporating seawater, salt in its most basic form is the same: sodium chloride. What distinguishes one salt from another is texture, shape, and mineral content. These qualities can affect how a salt tastes as well as how it interacts with other foods.   And their use in magickal workings.

COMMON TABLE SALT NON-IODIZED AND IODIZED

So let’s start with the Salt we know, the kind that we use most frequently in cooking, with the little girl with the umbrella, we call it Table salt, but it’s also known as common salt and consists of tiny, uniformly shaped crystals created during rapid vacuum evaporation. It usually includes anticaking agents that help it pour smoothly. Remember the little girl’s slogan “When it rains it pours”? 

It dissolves easily, making it our go-to for most applications, both sweet and savory and in a pinch magickal.

Salt is a common component in magic spells. For centuries, salt has been believed to have protective and purifying qualities, as well as the ability to absorb psychic energies, but you have to be careful because it can absorb all types of psychic energies, but for everyday magic and protection, common ordinary without iodine table salt is a great option.

Specialty salts can get expensive – who can afford to create magical barriers along doors and window sills with pricey Dead Sea salt. 

Cheap common salt is the best with creating barriers.

The more exotic salts which I will discuss are good too, but they have specific uses for specific workings, but if you are doing workings which ask for salt, your common table salt will do just fine.

Among Wiccans, witches or pagan’s when they do ritual work to honor the goddess and the god or to invoke the elements on a witch’s altar, salt can represent the earth element.

 Salt is a base element in alchemy, some chemical or alchemical reactions cannot occur without the introduction of salt.

Cooking Tip:   to optimize flavor, avoid iodized salt, which can impart a subtle chemical taste that is detectable by some consumers.  But in some cases salt with iodine in it is needed for a healthy thyroid function and a little can go a long way.  So it depends upon taste and health.

SEA SALT

Then there is natural Sea Salt.   Sea salt is perceived as a step up from table salt, because it’s more “natural” and has undergone less processing.

Sea salt is the product of seawater evaporation--a time-consuming, expensive process that yields irregularly shaped, mineral-rich flakes that vary widely in color but only slightly in flavor.  Now if we were to collect bottles of sea water, we’d have to boil the water away to collect the natural salts that would form in the pot, but it is not good to use for cooking, but you can get sea salt in a health food store or even your chain store supermarket, those are fine for both cooking and magickal works.

KOSHER SALT

Then there is Kosher Salt, it is a variety of edible salt with a much larger grain size than some common table salt. Like common table salt, kosher salt consists of the chemical compound sodium chloride.

Unlike some common table salt, kosher salt typically contains no additives such as iodine, although some brands will include anti-clumping agents in small amounts. 

The term "kosher salt" comes from its use in making meats kosher by removing surface blood, not from its being made in accordance with the guidelines for kosher foods as written in the Torah, as nearly all salt is kosher, including ordinary table salt.

One salt manufacturer considers the term ambiguous, and distinguishes between "kosher certified salt" and "koshering salt": "koshering salt" has the "small, flake-like form" useful in treating meat, whereas "kosher certified salt" is salt that has been certified as such by an appropriate religious body.  But only certified, not blessed.

The Kosher table salt that you buy in the store contrary to popular belief, is not blessed by a Rabbi, and therefore has no “extra” magical properties. In that sense, it’s no better or worse than “regular” table salt.

BLESSED SALT

Then there is Blessed Salt--- According to a pamphlet put out by Fr. Hampsch of the Claretian Ministry he states:

 "Blessed salt is an instrument of grace to preserve one from the corruption of evil occurring as sin, sickness, demonic influence, etc.

As in the case of all sacramentals, its power comes not from the sign itself, but by means of the Church's official (liturgical, not private) prayer of blessing -- a power the Church derives from Christ Himself. (see Matt. 16:19 and 18:18).

As the Vatican II document on the Liturgy states, both Sacraments and sacramentals sanctify us, not of themselves, but by power flowing from the redemptive act of Jesus, elicited by the Church's intercession to be directed through those external signs and elements.

Hence sacramentals like blessed salt, holy water, medals, etc., are not to be used superstitiously as having self-contained power, but as 'focus points' funneling one's faith toward Jesus, just as a flag is used as a focus point of patriotism, or as handkerchiefs were used to focus faith for healing and deliverance (Acts 19:12).

 Thus, used non-superstitiously, modest amounts of blessed salt may be sprinkled in one's bedroom, or across thresholds to prevent burglary, in cars for safety, etc.

 A few grains of blessed salt in drinking water or used in cooking or as food seasoning often bring astonishing spiritual and physical benefits.

As with the use of Sacraments, much depends on the faith and devotion of the person using salt or any sacramental. This faith must be Jesus-centered, as was the faith of the blind man in John 9; he had faith in Jesus, not in the mud and spittle used by Jesus to heal him.

 Blessed salt is not a new sacramental, but the Holy Spirit seems to be leading many to a new interest in its remarkable power as an instrument of grace and healing. Any amount of salt may be presented to a priest for his blessing using the following official prayer from the Roman Ritual:

"Almighty God, we ask you to bless this salt, as once you blessed the salt scattered over the water by the prophet Elisha. Wherever this salt (and water) is sprinkled, drive away the power of evil, and protect us always by the presence of your Holy Spirit. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen" "

You can ask your priest to bless Sea Salt if he is of an open mind, but you can also buy it on the internet as well.

DEAD SEA SALT

Now another form of sea salt is Dead Sea salt – because of its connection to the Holy Land and because of its healing properties – is popular in purification and protection spells.

Dense with minerals that have bubbled up from deep within the earth, it also feels really nice in a bath, aiding relaxation. So it can be a good choice for rituals involving submersion, for example to break negative psychic contacts

EPSOM SALTS

Epsom Salts it a different formula and is good for soaking in a tub for one’s aches and pains, but common Epsom salts can be integrated in some cleansing formula’s for ritual baths.  It is not useful by itself but in combination with other herbs and oils takes on magickal properties. 

By itself it’s good to sooth away those aches and pains.

BLACK SALT aka SAL NEGRO, WITCH’S SALT, DRIVE AWAY SALT.

There are other types of Ritual Salts----the most common and best known is Black Salt it is also known as Witch’s Salt, Sal Negro, & Drive Away Salt.

Black Salt for ritual has long been used in European folk & African Diaspora traditions.

 Ritual Black Salt is not to be confused with black lava salt or kala namak salts used in fine cuisine.

Anyone following magickal practices can make their own black salt, the most common ingredients are any kind of salt although sea salt is preferred, black pepper, powdered charcoal from a ritual bonfire ore ashes, and iron scrapings from one’s cauldron or cast iron pot, pan, or skillet but it must be cast iron. 

 Some people will add Patchouli Essential Oil, burnt walnut shells and burnt chicory ash.  Then it must be ground down to as fine a powder as possible. 

Some people I know who make their own black salt borrowed a line from the witch in the “Hansel & Gretel” especially when they are empowering the black salt for banishing and protection by chanting “I will grind their bones to make my bread” over and over again until well ground,  I have been told it works.

Remember Ritual black salt made in this manner is not for consumption!

BLACK SALT ALTERNATE

Black Lava salt ( from Hawaii) is sea salt mixed with activated volcanic charcoal. Activated charcoal is an absorber, excellent at removing toxins – psychic and physical. As such, it works particularly well in purification rituals.  So a pinch in ritual bath water would be good.

THERE ARE MANY, MANY USES FOR RITUAL BLACK SALT THAT WOULD TAKE AN ENTIRE POST  UPON ITS EXCLUSIVE USE----THAT POST WILL COME IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

HIMALAYAN PINK SALT

Himalayan salt is pink due to its higher iron content. And magically, iron represents the earth and the universe.

Therefore, it may be used in rituals involving protection during out of body experiences and shamanic journeying to other realms. 

You can find this salt in the condiments section of more upscale larger grocery stores such as Safeway, sometimes Trader Joe’s and I have seen it offered at Bed, Bath and Beyond.  The price for one bottle approx. 8 to 10 oz is anywhere from $7 to $10 dollars.

 ALAEA HAWAIIAN SEA SALT

Like pink Himalayan salt, Alaea Hawaiian sea salt is enriched with red clay which contains iron oxide, and therefore has similar properties to Himalayan salt.

Traditionally Hawaiians have used Alaea salt in healing rituals and ceremonies to purify, cleanse and bless their tools and canoes. 

 It you are using or doing Huna or Kahuna rituals this would be the salt to use for purifying and blessing rituals, but be careful it you are using it around the Goddess Pele, she is easy to displease.

THERE ARE OTHER SALTS AS WELL BUT THESE ARE MADE SALTS FOR SPEICIFIC PURPOSES AND I AM INCLUDING THEM HERE FOR YOU INFORMATION

ROSE SALT

Rose Salt is a Ritual Spell Casting Salt made from a   blend of natural Himalayan salt and rose petals or essential rose oil.

It is used in a ritual bath to clear one’s the heart of past pain and sorrow.  It uses a mined salt as oppose to sea salt as it has a much stronger connection to the earth.

This is to help re-ground you as well as purify away all ruminates of a love gone sour, it can be sprinkled around ti clear a bedroom, to clear an object given to you by past lover, and also clearing an entryway to welcome new love.  So it can be used in both a dry and liquid form.

LAVENDER SALT

Lavender Salt is Lavender scented  Salt for clearing.  It can be made with either fine grain sea salt or common salt or with the larger grain Kosher salt. 

 It’s good for clearing rooms and offices especially where you cannot smudge. Also good for clearing stones and crystals.   This salt can be used in the bath or shower to clear yourself of negativity that may be attached to you or that has been sent to you by someone with negative intent.

The small grain salts can be used for casting (throwing salt on the floor), dissolving in warm water to spray into a room, or used in the bath or shower.

Large grain salts can be used for Protection or Displacement, and are placed to be a barrier between you and something else, by sprinkling across a threshold. 

It is made with the salt of your choice depending upon use and dried lavender or lavender essential oil. 

THIS LAST TYPE OF SALT IS VERY STRANGE AND HARD TO MAKE, I PERSONALLY WOULD NOT CONCIDER IT BUT IT IS PROVIDED FOR YOUR INFORMATION

RATTLESNAKE SALT

In Latin America, salt is used to prepare a very important magical formula called Rattlesnake Salt which is believed to lengthen life and to provide protection for the home or place of business.

This type of salt seems to be exclusively Latin American. To make it, a freshly dead rattlesnake is chopped up (rattles and all) and placed in a large container of salt. After six months the dried meat is discarded and the "rattlesnake salt" is ready for use.

It is said that to prolong life: sprinkle a rattlesnake salt on the food you eat, at least once a day.  According to one Latina magickal practioner it is also used in charms for healing and protection.

But in chopping up the rattlesnake body I am concerned about the venom sack in the head of the snake since this is considered highly poisonous so I would be disinclined to put it in food.

IODINE IN SALT

I know why must there be iodine in table salt?  Why is it so important?

I’m going to have a short article written by Dr. Andrew Weil answer that question, and if you do eat a lot of take-out food you may want to reconsider how you are affecting your health

Dr. Weil says:

"Iodine was first added to salt in the United States in 1924 in order to eliminate goiter, which was common in a sweeping area once called the "goiter belt" extending from the Great Lakes region across the northern states and encompassing parts of the Pacific Northwest. Goiter due to iodine deficiency is still common in parts of central Asia and central Africa - areas where iodine-rich foods are not available.

We can get iodine naturally by eating saltwater fish and seafood, kelp and other sea vegetables as well as vegetables grown in soils that contain iodine. Dairy products also provide iodine if the animals graze on plants growing in iodine-rich soils.

However, don't depend on processed foods for iodine - the salt they contain is not iodized, and probably because people are cooking less at home and substituting take-out food or processed foods, iodine intakes in the United States have declined from about 250 micrograms (mcg) per day to 157 mcg daily.

We need 150 mcg or more (pregnant women need to make sure they're getting adequate iodine for the health of their babies). Daily intakes of up to 1,100 mcg daily for adults and children over four are considered safe.

If you are eating a healthy, balanced, varied diet, you're probably getting enough iodine and don't need to use iodized salt. I myself use both unrefined (gray) and refined (white) sea salt, which I prefer to commercial salts that often have additives I don't like, such as aluminum compounds to prevent caking.

Sea salt contains trace amounts of iodine.

Andrew Weil, M.D."

So if you are going to cook with salt then Sea Salt may be the best for you.

But if for some reason you need to use salt in a hurry for a magickal working, then even the salt with iodine will do in a pinch.


IN FUTURE POSTS I WILL ENCLUDE THE BASIC RECEIPE FOR BATH SALTS FOR RITUAL USE, AND HOW TO USE BLACK SALT, THIS MAY TAKE A LITTLE WHILE AS I AM STILL IN RECOVERY.

Blessings Ms. Q

An Addendum--- Dear Ms. Q,

Yes in a drastic pinch you can use Road Salt (the kind to melt ice on the roads) and/or if you can't find anything else  Ice Cream Salt.

Ice Cream Salt--- is a non-edible salt that is applied to ice that is chilling around an old-fashioned ice cream maker, it lowers the temperature of the ice while you are cranking the ice cream mixture while making ice cream.  It can be found in grocery stories and in old fashioned markets.   I had forgotten about this salt.