Salt (sodium chloride) is a naturally occurring mineral found in oceans and in the bodies of living things. A little salt is necessary for proper body function but a lot of salt is toxic.

Salt has been harvested from the oceans and used as a seasoning for centuries and was once an extremely valuable commodity. Many religions use salt for ceremonial purposes. Some Pagans use salt to represent the element of Earth in ritual. It is also used to clear an area of negative energies or entities.

Check out The Folklore of Common Salt at sacred-texts.com for an interesting read.

Salt should be used sparingly and with intention. Whenever possible, salt should not be added during cooking but should be added at the end of meals. Salt can be used to preserve food including meats and vegetables through fermentation. It is recommended to salt many vegetables prior to preparing them in order to draw out bitterness and to reduce their capacity for absorbing cooking fat.

Correspondences
Element(s): Earth

protection, banishing, exorcism