Salt is one of the oldest and most versatile ingredients used in magic. It can be used to cleanse, banish, protect, bless, carry the vibrations of oils or herbs, or even to represent the element of earth on an altar. Using it can be as simple as sprinkling it around the border of a room or adding it to a bath, or as elaborate as making it the focal point of a ritual. To begin your journey with salt magic, start here:

Use Black Salt

Some magical traditions use black salt in rituals. This is not the same as culinary black salt, it is a unique tool that should be made and used with care. Black salt is often used in protection magic -- by sprinkling some in all four corners of a room or home, for example -- but can also be used to bind, curse, or hex, depending on the ingredients.

It is possible to buy black salt ready-made, but you can also make your own if you prefer to do so. To make your own, combine sea salt, untreated charcoal, black pepper, and the ashes from incense. (Some prefer to use pure frankincense ashes, or the ashes from stick or cone frankincense incense.)

Grind the ingredients together using a mortar and pestle, and keep in an airtight container in a dry area. Place a pouch of it under the bed to keep away nightmares, hang a pouch in a room to absorb negativity, or sprinkle it after your enemies pass to keep them away from you.

Make a Salt Jar

A salt jar is a simple tool that can help purify, protect, and bless you and the space it is kept in. Salt jars are very easy to make -- all they require is a container with a lid, salt, and a petition stating your intent for the jar. If you like, you can also add other herbs or crystals. Clear quartz helps amplify the vibrations of the jar, while herbs can help focus the jar's intent.

To make the jar, simply thoroughly clean and dry the container, add the salt, add a petition handwritten on paper or parchment stating what you want the jar to do, and close it up. Hold the jar in your hands for a moment, visualizing it filling with the power to fulfill your intention. Set it in a safe place, or use it in your rituals as a rattle, a holder for candle divination, or as a focus for meditation or prayer.

Some herbs to consider including are:

Rosemary. Rosemary is a cleansing, uplifting herb, and is also sometimes used for protection.
Cloves. Cloves can help safeguard your money and are often used to put a stop to gossip or slander.
Hyssop. Hyssop removes all negativity.
Sage. Sage helps keep away evil, including the evil eye.

Take a Salt Bath

Everyone knows that a nice salt bath is great for soothing aching muscles, but they are good for ritual use, too. Simply adding rock salt to bathwater, with the intention to spiritually cleanse, is enough to make a purifying bath. Salt is also a great way to carry the vibrations of herbs and oils into a bath, so it is often used as the base for magical bath recipes.

If you like, you can purchase powerful premade bath salts for a specific purpose, ranging from money drawing salt, to love drawing salt, to uncrossing salt, to salt for ensuring success. Using these is as simple as adding them to fresh bathwater, and allowing yourself to soak in their power.

If you prefer to make your own, you can do so by adding your favorite herbs and oils to a base of rock or sea salt. Consider adding wood betony, basil, rose petals, or jasmine to salt, along with a drop or two of rose oil, to make your own love bath salt. Epazote, rue, or lavender oil make excellent additions to a cleansing bath salt. Either leave the herbs and salt whole or grind them up with a mortar and pestle before adding the oil and stirring thoroughly. Keep in an airtight container.

Salt is a potent ingredient that is inexpensive, easy to find, and simple to use. No matter what your tradition or path may be, it is a great idea to keep some on hand for all of your magical needs.