Book of Shadows: Witch's Salts
Pretty much everyone has heard of 'Witch's Salt' or 'Blessed Salts', some by other names. These terms typically reference Black Salt specifically (no, not the edible kind), but there are many uses for salt in magick aside from just Black Salt and regular Salt and they are a simple tool to make that can be crafted from ingredients you may already have in your possession, inexpensively, and integrated into practically any spell, ritual, blessing, or other spiritual practice.
I'm going to go over different variations of these salts I have personally created and discuss how you may make and use your own in your own magick.
Black Salt is the most popularly used and integrated Salt in witchcraft that I have personally seen included in many spell kits, altar kits, baby witch kits etc. Sold by other sellers on Etsy as the only salt included. Black Salt is incredibly useful and is beneficial to have premade and on hand. Black Salt can dispel negativity, create a circle of purity and protection, can be used to cleanse and consecrate a space, person, or object, among many other uses.
When it comes to creating Black Salt and any Witch's Salt the base is traditionally Sea Salt, the more pure the better. If you live near the ocean like I do and can integrate Sea Salt that is naturally obtains near you than of course I would recommend doing that over purchasing it in a store, but there is nothing wrong with using store bought Sea Salt! You may also use regular, fine salt, or coarse salt if you do not have Sea Salt on hand and don't want to dump money into it (though it is cheap and may be bought at discount stores.)
Edible Black Salt is usually made from combining activated charcoal with Sea Salt, and I do use activated charcoal in my own recipe for Black Salt, there is no 'standard' for ingredients for Witch's Salt. Anything that calls to you that you believe should be integrated into your salt for its specific purpose you may include. Typically, following the theme of cleansing, protection, banishing etc.,one would select other ingredients that have these properties and exhibit the desired color. Don't worry about the consistent black coloration- this can be achieved using a myriad of methods and materials after you have chosen what you would like to integrate.
My 'Black Salt':
•Coarse Sea Salt (locally sourced)
•Activated Charcoal (This is what I use in conjunction with the ingredients below to give my salt a consistent black color)
•Palo Santo Ash (Ash from burning sacred Palo Santo Sticks which are an item also used for consecration and cleansing. Acquire sustainably or not at all, Palo Santo is a sacred tree to many indigenous people and poachers are known to harvest it )
•Sage Smudge Ash (Same concept as with the Palo Santo, I grow my own Sage. There are many herbs and botanicals with cleansing and purifying properties that may be used in place of Sage and Palo Santo that may be integrated at your discretion. Use whatever you like!)
•Obsidian Crystal Chips (Cleansed and charged under a full moon, Obsidian carries protective properties and the crystal itself absorbs negativity)
All or some of these ingredients are combined in a ritual using a mortar and pestle to grind them down where I usually say my blessing and allow the salt to absorb the moon's rays until sunup if possible. I believe the blessing / charging portion of creating your 'Witch's Salts' or Sacred Salt is quite personal. It can be something as simple as the visualization of your energy transferring to and empowering the salt- whatever you believe and feel you must do, do it. As I always say, there is no right or wrong when it comes to magick and spirituality.
The same method of creation may be used to create salts for other purposes as well.
Don't worry so much about matching your ingredients to the color you desire your salt to be. I am more concerned with the magickal & metaphysical properties of the components than the resulting color when blended as I usually choose to use non toxic mica pigments to color the salt if the blending process doesn't yield the vibrancy I desire, except with the Black Salt.
Color has its own energy as well, regardless of where the color comes from. If you would prefer the color to come from organic or natural sources, there are some components you can try mashing together to achieve your desired color
Red- Annatto Seed, Cranberry Juice
Black- Ash, Charcoal
Blue- Blue Thistle, Blueberry Juice
Green- Lime Zest, Chlorophyll
Purple- Plum Juice, Wine
Pink - Peony Petals (Fresh, ground)
Literally anything you can think of may be used to color and add to your salt. The process of blending these ingredients is magickal in itself and I recommend doing so with a mortar and pestle over a bowl if you can. You can also use food coloring or other pigments. I use mica because it is dry and has similar consistency as salt so that it blends well. It is the same mineral that mineral eye shadow is made from and you can definitely use old eyeshadows for this purpose. Store your salts in a dry place, preferably in satchets or jarred.
How to Use
You can use these salts in any corresponding spell as you would any other tool on your altar or in your cabinet. Substitute them as you would use the components that they are made of. For example, if you would use Rose Petals and Rose Quartz for a love spell, you may choose to use Pink Salt instead or in conjunction. These salts also make a great addition to spell jars and may also be used as talismans themselves as they carry their own magickal energy!
If you aren't the creative type, I have salts for sale individually/a la carte or as a bundle in my shop in several different sizes and colors ready to be used for your Craft! You may find them at blursedbaubles.etsy.com
Happy Crafting!
Samantha
