Salt. It can put a whammy on ghosts and evil spirits. If you ever need some last-minute protection, pour a protective circle and get inside it.

Salt’s Protective and Purifying Powers

People have used salt for protection against ghosts and spirits for a looooooong time, like before the Bible, Quran and Torah were even written. Its powers even cross the religious spectrum. Hindus, Buddhists, Wiccans (both ancient and modern) and other pagans use salt in their religious practices today. As for ghost hunters, we use it when all hell breaks loose on an investigation as a kind of panic room for the paranormal. We’ll fill you in on that part under the next section.

So what makes salt so special? The real reason is probably lost to history, but we have some clues in different religious texts and cultural practices. Nathan Brown, who wrote the book on Supernatural mythology, states:

• The Celts used it to ward of bad luck
• Ancient Hebrews would throw salt over their shoulders to also ward of bad luck (Ed: I found conflicting reports on this statement)
• Jesus referenced the power of salt during the Sermon on the Mount
• Mohamed referenced salt as one of four blessings in the Hadith texts
• Hindus mix salt with water to purify new homes of evil spirits
• In Japan, a common Shinto practice uses salt to also bar evil spirits from a room as well as salting the wrestling ring for Sumo matches
• Some Wiccan traditions use salt to purify an altar or ceremonial space before they begin their religious practice or magic

I think it’s safe to say that salt is a powerful element from our physical world, and it can expunge entities that don’t belong in this plane.

How To Use Salt For Protection Against Ghosts and Spirits

There’s a few ways to use salt for protection. Some of them, like as a part of Holy Water, are covered in earlier posts. I’ll list other articles at the end of this section.

First, you can use most salt available at a grocery store. Look for these kinds:

• Kosher salt
• Regular salt (a.k.a. table salt like Morton’s or Diamond Crystal)
• Sea salt

A few folks have asked about rock salt and Himalayan salt: There’s no special benefit to using these over the other salts listed above.

Once you get to the haunted place, you can take some salt into the site. I tend to leave it in the car unless I know there’s a chance for ghostly violence. If a ghost or spirit attacks you, you want to create a safe space. That means you’ll either bar the ghost from entering a room, or you have to make a protective circle.

 To bar a ghost from entering a room:

Pour a half-inch wide line of salt along the following places:

• The floor under a door
• Window sills
• Fireplaces
• Vents

The salt line should go the entire length of the window, doors and fireplaces. For vents, you may have to pour completely around the vent, or put a handful of salt into the vent. Now, if the spirit is in the room with you, then don’t use salt. You’ll lock it in the room with you and it will be pissed. You can pour the salt behind you to lock the ghost in its room. This should give you spare time to move to a safer place or get out of the haunted site.

Making Protective Circles With Salt

If you can’t leave, then you want to make a protective circle. There’s no special secret to it. Just pour an inch-wide circle around you and your team. The circle should be big enough for you all to turn take a few steps left or right. I’ve also used white candles to add more protective power. I place a white candle in the north, south, east and west sides of the circle. Then, I’ve held another white candle. This should sound familiar to the pagans reading the article. I’m not a pagan, but this ‘warding’ has helped keep crazy spirits away.

More ghostly protection articles

Herbs That Protect Against Evil Spirits

Stones That Protect Against Ghosts and Evil Spirits

8 Ways To Clear Evil Spirits

Salt’s Effects On Other Supernatural Beings

Salt doesn’t work for every supernatural entity. Listed below are the entities immune to salt:

• Faeries (try silver and iron instead)
• Werewolves (try silver)
• Vampires (try herbs)
• Demons (it depends, salt is part of Holy Water and that works against demons)
• Meta-Demons (you can defend yourself against them like you would a human criminal)
• Residual hauntings

A few paranormal sites have stated fairies and vampires will stop to count each salt grain if thrown or placed in front of them. I don’t entirely believe that, but that info is part of their lore.

Ghostly Activities’ Experience Using Salt As Protection

We’ve only used salt a few times. In two cases, we barred the ghost in a room, then used clearing techniques to remove it. In the other case, we used the protective circle with white candles. Once the ghost used its energy, we used clearing techniques to remove any residual ghostly energy.

I tend to research the suspected haunted place and ghost before I do a ghost hunt. This is the best way to know if a ghost can hurt someone. Always ask witnesses if the spirit has hurt them. If so, bring some salt. I usually bring a pound of kosher salt with me on these cases.

And, I’ve never had to use rock salt buckshot like the Winchester Bros. on Supernatural.

Research sources:

Brown, N. (2011). “The Mythology of Supernatural: The Signs and Symbols Behind the Popular Show.” Penguin Group. New York, NY