Elemental Placements… so much arguing

It seems everyone likes to force their way of doing things upon the entire coven, mine included. It always seems when we get a new person visit or join, the first thing they do is question everything and not in the good way rather; “why are you doing it like that? ‘Golden Monkey Claw Flying Heathen Rose Bud’ says…”  As though the one over priced book they read (or partially read) is the Holy Law passed down by the most high deities to the New Age book store from which they purchased it… sorry, its not.

In Wicca

Hemispheres

When opening the Circle in Wicca in the Northern Hemisphere most covens would agree upon:
East = Air, South = Fire, West = Water and North = Earth
In the Southern Hemisphere some covens use the Northern approach, while other invert North and South:
East = Air, South = Earth, West = Water and North = Fire
In the Southern Hemisphere most who use this Inverted south and north method move Widdershins (anti-clockwise) rather than Deosil (clockwise).

The Theory behind the Southern Method:

1. Why Widdershins:  You move in the direction the water goes down the drain (the Earths magnetic field)
2. Why invert North and South:  If you stop at the Equator for North and South at the pole.  The Northern most part of the Southern Hemisphere is Hottest and the Southern most part of the Hemisphere is Coldest.  While reversed in the North, south being the Equator and North being the pole.

All of these are based on symbolism.  I personally have found both methods work, regardless of Hemisphere.  Practical experience has shown me, you make energy move in one direction – it moves in that direction.  You move energy in the opposite direction – it stops its movement (dissipates).
Most rituals are rich in symbolism and I believe the Southern approach has a nice mix of modern (magnetic fields) and more earthly ideas (equators).

However, it does not mean it is the only way to do it in the South, nor does it mean the Northern approach can not be used.

Symbolism

I have used the Northern approach in Australia and was told quite bluntly; “its a negative movement to move deosil in the Southern Hemisphere”… Really? (Side note: a successful ritual).  It is all about symbolism, as I mention earlier, you move energy in one direction – it will move.

Three bits of symbolism (there is a lot more):

1. Moving Clockwise you are moving “Righteously” or to the “Right” or “Sinister” to the “Left”.
2. Moving “righteously” following the course of the Sun, from rising in the East and setting in the West.
3. The stabilising of “Force” with “Form”:  The masculine elements are considered Active (Force) and the feminine elements are considered Passive (Form).  By having the two masculine elements first, their active energies are stabilised and given foundation in the Feminine elements.

Other Ritual Uses

The Hexagram Ritual

In this ritual we have:
East = Fire, South = Earth, West = Air and North = Water
Rather than following the placements in the pentagram rituals, this ritual follows the elemental associations with the Zodiac (listed in an earlier blog past: Astrology Basics) starting with Fire (some associate with Aries being he most common “First” sign, others Leo… both fire, so it is of no real concern as the elemental associations are still the same.  Other than Leo becomes the Kerubic sign of the group, rather than Taurus) and ending with Water.
This, as anyone who have studied the systems of Crowley, the Golden Dawn, and so on will say that this ritual is “Higher” than the pentagram ritual.  The pentagram having the four lower points in Malkuth (the kingdom: “in our Elemental Kingdom”) and the upper point in Yesod (the foundation: The Astral), the base point of the Hexagram associated with the Moon (which is also associated with the Astral light and Yesod) sits in Yesod and the upper point in Daath (not considered by all a Sephiroth, the system I used saw it as the “shell” left when Tiphareth fell during the fall from the Garden of Eden.  11 Sephiroth of the Fallen tree and correcting by managed to place Tiphareth back in the place of Daath… but this is another topic).  Without going to deep, in that system there are four “worlds” Malkuth being “Assiah” and the Hexagram sits in “Higher” ones.

The Cross

The Simple “Cross” ritual is based upon “Equilibration” of forces, keeping “Air” in the East.
East = Air, South = Fire, West = Earth and North = Water
Fire is invoked First in the South, then Water is invoked in the North.  Fires masculine Force to its counter part in Waters Feminine Form.  Air is considered in some systems to be the “Child of Fire and Water”, it then follows.  Air is invoked third in the East, and then Earth is invoked fourth in the West, once again “Force to Form” for stability.

This is also the method employed in the Enochian system.  Invoking Fire first, then Water, then Air and then Earth (most likely where the Cross ritual was drawn from).  Examples of this can be found in Regardie’s “Opening by the Watchtower”.

The Triquetra Ritual of the Pentagram

This is a ritual I wrote as an Elder to create your own ritual and explained the symbolism.  To sum it up simply:
North East = Spirit
North East is where the top point of the pentagram is placed and the other points then represent their respective elements.  This throws off all the quarters in tradition.  Quick summary why North East is chosen for “Spirit” is: 1. In the Golden Dawn system you stand in the North East and announce “Hekas Hekas Este Bebeloi!” and spirit in this ritual is the start point in both Banishing and Invoking. 2. In the Tattwa system, North East is associated with Spirit/Akasha. 3. North in the Pentagram is the most dense of the Elements and Air the least (minus fire the catalyst).  Between the binding these two extremes (and all the other elements of cause) is “Spirit”.
Rather than the concept of “Force and Form” which is most commonly employed, the movements around the pentagram are based on “Science” in a sense.  Following Density rather than the principle of Gender.
Summerised:
Earth = Solid, Water = Liquid, Air = Gas and Fire = Heat (the catalyst).
To Invoke – Bring spirit down into the circle:
Spirit, Fire, Air, Water, Earth and finish at Spirit.  (Moving Clockwise)
To Banish – Returning spirit:
Spirit, Earth, Water, Air, Fire and finish at Spirit.  (Moving Anti-clockwise)
As you will see however, the Masculine is “Invoked” first again and stablised in the Feminine (I neglected to mention that to the new comer, who was enthralled in the idea of not genderising the elements. I’m sure if she is still practising, she would relise what I did there).

The Triquetras are used as the symbol for the Invoking.  Top point associated with the All, the lower left with the “Goddess” and the lower right with the “God” (an issue was raised again, why is the Goddess on the left and not the right. So I will explain the same thing I said to her, “I face you and draw the Goddess on the left, what side do you see it on?  Your right.  Good.  Now you understand within each gender principle are more principles which balance: left and right, light and dark, life and death.  You understand?  The Goddess is on both the Right and the Left, the God is on both the right and the left.  It is just a matter of perspective”).  When, for example on the point of Fire for invoking, you would drive the triquetra from the top point of the all, down the edge of the right most circle (the three intersecting circles which create the triquetra) to the lower right point, then complete the diagram returning to the top point.  Finally drawing the elemental symbol of fire (the triangle).  Moving down the line of the pentagram to the next element air, then moving down the next line to Water.  At Water you would draw the Triquetra starting at the top point of “the All” and moving down the edge of the left most circle to the lower left point, then complete the diagram returning to the top point.  Finally drawing the elemental symbol of water (the triangle).
You will also notice with the drawing of the triquetras that the forces join, as with any continuous shape.  Invoking a masculine principle is followed by the feminine (lower right to lower left) and invoking the feminine principle is followed by the masculine (lower left to lower right).  Coming from the originating source and returning to it “I am divided for love’s sake, for the chance of union”.

Conclusion

As I said earlier… “Practical experience trumps any theory work”.  Read up, study, understand the principles behind the ideas.  Practice them and find what works.  You will be amazed.  You can quickly discern which authors are actually practicing magicians/witches/occultists from those who are just trying to make a quick buck.
The other thing you will notice, is that results follow.  Positive or Negative – Results.  As long as you know how to correct errors, you will be fine with experimentation.  I was a bit concerned when first making so many modifications in the construction of the above ritual: Using triquetras and completely repositioning the quarters.  There was only one way to find out what would happen, and it was to put my theory to practice.

The Circlet of the High Priestess

Specifications:

• Silver (or silver colour)
• Worn around head
• Has Triquetra in the centre front (single point up).

Design:

To make this is simple.  Any silver bendable wire and a Triquetra charm/pendant will suffice.  The Wire or thin piece of silver coloured metal is bent into the circlet shape and the Triquetra affixed or hung from it.  Hung like in the 1^st image below, or affixed as in the second.  Binding, Soldering or Welding and in some cases Gluing will affix the triquetra.

Other Acceptable Examples:

fig. 1

fig. 2

fig. 3 *acceptable if in silver.

The circlet can be as simple or as complex as you like.  The rules are the Triquetra needs to be silver, needs to be upright and present.  A forth central circle can be present as in the simple design or as in the 1^st and 3^rd designs above.  The entire circlet does not have to be silver, just the Triquetra.  This means a wreath can be used with a silver triquetra (or silver coloured) hanging or affixed to the front.  The item is to only be worn by the High Priestess.

Symbolism of the Triquetra upon the Circlet

The number three is a sacred number to the Goddess and holds a large amount of symbolism.

• The Triquetra has three points, these are similar to the three points of the triangle.  The triangle is the polygon that all other polygons can be reduced to, and is the strongest architectural figure known.  Being the strongest architectural figure represents Foundation and stability.  Being able to reduce all other polygons means all other polygons can be created by triangles, thus representing creation.  This strength is further illustrated in the symbols of the element of Earth.  The triangle of Earth contains a “bar” and this bar further represents it as a Foundation and also its stability.  Earth is the foundation, our fertile land from where all life comes and returns too.  Its sister (feminine) element Water is the essential element of life, it is the water we drink and which composes 72% of our bodies.  This is represented by the downward pointing triangle without a bar.  This downward pointing triangle is visibly present in the centre of the Triquetra at the point where all three circles intersect.
• The Triquetra is formed from three circles.  Two circles when overlapped form a pointed oval shape.  This shape in the intersecting circles is called a vesica and is a sacred symbol, used by medieval artists to enclose holy figures.  The two shapes conjoining also represent the union between the God and Goddess and the creative sacred space between them is this vesica.  The vesica is also often used to symbolize a state of transition, transference or transcendence.  The vesical also represents the female genitals (more on vesical symbolism in another text).  When a third circle is placed below the other two joined circles to equally overlap both, the Triquetra is formed.  In the Triquetra with circles we see the three aspects of the Goddess; Maiden, Mother and Crone.  We see the three phases of the Moon; Waxing, Full and Waning.  The left circle represents the Waning moon, as the part of the triquetra formed by this circle shows the crescent of the waning moon.  The right circle represents the Waxing moon as this is the symbol of the waxing crescent.  The lower circle represents the Full moon, between the phases of waxing and waning (going from waxing on the right, to full, then to waning on the left).  The fourth circle was a latter addition to this symbol in our tradition.  If present it represents the hidden (new) moon and the additional circle not being present also represents the new moon but as not being visible; the fourth hidden phase of the moon.  Present it represents the “New Moon”, not present;  the new moon is hidden as is the additional fourth circle.  (another way of interpretation has the lower circle the hidden new moon, as though they read it from waning to waxing having new between, and the full central circle being Full.  Though this interpretation is not the standard of this tradition, it is acceptable as the general symbolism and meanings are still the same).
• The Circlet also represents water.  The three points on the triquetra also represent the 3^rd Element the initiate is exposed to; Water.  The three points represent the three states of Water; ice, water, steam (solid, liquid, gas).  The moon controls the tides and the triquetra represents the moon.  The triquetra is to be silver, and this is also a colour and metal associated with water; the Silver chalice and the Silver crescent of the Apas Tattwa.
• The Circlet also represents Earth.  The round shape represents our physical world.  It is either made of metal or a wreath which come both from the Earth.  And the Triquetra itself can also be made to represent the three elements at its points; Water, Fire and Air.  All three which are existent within our physical world, which make up our Earth and find foundation upon, within or around the earth.  From being embraced within, or held by gravity.  “Water, Fire and Air” being the points of the triquetra, which is affixed to the circlet which symbolises Earth.

The Colour silver is used as this is the Metal of the moon.  And is the sacred metal of the Goddess, just as Gold is the sacred metal of the God (Sun).  As mentioned previously, silver is applicable to both Water and Earth as is the Triquetra.

Concluded…

The symbolism associated to the Triquetra Circlet of the High Priestess all simply represents the High Priestess as the physical representation of the Goddess.  When the High Priestess assumes the God-form of the/a Goddess, she becomes the Goddess and acts on behalf of the Goddess and by wearing the Triquetra Circlet the High Priestess illustrates this, symbolising her role.

Sources:
fig. 1: Triquetra Head Chain - Gothic – Wiccan - Pagan - Handfasting UK
- http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjAw/z/iQYAAOxyrx5Tj2nW/$_57.JPG
fig. 2: Priestess Circlet 
- http://www.afmetalsmith.com/contents/details/circlet.html
fig. 3: Triquetra Bronze Tiara
- http://gryphonsmoon.com/BRZ-122.item

Astrology: Basics – Part One

The Signs of the Zodiac

  ARIES (the Ram)  –  Triplicity: Fire  –  Quadruplicity: Cardinal

  TAURUS (the Bull)  –  Triplicity: Earth  –  Quadruplicity: Kerubic

  GEMINI (the Twins)  –  Triplicity: Air  –  Quadruplicity: Mutable

  CANCER (the Crab)  –  Triplicity: Water  –  Quadruplicity: Cardinal

  LEO (the Lion)  –  Triplicity: Fire  –  Quadruplicity: Kerubic

  VIRGO (the Virgin)  –  Triplicity: Earth  –  Quadruplicity: Mutable

  LIBRA (the Scales)  –  Triplicity: Air  –  Quadruplicity: Cardinal

  SCORPIO (the Scorpion)  –  Triplicity: Water  –  Quadruplicity: Kerubic

  SAGITTARIUS (the Archer)  –  Triplicity: Fire  –  Quadruplicity: Mutable

  CAPRICORN (the Sea-Goat)  –  Triplicity: Earth  –  Quadruplicity: Cardinal

  AQUARIUS (the Water-bearer)  –  Triplicity: Air  –  Quadruplicity: Kerubic

  PISCES (the Two Fish)  –  Triplicity: Water  –  Quadruplicity: Mutable

Triplicities (Elemental Groupings)

A “Triplicity” refers to a group of three zodiac signs.  There are four triplicities in total (12/3=4).  The four triplicites are governed by one of the four elements:  Earth, Air, Fire and Water.  The Triplicities represent the Elements operation in the Zodiac, and each Triplicity has assigned to them both positive and negative “traits”.

• Fire = Aries, Leo and Sagittarius
  • Positive Traits:  eager, enthusiastic, fiery, impassioned, independent and spontaneous.
  • Negative Traits:  can be too forceful, domineering and overbearing.
• Earth = Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn
  • Positive Traits:  conservative, dependable, earthly, practical, sensual and stable.
  • Negative Traits:  can be dull, overly materialistic, possessive and slow.
• Air = Gemini, Libra and Aquarius
  • Positive Traits:  able to communicate well, idealistic, intellectual, logical, objective and open-minded.
  • Negative Traits:  can be cold, impractical and insensitive.
• Water = Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces
  • Positive Traits:  compassionate, complex, emotional, intuitive, receptive and sensitive.
  • Negative Traits:  can be moody, easily influenced, self-pitying and wavering.

 

 

Quadruplicities (“Quality” Groupings)

The four letters “QUAD”, just like “TRI” would imply threes, implies fours.  The Quadruplicites are groups of 4 zodiac signs.
There are three Quadruplicities: Cardinal, Kerubic (Fixed) and Mutable.
Cardinal refers to the signs that rule the changes of the seasons (Aries = Spring, Cancer = Summer, etc – reverse for Southern Hemisphere).
Kerubic or Fixed signs refer to the signs that rule the Middle Month of each Season.
Mutable signs refer to the signs that rule the closing month of each season.
As with the Triplicities, each of the Quadruplicity groupings have both positive and negative traits assigned to them.

• Cardinal = Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn
  • Positive Traits:  Cardinal Signs are active, ambitious, enthusiastic, fervent, independent, and initiating. Mentally they are quick and insatiable.
  • Negative Traits:  They can be domineering, impetuous, thoughtless and without the ability to follow through with projects they have started
• Kerubic = Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius
  • These Signs are able to concentrate, are accumulative, determined, persevering, and stable. Their goals are reached slowly but steadily. They are perceptive and have excellent memories.
  • Negative Traits:  They can be egotistical, obstinate and too firmly ingrained in their ways and opinions.
• Mutable = Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces
  • Positive Traits:  adaptable, changeable, intuitive, subtle, understanding, and versatile. Mentally, they are clever and flexible.
  • Negative Traits:  They can be cunning, deceptive, fickle, and unreliable.

Monday Magick: Career Carer Spell by Nicola de Pulford

Career Career: An annual English ritual to pave the way for a good career.

From The Book of Spells by Nicola de Pulford (in italics).

You will need:

• A Green Candle
• A piece of Green Paper
• 2 Acorns
• A Silver coin

Although the oak and acorn are linked closely to the British Isles, the oak tree grows all over Europe. The ancient Druids planted sacred oak grovs as guardians, and marriages took place under isolated oaks that also marked the boundaries of a district. In England, some still stand to this day. The Native people of California revered the oak as their “world tree”, the acorn symbolizing the cosmic egg, from which all life came, and the tree itself symbolizing the cosmic axis, sacred to the Earth Mother. The acorn represents durability, resolution, and truth. A Thursday with a waxing moon is ideal for starting this spell.

Method:
On a Thursday morning, light the green candle. Close your eyes and imagine the candle’s light holding you in a safe cocoon. Write your name on the piece of paper, followed by any ambitions you have for your career. Extinguish the candle, and keep it to use again later. For the whole of the day, keep the acorns, silver coin, and paper in a pocket or pouch close to you. On returning home from work, light the candle again, and pass the acorns and silver swiftly through its flame. Wrap the acorns and silver in the paper and bury them in your garden, or another favourite spot. Repeat this spell at yearly intervals for continuing career success.

 

My commentary:
Understanding the use of correspondences.
The Waxing Moon: Is a symbol of “Increase” and is a time when Wiccans perform magic to bring things to them (for example).
Thursday? Thursday is governed by the Planet Jupiter, which has Prosperity, Wealth, Growth and so on as attributes.
You carry the items on you to “imbue” them with your “energy” (though to some this is enough, in my example I will show further focusing. You carried them with you, the absorbed the energy around you, witnessed your daily job, why not fill them with the energy now of your completed desire also?).
A lot of people attribute the colour green to money, because of the colour of money (if this is what you wish to believe, use it, this helps you focus regardless). However, green is a colour representative of the Element of Earth. From the Earth grows the grass, which feeds the cattle which were a symbol of status and wealth before “green” money. Further the Earth is loaded with resources, it is fertile, stable and not to mention full of treasures (precious metals, etc). The Elementals that govern Earth are the Gnomes, under the King, Ghob. Without delving too deeply into the Elementals, suffice to say, Earth is Green and represents Growth and Wealth. Elementals do not speak English as we do, but understand symbolism (From a Whare-Ra document on the Salamanders). The use of Green corresponds with them, the seeds (acorns) with growth within their element and the silver coin, representing the precious metals that come from it. The Acorns and Silver coin are there for representative as offerings. The paper with your name written on it, associates it with you (without going into the connections). The lighting of the Green candle attracts the attention of the Elementals, and your will felt through the work.

Taking the above as an example, to amplify the power of this spell I recommended these additional steps (add more or less as suits you):

1. Keep the times and day of practice as they are
2. Cast a circle
3. Perform a Banishing
4. Invoke the Element of Earth
5. Invoke a chosen Earth deity (or two, a god and goddess)
6. Take a few deep rhythmic breaths to get relaxed
7. Complete the steps “Close your eyes and imagine the candle’s light holding you in a safe cocoon. Write your name on the piece of paper, followed by any ambitions you have for your career. Extinguish the candle, and keep it to use again later”.
8. Thank the Deities, Release the elementals.
9. Perform a banishing
10. Close the circle

The Second part, repeat steps 1 through 6.

Take up the unlit candle and close your eyes. Feel the candle in your hands, and visualise your hands where they are. Visualise the candle in your hands. Once you have got this image. Visualise your career goal (the one you wrote out) completed, not the steps to get there, just the result (For example; A promotion, see yourself sitting in the new office, with the new duties, and new bonuses) over top of the candle in your hands. Once this is clear, take a deep breath in, and as you exhale, push the visualised scene of your completed goal into the candle and see it glow with energy as you do so. Light the candle and say “It is done”.

Take up the acorns in and cup them in both hands, raise them above your head, Vibrate the deity names you have chosen, while focusing on your hands (causing it to feel as though the vibration of your words is in your hands) while you do this, see the acorns (in your minds eye) glow. Say, “These acorns, seeds of the might oak tree. Symbols of Life and growth, growing into symbols of strength and stability. I give them as offerings to the Earth deities and Elementals for aiding me in the working of my will” As you pass the each acorn through the candle flame (while still visualising them glowing) say “I seal this offering to the completion of my Will”, repeat for the second acorn. Place them to the side.

Take up the silver coin above you head, vibrate again the deity names, see the coin glow. Say “This shiney silver coin, symbolic of the treasures the lie within the body of the Great Mother, the treasures of the Earth over which the Elementals of Earth preside. I offer this, my treasure as an offering for aiding me in completing my will” Pass the coin through the flame as you passed the acorns.
Place the acorns on coin on the paper and wrap them as instructed previously.

Follow the steps 8 to 10.

Bury the paper, coin and acorns in the Earth as soon as possible.

Salt represents Earth? Rock Salt, Sea Salt or Chicken Salt… Which, What and Why.

In a number of Wiccan Traditions Salt is used to represent Earth, and it has triggered one of the most common questions I have been asked: “How does salt represent Earth”. Following this would be “Doesn’t salt come from the sea?” and one example of a jokingly made statement: “Can I use Chicken-Salt?”.

Earth the Element.
When we think of the elements be think of the Periodic table from our time in school, and the four elements used in Wicca, though archaic, are not too far from this table of elements. We need to remember, that when these elements were thought of science was in its infancy, what we have new terms for now, were described in an alternative fashion.
Earth = Solid, Water = Liquid, Air = Gas. They represent the states the elements from the periodic table can be in. Fire = Heat and Heat is the catalyst. Heat a solid, it becomes Liquid, continue to heat and it becomes a Gas, remove the heat and the processes reverses from Air to Earth (Gaseous to Solid).
Salt is a “crystalline” solid. Crystalline means: having the structure and form of a crystal.

Sea Salt or Rock Salt?
If we take the previous example as the only requirement we can use both. Both are solid, and Earth represents solid physical matter.
However, some people wish to take more correspondences and take things that step further. In saying that, in a pinch, grabbing the salt off the herb rack (that you use in cooking) is perfectly fine to use, by the previous example of Salt as a Solid (not to mention personal experience with practical application).
So Sea Salt pretty much sums the type of Salt, and Rock salt, though slightly more ambiguous, once read makes sense also. Instead of attempting to summarise myself I will use a quote and throw in a picture of a Rock Salt mine: “In deep-shaft mining, or conventional mining, tunnels are dug underground to reach the salt leftover from ancient sea beds, which is then mined like any other mineral. This primarily results in rock salt. The purest salt, however, is harvested through solar evaporation. In warm regions with low rates of precipitation, salt is harvested once a year from shallow ponds and pools evaporated by the sun during the summer. Salt produced in this fashion, called “sea salt,” is a common ingredient in cooking and cosmetics.” – (Where does salt come from – Ask.com, http://www.ask.com/question/where-does-salt-come-from)\

Sea Salt spends more time in water, which is not that element of Earth. While Rock Salt is mined from underground, within the element of Earth, from ancient sea-beds. This is the main argument again “Sea-Salt” is the fact Rock salt is more Element specific. If we take the side of Rock Salt and look further into Elementals for correspondence, we can liken the Gnomes to mines and caverns within the Earth. If the user held a belief in Elementals, an underground mine would be an excellent place for Earth elements to congregate, while a pond or the “Sea” would be a perfect place for Undines to exert their influence. Pushing belief one step further, that crystals (crystalline solids) can store “energy”, the energy of the Elementals, of the Element, would be imbued within them. Though Rock Salt was once in the sea, it is now within the Earth surrounded by that element. Sea-salt was recently evaporated from salt-water, recently being surrounded by the element of Water.
Once again, if you only have one type of salt, cant afford or in any other way purchase any other form… as long as it is a Solid it represents Earth. However, if you are going to go out of your way to purchase salt more applicable to the “correspondences”, purchase Rock-Salt.

A History of Salt Use
Though my professors, seeing this would’ve killed me, but here is a Wikipedia Reference (check out the references that Wikipedia offer for further details on the subjects).
“Salt has long held an important place in religion and culture. At the time of Brahmanic sacrifices, in Hittite rituals and during festivals held by Semites and Greeks at the time of the new moon, salt was thrown into a fire where it produced crackling noises. The ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans invoked their gods with offerings of salt and water and some people think this to be the origin of Holy Water in the Christian faith. In Aztec mythology, Huixtocihuatl was a fertility goddess who presided over salt and salt water.
In one of the hadiths recorded in Sunan Ibn Majah, the Islamic Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said that: “Salt is the master of your food. God sent down four blessings from the sky – fire, water, iron and salt”. Salt is considered to be a very auspicious substance in Hinduism and is used in particular religious ceremonies like house-warmings and weddings. In Jainism, devotees lay an offering of raw rice with a pinch of salt before a deity to signify their devotion and salt is sprinkled on a person’s cremated remains before the ashes are buried. Salt is believed to ward off evil spirits in Buddhist tradition, and when returning home from a funeral, a pinch of salt is thrown over the left shoulder as this prevents evil spirits from entering the house. In Shinto, salt is used for ritual purification of locations and people (harae, specifically shubatsu), and small piles of salt are placed in dishes by the entrance of establishments for the two-fold purposes of warding off evil and attracting patrons.
In the Hebrew Bible, there are thirty-five verses which mention salt. One of these is the story of Lot’s wife, who was turned into a pillar of salt when she looked back at the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:26) as they were destroyed. When the judge Abimelech destroyed the city of Shechem, he is said to have “sown salt on it,” probably as a curse on anyone who would re-inhabit it (Judges 9:45). The Book of Job contains the first mention of salt as a condiment. “Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?” (Job 6:6). In the New Testament, six verses mention salt. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus referred to his followers as the “salt of the earth”. The apostle Paul also encouraged Christians to “let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6). Salt is mandatory in the rite of the Tridentine Mass. Salt is used in the third item (which includes an Exorcism) of the Celtic Consecration (cf. Gallican Rite) that is employed in the consecration of a church. Salt may be added to the water “where it is customary” in the Roman Catholic rite of Holy water.
In Judaism, it is recommended to have either a salty bread or to add salt to the bread if this bread is unsalted when doing Kiddush for Shabbat. It is customary to spread some salt over the bread or to dip the bread in a little salt when passing the bread around the table after the Kiddush. To preserve the covenant between their people and God, Jews dip the Sabbath bread in salt. In Wicca, salt is symbolic of the element Earth. It is also believed to cleanse an area of harmful or negative energies. A dish of salt and a dish of water are almost always present on an altar, and salt is used in a wide variety of rituals and ceremonies.” (Salt – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt#Usage_in_religion)

Finally…
We see from this Why Salt, Which Salt and What is Salt used for. The History of salt in ritual and religious works is large, and that plus the other reasons I mentioned are why I choose to use Salt (even table salt, blessed and consecrated of cause).

If you have any questions regarding this, feel free to leave a comment. I would like to also hear your personal beliefs and your reasons for using and usages of salt or your reasons for not using it.