Hekate's Kitchen Tips
Which Witch are you? There are two "styles" of Witches, the Ceremonial Witch and the Practical Witch. This page is to the Practical Witch who I'm quite fond of because I am more Practical than Ceremonial!
I do my "daily" magic with all the tools The Goddess gave me, my body and mind. I hardly use my athame or sword. The times when I would need them, they aren't readily available, or I'm in a position or place that would really raise some chaos if I went around flashing a blade to and fro! . Therefore I rely on the old way.
In everyday life (while at the mall, grocery store, work, restaurant, or at home), situations arise that need change at any given moment. Since you may not have time to "robe up", you need to know what to do.
Example:
Your in a restaurant, you've just been seated, and you realize it feels uncomfortable in this space. The people who sat there before you could have been in a negative mood, ill, or some type of energy flow that isn't harmonize with your energy. Take the salt shaker from the table, pour some in your hand. Charge it up with an invoking pentagram while thinking "creature of salt, I charge ye up, for your grounding effect. To transform negative to positive". Make sure the energy is streaming out of your pointer finger strong. You will feel in your other hand (that's holding the salt) the energy get really intense as if a hole is being drilled through, you've got it charged just right. Sprinkle it around you and your other members who are with you, and don't forget the surrounding floor, table, and chairs. Within a few moments you will feel the change!
I wear a small bottle filled with my salt for when I am out in public. It keeps me grounded, and keeps the bad "hinks" away. It's also close at hand if I need it because I may not be close to a salt shaker. I can retrieve it quietly and do my work without anyone being the wiser!
I have also "salted" down my desk area at work. It not only grounds everyone who enters the area, but it grounds ME. I did accounting for years, and believe me, I needed the help at month's end and other dead lines!
Have you ever noticed sitting in a chair after someone else (who has back problems) and your back starts to hurt for no apparent reason? You never thought it was the others person's pain, but it does linger. Salt the chair seat, give it a minute or two, and you'll be feeling fine again. Headaches, stomach aches/stomach problems all can come to you from someone else's energy. If you find your self feeling bad out of no where, take note who and what is around you. Being a practical Witch is what it's all about. Don't forget to do a banishing pentagram when things feel hinky, too. You can change the energy in any room or area at any time with this, practice till you get it right, again making sure the energy is flowing from your finger tip good and strong. It is a physical feeling. I'm not talking visualization here, but the manifestation of your energy flow!
Salt is not exorcised, but blessed. Salt is a sterilizer and is already considered pure. In the magical circle it is used to prevent cleansed water from absorbing any negative influences and is used to represent earth.
One way of blessing the salt is as follows:
Hold the bowl of salt in one hand. Insert (or direct) your finger tip to the salt and say "Blessings Be upon thee o creature of salt, let all malignity and hindrance be cast forth hence from and let all good enter therein. Therefore I bless thee and invoke thee that thou may aid me in the name of Hecate (or _______ your Goddess Name)
Please remember that you are not casting out malignancy and negativity from the salt, but charging it to do so wherever you sprinkle it, as in this case, the water.
Make up a big "batch" at full moon and keep in a sealed (airtight) container, then you have a "charged" supply handy at all times.
Other fun salt lore:
Salt is a symbol of life, purity, protection and wealth.
Food that has salt in it can't be hexed.
At one time this was so strongly believed, salt would be the first thing put on the table and the last thing removed so that it could guard the food.
It was once so valuable Roman soldiers were paid in salt.
Salt under your mattresses would improve your sleep by keeping negative energies at bay.
A circle of salt around your bed will guard you while you sleep.
Salt keeps out evil spirits and negative energy. A circle of it should be sprinkled around your home. When moving in to a new house, after cleansing it, sprinkle salt about the outside boundaries.
Throw a handful of salt into all doorways of a new home before you enter for the same reasons as above.
Salt on your window sills improves your luck, and will attract money to a new home.
After you have moved in to your new home, boil a pot of water in which you have put rosemary, bay, salt and lots of lemon, charging them up as you add them to the pot. I use a big pot of water, put in the herbs and salt, squeeze several lemons into it and then throw in the peels. After it has boiled for a while, I let it cool a bit, remove the peels and use the water to scrub the floors of a new house. For rugs I throw rosemary, crashed bay and salt on them and vacuum. You need to focus strong and clear with your intensions while doing this. Chants for protection and good luck while scrubbing and vacuuming is appropriate, too.
I have never moved into a place that felt "evil" and find haunted houses interesting, so I do not know if this removes evil spirits, but it does remove the former occupants vibes.
This can be used anytime you need to cleanse or change the vibes of your home. It also helps to remove pain (as I talked about) that someone has left in that area before. - believe it or not. Salt also helps to "ground" that type of energy.
It is bad luck to spill salt or to ever run out of salt in your home, so keep an extra box in your pantry.
The first time you visit someone in their new home you should always bring them a gift of salt and a loaf of bread (you are wishing/bring them prosperity, protection and the wish that they will always have food in their pantry, and money in their pocket).
It's bad luck to give away salt on Beltane - you are giving away your prosperity.
Picture: Artist Unknown