Salt is one of the most common, yet potent, magical items in your kitchen. Over the centuries salt has functioned in a mundane capacity such as currency, preservation, and culinary uses, as well as for magical purposes. At one time Roman soldiers received salt as part of their pay because it was a precious commodity; time consuming to both mine and process. Its use as a preservative for food made it invaluable in a time before refrigeration. Eventually, as with many other mundane objects turned magical, superstition quickly surrounded it.
 
It is common knowledge today to throw spilled salt over your left shoulder, as the left side has long been associated with evil or malevolent energies. The left Hand Path is considered a dark path (though I would not consider it evil), and even some Christian beliefs say the Devil sits on your left side. However, there are plenty more superstitions connected with salt. In places like Germany, Scotland, and Normandy it was once spread in and around the butter churn to deter witches from spoiling it, and in the Ozarks it was once said that witches didn’t like salt, so if someone complained about food being too salty they were a witch. Many cultures around the world have had their own beliefs as well. In Ireland it was used in conjunction with prayer to cure those who were considered “fairy struck”, and in Egypt it was burned on hot coals in the desert to protect travelers from evil spirits.
 
Culinarily speaking there are at least a dozen types of salt. However, magically speaking there are three main types used, each with their own purpose. (These can vary between traditions and personal experience).
 
 

• Table or Sea Salt offers purification when used to cleanse/consecrate objects like altar or magical tools, crystals, etc.. and can even be added to water to cleanse one’s home (like floors and walls.) It has also been used to represent the Earth element on altars or in ritual, have a grounding effect, and used to create the sacred circle where ritual or spell work is performed.  
• Black Salt is primarily used to create a protective barrier, which is commonly done by creating a salt line across thresholds or liminal spaces like on window sills and in doorways, but can be used to create sacred circles for magical workings as well. It has also been used in spell work for banishing, warding off evil energies/entities, and breaking curses.
• Pink Himalayan salt is used for purification, but in a different way. It is meant to “purify” one emotionally, promoting emotional healing while fostering self-love and bringing harmony to relationships of all kinds (not just between lovers).

 
In some ancient cultures it was used as an offering to deities. Two such deities were the Aztec goddess Huixtocihuatl, and the Mesopotamian goddess Ninpumuna. It was even mentioned in the bible (Leviticus) that every offering of grain and animal placed on the altar had to be seasoned with salt.
 
As you can see, salt has been a big part of both mundane and magical practices for centuries. I find it interesting that some beliefs/superstitions around salt are said to repel or indicate/implicate witches (as they are said to not like it), while it is also used in many magical practices to purify and protect them. Just an observation.
 
So how do you use it in your magical practice? Do you use more than one kind? Do you keep your magical and culinary salt separate? Does salt hold any superstitions for you?  I would love to know.

Spaces like crossroads and roundabouts are considered liminal spaces. They allow the practitioner to enter a space/state physically, mentally/emotionally, or spiritually that allows for or helps facilitate transition between a current and a wanted state. Magically speaking, we can use these spaces to manifest, diminish, set boundaries, remove obstacles, see potential paths, make choices, and many other things. There are many Gods and Goddesses that are associated with crossroads. Some that you may be familiar with are Hecate and Hermes (Greek), Kali and Lord Bhairava (Hindu), Mercury (Roman), and Papa Legba (Vodou), though there are many others across other cultures. Crossroads are also excellent places to connect with or leave offerings to these deities.
 
Crossroads are pretty common spaces these days, as city and country road ways are built primarily on intersecting streets. While it may be a little more difficult and much less practical to use city streets as a place for magic, considering how little privacy one would have, and it may be more difficult to properly bury or leave offerings in a respectful manner, it is not impossible. As more people have/need to live in cities for convenience urban magic has become more popular. What will be will find a way. These intersections are a great place to help you see the paths before you, make choices with the available options, or see/find a new path entirely. It is tradition to offer the Gods/Goddesses of these special spaces an offering when here, and they make good places to bury spells that require something to be trapped, absorbed or transferred. There are many superstitions involving crossroads, such as that they confuse wandering spirits (so victims of suicide or criminals that were executed were often buried there), deals with the devil were made there, and magic done to change a person’s luck were performed there (the negative energy or “bad luck” would be swapped with a passerby).
 
Roundabouts, a growing traffic trend (at least where I am from), can also be considered liminal spaces. However, they are not quite a crossroad and would be used differently for magical/spiritual practices. The streets of a crossroads intersect, while a roundabout has no actual intersecting streets. It’s cyclical design is made for different magic. As a liminal space, it is still used for the same types of magic (transition, manifestation, protection, diminishing/letting go, etc..), however, the practitioner would utilize the momentum of energy as it travels around the circle. The constant motion of the traffic that traverses every day can help build its momentum, if you set that intention. Depending on where you live, roundabouts have two different functions. If you live in countries like the UK, Ireland, Japan, Australia, or New Zealand, all places that drive on the left side of the road, traffic moves through the roundabout in a clockwise motion (Deosil). This builds energy that is great for building things up. Like calling in abundance, building a boundary, or changing one’s fate/luck for the better. However if you live in places like Canada, the USA, France, or Germany, where the traffic drives on the right side of the road, the vehicles, and therefore the energy, of the circle, travels in a counterclockwise (widdershins) direction. This energy flow is better suited to banishing, diminishing, and removal magics. Thus, spells for letting go, banishing, binding, and secrecy would be well performed here. One could also consider them a ready-made circle that could be turned to a scared space as well. Kind of makes one long for a nice abandoned town, don’t you think?
 
Both crossroads and roundabouts can provide and excellent space for magical workings, if you can find the privacy you need and the time. Have you ever used one for your work? Would you? Did you ever consider a roundabout as a potential magical space? Do you now? I would love to know your thoughts.    

Have you ever read a book or heard a theory that started out promising/interesting, but then, as you get deeper into it, it starts to grate on you? Maybe it is a slow process that, over time, you feel a disconnect with that train of thought, or perhaps it is a sudden realization that you no longer vibe with what is being said. However it happens, I believe in following one’s intuition, even when everyone else seems to think it is a good idea. In my posts, and in many of the reviews I have written over the years, I have always said to take what feels right to you and leave the rest.
 
There will be times when we learn or hear something that sounds good on the surface, but a deeper look makes us second guess. There will also be times when it out right repulses us. When this happens it usually results in the person closing the book, refusing to listen, or even arguing/debating/ranting about it. As (what I call) a completionist, I will always finish the book (which is what happened recently, which is what sparked this post). I like to think that I am open to debate/discussion on any topic, even when I feel the other opinion goes against what I believe or currently know to be true. That said, I also know I am quite stubborn, so this is a factor too. Most people I know do not read the books I do, so there is not usually someone to debate these topics with, though some ranting may happen (just ask my friends).
 
What I think is important at these times is not so much the topic we are so against, as the way we react to it, or rather, the motivation behind that reaction. When I find myself reacting so strongly to a topic I have to wonder why. What about this topic has struck a nerve? Is it simply contrary to my current knowledge or beliefs? What am I objecting to, the information, the person presenting the information, or how the information is being presented? Am I opposed to all of the information or just part of? Is my disapproval based on my own morals/values, my religious/spiritual practice, or personal experience? Do I really oppose this information, or is my reaction based on views/opinions other people I respect or care about think/have expressed?  These are all valid and, in my opinion, important questions to ask. The answers can tell us much about ourselves, and our shadow side.
 
Recently I read a book that made me feel some kind of way. At first the theories presented seemed rather sound, but as the book went on it started to feel…inauthentic. I did question whether my initial reaction had to do with one of the people who wrote part of the introduction, as I am not particularly fond of them. While I did not enjoy that part, I like to think I gave the book itself a fair chance. At first it felt like the author was describing a spiritual path that seemed reasonable. In fact, it sounded much like many spiritual books you would likely find on any shelf in the bookstore. However, as the book progressed, it described beliefs and techniques/exercises that absolved the reader/practitioner of accountability for their actions, asking them to deny or repress their feelings and their shadow side, all under the guise of enlightenment. If you have been reading my posts, you know that this kind of theory/practice would not sit well with me. It would, in fact, fall under one of my recent posts about spiritual bypassing. I almost did not want to finish the book after getting a little over half way through it. Particularly after writing that post. However, I did finish it, regardless of my opinion of it.
 
It is difficult to expand and grow as a person if we do not expose ourselves to new and different thoughts, beliefs, and experiences. We are certainly not going to agree with everything we hear and see, and that is ok. We all have our own path. However, I do think it is important to listen to and discuss these differences. You never know what kernels of truth you may find for yourself. That doesn’t mean you have to finish every book you start, or participate in discussions/debates that will ultimately lead no where except anger and frustration. I am simply saying that when we come across the ones that rub us the wrong way, we should question why they do. Perhaps we could also ask ourselves what different morals/values, upbringings, cultural beliefs, and personal experiences could they have had that led them to this opinion/theory that is so contrary to our own. These questions could help us understand not only ourselves, but others as well. It is ok to agree to disagree, and to travel our own paths however we feel is right. That said, a little understanding can go a long way.
 
Have you ever read a book or participated in a spiritual debate that really got under your skin? Did you stay/continue reading, or did you distance yourself from it? What is your first response to dealing with uncomfortable or opposing topics, argue, retreat, or just listen and not participate/ignore? Do you question why you feel a certain way about things, or just accept that you do? I would love to know. 

In a few of my previous posts I have written about the power of positive thinking, and its effects on magical/spiritual endeavours. Usually, this is a very positive thing, however, there are limits to this. Sometimes it can be taken too far. The point where it crosses the line between positive thought over to spiritual bypassing.
So what is spiritual bypassing? Well, this term, coined by transpersonal psychotherapist John Welwood in the 1980’s, refers to when a person uses an extreme positive mindset as a long term solution to avoid facing emotional discomfort. While it is not uncommon to distance ourselves from a difficult situation in the moment to alleviate some of the stress and anxiety, allowing ourselves some time to evaluate the situation, and to act accordingly rather than react rashly, avoiding it all together can have negative consequences. This is why shadow work is so important. Those emotions we deem negative do serve an important purpose. Emotions like anger, fear, shame, grief, are both natural and healthy when not taken to extreme or allowed to fester. They can alert us to danger, provide needed context, and allow us to process difficult situations so we can grow emotionally and spiritually. If we suppress, ignore, or avoid them, they can turn toxic. Indulging in spiritual bypassing can not only stunt one’s personal growth, it can cause other issues like emotional confusion, codependency, or the acceptance of otherwise unacceptable behaviours like over stepping boundaries.
There are a few ways that spiritual bypassing behaviour can be recognized within oneself or in others. These can include:
Forced Positivity: I am sure many, if not all, of you have heard the term “toxic positivity”. I am not a huge fan of this term, but it does provide an accurate visual. You may know or have met someone who always seems so happy and positive all the time, and look like they have their whole life put together, with never a negative thing to say. You may recognize some of these familiar phrases that are often used by people during stressful or uncomfortable situations like “everything happens for a reason”, or “just send it/them love and light”, or “just think positively and it will all be ok”. While these can be comforting in the moment, it can be damaging to simply dismiss how you feel about something/someone, or feel that in order to be a spiritual person you must “rise above” your feelings rather than acknowledge, accept, and process them. Not every terrible or traumatic event is “just” a learning experience from the universe.
Emotional Numbing: This can mean being numb to your own emotions, or those of other people. This is usually done by suppressing or denying those emotions using something like meditation or prayer as an escape.
Detachment from Reality: This one is like stepping out of the self and looking in. Detaching from the situation under the guise that the current experience or one’s physical/emotional needs are not important; that as spiritual beings we are above such things, and therefore, they are irrelevant.
Faux Forgiveness: Forgiveness is important, but sometimes we rush to say we forgive someone before the situation has been fully processed. One might do this in order to avoid thinking about the person/situation all together, or so that we seem more enlightened or “spiritually superior” (an “I am the better person because I took the high road” mentality).
You might be wondering how all this relates to the metaphysical or the practice of your craft. Well, spell craft can be used to aid in spiritual bypassing. Using spells to gain what we might deem as justice for ourselves/others, cursing/hexing, or just simply trying to “let go” before we have fully processed what has happened and how we are feeling can all play a part in spiritual bypassing. Again, it is important to do the shadow work and really process those thoughts and emotions before reacting or trying to “just move on”.
Now this is not to say that many of these things, in moderation, can’t be helpful along our spiritual journey. Sometimes we do need to avoid a possible emotional overwhelm in the heat of the moment. I can definitely say I have been guilty of many of these, especially before studying psychology/shadow work as much as I do now. Many of you can probably say the same. There is no shame in that. Recognizing and acknowledging it, and seeking help when we need it are steps in the right direction on any spiritual path.
So, have you experienced spiritual bypassing? Do you know/have you met someone who is like this? What was your impression/experience? I would love to know.