Salts are important from ancient to Renaissance alchemy, and still used today in alchemical projects, dyeing, cuisine and medicine. In Christian German folklore, when wood squeals in fire it's interpreted as cries of sinners in Hell. A little salt thrown in the fire quiets them down.
The squealing of wood in fire is due to the buildup and rapid expulsion of gasses. Usually these logs also crack, releasing the gasses. The squealing stops when the air or gas is released. Flame may burn brighter for a moment.
Scientifically, salt does not react in fire. In German folklore, salt is an enemy of the devil. If a person spills salt, a pinch thrown over the left shoulder will hit the devil in the eye. Salt can also be used to extinguish fires due to the action of nitrogen.
The Symbolism of Salt
In alchemical tradition, salt is much more than a seasoning; it represents the principle of permanence, stability, and preservation. The ancient Greeks referred to salt as “the divine element” responsible for maintaining balance within the body and spirit.
This idea permeates alchemical thought, where salt is seen as representing the material world, the tangible aspects of existence. Islamic alchemy identifies mercury - spirit, moon, Latin spiritus; sulfur - soul, sun Latin anima; and salt - body, earth, Latin corpus.
Paracelsus popularizes these during the Renaissance. Opinion is divided as to whether Islamic alchemists are the first to include salt in the mercury-sulfur pairing, or whether salt is an addition of Paracelsus.
Islamic alchemists of the 10th century explore both sal ammoniac (a white crystalline salt) and arsenic in conjunction with mercury and sulfur. Sal ammoniac or salammoniac is an archaic name for ammonium chloride [NH4]Cl, and is a stock ingredient of the alchemical pantry.
Salt as a Symbol of the Earth Element
Chemically speaking, salt is a compound (Sodium Chloride or NaCl) not an individual element. The elements sodium and chloride are fixed, meaning they are not combustible in fire.
Salt's connection to earth is significant in alchemy, where earth embodies physicality and stability. Alchemists view salt as the solid foundation upon which transformation occurs.
This aligns with the idea of grounding in reality any spiritual or inner work. Salt emphasizes the importance of remaining connected to the earthly plane while in pursuit of enlightenment.
Salt and the Triad of Elements
During the Alchemical Golden Age of the Renaissance, alchemical philosophy frequently includes the triad of elements: sulfur, mercury, and salt. Each of these substances symbolizes a different aspect of the process of transformation.
Sulfur represents the soul and fiery will, mercury symbolizes the spirit and fluidity, while salt embodies the body and material manifestation. This trinity illustrates how the balance of these elements is essential for achieving the alchemist's goals.
Practical Applications in Alchemy & Trade
In addition to its symbolic meaning, salt has many practical applications in alchemical practices. Alchemists use various types of salts, including sodium chloride, natron and other mineral salts, for their healing properties and chemical reactions.
Cleansing and Purification
Salt is used in purification rituals, symbolizing removal of impurities from substances and self. This aligns with the overarching notion of some alchemists of purifying the soul to prepare for higher realms of existence.
Catalyst in Transmutation
In some alchemical processes, salt acted as a catalyst to facilitate the transmutation of substances. By adding salt to certain mixtures, alchemists invoke changes in the materials, contracting and crystallizing the essential qualities.
Salt is a Natural Preservative
It's known as such by c. 2000 BCE in Egypt. One of the Egyptian trade items is salt fish. Use of salt as a food preservative maintains meat and fish on the road and facilitates travel. Salt is effective as in preservation because it reduces water activity of foods.
Protective Properties
Salt is associated with protection against harmful magic energies and influences. This belief in salt’s protective properties remains prevalent in various cultural practices even today. A circle of salt has protective powers for home, sacred objects or working with volatile magic.
Processing and Trade
The Neolithic town of Solnitsata at the west of the Black Sea is known for extracting salt from natural brine springs and making it into a profitable business.
Trade routes in the Balkans center on Solnitsata. Earlier yet are salt production sites in today's Romania and in China, both c. 6000 BCE.
Salts as Mordants for Dyes
Metals like aluminum, chromium, copper, iron, and tin can take the form of metal salts such as alum, copper sulfate, ferrous sulfate, potassium dichromate, stannous chloride, and stannic chloride. Salts are are commonly used as mordants to brighten dye and make it colorfast.
Salt for Health
As people become more stable, turning to agricultural work and settled communities, grains and vegetables make up a large part of the diet. Adult humans need about a teaspoon of salt a day. Hunting provides salt from meat, but non-meat-eaters have to supplement.
Salt helps infections heal and is an effective antibacterial mouthwash or rinse diluted 1/2 tsp to 1 cup water or as desired. Bathing in sea water is a popular therapy in Victorian times.
Salt in Modern Alchemical Thought
The symbolic meaning and significance of salt continue to resonate today. Modern spiritual practices often draw upon the themes of grounding, purification, and transformation associated with salt.
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