REMEMBER:  Salt that isn't consecrated in advance isn't "worth its salt" when it comes to energy clearing!

            Salt has been used for eons to cleanse and purify on a psychic, spiritual, and energetic level.  Consecrated salt is spread around rooms and houses to ward off evil spirits, mixed into holy water for a similar purpose, used to clear one's aura of negativity and trauma, and also rubbed on ceremonial tools (such as crystals or sacred jewelry) to cleanse and purify the object.  Although any type of salt will technically work for these purposes (including common table salt), the kind of salt that usually works best (and carries the most magical punch) is SEA SALT. 

            My own personal favorite kind of sea salt to use for energetic and ceremonial cleansing is Celtic sea salt (available at many health food stores, at least, as of this writing).  However, any type of sea salt that you happen to have on hand will work just fine.  There is some disagreement as to whether one must use the whole salt crystals, or if the finely ground stuff will suffice.  In my personal experience, BOTH the salt crystals and the finely ground salt are powerful cleansers, especially when you are dealing with pure sea salt (as opposed to table salt).   They do have different uses that they work better for, though.  (For example, finely ground sea salt dissolves in water slightly faster than the whole crystals, which might be helpful when you are trying to make a purification spray.)  I say use whatever form of sea salt that you have access to, as it is ALL powerful. 

          If you don't have sea salt on hand when you need to do an energetic clearing, you can also use whatever kind of salt you have (including plain table salt).  In my experience, these other kinds of salt do not work as powerfully as sea salts, but they do still get the job done more or less.  Whatever kind of salt you are using, you must remember to CONSECRATE it first, or otherwise it is not very effective as a psychic cleanser.  Using salt to spiritually cleanse with that has not first been consecrated can actually do more harm than good.  Consecration (and removal of any pre-existing negative energies in the salt) is crucial for activating the energetic cleansing process. 

CONSECRATION & WHY IT IS NEEDED

When it comes to using sea salt for spiritual psychic cleansing (or any other kind of salt), it is VERY important to consecrate the salt first.  "Consecration" means purifying the salt through energy, prayer, and intentions, and raising its qualities to a higher (more spiritual) vibration.  This doesn't necessarily have to take a long time, but it does need to be done IN ADVANCE of using the salt for any kind of spiritual or psychic cleansing.  This is true of any and all kinds of salt. 

           The reason salt must be consecrated first before using in this way is because salt has a tendency to naturally absorb energies, including negative ones.  In fact, salt is one of the most powerful natural absorbants of negative energies (that's why it works so well in cleansing, purification and exorcism rituals).  Salt that is not consecrated absorbs negative energies just sitting on the shelf.  You don't want any of these pre-existing negative energies going into whatever it is you are trying to cleanse with the salt or spreading to your aura.  That's why you CONSECRATE the salt.  When you consecrate salt, you are basically doing a little mini-exorcism on any energetic nasties that it may have previously picked up and clearing the slate so that the absorbant nature of the salt can be utilized for the cleansing task at hand.  

 HOW TO CONSECRATE SALT

          As mentioned above, salt can be purified and consecrated by using positive energy and intentions along with prayer.  This takes out all of the energetic impurities and raises the vibration of the salt to a higher level.  There are no special prayers or magic formulas that "must" be said to consecrate salt, as each of us will consecrate our salt in our own unique ways, in accordance with our own individual understanding of how to work with Divine energy.  An invocation or prayer of some kind is usually involved.  Again, this prayer will be unique to the individual.  However, whatever kind of prayer or energy work you do on the salt, it does need to include at least two elements:

#1)  You must have the faith, belief and knowing that your prayer is effective, and be strong in the intention within yourself that the salt is being cleansed of all negativity and raised to a higher level. 

#2)  You must specifically ask & intend (in your own way) that the salt be purged and cleared of any and all pre-existing negativity, and that it now be activated/dedicated as an instrument of cleansing, purification, and healing. 

Here is another HELPFUL HINT:  When you do the asking/intending/praying mentioned above in #2, it also helps if you place your hands on the salt, and transmit light energy through your fingertips.  I also find it helpful if you actually stick a finger or two down into the salt and stir it around as you are cleansing/consecrating it.  Or conversely, you can use your mind & your imagination to simply visualize light pouring down into the salt and spiraling around and working out all the impurities.  I also recommend that you meditate to ground, center & purify YOURSELF a few moments before you begin the consecration process.  It is particularly helpful to imagine yourself surrounded in either a white light or a blue light.

It should go without saying (but just in case it doesn't, smile) that this procedure of consecration is best done when you are in a positive, calm, and centered state of mind.  It will also work best when you are alone & undisturbed in a quiet place.

         As far as the physical logistics go, it is best if you can take the entire bag of sea salt at once and pour it into a glass, ceramic, copper or china bowl and consecrate the entire bag at once.  This has two benefits:  #1)  If you consecrate the entire bag all at once, you won't have to consecrate any more salt for a little while.   #2)  Also, even if you are not consecrating the entire bag of salt, it's just easier to place your hands over the salt & send energy when it is poured into a bowl.  Just be sure to never use a plastic bowl if you can avoid it, as that doesn't go too well with the whole purification thing (smile).  

In case you are the kind of person who likes things broken down into linear steps (or if you would just like to see an example of how this is actually done by one person) I am going to give you an idea of one of my own personal rituals for consecrating salt below.  However, do keep in mind that each person is unique (including you), and once you get into consecrating your own salt, you will naturally find the way that works best for you.  So let your own inner spirit (along with your angels & guides) direct you as to the proper method for you, and consider what I am writing here only as a navigation tool to get you pointed in the right direction. (smile)