Why you don’t need salt to do space clearing

Salt is one of the techniques I included in my first space clearing book, published in 1996. I rarely used it then and stopped using it completely 20 years ago.

Bowl of salt

Salt is one of the things I dropped from the space clearing ceremony many years ago as being unnecessary and also because it’s downright irritating to have crunchy rock or sea salt underfoot for days after. Its purifying properties are far better utilized as a personal mouthwash than for clearing energies in rooms.

Once and for all, I also want to dispel the myth that it’s a good idea for therapists to keep a bowl of salt permanently in their treatment area. Whoever first thought of this clearly didn’t understand that when salt becomes saturated with low-level frequencies, it pulls the energy of a space down rather than raising it. I’ve seen therapy rooms where the bowl of salt hasn’t been changed in a year or more. The effect is nauseating.

Salt, if used, must be changed every day. But why bother? It’s only minimally effective as a purification technique and only in the immediate area where it is placed. It’s far better to do a regular space clearing ceremony to keep the entire space energetically clear.

Copyright © Clear Space Living Ltd 2012, updated 2021


Other space clearing myths
Why singing bowls are not designed to do space clearing
Why smudging is not a space clearing technique

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About Karen Kingston

Karen Kingston is the world's leading authority on space clearing and a leading expert in clutter clearing. Her first book, Creating Sacred Space with Feng Shui, has sold over one million copies in 16 languages, and her second book, Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui, has sold over two million copies in 26 languages.

9 Responses to Why you don’t need salt to do space clearing

  1. Hi Karen, Wondering how effective salt lamps are, and wheher they lose their energetic effects after a time or whether they can be cleaned in some way. Thanks for your very informative information, greatly appreciated.

    1. Hi Carol

      I’ve never used a salt lamp myself but from what I understand, apart from looking pretty, their main use is to improve the negative ionization of a space. However, you would need many salt lamps in a room to get the same effect as using a simple negative ionizing machine. If you intend to do this, I would recommend using an EMF meter first to test the level of electromagnetic fields given off by the salt lamps you use. Unless they are properly earthed, this could well outweigh any health benefits they claim to have.

      I’m interested to hear from anyone who has used a salt lamp and found it to have any health benefits. Please state what model you used, how long you used it for, and how you feel it helped you.

  2. I look forward to the new release of the book – perhaps I should donate the last edition 🙂

    I agree with this idea about salt : it is cumbersome in a way. The simpler the purification technique the better. As I develop, I find myself simplifying my practices and releasing the need for ritual-like practices. These days I’m experiencing a deep sense of demystification of the world and its inhabitant. As we get closer to the essence of people, phenomena and spaces, we need less tools, trinkets and rituals to be in communication with them.
    I’m always amazed at how you can derobe things down to their essence, Karen. So refreshing. Many thanks.

  3. Hi Karen,

    I’ve had 2 salt lamps for a few years. I use one by my bed. I haven’t necessarily felt health benefits but the light glow seems to give a calming effect and is very soothing for rest. I would be curious to see the results of using an EMF meter, maybe I should look into getting one. I can also say that pets seem to really like them. A friend of mine has cats, they like to lay near it and my dog seems to like to be near it also.

    Thank you, your ‘Clear Your Clutter’ book literally changed my life! I haven’t gotten to space clearing yet but wow, my home feels so wonderful now.

  4. Hi there, salt can be to a benefit if used in proper terms. An example is the salt water in a glass with feng shui coins put inside & their symbols facing upward. Interestingly i found the same thing described in a patent dealing with torsion fields.

    Also in alchemy, what they did with the salt, is they would dissolve it in water, then reprecipitate it on sunlight outside. Preferably they would scoop only the salt that would form as flower patterns on the surface. Thereafter you add more water and repeat the process. I would suggest doing the similar thing with salt that has attracted debris from spaces.

    1. Hi Alex

      My perception is that the feng shui salt water cure with coins is nothing more than a Chinese superstition. It looks dramatic because of the way the metal coins interact with the salt and water, but as with bowls of salt kept for long periods in rooms, the build up of energetic debris that accumulates in the salt will lower the vibration of a space rather than raise it. In some cases, nauseatingly so. I certainly wouldn’t have one in my home.

      I’m not familiar with the alchemical salt process you’ve described. That sounds interesting. Can you give me a reference for this so I can learn more about it?

  5. Hi Karen – thanks for your great work – I used to use salt lamps hoping they would uplift the energy, but my own feeling was that they just captured and held onto negative vibration – I was reminded of your post on burning salt (or not) and actually did feel better when I got rid of the lamps. Seems they are ubiquitous in new-agey type videos nowadays, – but when I see them they make me question whether the presenter can think and do research independent from the latest “trend” haha! 🙂 I would like to be open to new ideas AND still keep some healthy skepticism – thoughts?

    1. Hi Grace – Being open to new ideas while still keeping some healthy skepticism is essential, in my view. Explore widely, but never give up your own discernment.

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