(Supernatural on CW) Why did they use salt to trap HH Holme's spirit?

Question

On the most recent episode of Supernatural, they used salt to trap Holme's in a room. I don't understand what was the point of using salt and it's effects on the paranormal.

Answer 1

Salt is a powerful symbol of purity in the west. It is probably this property that recommends it for trapping spirits.

The significance of salt in particular may be due to the fact that salt is chemically necessary for life, has purifying properties, and is useful for the preservation of meat through a harsh winter.

Historically, salt was very rare and had particular value to the early Hebrews (the earliest written mention of salt is the biblical Book of Job, thought to be written circa 2,250 BC), the ancient Greeks (who traded salt for slaves), and the ancient Romans (who paid their soldiers "salt money" -- salarium argentum -- from which we derive our word "salary"), as well as others.

Both the Greeks and Romans mixed salt into foods used in religious ceremonies because of its purifying properties, and the Judeo-Christian tradition uses salt as a symbol of both positive and negative proporties, since it both adds flavor to food and renders the earth unfit for planting. Spilling salt as a symbol of bad luck probably started with Leonardo da Vinci's painting of the Last Supper, where Judas has accidentally spilled salt onto the table. One modern Greek superstition holds that it is customary to sprinkle salt in a new home to drive out evil spirits.

Answer 2

The salt gets rid of the evil spirits. So depending on how you pour the salt to trap the spirit. from what i've always know even as a child was that to make a circle using salt to trap the spirit. He can't cross it. He can't leave out of the circle. But you can step out of the circle.
This is not fiction in anyway.

Answer 3

Salt has always been used to excise or protect one from evil spirits. Apparently, they can' tcross. Did you ever see Hocus Pocus? When they're in the cemetery, they put salt around the grave where they put the little girl so the witches can't get to her. I think if I took the time to do some research, would probably find a connection to the phrase "salt of the earth".

Answer 4

It was rock salt. Rock saltis usedto trap a spirit. If you salty a window or door a spirit can't cross the salt. They used it all of the 1st season and in almost every episode.

Answer 5

It's just made up, same as garlic to ward off vampires. A TV plot script doesn't have any basis in reality because there's never been any way to study the paranormal - it simply never exists in any investigation.

Answer 6

Supposedly sprits cant tolerate salt, similar to the vampire & garlic concept.