This ancient form of
divination known as Alomancy (or
Halomancy) comes from the
Greek word 'halo' meaning
salt. Along with many other forms of divination the essence looking at the
patterns of salt as it falls to the ground or travels through the air.
Though the exact process for the divination is unknown today, it is believed that either it the divination comes from the patterns of salt thrown
or the patterns formed from the residue of a salt solution as it evaporates in the bowl.
Salt itself is often intertwined with luck and some of this ancient tradition can be seen in the superstitions - misfortune when the salt cellar is overturned and throwing salt over the left shoulder for good luck.