Effective Against
GhostThe salt-and-burn is the definitive method for permanently destroying a ghost. It is the closest thing to a standard operating procedure in the hunting world — when a ghost is identified, the first question is always "where are the remains?" The ritual is simple in concept but can be complicated in execution.
The Method
Locate the ghost's physical remains (the body, or whatever portion has been preserved). Dig up the grave. Pour salt over the bones. Douse them with accelerant. Light them on fire. Once the remains are fully consumed, the ghost is destroyed permanently. The salt purifies, and the fire releases — the combination ensures the spirit cannot reconstitute.
If the body has already been cremated, the ghost may be tethered to a specific object — a personal possession, a lock of hair, a piece of jewelry, clothing, or even a part of a building. Identifying and burning the correct object is often the hardest part of a ghost hunt.
Complications
The most common complication is finding the remains. Bodies may have been moved, graves may be unmarked, or the deceased may have been cremated. In the case of cremation, the hunt shifts from "find the grave" to "find the anchor object," which can be anything with strong emotional significance to the dead person. Some ghosts are tethered to multiple objects, requiring all anchors to be destroyed.
Other complications include: ghosts that are tethered to the land itself (where they died, rather than where they are buried), ghosts whose remains are in locations that cannot be easily accessed (sealed crypts, underwater, inside walls), and ghosts that actively defend their remains by attacking anyone who gets close to them.
Real-World Basis
Burning the dead to prevent their return is one of the most ancient and widespread funerary practices. Cultures across the world have practiced cremation in part to ensure the dead do not return to trouble the living. The addition of salt is drawn from European folk magic, where salt was placed in coffins or on corpses to prevent revenant activity. The combination of fire and salt as a ghost-dispersal method is a Supernatural invention that draws on real folk traditions from multiple cultures.