Salt

The belief in the ill luck that comes from spilt salt is quite old.

Apparently salt was formerly a symbol of friendship - because of its lasting quality it makes substances more compact and preserves them for a long time: hence in Rome, it was usually presented to guests before other food, to signify the strength of friendship. Hence many consider it ominous to spill salt on the table.

Of course some have scoffed at the omen. Herbert Spencer (English Philosopher) wrote that "A consciousness in which there lives the idea that spilling salt will be followed by some evil, obviously allied as it is to the consciousness of the savage, filled with beliefs in omens and charms, gives a home to other beliefs like those of the savage.

Me - I just used it to add texture to a still life as part of this DSLR skills course I am doing. Thats not to say i didnt throw some over my shoulder - just in case................