Why are professionals in Kazakhstan sprinkling salt for career success?

Salt has long held a special place in esoteric and spiritual traditions, valued for its power to purify, protect, and absorb negative energy.

This ancient practice is still visible in modern offices. Some people perform «cleansing» rituals for workplace or career benefits. A practitioner might sprinkle salt on a desk or in office corners, leaving it overnight to absorb stagnant or negative energy believed to affect professional growth.

‘Pollution’ for promotion

A recent case in Kazakhstan highlights how traditional rituals can intersect with modern legal and professional expectations.

A resident of Kazakhstan’s Zhambyl region attempted an unusual method to secure a teaching position — by performing a ritual involving salt. The woman reportedly sprinkled salt in the hallway and on the floor outside the school principal’s office, believing it would help her get the job.

Her actions drew legal attention, and she was summoned before the Zhualy District Court under an Administrative Offences Code article regarding the pollution of public areas.

Last resort

In court, the woman explained that she had repeatedly failed to obtain a teaching position and decided to try the ritual as a last resort. She admitted guilt, expressed remorse and asked for leniency.

Under the relevant article, the offense carries a penalty of a fine equivalent to 10 monthly calculation indices or 40 hours of community service. The court, citing Part 2 of Article 829-11 of the Administrative Offences Code, reduced the fine by 30%. As a result, Ms. U. was ordered to pay a fine of 27,000 tenge (about $50), according to the court’s press office.

The ruling has not yet entered into legal force.