I read online that there are lengths of cord that you can buy and bless and use when casting your circle so you don't have to sprinkle salt and water whilst walking your chosen circle.
I wondered is this a legitimate short cut and would any of the other witches/wiccans use it?
And do any of you know of any others?

I can't say I've ever heard of that "short cut" so to speak, but personally, I wouldn't bother doing short cuts. The reason one does the salt and water sprinkling is all part of helping ground oneself, and as well, raise energy for the ritual to come. But that's just my personal opinion.

~DS~

I was just going to put exactly the same thing DS.
You need to do these things, they are an essential part of the whole ritual and ceremony.
I know that sometimes they can look long and drawn out when you see them written down, but believe me when I tell you that once you get started they will end far too soon and you will wish they had been even longer. At least that's how I always feel. Like I could happily do them all over again, sometimes more than once if it is a good night and I am having fun. That's when I sit in front of my fire watching the flames/embers and drinking coffee or hot chocolate until the dawn comes. Just because I really don't want to leave and have it all be over.
Cherish every moment of your ceremonies and HAVE FUN!!
And ignore the short cuts people may give you. They are not helping you on your path, and frankly if they are looking for short cuts to anything what on earth are they doing joining such a beautiful religion? There are no short cuts to beauty.


I really should end this post with "so there" don't you think?

It sounded like that was what would logically come next didn't it?
There are no short cuts to beauty...So There!!!!

Be well.
Moon.

Very well put Moon, I agree, there are no shortcuts to beauty, nor are there any shortcuts to the craft either. Those castings, ie. the salt and water, are written into spells for a reason, and if you try to find quicker ways to them, then you shouldn't be trying to perform the ritual that you are wanting to cast. In the end, there are no shortcuts to the craft, and if you make some, you're going to find that things will end up backfiring in the end, or just not working at all to begin with. The Craft isn't a toy to tinker with, it's a very serious thing, and should be taken as such, though one can still have fun with it as well.

So pretty much, I guess what I'm trying to get at is this: don't play with shortcuts, or try to make any.

I've been in the craft for over 10 years. All of which are as a solitary practitioner, and I will be till the day I pass on to the Summerlands, and I would never suggest to anyone anywhere to follow shortcuts to any ritual. When it comes down to it, such "long" and drawn out things really aren't that long and drawn out, and are set in place as well, barriers for your safety when it comes to the energies and entities you are invoking/evoking.

So anyways, that's my two cents.

~DS~

I wonder why it is DS that your two cents is always worth so much more?

I agree with everything that both you and Moon have said.
I know you are trying to do it right Darke so the advice from us, the practising wiccans of the forum is...............
If you don't have time to do it properly, then you shouldn't be doing it at all.

And that's advice worth following.

Darkness

-chuckles lightly and shrugs- I guess to me it seams worth little, because in the end, it's quite priceless, but as well, in a way, to me, it seems that most of what I say is quite a bit of common knowledge than so many others out there already know, so I see it not "worth" so much. But then, my logic is quite........ out of the ordinary, and half the time, I can't explain to others the way I think things.

But that is good advice, if you can't find the time to do it, and must have "shortcuts" to get it done, then it shouldn't be done at all. Ritual takes time, and it takes practice, it's not something to be trifled with, if something isn't done correctly, the consequences can be harmful, not only to yourself, but to others as well, depending on where said ritual is being done. I've know many other magic workers int he past, one of my past relationships was a native american shamaness, and has had the backlash of spells/rituals gone awry, or not done correctly.

But anyways, I'm done.

~DS~

That's good advice.
It is hard to know what is alright and what is not, and if I did a lot of what I see on the internet I would be doing it wrong all the time.
It's great that we, Darke and I, as beginners, have you more experienced practitioners to ask advice from.

Thanks to everyone.

*mumbles short bad words and throws away the light blue circle cord she bought last week*

Just kidding