FLINT, Mich. — In October, the Witches Tea Flint hosted not one but two successful events to raise money for Domestic Violence Awareness in October. Witches Tea Flint is organized by Davonna, Amaunet, and Viki, all from the Greater Flint Area. Originally planned as a single event, the first tea event sold out in just eleven days: so they added a second event that sold out as well. Partnering with their local YWCA of the Greater Flint Area, the two Witch Tea Flint events and managed to raise over $800. The events were so well-received; they have decided to do more events.

Tea and Tarot Bingo – November 30 at Good Beans Café, 6pm – 8PM, $15 tickets available through Paypal.Me/WitchesTeaFlint to bring awareness for ASPCA’s Adopt a Senior Dog Month.

They have three new events scheduled between the end of November and the middle of December:

Spirits of Yule Fair – December 15, 11AM – 3PM, at VFW Post 822 in Flint (5065 S Saginaw Rd), a witchy shopping extravaganza with vendors throughout the Flint area. Admission is free with a donation to the Humane Society of Genesee County.

Spirits of Yule Tea – December 15, 6PM – 9PM also at VFW Post 822. Tickets are available through Paypal.Me/WitchesTeaFlint and this event benefits LGBTQ+ charities in the community: Wellness Services, the Vanessa Goldman scholarship, and the Ellen Bommarito Book Fund.

When asked what prompted the creation of the first set of events, Davonna said, “There was a Facebook conversation about wanting to have a Witchy Tea Party in Flint. It turned the way things usually do with ‘well, someone should… instead of someone doing… I did not want to let an opportunity pass, so I used my event and media experience to launch.”

In looking for sponsors Davonna told us, “I came to Viki and told her some of my idea and how a tea party needs tea. She is the best tea-maker and herbalist that I know. I asked her what she would charge me to use her tea, but then Spirit starts yelling at me to be open and ask her to partner. I asked, she said yes and she added our friend, Amaunet. We all felt and witnessed the huge need for outreach and support, not only for those who identify as witches, but for the local residents as well. We saw how much good we could do for the community and have fun while doing it. We work really well together.”

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Viki is the co-founder of Mid-Michigan Pagan Alliance, which aims to network with the pagan community, owner and proprietor of Wildcrafters Den, as well as the High Priestess of the Coven of the Phoenix Fire with members all over the state. Amaunet has been a witch since 1984, focuses primarily on ancient Egyptian deities, but recently began devotion to Hecate under the mentorship of Viki. Davonna explains she is ¼ Cherokee, in lifelong Shamanic training, and the owner of Davonna’s Bayou Grace, and has worked in media for the last 25 years and currently works in the recovery community of Flint. They are also working together to build an affordable Pagan-based education through Phoenix Fire Academy and have launched Kindred at the Crossroads, which is dedicated to bringing unity in the Flint Pagan Community.

The events have enjoyed widespread support from a variety folks both inside and outside of the Pagan community as evidenced by sponsors like the YWCA. Lavonna added, “Local authors and businesses have shown tremendous support like the Good Beans Café who jumped at the idea to hold space for our event. The support has been overwhelming, the organizers reported. As more organizations in the area learn about us, we only see that support growing. We have been able to reach many witches in the community who had no mutual friends with any of us and give them a community.”

While the organizers of Witches Tea Flint make a point of emphasizing that they are not formally affiliated with any interfaith or faith-based organization for these events, collectively they said, “It is not just our love for being witches that guides us, but a sense of activism for our faith and for the community. We are connecting our witchy brothers and sisters to services that are available to everyone in the community. We are making connections and being there for our community at large, witches and witch-friendly. We are doing these things on our own, as witches, to show what you can do as a witches and as good humans.”