Frequently Asked Questions
What is Connect DC?
Connect DC is a Wiccan based public ritual group that seeks to heal and transform the city of Washington DC through magic, mystery and celebration.
The Connect DC rituals are always open to the public and are held four times a year on the equinoxes and solstices.
Connect DC has been celebrating magic in public spaces since 1999. Our motto, “Stop, drop, and do ritual”, sums up our philosophy in seeking public and accessible areas to do magic.
Connect DC creates ritual at boundary stones, in the parks, on city streets, behind the White House, next to the Anacostia River and within national demonstrations. Our goals are to heal our city with magic, mystery and celebration, and to create an expectation for public pagan ritual in the city proper.
Announcements of upcoming rituals and other activities are distributed via the Connect DC announcement list. One can join the list via our web site or by sending a message to ConnectDC-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Join us. Join in the magic.
The Beginnings of Connect DC
Katrina Messenger was looking for ways to meld her Wiccan spiritual practice with her long-term political activism. In spring of 1998, while in San Francisco for a meeting, she attended the public Spring Equinox ritual put on by the ritual-planning cell of the Reclaiming Collective. She returned home with the idea of starting a public ritual group in DC.
The first ritual, using the process that was to be later used for Connect DC, was held for Summer Solstice 1998 on the roof of the now closed Lammas Women's bookstore. After discussing her idea for the "original working" with numerous friends and colleagues, Katrina launched Connect DC in spring of 1999.
The original working of Connect DC was to ritually reconnect the boundaries of the city. In the 1790's, boundary stones were placed all around the diamond shaped city. However the land donated by Virginia is no longer consider part of the city. The city literally has a gash in its side and using a magical metaphor, is like a circle with a hole in it. So the original working's intent was to energetically reconnect the boundary stones and give the city good boundaries. The original working began at Spring Equinox 1999 and concluded a year later at Spring Equinox 2000. More information is included in an article Katrina wrote in 1999 after the first ritual.
"Washington, DC, a planned city in the shape of a diamond, is literally the jewel in the center of a much larger working. Every day people come here from all around the world seeking justice and freedom. Let's give them something to work with, a shining jewel sitting on the Potomac River. Lets reconnect and heal the city as part and parcel of our work to heal the world."
How can I join in the Magic?
Connect DC is open to anyone who supports its guiding principles. Although Connect DC is a wiccan based public ritual group, the ritual planning process allows people from other spiritual traditions to participate in co-creating a Connect DC ritual. Beginners are encouraged to both attend the rituals and participate within the ritual planning process.
What about the ritual training program?
New members of Connect DC’s ritual circle are required to attend the annual ritual priest/ess training before participating in a ritual cycle. The two-hour training provides an overview of Connect DC principles, processes and goals. The training class is usually held on a weeknight in January or February. Once a person has successfully completed the training, they can participate in ritual planning for two years. Attendance at a training session is required at least once every two years. There is no cost for the training class.
Do I need to make a long-term commitment?
Besides the ritual conveners, ritual circle members do not have to make a long-term commitment to participate in Connect DC. The structure of the ritual circle allows folks to make a commitment for only as long as it is feasible or comfortable. Basically, if you show up to plan a ritual you own the ritual. If you do not show up to plan, you can still attend the ritual.
When are Connect DC rituals held?
The dates for Connect DC rituals are usually the third Sundays of March, June, September, and December. Dates for the next four rituals are available on our web site.
How is Connect DC structured?
One or more ritual conveners, appointed annually by Dark Flame Coven, lead the Connect DC ritual planning team. Connect DC was born in part from within the healing magical traditions of Dark Flame Coven. Katrina Messenger and Dark Flame act as anchors for the magic of Connect DC. Each year, Dark Flame selects an annual theme for all four of the seasonal rituals. The conveners select a ritual intention, location and time at least three weeks before each ritual. The ritual circle, which includes ritual conveners and the ritual planners, meets as necessary to finalize the ritual outline and confirm all ritual roles.
Is there a cost to participate?
There is no cost to participate in a ritual. Ritual planners may use their own money to purchase supplies or refreshments, although it is not required. Katrina Messenger pays for the cost of the web site.
Are non-Wiccans welcome to participate in Connect DC?
Connect DC, like most Wiccan groups, is not anti-Christian. People of all faiths and traditions are welcomed to participate in Connect DC rituals and within the ritual circle.
Many witches practice both Wicca and a wide range of spiritual beliefs including Judaism, Buddhism, Catholicism, Sufi, Hindi, Yoruban, Fon, Santieria, Voodun, Dine, and Greek Orthodoxy to name a few. Additionally amongst pagan and Wiccan practitioners there exist an even wider variety of spiritual practices, beliefs and models.
Connect DC seeks to build bridges within the pagan community, but ultimately seeks healing for our diverse, interconnected communities throughout the Washington DC metropolitan area.
However, the basic structure of the rituals, the intent to honor both Goddesses and Gods, and the acknowledgment of the inherent divinity of all life are non-negotiable. Beyond those basic ideas, it is up to the ritual planners to find creative ways to blend their various spiritual traditions into a coherent and meaningful ritual.
What is Katrina Messenger’s Role in Connect DC
Katrina Messenger is the founder and web spinner for Connect DC. As web spinner, she is responsible for maintaining the web site and all the associated e-mail lists. These two duties may be delegated, but Katrina will retain responsibility for the integrity of the web site and of its e-mail lists.
Katrina's other major duty includes acting as the anchor for the magic of Connect DC as a whole. She shares this particular role with Dark Flame Coven. As Dark Flame’s High Priestess, Katrina selects the annual ritual convener(s), drafts the annual intention and conducts the annual ritual training.
How do I get notified about upcoming Connect DC rituals?
Announcements are distributed via the Connect DC low volume announcement list. One can join the list via our web site (www.connectdc.org) or by sending a message to ConnectDC-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
The Connect DC announcement list is used for announcing the Connect DC rituals and for distributing notices for Reflections classes and other sponsored events. This includes announcing rituals and workings to support grassroots political activism, and community building as well as writings from magical-political activists such as Starhawk and Katrina Messenger.
Does Connect DC conduct a Samhain(Halloween) ritual?
Yes. In 2003, when Katrina Messenger was too sick to continue her annual Samhain Spiral Dance, she held a Connect DC Samhain to read aloud the names of our beloved dead and blessed newborns. She has conducted a public Samhain ritual every year thereafter. This ritual uses a specialized ritual planning process and is priestessed directly by Katrina Messenger. The ritual circle members are usually invited to participate in this most holy and sacred rite.
Who drew the original Connect DC Mandala?
Connect DC Mandala by Reya
Reyasdottir (aka Reya Mellicker) created the original Connect DC Mandala. Reya is a priestess of Feri and Reclaiming tradition witchcraft. The mandala was displayed on our home page form 1999 till 2006.
Who or what is Dark Flame Coven
Dark Flame Coven was founded in 1993 to nurture the diverse spiritual backgrounds and traditions of several solo practitioners of Wicca. We are a healing tradition. We are committed to healing ourselves, each other, our communities and the world. Dark Flame refers to the dark portion that sits at the base of a flame. It is both seemingly invisible but essential. Dark Flame as a tradition is interested in the depth of magic, not just its outer forms. Over the years, Dark Flame and its members have played key roles in initiating and/or supporting many community groups and events in the Washington DC and Mid-Atlantic area including:- Connect DC,
- DC Red Dragon Feast,
- DC Teachers of Reclaiming Tradition,
- Reflections Mystery School,
- DC Samhain Spiral Dance,
- Sojourner Truth Congregation of Unitarian Universalists of DC,
- SpiralHeart (a Reclaiming witch camp and community),
- and numerous public and private rituals, events, and classes.