174: The Circle Starts With You - Creating Magical Community with Shannon Bronico Hodges

Sometimes a Pagan community begins with a formal plan, a sacred vision, and a carefully chosen meeting place. Other times, it begins with someone posting on Reddit and asking, “Hey, are there any Pagans around here?”

In this episode, Laylla and Chelle sit down with Shannon Bronico Hodges, whose search for local Pagan community in Corning, New York helped spark the creation of Crystal City Circle. Laylla answered the post, the two connected, and before long they were figuring out how to turn a handful of interested strangers into a real, growing community.

They talk about those early conversations, meeting new people from the internet, the excitement of realizing you are not the only witch in town, and the lessons they have learned while building Crystal City Circle from the ground up. From finding meeting spaces and welcoming new members to sharing responsibilities, handling growing pains, and creating a group that feels inclusive and sustainable.

Shannon also shares advice for anyone who feels isolated in their practice or keeps wishing someone else would start a local group. Sometimes the first step is not having all the answers. Sometimes it is simply raising your hand, putting out the call, and seeing who answers.