There are people out there who prey on inexperienced witches and pagans. There are people who will take advantage of your curiosity and tell you lies about the path, use you for your energy, all the while pretending to be your friend or mentor. It can happen to anyone. It happened to me. It's hard as a beginner to separate the people who want to actually help you and those who want to use you. Once you find a community of like-minded people, it's easy to forget that there are some pretty awful people in our community as well. I wasted 6 months of my life in a pseudo-cult that I didn't even realize I was a part of. I thought magic was one thing, I thought the world worked a certain way and I was sure that our leader would never lie to us or steer us wrong. But something always felt off. I was always uneasy, unsure, and I began to fear the own world I lived in because according to our leader, danger lurked around every corner. The moment I found out that it was all a lie was the most relieving, intense, and difficult night of my life. I felt so cheated, so, so dumb, but also so ready to live--because I hadn't been excited for life in such a long time. My baby witches, please be careful. Just because someone is a leader or a figurehead, and just because they seem nice, does not mean they're who they say they are. Take care of yourself, and above all--trust your intuition. If something feels off--it is. Now, that's not to say that all witches are like this. There are genuinely good people who wish to help others out. Just be mindful, and always trust yourself. Be safe and explore the world, -Llama