Pagan spaces are not exempt from the risks of dating. These are the basic precautions worth taking online and in person.
Profiles and privacy
- Use recent photographs that show your face.
- Avoid listing your exact workplace, address, or daily routine.
- Be cautious about sharing contact details before you have a sense of the person.
- Remember that screenshots exist.
First meetings
- Meet in a public place.
- Tell a friend where you are going and when you expect to be back.
- Make your own travel arrangements.
- Do not accept pressure to move somewhere private quickly.
- Alcohol and first meetings are a poor combination if you do not yet know the person.
Money and scams
No genuine romantic interest requires you to send money, accept packages, or invest in a scheme. Romance scams exist in every dating environment, including niche ones. If the conversation moves quickly to finance, end it.
Community-specific notes
In a small Pagan community, leaving a bad situation can feel socially costly. Your safety matters more than somebody else’s reputation or the comfort of the group. Spiritual language used to pressure, isolate or control you is still abuse.
Reporting
Use the reporting tools on any platform you are using. Preserve evidence. If you are in immediate danger, contact emergency services.
Further reading: Meeting Someone for the First Time and Recognising Fake Profiles.