BEWARE OF COMMUNITY "riseandglow" (and creator who goes by the same name) ON REDDIT - PSA!

Hey everyone, I wanted to share a heads-up about an experience I had with a Reddit group that’s been promoted here and in other similar subreddits. The group was pitched as a space for connection, community, self-worth, identity work, confidence building, mindset shifts, manifestation, healthy habits, and more. Sounds great, right?

Well, here’s what actually happened:

• I received an invitation to join this group - it was out of nowhere. When I joined, I noticed that the only moderator and creator of the group was using the space to advertise her own services. No big deal at first, until I saw a pinned rule in the group clearly stating: "No self-promo or ads. This is a space for connection, not marketing. Do not share links to your products, services, or business."
• I pointed this out in a comment on the moderator/group creator's self-advertising post. I asked why self-promotion was banned for everyone else but she was actively promoting her own services. Because it felt immediately off to me, I questioned whether the group was really about community or if it was just a funnel to promote her business.
• This is how she addressed my comment:
  • She replied with a soft, “love and light” response that never addressed the double standard. It was manipulative.
  • She claimed the rule was to “prevent spam” and said others could promote with permission, but this was not part of the original rule. She then banned me. If she truly meant what she said, why would she ban me? Think about that. The ban was suppression, it was her trying to silence me.
• After I was banned, she then went back and changed the community rule to allow self-promotion, but only if members "seek approval first." The retroactive rule change is the loudest evidence that my gut feeling about her and her page was RIGHT in the first place.
• Not only that, but she then HID the list of moderators so nobody can now see who is actually running the group!! (it's just her and wasn't hidden prior to my comment, but only after...)

Why This Matters:

When a group claims to be about connection and empowerment but:

• Sets double standards
• Silences people who ask fair, critical questions
• Changes the rules after the fact to cover themselves
• Hides who holds power

That’s not community. That’s control.
That’s not a safe space. That’s a marketing funnel disguised as one. I believe this person is DANGEROUS and is posing as "love and light" to many people who are hurting and vulnerable.

We need to keep leadership accountable.

& you deserve to be in communities that walk their talk.

Thanks for reading. Stay discerning out there.