Bewitched - Breaking the Spell After Spiritual Mentoring Goes Wrong - Nicole's Story

What if everything you believed about healing and personal transformation was being used against you?

In this episode of Bewitched, Nicole Cherie Hesse pulls back the curtain on the psychological and emotional stranglehold that Betty—the so-called spiritual mentor—had over her life. What started as a pursuit of self-discovery and growth turned into a high-control, cult-like environment where devotion was demanded, obedience was expected, and questioning was punished.

Nicole entered the relationship with Betty from a place of ambition and a desire to work with a woman who embodied spiritual entrepreneurship. Initially impressed by Betty’s visibility, network, and her promise of deep, transformational work, she soon encountered unethical sales tactics and misleading revenue claims.  

Nicole describes how Betty used spiritual teachings as weapons—convincing her to ignore her instincts, surrender personal autonomy, and submit to a system that prioritized Betty’s ego over real transformation. 

• How does a mentor create an environment where independent thought feels like betrayal?
• What does it take to wake up and see the manipulation for what it truly is?
• And once the spell is broken—how do you recover from the damage left behind?

Nicole’s story is one of awakening, resistance, and ultimately, escape. If you’ve ever felt uneasy about a spiritual leader’s control or questioned whether a community was truly supporting your growth, this episode will strike a nerve.

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS

(00:00) Intro
(00:53) The Deeper Trauma Work
(01:58) The Sacred Money Mind Program
(04:31) In Today's Episode...Nicole Cherie Hess: Finding Betty
(09:11) The Unethical Sales Call and The Revenue Share Deal
(12:53) 6 and 7 Figures Who?
(21:55) The Dark and Devious Companion - A.K.A. Olivia Benson
(34:27) The San Diego Retreat and Further Doubts
(37:45) Strange Flight Experience and Disappointing Expectations
(42:53) Wolf Sanctuary Shock: It's a Drug Deal
(50:53) What Business Advice?
(54:12) Conspiracy Theories, Scientology, and The Compound
(01:04:19) Trauma Bond
(01:08:00) The Mexico Retreat Brings Financial Realizations and Withdrawal
(01:10:37) The Final Retreat Invitation, Narcissistic Manipulation, and Day Trading
(01:16:20) Hi, I'm Bumblebee - The Last Call: Hitting You Where It Hurts
(01:26:16) Lessons Learned... Moving Forward
(01:31:26) A Piece of Advice on Red Flags

**WAYS TO ENTER MY WORLD**

• Leave a review, send us a screenshot and get a $250 credit, you can apply to anything else in my world.
• The Sacred Money Mind is returning April 1st. This is like nothing you've ever experienced when it comes to uncovering and dissolving what is unconsciously standing in the way of you attracting and normalizing larger amounts of money.
• Dissolve Your Core Wound Live Event I'm so excited to announce that Saturday, March 29th from 10-6pm, I'll be at the Philadelphia Rebirthing Center. This immersive day combines expert teaching, experiential work, and deep healing to create lasting change.

CONTACT NICOLE 

• IG moneymakingunicorns
• Listen to Real Unicorns Don't Wear Pants

CONTACT ALYSE

• @alyse_breathes
• alysebreathes.com
• [e-mail]