Yes this site is legitimate with many serious practitioners. Some people on here are fakes whom make false claims but with common sense it's not difficult to determine. Any website or place is not 100% flawless.
This site is very much real, and most people are very serious about it.
There is the occasional fluffy(a person who thinks they can transform themselves into an animal or mythical creature), but the site is most definitely not fake.
I would recommend reading the article about this website (example: SoM survival guide)
Welcome to SpellsofMagic! Yes, the site is real. Some of us have been on the website for more than 10 years already. What you are interested on. (Depends).
I recommend browsing the Forums so you have an idea about the curiosities of other people that may be similar to yours and especially the Beginner's Guide: Good things to start with for Beginners. This part is important since most beginners immediately start casting spells on the first week of joining the website without complete knowledge of what they are doing. And that practice is not good at all.
The progress may sometimes be slow, though you got to have patience all the time.
If you have questions, feel free to join the open chatroom so your questions can be answered. Most questions may already be on the forum so check it out as well. If you want deeper illustration pm anyone that seems knowledgeable about the topic of interest!
Hi. I'm new at this and wish to discover and learn what I need to do to unlock my powers and strengths. I can only ask for help. So I am.. I wish to chat with you more about this soon.
Although some spells are "easier" than others, if you are new you shouldn't really be attempting spells at all, this is because even the most basic of spells requires knowledge.
There are many great forum posts found on the site including:"Starting Out" and "The Basics:Expanded."
Books are also your best friend, some members have great book lists, some of which you may find in libraries, as e-books, pdf's or on Amazon.
It's best to stay cautious, don't jump into practising something you don't understand, take a step back and do some reading before you give it a go.
@YouniverSoul Transformation spells are fluff, they were made only for comedy purposes. Magick cannot change you into a fantasy creature, it cannot change your DNA, it works with nature, not against it.