Faith

Is Phoenix‘s ’Goddess Temple’ Actually a Brothel?

On Wednesday night, a Phoenix Police raid led to the 16 arrests at a local house of worship. The “church,” curiously called the Phoenix Goddess Temple, has had some hefty allegations thrown its way in the past, as some have claimed that it’s more of a prostitution house than anything else.

While police won‘t say exactly what they’re looking for, some believe that the past accusations about the facility serving as a brothel are behind these most recent actions. Of course, the temple has denied these claims. KSAZ-TV has more:

Back in 2009, we asked an employee of the temple, “Do people have sex in here?”

She responded, “Whatever is happening here it’s with the intention of healing.”

The Phoenix New Times highlights the fact that the temple was also visited by police back in 2009 when it was at a different location in a residential area of Scottsdale. This past visit was sparked by neighborhood complaints.

In March 2010, the temple moved to its current location where it is, again, being investigated. The New Times also reports that the Phoenix Goddess Temple may not be the only “church” catching authorities’ attention:

In addition to the raid on the Phoenix Goddess Temple, search warrants were served Wednesday at the Sedona Temple, a similar “church” where Goddess Temple practitioners have worked. Police have not said what they were looking for during the raid, only that the warrant is part of an ongoing investigation

The temple’s web site is currently down, but a cached version from May 2011 offers the following description:

Our temple is an open source for all who wish to better know the Great Mother and her unique gifts for healing body, mind and soul. We seek to help women, men and couples discover their own divine connection between soul, light body and sacred vessel. Ours is the universe of the Ma-Matter-Mother! We offer group classes and one-on-one teachings and training, play shops and internships, all designed to bring HER wisdom back in this modern era…Our healing practices make use of the gifts of the Goddess, tools for transformation that have been with humanity since the very beginning. We bring to you the Mother’s bosom and body…

This text poses more questions than it does answers. One wonders who the “Great Mother” and “Goddess” is, but beyond that — what, exactly, is it that these “group classes and one-one-one teachings and training” offer?

On LinkedIn, a woman by the name of Mystic Mother Tracy Elise is listed as “Mystic Mother, Found-Her, Center Holder” of the Phoenix Goddess Temple. Her description of the position continues:

Holder of Sacred Space for the Mother Goddess; School for Divine Union through energy & light practices; Neo-Tantra, Egyptian Mysteries & Polarity; Magnetic Tantra & Whole Body Healing; Ordination & Priestess Path Senior Sister; Teacher of energetic health, feminine mysteries and the Ladder of Light activation of the human rainbow body, preparing for 2012 and the thousand years of light after-party.

Below, watch Mystic Mother Tracy Elise discuss the temple, complaints against it, issues pertaining to the temple’s tax status and the like:

It will certainly be interesting to see how this story ends, though the temple continues to deny any wrong doing. We shall see.

Comments (138)

  • Endstatism
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 9:05am

    With the massive violent crime they have in the Phoenix area, this so called “church” is small potatoes. This should not be high priority compared to the drug and human smuggling activities.

    Report Post » Endstatism  
    • TXPilot
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 9:24am

      Doesn’t seem to matter what this place actually is, because either way, you are gonna have a religious experience. :D

      Report Post » TXPilot  
    • BlackCrow
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 9:36am

      Peaceful people having “relations” or Mexican drug cartels. If you were a cop which would you rather take on?

      Report Post » BlackCrow  
    • Detroit paperboy
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 10:15am

      Whats the difference ? Congress is chock full of whores !!!!
      Welcome to Detroit …

      Report Post »  
    • MONICNE
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 10:25am

      This temple is just a relaxing diversion for the Job Creator class. That priestess could pass for Ayn Rand, for Christ’s sake! Since they all look like white folks, why is big government picking on them.

      TEA

      MONICNE  
    • LibertyGoddess
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 11:28am

      Did anyone happen to notice the very large pot plant behind her? Everywhere you turn, there are psycho people in this country…everywhere! I want out!

      Report Post » LibertyGoddess  
    • Sleazy Hippo
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 12:15pm

      This is not religion, but business. It is doubtful that htis temple has anything to do with Christianity.

      Any real Christian would not attend this so-called church. Therefore it has no place in the United States, even Arizona which is just as godless as Nevada.

      Report Post » Sleazy Hippo  
    • Rice Water
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 12:37pm

      They’re providing a valued service, AND exploiting tax-exempt status…I fail to see why any Tea Partier/Capitalist would have a problem with this.

      Report Post » Rice Water  
    • Rightsofman
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 12:41pm

      I guess ther‘s healing and then there’s sexual healing like the song.

      Report Post »  
    • jkendal
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 1:14pm

      “This temple is just a relaxing diversion for the Job Creator class. That priestess could pass for Ayn Rand, for Christ’s sake! Since they all look like white folks, why is big government picking on them.

      TEA”

      Ah, the racist pops up again…..

      Report Post »  
    • Edct
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 1:18pm

      Our stupid government has no common sense or priorities…they shoud be going after the illegal wet backes in AZ who are bringing in drugs, weapons, diseases, ruining our health care system, having babies like dogs, and in general an unwanted group taking advantage of our country.

      Report Post »  
    • hoggle
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 2:12pm

      @Sleazy Hippo – You’re right, a real Christian wouldn’t attend a temple worshiping a goddess that advertises “Egyptian Mysteries.” News flash: There are other religions outside of Christianity. Before the Christians there were Pagans, Heathens, Druids, etc. You only have to pick up your own Bible to figure that out.

      As for them not being needed in America, remember the 1st Amendment protects people of ALL faiths, not just different denominations of Christianity. Remember that before you decide to tar and feather a group before you know all the facts.

      Report Post »  
    • POdVet
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 3:54pm

      @LibertyGoddess That is NOT a pot plant. Rather obviously a simple fern.

      Report Post »  
    • pavepaws
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 4:58pm

      So they’re not tax exempt and your “monetary” contributions are not tax exempt. But you still feel good about it.

      Report Post »  
    • cmblake6
      Posted on September 10, 2011 at 12:55pm

      @Hoggle: Precisely. You stole my answer to “Sleazy Hippo”. No, it was not a Christian Church, didn’t pretend to be. Didn’t even suggest it might pretend to be. Good grief.

      Report Post » cmblake6  
    • TXMD
      Posted on September 10, 2011 at 12:59pm

      With all the other things going on around the flagpole (e.g., drug dealing, slavery & human trafficking in after hour clubs and massage parlors, gangbangers “doing” one another and citizens, and violent crime in general) this seems like smoke & mirrors BS. Goodness sake, AZ is just about overrun by illegals from across the southern border taking control of our land and property.

      Report Post » TXMD  
  • TRONINTHEMORNING
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 8:55am

    GONZO is right on..This stuff has been around since the beginning. And TUSLAYEEHA is also right..God is a dude.

     
    • The Third Archon
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 8:04pm

      How is God a dude? I was under the impression that God was beyond taking a fixed corporeal form (and having sex organs). And if God DOESN’T have male sex organs, or a physical body for that matter, how is God really a dude. I was always under the impression that “He” was always being used in the gender neutral sense, like the way we use “guys” or “dudes’ to refer to a group containing at least one male, but also potentially females (as in “hey you guys…”), and that God was beyond such a meaningless label as gender, especially considering the reason we have sex organs, reproduction, is irrelevant to God. Also, if God created both women AND men, how could He be of either one of those? Also, are women NOT made in God’s image (whatever that’s supposed to mean) then?

      Report Post » The Third Archon  
  • ThankYouFounders
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 8:55am

    Shoot. Well, there goes my visit to Phoenix next month.

    Report Post »  
  • Boola519
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 8:54am

    the hookers found a way to go taxfree, under the mantle of ‘religion’.

    Report Post »  
    • Infidel49
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 9:24am

      Hookers never paid taxes.

      Report Post » Infidel49  
    • JGraham III
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 11:11am

      This is nothing new. Hosea 4:1ff speaks about the ‘spirit of whoredoms’ being wrapped “intimately” into the religious institutions of mankind. Corinth had a massive temple positioned on a hill above the harbor so the sailors could come “worship” as soon as they landed. Fast forward to today’s religious world. The emerging Church is nothing more than the famed “whore of Babylon” spoken of in Revelation. It has left it’s first love (Jesus Christ) and gone whoring after other gods. Why else would there be a movement to “chrislam” the church? This ‘temple’ is nothing more than a microcosm of what is going on spiritually elsewhere.

      Report Post »  
    • vennoye
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 12:35pm

      This is straight out of Babylon started with Semaramis…other cultures just changed her name. In 1st century Roman Empire times people believed they drew closer to their pagan godesses through the temple prostitues…….nothing new under the sun……..just recycled.

      http://www.bing.com/search?q=semaramis+and+tammuz+children&form=IE8SRC&src=IE-SearchBox

      Report Post » vennoye  
  • Two Cents
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 8:50am

    At first I thought this was a group of pagans that were being misunderstood. Then I watched the video and heard her say that first she decided to devote her life to a church, then began to decide which one (?), then considered whether it was one that could achieve 501c3 status and form a parntership with Uncle Sam. Uplifting testimonial to her deep and abiding belief.

    Report Post »  
    • Wishkah
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 12:20pm

      actually, she said that due to the nature of her beliefs, she would not partner with the govt. just to get tax exempt status.. They are doing no harm and who is it to say what is religious or not… using your narrow minded views, there are still some who say Momonism is not a religion

      Report Post »  
    • Sleazy Hippo
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 1:04pm

      There are distinct differences between “religions” and Christianity.

      There are countless cults, mormonist and catholiod sects and tons of religious instituions. None has any value for Christians.

      Report Post » Sleazy Hippo  
  • thomas242007
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 8:44am

    I bet if this was a muslim organization they wouldnt have been hassled any, i thought that the state couldnt discrimate against somebody’s “religion” no matter how wierd. now im not a particulary big fan of prostitution but if it was all done between adults and they werent “propositioned” then why was this illegal?

    Report Post » thomas242007  
    • Chuck Stein
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 6:19pm

      Religious belief (no matter how sincerely held) does not give a pass for the violation of law. A “sleazy” Klansman might fervently believe that it is his religious duty to put blacks, Christians of a different stripe (such as Catholics and Mormons) and Jews “in their place” but that does not permit discrimination. It is still illegal.

      Report Post »  
  • alina.bolero
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 8:26am

    People using the veil of a religious organization to hide their questionable activities? Gee, never heard THAT ONE before! heh.

    I don’t care that they were acting as a brothel, because nobody is directly harmed in the mutual transaction, and it is NOT the responsibility of the Nanny State to protect people from the actions of their ill behaving spouses/partners/parents.

    What bothers me is that as a religious institution, they felt that they were above the law, and therefore did not need to get licensed as a brothel.

    Report Post » alina.bolero  
    • Locked
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 8:41am

      You don’t seem to realize that brothels and prostitution are illegal in most states… if it had been in Nevada, sure, a license would be possible. This was in Phoenix, AZ. A brothel license would be impossible.

      I agree with the rest of your point though; no one was hurt, and if it truly is “religious” for them, leave them alone. No need for government interference.

      Report Post »  
    • cmblake6
      Posted on September 10, 2011 at 12:51pm

      Here’s my take on this. You go to…any…church, let’s say Catholic for example. You put your offering in the plate, you receive the “blood and body” of Christ as Sacraments. You go to this place, you place your offering on the plate, and you receive the Sacrament of physical union. Difference? Only in the eyes of those who do not see this as a justifiable sacrament. Those whose Mother spanked their hands as children for “exploration of their humanity”. This is not a “House of Prostitution”, this is a temple in which the sacred union of flesh is worshipped. You’ve got a problem with that? Really?

      Report Post » cmblake6  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 8:24am

    .
    Jimmy Swaggert is kicking himself…………………

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 8:23am

    Okay, I live in AZ not so far away from that nightmare of an abomination of a “church.” And will say this much once on the matter:

    Prostitution is still prostitution, and under AZ laws, state, county, and cities, illegal. They will have their day in court, and we will see what happens from there.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • SgtB
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 9:30am

      I’ve read alot of your posts Snow and I generally agree, however, I can’t help but shake my head at what you have said. It is none of your business, let alone the state, what adults do with their own time with other consenting adults. While prostitution is “illegal” it does not stop women from exploiting their bodies for money. I can think of a few women who do nothing but stay home and spend their husband‘s money and really don’t care for him and don’t intend to give him a child. So the only thing your law against prostitution does in reality is create unhappy marriages that won’t last.

      Also, the fact that this company has filed as a 501c3 is irrelevant. The 501c3 should not exist in the first place and any house of worship or charity that has taken this tax exempt status is a fully owned pawn of the federal government. I say this because once a group takes this status the gov’t may then regulate the speech and assembly of that group at any time. Most often we see it when a clergyman starts to speak politically and is shut down by the IRS. Any church that files as a 501c3 is in bed with the devil if you ask me, so why would anyone be so worried if an undercover prostitution ring is a registered 501c3?

      Report Post » SgtB  
    • Dabldo
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 10:52pm

      Hmmmm. Isn’t it prostitution only if money changes hands?? And whoring or “community out reach” if money doesn’t change hands??

      Report Post »  
  • Eliasim
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 8:21am

    The more you try to crush this or that thing by not extending Liberty for them to learn from the natural consequences, the more it springs back with a vengeance. Why is the U.S rotting away? Because the U.S hasn’t had a “Face the consequences” Liberty, for the longest time. And that’s why it is the nation in decay. The Liberty has been decaying, and the walls springing forth.

    Report Post »  
    • J_Dub
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 2:58pm

      All true. The piper hasn’t been paid in a LONG time, therefore the price is going to be high.

      Report Post »  
    • Komponist-ZAH
      Posted on September 10, 2011 at 2:03am

      “The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools.”
      —Herbert Spencer

      Report Post »  
  • Tickdog
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 8:19am

    Lol!

    Report Post » Tickdog  
  • Meyvn
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 8:18am

    What a joke.

    Report Post » Meyvn  
  • Eliasim
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 8:18am

    This is definitely Pagan-like worship and sexuality, but I suppose people have learned nothing from the Bible. That the more liberty is taken away; the more you try to crush those things which are distasteful to the palate; the more they will spring back with a vengeance.

    Report Post »  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 8:26am

      You call yourself a tolerant society, but you are not. You won’t tolerate liberty, and use liberty as the rod it is intended to be. You are sparing the rod of liberty, and therefore you hate your children. Because in not sparing the rod of liberty, then the children see the Father’s word is good.

      Report Post »  
  • SamIamTwo
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 8:16am

    LOL healing…LOL

    Report Post » SamIamTwo  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 8:11am

    This kind of “worship” was popular in Old Testament times. The world is digressing instead of progressing.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 8:15am

      No it wasn’t.

      Report Post »  
    • sandy21957
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 9:31am

      Sure it was that is why the Israelites fell into disbelief because of the worship of Baal. The Greek and Romans also had their sex temples, so did the Asian cultures. They were gaining acceptance during the last of the 19th century and early 20th. Really big influence on Hitler and the individuals that were responsible for World War II and the Holocaust. Learn you history. Moral decay always precedes chaos.

      Report Post » sandy21957  
    • hillbillyinny
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 9:35am

      @ Eliasim

      Actually, read the “old Covenant (Testament)” and YES, you will note that all types of human perversion called “religion” was being practised in and around the Covenant People. Many times God allowed and/or stated that peoples were to be exterminated DO TO THEIR BELIEFS AND BEHAVIORS. Sodom and Gommorhea paid the price, other groups paid the price, and the Angel/human hybrids paid the price.

      Goal: One God (in Three Persons for “Completed Covenant” believers), one spouse, covenant sex as the ultimate in sharing and communication between two committed/covenanted man and wife, and personal pride and responsibility to protect self and others from misuse and/or abuse is in completely Love for God and others.

      Anything can be called a “religion”! Truth is real FAITH!

      Report Post »  
    • Doom2022
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 9:45am

      The ancient Israelites worshiped Baal in the groves where they conducted orgys.

      Nothing new here just more evidence of degredation and corruption in our society.

      Report Post » Doom2022  
    • fatjack
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 3:38pm

      Doom2022
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 9:45am

      The ancient Israelites worshiped Baal in the groves where they conducted orgys.
      ———————————————————————————————–

      Then aborted their first born by sacrificing them to baal.

      Report Post » fatjack  
  • BIGJAYINPA
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 8:09am

    This is nothing new in “Pagan” religions. Ritual sex and temple prostitutes are nothing new. Look up worship at temples dedicated to Astarte, Venus and Artemus. The “Mother” refered to here is obviously the “Great Earth Mother” a common fixture in most “Pagan” religions. Live and let live, let he who is without sin cast the first stone….Just sayin’

    Report Post » BIGJAYINPA  
    • Chuck Stein
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 10:58am

      Just because it is “not new” does not make it O.K.

      Report Post »  
  • blue_sky
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 8:08am

    ==========================================
    Wonder why article selection at Blaze is getting worse?
    Because it becomes the same as mainstream media.
    Like FOX, CNN, MSNBC the hide information they do not like you to see

    http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/09/07/7658608-who-do-you-think-won-the-republican-debate-at-the-reagan-library

    =========================================

    Report Post »  
    • libertylover55
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 4:12pm

      Waaaay off post! Who wants to read about this stuff on this page? Post it where it belongs. That’s two days old anyway. He is not electable.

      Report Post »  
  • ares338
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 8:08am

    Nice try lady! Should have named it Madam Helgas House of Pain. It would have slid by then.

    Report Post » ares338  
  • Locked
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 8:06am

    Freedom of religion and the individual, I say. If people want to enter a place where they can get all kinds of diseases, I don‘t see why they shouldn’t do so. And it‘s my right to tell them they’re idiots.

    Report Post »  
  • preppymom
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 8:04am

    I agree that paying taxes is an un-spiritual experience but it is my strong preference not to have SWAT teams surrounding my house.
    http://www.crackingthemalecode.com/

    Report Post » preppymom  
  • spirit of freedom
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 8:01am

    let me guess…… they specialize in realeasing Al Gores shakra!

    Report Post » spirit of freedom  
  • itsmyfirstday
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 7:57am

    They should have labeled it a mosque instead of a church….PC would have kept the police away then…

    Report Post » itsmyfirstday  
  • rfycom
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 7:55am

    A church is where nothing gets done in the workshop of something that does not exists. THey would all be better suited for this.

    Report Post »  
  • NuffSaid
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 7:53am

    Pitiful. Sorry you’ve been infected, AZ

    Report Post »  
  • TulsaYeeHaw
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 7:49am

    God is a dude. So there.

    Report Post »  

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