I learned this weekend that the founder of the Phoenix Goddess Temple, Tracy Elise, is scheduled to finally stand trial next month. She faces charges of prostitution, illegal control of an enterprise, pandering, and operating a house of prostitution. I also learned that she has fired her attorney and plans to represent herself in court.
Elise was interviewed by CBS5 out of Phoenix, AZ, and described the basics of her religious beliefs and practices:
It's called Tantra, and for Deanna Bennett, it's a way of life. After attending Tantra school in Hawaii, she found a home at the Phoenix Goddess Temple. "I found it an incredibly peaceful, beautiful place to be and was really enjoying coming there and experiencing what was going on at the temple," said Bennett.I wrote back in 2011 that I was unsure how legitimate these tantric practices actually are. I also questioned why religious libertarians weren't out there defending the Phoenix Goddess Temple's practitioners. CBS5 interviewed one tantric healer back in 2011 who supported Phoenix's law enforcement officials for prosecuting Elise and her team. But even she admitted that she is in the minority among the tantric community.
Bennett said sensual touch is an important part of the religion. "My belief is that it's about love. It's about going in with an open mind and just being open to whatever healing is going to happen or take place in that space. It's like a priest going into confessional with somebody," said Bennett...
"It's very humiliating to hear the county prosecutor Bill Montgomery make the statement that when two people go into a room and there is some nudity and money is exchanged, it's prostitution. That's a huge dumbing down of what Tantra and sensual touch is all about," said Bennett.
According to this report, members of the Phoenix Goddess Temple sincerely believe that there are legitimate benefits to their sensual and sexual healing practices and predict that they will be open for business again very soon.