This whole situation with the Phoenix Goddess Temple has the potential to be so much bigger than it seems many of our community realize. It could, and will, affect so many more of you in ways I bet you have not even considered. Think about it:
Let's say Tracy wins, and Tantra and sacred touching, etc., is allowed in Arizona. Now that doesn't mean that it's allowed in California or Washington, BUT, if the case makes it to Federal court, which it very well may, then guess what? Tracy's victory allows ALL OF YOU out West to practice the way you want because the 9th Circuit will have said you could. The laws will extend far beyond the boundaries of Arizona, and by the way, the 9th Circuit is the MOST LIBERAL circuit in the country! How can the case get there? By coordinating with the legal team for the Native American church of which the Temple is a member. And in case you didn't know, that's already going on!
Then look at the alternative. Let's say Tracy loses. What if she had a public defender that simply didn't have the time or the vision to do this case the right way? What is she doesn't get out of jail because of it? Then you know what will happen? The system will break her, because that's what it's designed to do! It will break her, she will end up pleading guilty and going to prison.
And you know what that means to everyone else? It means that you will be next. Because now the State will have won. If they can break into one church, automatic weapons drawn, throwing women to the ground, smashing altars and the like, and end up sending its pastor to prison, what makes you think they won't do it again?? They absolutely will, and when you're the one with a laser pointer on your chest, it will be too late to say, "Why didn't I help back then?"
This is it. The time for talk is over. We've all hear the saying about "first they came for the communists but I didn't care, because I wasn't a communist. Then they came for the Jews, but I didn't care because I wasn't Jewish." And we all know how it ends "Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me." Call it cliche if you want, but guess what. They just came for you. And this case may very well determine whether or not they keep coming for you.
It's time to put up or shut up. Tracy needs help - she needs money. So either we help now, or we have no right to complain later when the police are smashing through the windows of our church.
Please donate: www.templeoftantra.org
I have been in this industry for six years and my learning curve has been steep and quick. I went from an independent Dominatrix to one who owned a small dungeon with many women working for me. From there I then Tantra Priestess and Temple leader. Not only have I learned much about human nature, men, women, the industry and myself, I have become a sort of arm chair lawyer as well. I needed to learn the laws by which I dodged and what better way than by observing the follies of others? So far I have crept stealthily through this minefield of misspeak and ossification because I am keenly aware that I am prey. Prey to the hypocrisy of men and women alike, prey to the willful ignorance of humans who remain blind to the troubles of a failing nation.
Women as usual, are silently paying the price
By now I am sure you have realized that America plays a rigged game. Men, global elitists, greedy sods, whatever you want to call them have royally fucked up a good thing. Witch, dyke, whore, bitch, mother, sister, daughter and friend with a vagina who may or may not choose to sell it, lend it, lease it or give it away as after all, it is ours, isn’t it? Then why am I still made to feel that I only possess it for the pleasure and profit of others? If we don’t have full legal rights to our own body to use it as we see fit, why are we not fighting this? We won’t be pretty forever and when it ends as all good things do, where is your place in the world, the world we help create by our passivity? Our benign indifference and self denial is criminal when we witness others who fall around us like the rabbits in Watership Down. Many of us in fact are criminals. At least in the invasive and pitiless gaze of the omnipotent colossus thing we allowed to come into being called, our government. Sometimes ignoring pressing matters into non existence simply does not work. I used to be able to do it with prescription drugs when I could afford benefits.
I have become increasingly outraged regarding the controlling behavior of our government regarding women’s sexuality
If I am not mistaken I sense a sea change when it comes to the new breed of women who either choose or who are forced to choose for the time being, to work in this industry. They have achieved higher education, are more articulate and possess more progressive marketing skills. Some are true entrepreneurs with a raw sense of grit, such as Dr Brooke Magnanti, Sydney Biddle Barrows, Heidi Fleiss and Deborah Jeane Palfrey -who everyone knows were murdered by our government to protect clients. I admire them greatly.
Many of these women and others who go unnamed, are instrumental in slowly changing the perceptions of society regarding being a paid companion. In the tradition of all great courtesans, they both reflect and encourage their current times. The greats are always misunderstood, coveted, desired and hunted. And so it still is today. I put the presently tormented Tracy Elise of The Phoenix Goddess Temple by our ever creepier misogynist government in a different category altogether. However her plight is the same. Go to the Phoenix Goddess Temple to read about this perfect outrage. To take action is your own choice of course.