When the Phoenix police department's SWAT Team raided the Phoenix Goddess Temple on Sept. 7, 2011, the news rocked not only the tantra world, but mainstream media finally started giving the goddess some attention – unfortunately it was all negative attention. That day, the Phoenix police arrested 18 people and a total of 33 people have been indicted by a grand jury. Those additional 15 healers are now being "hunted down". Phoenix police spokesman Steve Martos said, "They were committing crimes under the guise of religious freedom. It's a sad situation when people are trying to hide behind religion and church to commit a crime." It was the largest Arizona prostitution bust since authorities broke up the tri-state "Desert Divas" ring in 2008, but this time it's much more topical as it deals with the separation of church and state.
One question: Did we really need an entire SWAT team to take down a dozen dakinis? I mean, how fast can they run away from the cops, barefoot and in sarongs?
Anyway, instead of just reporting about the case, which the media will do anyway since it's sweeps week, I'd like to present a tale about two people, who are both role models and directly involved in the matter of illicit sex in the Southwest. The first person is Phoenix Goddess Temple founder Tracy Elise, who prefers to refer to herself as "Mystic Mother," and was one of the 18 arrested Wednesday.
