Temple of Ishtar: Brainstorming Meeting -  Minutes

 

Meeting was held at Francesca’s on May 10, 2002

11 people attended.

Agenda Items are numbered below:

 

1) Why are you called to be here and What do you envision for the Temple of Ishtar?

 

Overall answer: To support the embodiment of sacred sexuality in the world today.

 

2) What does that mean to us?

Healing

 

We were in agreement that there is a great deal of wounding around sexuality in our country. We believe this is due to the the profane and puritanical way (judgemental & condemning)in which we are trained to view our sexuality.

 

Our mission then is to reverse this and promulgate a “sacred” view of sexuality instead of the “profane” one.

 

3) How is it this perspective shift accomplished?

 

We do this through providing healing experiences of Sacred Sexuality that are spiritual, educational and physical.

  1. Healing ourselves (Priest/Priestess/Sacred sex worker/etc. – those that are committed to this way of being.)
  2. Healing individuals through private sessions.
  3. Healing Society/Culture – outreach to the general public.

 

4) What are the key issues?

 

Issues we discussed included:

  1. Healing: How do we do it, how do we teach others?
  2. Education – How do we educate and raise awareness?
  3. What can we do to heal/support the healers – those who devote themselves to sacred sexuality work?
  4. Living with the Law/ Changing the Law
  5. Creating space for sacred sexuality
  6. Permission to: Talk about, Ask for and Question Sacred Sexuality
  7. Teaching: That we are lovable and deserving
  8. Create a foundation to stand on
  9. Sexuality commerce and financial issues. How do we financially support this work?
  10. Promoting Public awareness of sacred sexuality issues
  11. Building community
  12. Gods/Goddesses – archetypes – attributes to honor

 

What is sacred sexuality?

There were two views that both diverged and overlapped.

1.       Sacred sexuality has “special” attributes.

2.       All sex is sacred.

 

Sacred is Special

All acts are sacred

Ø      Intent

Ø      Sacred space created

Ø      Presence

Ø      Respect/appreciation

Ø      Honoring

Ø      Precious

Ø      Heart / Bliss

Ø      Energy focused / conduit

Ø      Tantra

Ø      Immanence vs Trancendence

Ø      Sex free of constraints

Ø      No boundaries

Ø      Divine in the common everyday

Ø      Being fully alive

Ø      All acts of love and pleasure are her rituals

Ø      Expressing the sacred through the body as divine

Ø      Gods and Goddesses who do wild things (sex and ecstacy) because it is right at the moment

What can we do?

Build community

Public events

Private “coven” training/ritual/rejuvenation

“Infiltrate” other organizations’ events

Monthly “rave” dance events with:

Ø      Massage room

Ø      Costumes/ Installations

Ø      Sell costumes/ sarongs/ etc  in a “shop” at the event

Ø      Yoga at beginning

Ø      Puja

Ø      Doors close at a certain hour

Ø      Logistics?

 

TV network/Show

Bed and Breakfast

A “church” – facilities?

We don’t want to “re-invent the wheel” or do something that another group is already doing well (e.g. HAI)

Be well informed about the sexuality in our culture (the research & statistics)

Have document(s)/web site which backs up our assertions with credible research

Form a Coalition on Sexual Wellness made up of medical, therapeutic, educational, spiritual and intimate practioners  to address common concerns and issues as well as to advocate for change

Resources: We need to network, collaborate and gather info on how this is currently being done ???

Tulip Temple

Techno Cosmic Mass

Pleasure Zone

Love & Sin

Queen of Heaven

Black Sheets

Body Electric

HAI -- Human Awareness Institute

Sacred Connections

Flambe Lounge – Burning Man

Others?