International School of Temple Arts

International School of Temple Arts
AbbreviationISTA Edit this on Wikidata
Established2007 Edit this on Wikidata (19 years ago)
Typesnonprofit organization Edit this on Wikidata
HeadquartersSedona Edit this on Wikidata
CountryUnited States Edit this on Wikidata
Revenue203,273 United States dollar (2020) Edit this on Wikidata
Total Assets930,974 United States dollar (2020) Edit this on Wikidata
Websiteista.life Edit this on Wikidata

The International School of Temple Arts (ISTA) is an organization which describes itself as promoting sexual healing and healthy attitudes towards sex.[1] ISTA claims its workshops address the spiritual aspects of sex.[2]

Baba Dez Nichols, the founder of ISTA, in 2019

ISTA was founded in 2007 by Baba Dez Nichols in Arizona, as a non-profit organization.[2][3][4]

Baba Dez Nichols has not been part of ISTA leadership since 2015. He ceased facilitating ISTA trainings in 2019, and he is no longer a member of the ISTA Lead Faculty,[5] and he left completely in 2024[6].

ISTA teachings are influenced by Neotantra and western interpretations of shamanism.[7][8][9]

Claims of misconduct and sexual abuse have caused controversy and opposition to establishment of ISTA seminars at some locations.[10]

Controversy

Journalist Anke Richter stated to the Byron Shire Echo that "There was a covert harem culture at ISTA. Male pioneers surrounded themselves with young female lovers, often from their trainings, who were then accelerated to apprentices and facilitators".[11] Some senior members of the organisation have been accused of performing sex acts on meeting participants without consent or pressuring them to consent to sex acts.[11][12][13][14]

In 2021 the organisation said that they had temporary implemented[15] a policy of not allowing Temple Training teachers to have sex with participants.[12]

In a The Cut (New York) article several of ISTA's teachers were accused of sexual misconduct and other questionable practices.[10] Pele Ohad Ezrahi was accused that during a 2021 party hosted by Ezrahi, a 20-year-old woman was given multiple doses of MDMA by Ezrahi and was sexually assaulted by him while drugged. There are multiple reports accusing Ezrahi of coercing sexual activities with students during ISTA events.[10] Bruce Lyon was accused by Baba Dez in a letter dated September 2, 2024, that Lyon's Highden Temple was associated with incidents of rape, trauma, and suicide.[10] Dez himself was accused of pressuring students into sexual activities during ISTA workshops. He allegedly also propagated the belief that sexual interactions with male leaders could be healing for women, a concept referred to by some former assistants as "the magical cock."[10] Michal Maayan Don was accused that dismissing a claim that a female participant was raped during a ritual at a Level 2 training, suggesting that everyone has a "predator" inside them and implying that the participant's experience was due to her own inner imbalance.[10]

Additionally, several former seminar participants reported they have suffered from psychosis due to their participation in ISTA seminars. [10]

ISTA's Response to Controversy

In November 2024, ISTA issued a public response addressing controversies related to its activities. These included claims and reports featured in European and New Zealand media outlets, allegations that ISTA operates as a cult, and a declaration about the organization made by the Israeli Center for Cult Victims. This also addressed public support for the declaration by Steven Hassan, a recognized expert on cult dynamics, who vocally criticised ISTA for their activities. Additionally, ISTA responded to allegations of harassment by critics targeting its venues, staff, and participants, as well as accusations concerning ceremonial animal sacrifice rituals and Satanism at its trainings. Finally, the organization clarified its involvement in the planned "Shamanic Love Camp", an event proposed to take place at Auschwitz concentration camp, which ultimately did not occur.[16][17] ISTA said it had implemented new accountability policies to deal with complaints about misconduct.[17] ISTA has also publicly responded to an article written in NY Magazine[16]

Lawsuit

In 2026, ISTA filed a defamation lawsuit of 3.6 million NIS (~1.2 million US dollars) against an Israeli who had raised concerns about the controversial aspects of the organization.[18]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Richter, Anka (23 April 2017). "'Sensual bodyworkers' are sexual practitioners helping Kiwis have better love lives". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  2. 1 2 "About ISTA". ISTA. 2015. Archived from the original on 2 November 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  3. ↑ Dez, Baba (2014). "About Me". Babadez. Archived from the original on 12 March 2018. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  4. ↑ "Baba Dez Nichols". ISTA. 2015. Archived from the original on 11 March 2018. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  5. ↑ "ISTA Update - Communication for Our Community and The Public". ISTA.life. Archived from the original on 13 December 2024. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  6. ↑ "A Conscious Completion". ISTA.life. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  7. ↑ "Vom Frauenarzt zum Gigolo: Wenn der erste Orgasmus erst mit 40 kommt". Brigitte (in German). 7 April 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  8. ↑ "Denmark ISTA Spiritual Sexual Shamanic Experience Level 1 -". ISTA. 25 May 2017. Archived from the original on 12 April 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  9. ↑ "Wer bin ich ohne meine Ängste?" [Who am I without my fears?]. SZ Magazin (in German). 25 November 2017. Archived from the original on 1 March 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Kamenetz, Anya (28 February 2025). "The Neo-Tantric Sex Group That Promised to Change". The Cut. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  11. 1 2 Echo, The (4 August 2023). "The accidental cult tourist". Byron Shire Echo. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  12. 1 2 "Complainants warn against 'sacred sexuality' courses at International School of Temple Arts". NZ Herald. 22 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  13. ↑ "'He Said That if I Stroke Him Men Would Want Me': The Dark Truth Behind the 'Sacred Sexuality' Community". Haaretz. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  14. ↑ "Complainants warn against 'sacred sexuality' courses". RNZ. 28 October 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  15. ↑ "Kynlífs shamanisma námskeiðin voru haldin á Sólheimum – "Ég er ekkert rólegur yfir þessu"". DV (in Icelandic). 30 November 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  16. 1 2 "ISTA Responds To An Article in NY Magazine titled "We All Have Predators Inside Us"". ISTA.life. 6 March 2025. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  17. 1 2 "Announcing ISTA's New accountability process". ISTA.life. Archived from the original on 18 February 2025. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  18. ↑ https://www.mako.co.il/news-law/2026_q2/Article-25f3bf88b5eae91027.htm


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