International School of Temple Arts

The International School of Temple Arts (ISTA) is an organization which facilitates workshops and tribal gatherings in the field of sexual shamanism, sexual healing and integrative attitudes towards mind, body, emotions, sexuality and shadow work.[1] ISTA is a modern mystery school, intended to guide participants towards a holistic and empowered lifestyle.[2][3][4]

International School of Temple Arts
Typesnon-governmental organization 
Established2007  (14 years ago)

ISTA was founded in 2007 by Baba Dez Nichols as an international non-profit educational organization.[2][5][6] Baba Dez Nichols stars in the award-winning documentary Sex Magic.[7][8][9][10]

Initially, ISTA had a central office and manager, but trainings are now worldwide, and there is no longer an operational location. Instead, a "Governance Circle" of trainers oversees the organization.[4][11] Nichols remains involved in the trainings, but stepped-down from his participation in the Governance Circle in 2019.[11]

Tantra and shamanism influence its teachings.[12][13][14] Nudity and other practices believed to occur at ISTA have caused controversy around ISTA trainings at some locations.[15]

Many thousands of individuals have taken the ISTA trainings all over the world. In Israel, a large community of ISTA graduates have developed and created other programs that are carrying the ISTA teachings to a larger audience.[16]

Training levels

ISTA holds four main programs:[1][15][4]

  • Level 1 (SSSEx, Spriritual Sexual Shamanic Experience) is a week-long experience for the integration of spirituality and sexuality.
  • Level 2 (SSSIn, Spriritual Sexual Shamanic Initiation) is a deeper initiation journey, working more with shadow aspects and the transpersonal self.
  • Level 3 (SSSeed, Spriritual Sexual Shamanic Seeding) is designed to train people who want to work in the field of sexual shamanism either within ISTA or autonomously.
  • The Practitioner Training is a structured program for developing practitioners to offer this work one on one.

Physical temple

In the thousands of ISTA trainings given worldwide, ISTA creates temporary temple spaces. But ISTA has a permanent physical temple located in New Zealand near Palmerston North. Formerly Highden Manor Estate,[17] ISTA activist Bruce Lyon converted the hotel into Highden Temple (an ISTA temple).[18] Highden Temple has been used for Practitioner Trainings as well as for other ISTA programs.[19][20]

Published book

In February 2020 an anthology of autobiographical stories by ISTA faculty members was published under that title Sex Shamans: True Stories of Sacred Sexuality and Awakening. [21] The book was edited by lead ISTA faculty member KamalaDevi McClure.[21]

See also

References
  1. Richter, Anka (23 April 2017). "'Sensual bodyworkers' are sexual practitioners helping Kiwis have better love lives". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
  2. "About ISTA". ISTA. 2015. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
  3. "What is ISTA? An Australian TV reporter takes a training with ISTA". YouTube. October 29, 2016. Retrieved 2019-03-01.
  4. McClure, KamalaDevi, ed. (February 4, 2020). Sex Shamans: True Stories of Sacred Sexuality and Awakening. Destiny Books. p. 15. ISBN 978-1620559215.
  5. Dez, Baba (2014). "About Me". Babadez. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
  6. "Baba Dez Nichols". ISTA. 2015. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
  7. "Sex Magic, Manifesting Maya (2010), Awards". IMDb. 2020. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
  8. Board, Josh (December 9, 2010). "MOVIE REVIEW: Sex Magic". SanDiego.com. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
  9. "Sex Magic, Manifesting Maya". IMDb. 2010. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
  10. "Sex Magic (Movies & TV)". Amazon (company). 2010. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
  11. "What is ISTA? International School of Temple Arts". kamaladevi.com. October 11, 2015. Retrieved 2019-03-01.
  12. "Vom Frauenarzt zum Gigolo: Wenn der erste Orgasmus erst mit 40 kommt". BRIGITTE (in German). 2018-04-07. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
  13. "Denmark ISTA Spiritual Sexual Shamanic Experience Level 1 -". ISTA. 2017-05-25. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
  14. "Who am I without my fears? (In German)". Süddeutsche Zeitung. November 25, 2017. Retrieved 2019-03-01.
  15. Whitehurst, Patrick (15 July 2011). "Sedona Temple granted permit". Sedona Red Rock News. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
  16. Shubert, Omer (2018-06-04). "Group sex and Tel Aviv: what goes on in the city's erotic workshops". haaretz.com. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
  17. "Highden Manor Estate". Tripadvisor. 2020. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  18. 203, Episode (2020). "BRUCE LYON ON PLANETARY MYSTERY SCHOOLS - BUILDING A CULTURE OF TRUST ON A PLANETARY LEVEL!". greenplanet-blueplanet.com. Retrieved 2020-10-15.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  19. "The Temple Training – A 6 week immersion in Sacred Community – New Zealand". Araminta Barbour. 2017. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  20. "Instagram posts from Highden Temple". Instagram editor and viewer. picuki.com. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  21. McClure, KamalaDevi, ed. (February 4, 2020). Sex Shamans: True Stories of Sacred Sexuality and Awakening. Destiny Books. ISBN 978-1620559215.
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