[1] The institute was founded in November 2005 by Rabbi Jill Hammer and Holly Taya Shere.
[2][3] It held its first training program August 14–20, 2006, at the Elat Chayyim Retreat Center in Accord, New York.
Ordination required the completion of a three-year training and program including 13 paths which explored different "female archetypes".
[6] The movement itself is heterogeneous, with its founders taking a "soft monotheism" stance, as they themselves are monotheistic, but never have tried to keep polytheists away from their spaces.
[7] The primary founder, Jill Hammer, has expressed concern in response that the accusation of "paganism" is used to shut down theological discussion, and may be applied to people who simply use feminine language for God, and who connect to God through feminine imagery.