At the intersection of erotic philosophy and meditative practices, Orgasmic Meditation (OM) is gaining traction as a viable healing modality capable of addressing mental and emotional blockages. Recent scientific findings detail the 10 most powerful benefits of OM, and narratives from creator Nicole Daedone highlight the spiritually enlightening feeling of experiencing OM. The late highly acclaimed researcher and scientist Roland Griffiths, PhD, has echoed these statements, comparing OM's power to that of psilocybin. His insights, alongside Nicole's personal experiences with OM, highlight the potential for this practice to be used in clinical settings. With more investments into research, OM shows promise of enabling female sexual liberation while expanding the consciousness of all who practice it.
Orgasmic Meditation is a mindfulness-based practice that uses female clitoral stimulation to help participants connect with their bodies and sexual energy. Focused on feeling bodily sensations rather than reaching climax, OM was popularized by OneTaste and its founder, Nicole Daedone. In structured 15-minute sessions between a female strokee and a stroker of any gender identity, OM stimulates personal development and healing. Through OneTaste practitioners, OM has been taught to over 16,000 people in person and millions virtually through free YouTube and OM content via the Eros Platform.
Research has now validated the scientific advantages of OM. Through several studies in collaboration with OneTaste practitioners and experienced scientists, 10 major benefits have been identified:
- OM produces intense happiness. Siegle, G. J. & Prause, N., International Journal of Psychophysiology 178, 99–107 (2022).
- OM stimulates closeness and connectedness in practitioners. Prause, N., Siegle, G. J. & Coan, J., PLOS ONE 16, e0246065 (2021).
- People with traumatic childhood experiences may be able to regain full sexual functioning with OM. Prause, N., Cohen, H. & Siegle, G. J., Sexual and Relationship Therapy 38, 479–494 (2023).
- OM shows the potential to be an effective intervention for people suffering from PTSD. Kriegman, D., Pelletier, R., Griggs, C. & Roth, C., Phase 1 Clinical Trial on Orgasmic Meditation (OM): Assessing Safety and Feasibility as a Meditation Practice for Individuals with PTSD, forthcoming.
- OM reduces the negative effects of depression, anxiety, and anger. Siegle, G. J. & Prause, N., International Journal of Psychophysiology 178, 99–107 (2022).
- OM modifies emotional states without reducing a participant's emotional capacity.
- OM may improve cognitive performance.
- OM may promote altruistic and pro-social behavior. Newberg, A. B., God, Sex and the Brain. (Turner, Nashville, Tennesee, 2024).
- OM can safely stimulate mystical states where one feels their consciousness expand. Newberg, A. B., et al. Alterations in cerebral glucose metabolism measured by FDG PET in subjects performing a meditation practice based on clitoral stimulation.
- OM modifies the brain's dopaminergic system, offering promising medical benefits for preventing and managing Parkinson's Disease.
In addition to these published benefits, there is notable research that has yet to be published.
During a period of intense psychedelic research, Nicole Daedone encountered a clitoral stimulation practice at a zen party. The experience forever changed her understanding of spiritual advancement. Over the course of the next 20 years, Nicole transmuted this experimental art into a structured clinical practice, now known as Orgasmic Meditation. Compared to other spiritually enlightening practices, OM was safer, more accelerated, and based on human connection.
Nicole, who has authored several books on sex, spirituality, societal change, and women's liberation and empowerment, found something promising in OM. It nurtured human flourishing in all participants, unlike any other spiritual practice, and was readily accessible to anyone.
"There's an expression: you can only know the taste of honey by putting it on your tongue," Nicole says. "There's a type of knowing that you access in OM that is beyond ideas. What it does is that you are able to cut through all of the noise—say you listen to the news, and there's this idea over here, that idea over there—and most people walk around in such a state of confusion, not knowing who they are, what they feel, what they believe, and what's happening. OM gives you that fundamental ground."
Nicole's perspective on OM has been mirrored by prominent figures in institutional science, including who many consider the godfather of psychotropic drug research—Roland Griffiths, PhD. In 2020, Dr. Griffiths juxtaposed psilocybin against OM, suggesting that the practice had much in common with this psychedelic compound. Dr. Griffiths has decades of expertise spanning neuroscience, psychiatry, and behavioral science. He led pioneering studies at John Hopkins University School of Medicine as the director of the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research.
After reviewing existing findings on OM, Dr. Griffiths identified numerous similarities between this practice and psilocybin interventions. Both healing modalities brought about altered states of consciousness and transformative internal change. These findings were supported by Dr. Andrew Newberg's neuroimaging studies and other research suggesting OM helps participants let go of pain, fear, and discomfort, access long-term positive outcomes, and access an authoritative sense of interconnectedness.
The combined insights from spiritual pioneer Nicole Daedone and respected researcher and scientist Dr. Griffiths highlight OM's countless applications in modern society. Whether used as a tool for spiritual enlightenment, sexual liberation, or the treatment of trauma, OM deserves to be a standardized healing modality available in the healthcare system.
