Dr Caroline Griggs and her travel team attended the Barcelona Science of Consciousness Conference the week of July 7, 2025. Some of her field notes:
Hi, my name is Dr. Caroline Griggs. This past week, I attended the Barcelona Science of Consciousness Conference along with fellow Orgasmic Meditation (OM) practitioners Rachel Regan and Sofia Platti. There, I presented IOMF’s most recent study, Orgasmic Meditation and Mystical Experience: A Case Study Link.
Our research included a thematic analysis of over 1,500 journals from a collective of 55 OM practitioners, as well as journals from Nicole Daedone, the creator of Orgasmic Meditation. The themes we identified strongly reflected those commonly found in accounts of mystical experiences. When paired with an MEQ (Mystical Experience Questionnaire) study completed by Dr. Vivian Siegel, our findings support the conclusion that Orgasmic Meditation reliably elicits mystical experiences.
Interestingly, we also found that the similarities in themes between Nicole Daedone’s journals and those of other practitioners suggest that achieving a mystical experience is not dependent on years of practice or experience. Rather, it seems to be due to the nature of the OM container and the intentional use of sexual energy to enhance the experience.
Our poster presentation attracted more than 50 conference visitors, many of whom were curious about Orgasmic Meditation: what it is, how it works, and why they had never heard of it before. As both a researcher and practitioner, I am always curious about how people will respond—whether with skepticism, snide remarks, or genuine curiosity. It was a delight to see so many engaged, especially women who approached the poster excitedly, eager to learn how to practice OM themselves. As people read the journal snippets we highlighted, you could feel the room shift—a sense of presence, openness, and embodiment settled over those who engaged with the material.
Academic research can often feel dry and statistical, but presenting this paper at the conference seemed to provide a nourishment everyone was craving.
Later in the week, Rachel Regan and Sofia Platti hosted a Q&A session for OM. Eight people gathered around a table in a restaurant, leaning in for a rich hour-and-a-half discussion. Questions ranged from “What’s in it for men?” to “How do you find a partner?” Despite the public setting, it felt like we created our own quiet, intimate space for learning and connection.
A recurring theme at the conference was the focus of consciousness research on the brain. Many women in attendance questioned this focus, wondering aloud, “What about the body?” They spoke candidly about the different perspectives and flavors they bring to consciousness studies.
We also had the chance to connect with our partner researchers, including Dr. Arnaud Delmore and Dr. Rupert Sheldrake, both of whom presented their own work on consciousness. Psychedelics research was another major focus at the conference.
Overall, the conference was a huge success. Our team is now in conversation with conference leaders to offer a workshop next year, where we hope to share more about the Eros philosophy, Orgasmic Meditation, and our ongoing research.