Global Mother Divine Organization USA

We are raising funds to begin a program in the DC and Virginia area to teach TM to survivors of domestic or gender based violence or sexual assault.

Since 2013 we have offered a program in NYC in partnership with the David Lynch Foundation’s Women’s Health Initiative. This initiative taught TM to 1200 domestic or gender based violence or sexual assault survivors and 200 staff, at all five Family Justice Centers in the five boroughs of NYC.

Anonymous, voluntary short pre- and post surveys were taken by the participants that learned TM. The results show average reductions of: 33% in anxiety, 39% in anger, 40% in depression, 30% in stress, and increases of 18% in self-esteem, and 65% in sleep quality.

The former director of this program, Sarah Sica, says, "The tool of TM is a profound gift that provides easy access to that safe space within all of us, anytime we meditate. We can't always control the circumstances that we are in or what has happened to us, but we can utilize this technique of TM to become more resilient to the stress in our lives. Here is an experience that one of my students shared with me a month after I taught them TM: "

“I’ve endured repeated traumas and was treated for PTSD, which wasn’t very effective. However, I found TM changed my life from the very first session. I used to be wracked with anxiety daily, and be re-traumatised by multiple triggers, but now I no longer have adrenaline surges. I feel at ease with things in a way that I never thought possible. I’m not into woo-woo or religion and I was pretty skeptical about TM at first, even though I read all about its empirical scientific efficacy. Having felt the positive change to my life, I can’t recommend it highly enough, and I’m so grateful that DLF gave me this amazing gift. I feel like my life isn’t now destined to be a quagmire of depression and survival - it’s destined to be largely peaceful and enjoyable.”

In 2009, TM for Women (aka GMDO), a national non-profit, educational organization, hosted a conference with American Indian women elders from across the U.S. and Canada. All participants were taught the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique, and many went on to invite us to share TM within their communities.

Since 2010, TM for Women has offered programs focused on supporting American Indian women to address the unique stressors they face, including historical trauma, poverty, and a lack of access to education and healthcare. TM has been introduced in several American Indian communities as a tool for mental health and for stress reduction. Our approach is tailored to be culturally sensitive and is used to help participants reduce anxiety, depression, substance abuse, domestic violence, trauma, and health conditions such as diabetes, atherosclerosis, and high cholesterol. All of these various benefits had been extensively researched and published in leading scientific journals

TM is an easily learned, practiced and accessible secular tool for stress reduction, well-being, overall health and broadened awareness.

Our team is experienced in implementing various cultural educational and community outreach projects. Helen Pettiford, an American Indian Woman, is one of our certified T.M. teachers and is on our Board. Helen serves on the leadership council for the American Indian Cultural District in San Francisco. She offers the T.M program to American Indian women at the Native American Health Center in San Francisco and in New Mexico on the Zuni Reservation.

Helen is successful within the community because she taps into appropriate cultural norms and approaches. Helen is currently teaching women in San Francisco and New Mexico and has a waiting list of women interested to learn TM when additional funding is available. She will be integral to further expand our outreach. We are also seeking further funding to continue working with Native American TM teachers in Arizona offering TM on the Navajo Reservation.