Jonathan Hirsch

By the time Janine crossed paths with Terry, she was in her 20s and had a small child she was raising on her own. She'd just moved to Dallas. For as long as she could remember, Janine knew she could see things others could not.

By the time Janine crossed paths with Terry, she was in her 20s and had a small child she was raising on her own. She'd just moved to Dallas. For as long as she could remember, Janine knew she could see things others could not.

By the time Janine crossed paths with Terry, she was in her 20s and had a small child she was raising on her own. She'd just moved to Dallas. For as long as she could remember, Janine knew she could see things others could not.

As a newcomer to the city, Janine was struggling. She knew she was different, sometimes made her question her sanity. And that's when a friend told her about Terry's meditation group. The classes were held at the Church of Religious Science.

As a newcomer to the city, Janine was struggling. She knew she was different, sometimes made her question her sanity. And that's when a friend told her about Terry's meditation group. The classes were held at the Church of Religious Science.

As a newcomer to the city, Janine was struggling. She knew she was different, sometimes made her question her sanity. And that's when a friend told her about Terry's meditation group. The classes were held at the Church of Religious Science.

Terry was heavyset with a wide gait. She wore loose-fitting clothes, drapey gowns or muumus. Her whole face would draw towards her brow when she frowned or looked serious and snap back into an overly tight expression when she smiled. She was not striking or welcoming, really, but I guess that, in a way, made her feel authentically motherly to some.

Terry was heavyset with a wide gait. She wore loose-fitting clothes, drapey gowns or muumus. Her whole face would draw towards her brow when she frowned or looked serious and snap back into an overly tight expression when she smiled. She was not striking or welcoming, really, but I guess that, in a way, made her feel authentically motherly to some.

Terry was heavyset with a wide gait. She wore loose-fitting clothes, drapey gowns or muumus. Her whole face would draw towards her brow when she frowned or looked serious and snap back into an overly tight expression when she smiled. She was not striking or welcoming, really, but I guess that, in a way, made her feel authentically motherly to some.

I'm beginning to see what made this woman appealing. In a deeply conservative town, here was this raggedy prophet who gazed lovingly on you, who promised a brave and spiritually-minded path and a circle of friends to do it with. Janine met Sandra there, too, perhaps the person most close to Terry in those days.

I'm beginning to see what made this woman appealing. In a deeply conservative town, here was this raggedy prophet who gazed lovingly on you, who promised a brave and spiritually-minded path and a circle of friends to do it with. Janine met Sandra there, too, perhaps the person most close to Terry in those days.

I'm beginning to see what made this woman appealing. In a deeply conservative town, here was this raggedy prophet who gazed lovingly on you, who promised a brave and spiritually-minded path and a circle of friends to do it with. Janine met Sandra there, too, perhaps the person most close to Terry in those days.

Janine told me she didn't feel crazy anymore. She had a deep longing to be okay. Terry had this way of meeting students where they were and helping them to see their life in a new way. One that made them feel understood even when they were in crisis.

Janine told me she didn't feel crazy anymore. She had a deep longing to be okay. Terry had this way of meeting students where they were and helping them to see their life in a new way. One that made them feel understood even when they were in crisis.

Janine told me she didn't feel crazy anymore. She had a deep longing to be okay. Terry had this way of meeting students where they were and helping them to see their life in a new way. One that made them feel understood even when they were in crisis.

Janine got close enough to Terry to realize she could be different things to different people.

Janine got close enough to Terry to realize she could be different things to different people.

Janine got close enough to Terry to realize she could be different things to different people.

For those under her spell, she was almost godlike, a guru of sorts. Terry G. It was baffling to people on the outside. In photos, she appears nervous and unhealthy. Janine said there was an excuse for that. The fat, the excess weight she carried, was there to carry all the energy. It was necessary. The energy she apparently absorbed from her followers.

For those under her spell, she was almost godlike, a guru of sorts. Terry G. It was baffling to people on the outside. In photos, she appears nervous and unhealthy. Janine said there was an excuse for that. The fat, the excess weight she carried, was there to carry all the energy. It was necessary. The energy she apparently absorbed from her followers.