MEDITATIONS
This is an invitation:
to breathe deeply and deliberately; to acknowledge how you feel in the moment, without judgement and determine where that feeling resonates in your body; to re-ignite your imagination, which often goes “offline” during stressful times. This work was created during the pandemic but speaks to universal themes that may have needed your attention before this challenging time and certainly will afterwards. Namaste, MJ
This is a gift. All I ask in return is that you share it with someone else, and if the spirit moves you, follow me on Instagram @maryjomcconnell (link in bottom right corner) or send me a message via my “reach out” page. If you are financially secure, donations to De-Cruit will be gratefully accepted via the donate button below.
Nursing Intuition Guided Meditation
I began my journey as a healer by becoming an R.N.
The following meditation is a gift to the nursing community. Although I am not on the front lines with you, I pray for your health, safety and perseverance. I hope “Nursing Intuition” reminds you how essential you are and that your intuition is a valuable skill. Please take 16 minutes for your own self-care as often as you can. MJ
Bios
Mary Jo McConnell (MJ) is a proud veteran, having served as a Captain in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. She received her BSN from New York University and began her journey as a Resilience Coach with the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, studying with Deepak Chopra & Dr. Andrew Weil. MJ credits her teacher Natalie Roy (C.R.E.A.T.E.) with laying the foundation for the structure and spirit of her original guided meditations and her mentor in the veteran community, Stephan Wolfert (De-Cruit) for her embodiment of the principles of grounding, breathing and observation without judgment.
As a response to the pandemic, MJ co-founded the Veterans Art Workshop-Online Portal (VAW-OP), which offers free virtual classes in arts/mindfulness to veterans and their families. She also co-developed and facilitates “Veteran Voices” under the auspices of Poetic Theater, supporting veterans in telling their stories.
MJ is a professional actor/singer with more than 35 years of experience on stage & in front of the camera. She loves using her voice to tell stories.
Craig Manbauman, Producer is a USAF veteran, an audiobook producer, poet, activist, and newly minted R.N. from the NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing. He is of service to the veteran community in multiple ways, chief among them as a “De-Cruiter” alongside MJ.
De-Cruit, beneficiary organization was founded by actor, veteran Stephan Wolfert, using Shakespeare and science to promote healing in the veteran community. This free program has begun virtual offerings to build a global community of veterans sharing their stories in rooms built with trust and acceptance.
MJ is currently adapting this program to support the emotional challenges facing healthcare workers. Intro to De-Cruit for Nurses premiers Nov. 3, 2023 at New York University for community health student nurses.
Resources
For the Veteran Community:
De-Cruit www.decruit.org
VAW-OP Veterans Art Workshop-Online Portal http://exit12danceco.org/vaw-op.
Poetic Theater https://www.poetictheater.com
For everyone:
C.R.E.A.T.E. https://www.thecreateseries.com
