The Meditative Marine and The Mission Within

Last night The Mission Within team held a fundraiser in Encinitas, previewing a incredibly moving documentary  with the science and healing stories of veterans treated with #ibogaine  and #5meo , plus first hand testimonials of transformation from several former special ops people who cried as they spoke of love, god, the universal beauty inside of each person. Utterly moving. Was so happy to see the incredible David Bronner and his family foundation show up to support in a big way, and many other SoCal local families and donors. 

One of the speakers, Nick, a special ops combat veteran, has found profound healing through The Mission Within Foundation. After combat and loss, he turned to work and alcohol to cope, distancing himself from his family and losing touch. Traditional therapies fell short in addressing the deeper wounds he carried. Witnessing the powerful transformations of friends who had experienced Ibogaine through The Mission Within inspired Nick to take a leap. An encounter with an old friend—a once-stoic, hardened individual who returned from treatment as a lighter, more joyful version of himself—compelled Nick to try this approach. This experience changed everything, reconnecting him with his family, his faith, and his capacity to feel fully alive. Nick spoke of an abiding sense of unconditional love, which he sees mirrored in his daily interactions. His commitment to The Mission Within Foundation is rooted in his own healing journey and his belief in its power to help others. 

The Foundation has already transformed the lives of over 1,200 #veterans, leading legalization efforts and groundbreaking research on therapies for traumatic brain injury (TBI), PTSD, anxiety, depression, rage. The work they do is wrapped in community and integrative care. 

I also had the opportunity to interview the Foundation’s director, Jay Kopelman (pictured below), on the podcast last week. His is also a deeply personal and moving story.

As we approach the end of the year, we invite you to join us in this mission of healing. By donating to The Mission Within, you’re supporting life-changing therapies that bring warriors back to their families, reconnect them with purpose, and restore hope. Please consider making @themission_within part of your year-end giving and help us continue this essential work for those who need it most.

Jay Kopelman, Executive Director of The Mission Within Foundation and Christine Marie Mason, Board Member, of Rosebud Woman and Radiant Farms. Encinitas, CA 11/7/2024.