Holiday Wishes

My wish for you this Holiday Season is to claim who you are, unapologetically and proudly.  Whether this has been a good year, or a year full of trials, you are still here,  surviving – that is thriving.  Every day is a new day for you to say YES to yourself and choose what you want your life to be.

As you celebrate the holidays and end of year, remember to celebrate yourself too.Happy Holidays. A white mug with the words, " remember you matter" on a confetti background

As you feast on the foods you’ve spent time preparing, remember to feed your Soul.

As you spend time with friends and family, remember to take pockets of time for yourself too.

As you give gifts to others, what gift will you give to yourself?  It does not have to be a tangible item.  It could be time, education, changing the layout of your home to suit your lifestyle, space clearing your environment, or quiet moments of reflection.

As much as you give your time, attention and focus to others, give it in equal measure to yourself. Operating from a space of personal well-being gives you the ability to bring your best self to every interaction.

Be in the present moment during these holidays, immersing yourself in every experience, absorbing things that serve you, and releasing those things that don’t serve you any longer.

Happy Holidays! I look forward to continuing to serve you in the New Year, and to hearing from you.

Many Blessings,

Santa

RUNNING THROUGH DARKNESS
MEMOIR OF A SPIRITUAL WARRIOR

BY SANTA MOLINA-MARSHALL ‧ RELEASE DATE: MAY 3, 2022

This debut memoir chronicles a woman’s spiritual exploration and growth as she overcame a disturbing childhood and helped others heal.

Brought to America from the Dominican Republic as a youngster, Molina-Marshall should have led a happy life. Her father was a diligent worker, and his large family wanted for nothing. But the author recounts that her dad had a drinking problem and was a serial philanderer. Molina-Marshall’s long-suffering mother left him for a woman. Then it was all downhill for the bright, 12-year-old girl, who was shuttled between foster care and relatives. According to the author, she was sexually abused by the husband of one of her siblings. This resulted in Molina-Marshall becoming alienated and moody. By 15, she simply tried to survive. In her favor were grit and a restless intelligence. She quit school, rented a room, and found a factory job. Time went by, and for a while she was happily married. Yet when her husband left her, her life truly began. She turned to religion for answers but decided that blaming God for her woes was a cop-out. 

In this absorbing and moving memoir, Molina-Marshall’s vivid storytelling is fearless. She frankly discusses the truths she discovered and the indignities she suffered. These admissions are disclosed with a touch of resignation and plenty of bite. However painful, everything she experienced was a lesson, and she bravely realized that she was part of the problem: “The fear of being hurt, rejected, or abused often led to me feeling lonely and misunderstood. No one knew the agonizing pain I felt being trapped in my thoughts and anger. I was becoming my biggest threat.” 

The author skillfully recounts her intricate spiritual journey. To deal with her psychic wounds, she searched for an inspirational system. Her open-mindedness led her to the interfaith concept—cherry-picking from various religions and spiritual movements, yoga, and Indigenous beliefs as a way of finding peace. Along with her female partner, she built a therapy practice, making use of every spiritual element that aided her and others. The road was bumpy, and she found that women of color in same-sex relationships were not welcomed everywhere. To do good works—and finally live on her own terms—she effectively overcame bigotry.

An engrossing, cathartic account of empathy and success through determination and confidence.

Pub Date: May 3, 2022   |    ISBN: 978-0-578-38315-6  |   Page Count: 264    | Publisher: From Trauma to Triumph  |   Review Posted Online: June 13, 2022