Reclaiming and Loving your Body

When we have been through trauma, especially when this trauma has impacted our physical bodies, we often become disconnected from our bodies.  Whether it is from illness that ravaged our bodies, or extreme physical trauma, we almost disconnect from our physical being. 

Our bodies are part of the mind, body, spirit trifecta that balances our being.  When one of these is out of balance, it has a ripple effect on the others.

Reconnecting to your body and learning to love and trust your physical being is not easy.  The disconnect born out of trauma may cause us to be uncomfortable with our bodies. Give back to your physical being by getting to know your body again and meeting your body like a new friend. You are not your body’s experience, but your body is your path to being in this world.

 If you have been around babies, you will notice that they are constantly discovering their bodies and finding fascination in every part ofRainbow paint splash on a white background with the words connect to your body, love you body, treat your body like someone you love dearly them.  They move their limbs to see what they can do, they test out their legs when they learn to crawl and walk, and they delight in every new discovery.  We can relearn how to live in this space.

Reconnect to your body:

Delight in the ability of movement:  Dance, yoga, physical expression, or movement of any kind, serves to remind you of how fluid and capable the body is.  Movement can express things you are holding within, and helps to release emotions.  Your body gifts you with this form of release.

Become aware of the entire automated process of living that happens without your intervention:  You never have to remember to make your heart beat, your blood flow through your body, or your lungs function.  Within your body is the most sophisticated and automated machine in the universe and, while intervention is necessary to keep it functioning optimally, if you forget about your heart, it will still beat.  Thank your body for its ability to function without your personal effort.

Rebalance your chakras:  The effects of trauma impacts us within, and rebalancing our chakras aids healing.  There are many tools to help us, such as reiki, sound healing, and more.

Befriend your body again: See your physical body with kindness and compassion, just as you would see another.  We do not show resentment or disappointment to a friend who went through a hard time, yet we tend to blame our bodies for letting us down.  Love your body again by getting to know your body as a friend.   Take moments to become aware of the parts you see and those that you don’t.  Place your hands over your heart and feel the steady beat.  Look at any part of your body that you like, perhaps your smile or your eyes, and focus on that feeling.  Magnify the feeling of love until it encompasses your entire being, sending a flow of love and light over every part of you, and filling your entire physical being with golden love and light.  Hold on to this feeling as long as you can and call it forth whenever you need a reminder.

I invite you to explore your body in new ways, seeing your physical being through new eyes.  This is a journey and I am here to support you at every step.  Let me know where you are on this path – let’s walk it together.  

Join me in my From Trauma to Triumph Community  where we explore this in detail and walk this journey together.  I created this community as a space to heal, find peace and be in a supportive tribe.   Come explore with us!

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