Running Through Darkness: Memoir of a Spiritual Warrior

Do know there are many practices and modalities that can be useful to those searching for healing. The most significant tool, however, is within the actual survivor. I am a living witness of the possibilities of healing, renewing, and reclaiming that which has always been ours, our wholeness. Instead of writing one more “how to” book for clinicians, I was compelled to tell my own story.

I am excited to bring you my new book, Running Through Darkness: Memoir of a Spiritual Warrior. It takes readers on a journey, showing them that no matter what they’ve been through, healing is possible. As we go from trauma to triumph, we can reclaim what has been our divine birthright – to be whole, happy, joyous and free!

This book not only shares insight from years of clinical experience but also speaks of my journey of surviving, healing and learning to thrive.

My desire is that those who read this book will be inspired to hope, to not give up on themselves, and know that there are many different paths of coming into and achieving wellness. To know that no matter what they have experienced as survivors of trauma, they can heal. And finally, this book offers a message to all who care about survivors of sexual trauma and the professionals they seek out for help and support.

Healing is open to us all. Each of our paths looks different, but we can all heal, no matter what we have been through. I invite you to join me on this journey of reclaiming wholeness and stepping into your birthright.

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