religious abuse | Trauma-ties

I am Rosa M Luna, and I am the author of Trauma-ties and this website. I just wanted to take this opportunity to tell you about the Trauma-ties book and warn you about its contents before you decide if you want to buy a copy for yourself or not.

Even though much of the information in Trauma-ties is about children, it is not a book intended for children in any way. It is about trauma and includes the story of my chain of trauma which started when I was raped and nearly died at 5 years old, which was only the beginning of my traumatic journey.

The book features my stories of trauma and those of my clients whom I have been blessed to serve and who have also suffered inconsolable trauma. This book is not for the faint of heart or those who are easily offended.

My prayer is that my life is an inspiration for those who are feeling helpless and/or hopeless if they have faced a lifetime of continued drama, trauma, and abuse like I have.

Thank God, I was able to suffer a horrific life, nearly died many times, and miraculously suffered physical abuse that should have left me dead or severely brain-damaged, including religiously inspired physical and sexual abuse. I was even f*cked by the priest regularly who ensured I was a virgin for doing so, just like the Mother Mary.

The church and abuse “in the name of God” is a huge problem in America and the world today. It is not just about sins committed in the name of God against women, which is heard of, but the sins against the children are far more pervasive than any church denomination or religion would ever admit to.

We are only now hearing some of the stories of those who were sexually abused by clergy, religious followers, and family members. This has been going on for thousands of years and has been hidden in secrecy, Only in our modern days are we starting to hear the stories being disclosed by adult victims of religious child abuse.

If you have suffered any kind of trauma, know this

You are not alone

and

There is hope for you

This is my life. I did not die, and I did not end up in prison for trying to defend myself. Instead, I made the decision to stop the abuse, which was a process. I went to college and started expanding my curandero skills which I inherited from my mother. I became a mental health counselor for the State of Oregon and continued my practice of serving mostly women and children victims of abuse.

I turned my traumatic past into a powerful passion-fueled life of service, helping those who feel like there is no hope for them.

Since then, I have retired, but I still remain inspired to reach out and continue to help trauma victims and those who serve them. I will be doing this until the last beat of my heart.

Now you will find me still sharing with people, encouraging them to turn their traumatic past into powerful futures as an Olympian Life Coach. Find happiness, and fulfillment, and contribute in special ways that they are more qualified for than any college-trained “professional.” They have sat in the offices of the professionally trained and were traumatized even more through the process.

But the therapeutic community is changing. I work with, train, and certify trauma advisors, who include my students, psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors, coaches, and consultants who are positively impacting and spreading light and love throughout the darkness of trauma-ties among victims and empowering them to heal and help others as well.

If you decide to get my book, Trauma-ties, you can get it at any bookstore, or online at Amazon.com.

About Trauma-ties

Rosa M Luna shares her profound insights drawn from her experiences as a child, student, wife, mother, and dedicated State mental health specialist. In her compelling work, “Trauma-ties,” Luna delves into the intricate web of trauma that permeates every aspect of life, offering a unique perspective that only someone who has triumphed over such adversity can provide. Luna’s narrative explores the profound impact of abuse and trauma, illuminating the hidden ties that bind individuals to their past and haunt their dreams.

For those engaged in supporting trauma victims and those ensnared in the chains of trauma, Luna’s words resonate deeply. She emphasizes a crucial message: you are not alone. Within the pages of “Trauma-ties,” readers discover a community of survivors who have walked similar paths, offering solace and guidance. Many have navigated the same treacherous journey and emerged stronger, their experiences serving as beacons of hope for others still struggling.

Luna fearlessly confronts the harsh realities of trauma, shedding light on the intricate process of survival. Her work serves as a beacon of empowerment, reminding readers that it is possible to reclaim their lives from the clutches of trauma. The book challenges readers to confront their experiences, offering a pathway toward healing and the possibility of a future filled with blessings and love. “Trauma-ties” is a poignant and eye-opening account that encourages readers to take proactive steps toward overcoming their past and embracing a life unburdened by the shadows of abuse. Brace yourself for a candid and powerful read that will leave a lasting impact.

When I was young, about 12 years old, my mother would send us to go clean the church and our priest’s house. One day when I was cleaning and dusting his office, the priest startled me when he playfully grabbed me and placed his hands on my breast and said “you have grown into quite a young lady” and started to molest me. When I mentioned what this priest did to me to my mother, she slapped me and shouted, “Do not lie about God’s chosen saints!” My mom did not believe me.

I did not want to clean his office, clean the church, or go to mass for that matter anymore. But my mother forced me. I asked my sisters if this had happened to them when they had cleaned his office? They did not respond to me. Why?

They just continued to clean. We would take turns with another family to clean the church and the office. How many other girls was this man doing this to? I never will know.

The outcomes of these incidents can be overwhelming to us young people. Even though the world was not paying as much attention at that time and era, but equally important is long-term destructive effects in the lives of abused victims.

The damage to victims and the emotional damage as well, also the belief in our religious background. I remember him giving a sermon on keeping clean, staying away from lust, and sexual desires. I did not know what to do but feel disgusted based on what I had already experienced and keep things to myself.

Some of us cannot have normal or healthy emotional relationships with other people because of the distrust of other male people just wanting to be a friend or an acquaintance.

When does this emotional feeling go away? With time and work on yourself with the help of a professional.

Getting rid of all that shame, guilt, and our accusing God of allowing this to happen to me. One day, the priest was no longer there. He was gone. This made going to church more comfortable.

I went on to learn the ritual prayers.
Celebrated my holy communion, just to please my mom.
I made my mother proud when I got married in the church. In a white dress and I did not feel guilty about being married in a white dress, as if I was a virgin because I was blessed by doing that act with a priest “a man chosen by God himself” according to my mom (that was my justification).
I did leave the church soon after I got married.

Has this experience taken my belief in God away? It did at first, but now I understand, that they (priests) are “after all, just a man.” Not “made in the image of God” Genesis 1:27 as well. This verb is a reference to man and indicates that man was created with a difference from animals.

Clergy are charged with the habitual conformity of all Gods power, to do the will of God and to the will of his powers to the will of God clearly discerning, his will in embracing his chief good without error in his knowledge, passions, or his appetites, and senses, also being all, to wisdom and enjoyment of his facilities in all his ministry and pray to restore our souls.

That’s a lot of responsibilities to place on a man’s shoulders. If so, that is probably the reason clergy are mostly men, ministry, men, church leaders, men. Today there are women in the ministry as well.

Healing will come as well, getting help, by seeing a professional, or a good therapist.

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