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Protected by the Light: A Spiritual Memoir
We are all surrounded by light—if we only choose to let it in.
Imagine going through your life believing that you had the same happy upbringing as everyone else, with a loving family and a caring home.
Now imagine finding out, in your thirties, that your entire idyllic childhood was a lie—a lie told to you by your own mind to protect you from the horrors you faced every day.
Author Debra Roinestad found out just that, after a near death experience in 2005. She had always had a kind of intuition about her life—a small voice that seemed to protect her and keep her as safe as possible—but it wasn’t until that fateful night in the hospital that she truly came to understand the importance of the voice of her spirit guide.
In the months—and years—that followed, Debra would suffer violent tremors, during which memories would come back to her in flashes. Flashes of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her family. Flashes of being drugged into submission when her cries were too loud. Flashes of pain—and light.
“Conversion disorder” is what Debra learned she had—a term describing what she went through as a young girl, retreating into a safe place in her mind and “forgetting” about all that was truly happening to her, only to have the memories come crashing back later in life.
Protected by the Light is Debra’s raw and unvarnished story. Yes, it is her story of pain, but it is also her story of survival, and of finding the light—a light she hopes will one day lead each of us to find peace.
Imagine going through your life believing that you had the same happy upbringing as everyone else, with a loving family and a caring home.
Now imagine finding out, in your thirties, that your entire idyllic childhood was a lie—a lie told to you by your own mind to protect you from the horrors you faced every day.
Author Debra Roinestad found out just that, after a near death experience in 2005. She had always had a kind of intuition about her life—a small voice that seemed to protect her and keep her as safe as possible—but it wasn’t until that fateful night in the hospital that she truly came to understand the importance of the voice of her spirit guide.
In the months—and years—that followed, Debra would suffer violent tremors, during which memories would come back to her in flashes. Flashes of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her family. Flashes of being drugged into submission when her cries were too loud. Flashes of pain—and light.
“Conversion disorder” is what Debra learned she had—a term describing what she went through as a young girl, retreating into a safe place in her mind and “forgetting” about all that was truly happening to her, only to have the memories come crashing back later in life.
Protected by the Light is Debra’s raw and unvarnished story. Yes, it is her story of pain, but it is also her story of survival, and of finding the light—a light she hopes will one day lead each of us to find peace.
96 pages, Paperback
Published February 2, 2016
1 person is currently reading
678 people want to read
About the author
Debra Roinestad
1 book33 followersDebra Roinestad earned a BFA from the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan and has designed covers and interior art for major book and magazine publishers, including Van Nostrand Reinhold, Penguin USA, Popular Photography and Consumer Reports. She has also studied psychology and gerontology and was awarded honors from the Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honor society for her academic work. A member of the Screen Actors Guild, Debra has numerous stage and television credits, and holds a degree in advanced Reiki as well.
After surviving a near-death experience, Debra followed her intuition and began creating photo collages based on the themes of healing and resiliency. Since beginning this phase of her life, she has been interviewed in print and on the radio about her artwork, which has been featured in galleries and museums across the United States.
After surviving a near-death experience, Debra followed her intuition and began creating photo collages based on the themes of healing and resiliency. Since beginning this phase of her life, she has been interviewed in print and on the radio about her artwork, which has been featured in galleries and museums across the United States.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 17, 2017
The author was horrifically abused by her psychotic, violent, drug-dealing parents and other members of her totally dysfunctional family – literally tortured into unconsciousness time and time again for their own hideous amusement. This is a story of survival – understanding the body’s and the mind’s mechanisms for dealing as effectively as it can with terrible abuse until - in adulthood and in a safe place at last – the brain unlocks the terrible memories in order to flush out the poison and enable a healing process to take place.
Debra’s journey is very painful to follow through childhood, but ultimately uplifting in adulthood and in the company of caring people helping her to heal. While most readers will not have suffered anything like the depths of depravity to which Debra was subjected, her personal strength, intelligence, essential goodness and enormous courage and fortitude in dealing with it are an inspiration to us all.
The lessons Debra has learned and now shares with us are lessons from which we can all profit, even though most of us have not been tested to the same degree. “We are indeed the masters of our own minds”, and Debra Roinestad is living proof. I recommend this short, well-written, tragic, powerful, real and uplifting book without reservation. Whether or not you have yourself been a victim of any kind of abuse in childhood, read this book and profit from it.
Debra’s journey is very painful to follow through childhood, but ultimately uplifting in adulthood and in the company of caring people helping her to heal. While most readers will not have suffered anything like the depths of depravity to which Debra was subjected, her personal strength, intelligence, essential goodness and enormous courage and fortitude in dealing with it are an inspiration to us all.
The lessons Debra has learned and now shares with us are lessons from which we can all profit, even though most of us have not been tested to the same degree. “We are indeed the masters of our own minds”, and Debra Roinestad is living proof. I recommend this short, well-written, tragic, powerful, real and uplifting book without reservation. Whether or not you have yourself been a victim of any kind of abuse in childhood, read this book and profit from it.
November 19, 2017
The author's childhood is very upsetting, but the book is brilliant as is Debra Roinestad. She writes of life lessons and Esther; I really like Esther. Although the book is hard to read (sobering and upsetting), it is a great read in that we get to see/read of a hero who continues striving toward peace, happiness, and love.
The author, after a near-death experience, is diagnosed with conversion disorder. Soon after the health scare, she is revisited by her horrible and scary childhood memories. However, she and Esther are a formidable foe for these terrible memories.
Based on a five-star rating, I give it five stars!
1) Buy from the author in the future? Yes
2) Did it keep me intrigued? Yes
3) Story line adventurous, mysterious, and believable? Yes
4) Would I recommend to a family member/friend? Yes
5) Did my idea of the book based on the cover remain the same after I read the book? Yes, The cover is peaceful, the sunset is beautiful, and the light/bubble around the title reminds me of when Glenda the Good Witch floats in a bubble to Dorothy (wizard of Oz)and offers her direction and help.
The author, after a near-death experience, is diagnosed with conversion disorder. Soon after the health scare, she is revisited by her horrible and scary childhood memories. However, she and Esther are a formidable foe for these terrible memories.
Based on a five-star rating, I give it five stars!
1) Buy from the author in the future? Yes
2) Did it keep me intrigued? Yes
3) Story line adventurous, mysterious, and believable? Yes
4) Would I recommend to a family member/friend? Yes
5) Did my idea of the book based on the cover remain the same after I read the book? Yes, The cover is peaceful, the sunset is beautiful, and the light/bubble around the title reminds me of when Glenda the Good Witch floats in a bubble to Dorothy (wizard of Oz)and offers her direction and help.
April 2, 2016
Full disclosure - I was given this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway. This is a truly uplifting book about triumph over a horrifyingly abusive childhood. The abuse was so severe I thought at first it couldn't be real, but the descriptions were so vividly written I reconciled myself to the sad fact it is non-fiction.
In each chapter Debra Roinestadt writes of her past and ends the chapter with a positive lesson she learned with the help of her spirit guide, Esther. Very inspirational. It's a short book but leaves a powerful impression.
In each chapter Debra Roinestadt writes of her past and ends the chapter with a positive lesson she learned with the help of her spirit guide, Esther. Very inspirational. It's a short book but leaves a powerful impression.
February 29, 2016
I won this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway. The author's descriptions of her abusive childhood were awful. I'm glad she eventually found healing. Although she describes some very wise statements given by her spirit guide and others, I found her spirit guide a little too much for me. I'm not convinced they exist.
May 1, 2016
I received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway prize last month. I read it very quickly. It's lovely and thought inspiring. It's Olga Trujillo meets Louise Hay in this short, succinct description of what healing can look like in the face of abuse. It aligns with my own spiritual beliefs about energy channeling and positive intentions. Loved it! Will pass to friends of mine.
Grace
Grace
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews