Carlos Santana.Photo:Taylor Hill/Getty
Taylor Hill/Getty
The legendary guitarist, 75, opens up to PEOPLE in this week’s issue about the ways in which he was able to make peace with his situation, years down the line.
“My son and I were talking about this yesterday, how acceptance and forgiveness are really spiritual,” he says. “I learned to look at everyone who ever went out of their way to hurt me, demean me or make me feel like less, like they’re 5 or 6 years old, and I’m able to look at them with understanding and compassion.”
Carlos Santana as a child.Mondadori Portfolio/Archivio GBB/Everett Collection
Mondadori Portfolio/Archivio GBB/Everett Collection
Now, the musician says he’s able to see the situation from a new perspective, one that allows him grant his abuser grace.
“For example, this person who abused me sexually, instead of sending him to hell forever, I visualized him like a child, and behind him there was a lot of light,” he says. “So I can send him to the light or send him to hell knowing that if I send him to hell, I’m going to go with him. But if I send him to the light, then I’m going to go with him also.”
He continues: “There’s this saying, ‘Hurt people hurt people.’ It’s my pain. It did happen to me. But if you open your hands, and you let it go, then you don’t feel that anymore."
“Now everything’s a fun time because there’s still a 7-year-old Carlos in me that looks at life like, ‘What are we going to get into today?'” he says. “I’m just starting, and everything has prepared me for this.”
The 10-time Grammy winner adds that his goal is to offer “hope and courage to people,” and that he sticks to a lesson he learned as a child: “Offer a heartfelt hug to the listener and validate their existence.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
For more on Carlos Santana, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands everywhere Friday.
source: people.com
