Saskatchewan Sheila Bautz of Sharabia Acres

1.) Spirituality and the search for spiritual knowledge and understanding have been a huge part of your life since you were a child.

What led you at such an early age to undertake such a complex journey?

I was born a spiritualist and was especially drawn to, and fascinated by, Jesus from an early age.

I thought that everyone had "spiritual" experiences, which personally gave me great comfort when the abuse in my home became too overwhelming. However, my Mother was very quick to protect me from sharing my spiritual encounters with the public by continually reciting how I should not tell anyone what I saw, experienced or thought. At that time, I was greatly confused by her over-protection and comments such as "people will either want to kill you or claim you".

Then at the age of 9, I began attending Sunday Roman Catholic services by myself. However, many of the teachings in the church greatly confused me, sounding wrong. I often refused to believe - and questioned - many of them. Dissatisfied with the explanations I received - and didn't receive - I attempted to read the bible myself, searching for answers to why I was experiencing what I was on every level. I also turned to my Mother with questions on what my purpose in life was and why I had been born.

Confused by the chaos of religion while growing up with an abusive alcoholic father, I refused to accept that the Supreme Being favored certain individuals in their life process while rejecting someone like me. According to the church's teachings, my spiritual experiences were seen as "Satan's" gifts, yet I wondered how and why God would allow "Satan" to gain control over His/Her children from the time of birth. On the other hand, the church told me that God's children were protected… Such contradictions spurred my young mind into deep contemplation…

I began to abandon the Roman Catholic faith - but not the Higher Power - in my early teens, delving deeply into books on different philosophies about God, spiritual gifts and the purpose of life such as reincarnation. Weighing all sides of such topics, I accepted the truths of my inner guidance. However, I continued to be disturbed that any religion based on Jesus Christ would reject the spiritual gifts; gifts that Jesus himself possessed; and exercise a man-made rule that enforced judgment and rejection of those whom they felt were unworthy.

Then in the month of my 19th birthday, although I had already distanced myself from the church, I had a powerful angelic encounter. This thrust me further into seeking spiritual truth while verifying my spiritual beliefs and the conclusions that I began to draw… (Last year, an Anglican Priestess offered verification on my experience, concluding that she personally believed it to be a genuine encounter after reading my first book.)

2.) Your work in alternative health and healing has many guises. You are not only a healer, but a writer and a teacher. What do you see as the important aspects of each of these sides of yourself and your work? How do they help you to fulfill you, to lead you further on your journey?

Each side of my work promotes healing on a spiritual level first and foremost. In my experience, I have discovered that when one is able to heal on a spiritual level through gaining knowledge and accessing one's inner wisdom, healing is initiated in all areas of one's mortal being - such as physically and emotionally.

As such, I have chosen avenues of my work that I felt would integrate and compliment one another. My Reiki practice allows me to aid others with their physical and emotional ailments, which often stimulates spiritual discussions that ignite "soul awareness." The soul readings and workshops I conduct encourage others to regain their personal power through in-depth self-examinations at a soul level. My goal as a writer is to offer thought provoking information on spiritual matters and Truths, such as "soul evolution," inviting the readers to "take what they want and leave the rest." My only mission is to perhaps offer a "key" that may open the realms of a seeking individual's mind so that they may greatly explore the spiritual possibilities with education. To the best of my ability, I strive to spiritually educate those whom seek vast spiritual knowledge through all these avenues when it is invited by the seeker.

I also continue to be a student in the life process, for it is not possible to attain all knowledge of all things. If it were, one would not need to experience the "earth walk"…. I believe that no one individual can claim to solely be a teacher, for the Supreme Being is the only One who distributes each person's life lessons that are then tested to evaluate the progress of their "evolution"… I only share knowledge about what I have personally experienced and what has been spiritually, and historically, proven to me.

3.) Your life has not been an easy one. How have your painful life experiences helped you on your life's path?

Since I was a very young child, I have always had an instinctive trust in the Supreme Being's greater plan and believed that nothing in life happened randomly or without great purpose - yet instead was calculated with great meaning. Part of the puzzle to spiritually evolving is to recognize that each negative life event offers enormous spiritual education that can only be attained through experiencing them…

I grew up in an abusive alcoholic home, became a battered woman by the age of 18, entered another emotionally and verbally abusive relationship, endured great judgment from society - to name a few - and then healed to discover happiness with my husband. Just when everything began to progress in a positive manner, I became a young widow at 26. Through all of this, I kept my faith in God and delved even harder into seeking the purpose for suffering, asking what more the Supreme Being wanted from me. Then one night, in deep meditation, I submitted myself to the Creator and told Him/Her to utilize me as an instrument where I was needed…

Through utilizing my "negative" life experiences, and spiritual philosophies as an example to others, perhaps each individual will be stimulated to become all that they are truly meant to be - Spiritual Beings. As such, those whom have witnessed or hear of my extreme trials continually want to know where I get my spiritual strength from as I am not affiliated with any particular religion or group. I strongly believe that the trials I have overcome in the first part of my 28 year "earth walk" were a "training" period for me to prepare for the journey in which I know find myself progressing towards... sharing my experiences and belief that regardless of creed, gender, lifestyle or religious preference, every individual was created with equality by a Supreme Being who is the very definition of unconditional love… There are no divisions, only unity at a spiritual level…

4.) Can you tell us something about your writing work and how that has led to the recent publication of your first book?

My column "Spiritually Speaking…" began shortly after I searched my soul, embarked on a deeper meditative connection with the Creator and asked Him/Her to utilize me as an instrument in this "earth walk." Suddenly, opportunities began to present themselves to me. As such, I received a phone call from a local paper asking me if I would write about my life experiences and how I remained so strong through my independent worship, "Spiritually Speaking…" then began to expand into other publications across Western Canada…

Suddenly, people from all walks of life began to approach me with questions regarding my philosophies and beliefs, feeling very comfortable sharing their in-depth spiritual experiences, traumas, dilemmas and lives - that they had repressed through fear - with me… I began to receive encouragement to begin a healing facility and write about my philosophies in order to greater share my opinions and knowledge. Although I had been working in private on a previous book for few years, many began to encourage me to publish a book, stating that they received encouragement and spiritual nourishment from the writings…

Thus, "Spiritually Speaking… Walk in Beauty" manifested and will be available in book form December of 2001. The next "Spiritually Speaking…" project is soon to be developed and will deal with numerous forms of abuse and how to heal from them utilizing spiritual philosophies. The writing project I have been working on for the past three years is very in-depth, regarding the struggles between religion and spirituality…

5.) You operate a healing facility called Sharabia Acres - what is the focus of this facility and what can you offer people there?

Sharabia Acres is based on integrity, honesty and truth. Its focus is to educate people on the spiritual matters while illustrating that each individual is responsible for their thoughts, words and actions - minus the excuses. Thus, we are not victims in the life process. Instead, within each individual is a Spiritual Warrior who has the capacity to regain control over their personal power that in turn illuminates into the world through their positive actions…

The main philosophy of the lodge and my work is to "seek no followers, only offer guidance." Too often times, one surrenders one's personal power to numerous external forces. As such, true power is non-abusive and encourages others to find the power within their Self while freeing their mortal being from the many "negative" aspects of their mortal personality.

Prejudices, judgments and divisions between different races, genders and religious preferences are not tolerated at the lodge. Such influences are irrelevant to the matters of the spirit and are stripped away. The healing lodge welcomes all who are in need of guidance and who are ready to take responsibility for their life; such as with their addictions, suffering and negative life choices. As such, Sharabia Acres fees and workshops are affordable, as often times those whom are in desperate need of spiritual healing have very limited incomes.

6.) This issue of the magazine is dedicated to the "Healing in Difficult Times" theme. Do you have any advice for those who are struggling with the events that are currently taking place in our world?

Yes… The spiritual alarm has resounded throughout the world, awakening the hearts of humankind from their slumber and calling them back to the Great Mystery… When one truly understands and comprehends the illusion of the life process, one is able to accept the events occurring in our world with compassion…

It is so simple, yet so complex… Hatred creates further divisions amongst the masses and love stimulates tolerance, compassion and understanding. World Peace and unity will not prevail until each and every person has inner peace that creates unity within one's family, community, country and, ultimately, the world. Look beyond the mortal illusion of one's physical appearance and into the soul of each unique individual, for within another you will see your Self. If we are not capable of this now, a day will come when humanity may be forced to do so in order to ensure our mortal survival...

By accessing and acknowledging the purpose of every mortal event, one comes to trust, know and have greater faith in the Creator. Through abandoning Him/Her, one once again falls into a deep slumber… Humanity has been asleep for too long. The time of the awakening is now upon us, beckoning us to hear the spiritual call to change our hearts and recognize that, on a spiritual level, humanity is united by the Whole whom created all things with His/Her essence…

7.) If you could pass on only one message to the world, what would that message be?

There are no divisions amongst the masses, for all have been Divinely created at a soul level. No one individual can claim to be above or more worthy than the next, for those whom are seen as "last" will be the first. Those whom endure great hardships and suffering are the most blessed, for their eyes will become open and their hearts will yearn to embrace the Great Spirit. Through one's trials, the great gift of spiritual evolution is offered and bestowed upon them… It is solely one's responsibility to embrace such gifts in order to reconnect to the Creator…. The cup of knowledge shall quench the spiritual thirst and thus, those whom suffer on every level shall be cradled.

What has once been divided shall become united and tears of pain and suffering shall transcend into tears that rejoice at the fruits of one's labor, that of spiritual evolution…. No matter what, we must worship the Divine and seek to reclaim that which is rightfully ours - the divine wisdom of one's soul, free from external influences that seek to enslave one's being from the spiritual Truths, and unite the nations with understanding and compassion…