Saskatchewan Sheila Bautz of Sharabia Acres

1.) Q: 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?

A: I was born a spiritualist and for as long as I, and my mother, can remember I was also very philosophical from a very young age. I think many children are born with a spiritual memory or naturally inquisitive nature to various degrees. Initially, I was also always fascinated by Jesus.

From this early age, I thought that everyone had spiritual experiences, which personally gave me great comfort and guidance in the dysfunctional home I grew up in. However, I soon realized that openly talking about such things, or anything pertaining to a philosophical nature, was not widely accepted in our Western society. My mother was always very quick to protect me from sharing my spiritual thoughts with most people by continually reciting, in private, how I should not tell anyone, with the exception of very few people, what I saw, experienced, felt or thought. At that time, I was greatly confused by her over-protection and warnings that I would be rejected or taken advantage of. However, thank goodness that she nurtured this aspect in me, and still does - including cautioning me as a Mother tends to do.

Then, around the age of nine, I started to question many of the teaching in our church that confused me and didn't resound with my soul, or sound quite right to me, refusing to believe many of them. Dissatisfied with the explanations I received - and didn't receive - I attempted to read the bible myself in search for answers. Like many children, I kept questioning why - including why was I born, why was I experiencing the life I was? I also continued to turn to my Mother with these questions, including asking her repeatedly what is my purpose?

I just couldn't accept some of the teachings of our Roman Catholic church, even at this young age. I didn't believe in a devil or Satan, or that many of the spiritual gifts, such as foretelling dreams for one example, was the work of the devil. As I was often viewed as a loner in my childhood, and still am - though I prefer to call it independent and self-sufficient - I would seek quiet time in nature and with animals, such as horses, in order to deeply contemplate many philosophical thoughts and connect with my inner voice and other spiritual aspects in general. I still need nature, lots of quiet, alone time and the soothing company of animals - just like I need air.

By the time I was in my early teens, I chose to abandon organized religion - but not the Higher Power - and began delving into books about Eastern and other ancient philosophies, life after death, spiritual gifts, reincarnation and so on. Weighing all sides of such topics, I accepted the truths of my inner guidance.

2.) Q: 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?

A: I am always striving to progress spiritually as it is a life time commitment for me. I also continue to implement the meditation techniques that came naturally to me as a child. When I turned twenty six, I was widowed. It was during this year of my life that I was introduced to a very humble, very wise man, though he did not proclaim to be such. He was instrumental in the next step of my spiritual development.

He - Roger of Many Names - came to me through a series of connections. I won't say coincidences, because I do not believe there are any coincidences in life, but instead, that everything has a purpose. However, as they say, when the student is ready, the teacher will appear. However, his first rule was, "If you call me Mentor, I will not work with you but if you call me friend, we will be okay. Everyone is both a student and a teacher on this earth walk, and no one is above another. You are to find your own path."

I am very, very grateful to him for all his wisdom and teachings - as is my Mother. Through his extensive spiritual guidance and tests, he has taught me many, many things - including that everyone is always both a student and a teacher, though each person is at different phases or levels. He also taught me the importance of honoring and harnessing my own authentic inner power in order to utilize it with positive examples - actions - in order to contribute beauty, in various forms, into this world.

To walk in beauty is to walk our path in this life and create positive examples. To contribute to this world so that when we leave this earth to journey to the next, we will have left a beautiful path behind that makes the world a better place because of our example and actions.

Many Names is also the individual who trained me in Reiki, and initiated me as a Master once I had completed - through the act of "doing" - the required criteria.

As such, each side of my work promotes healing on a spiritual level first and foremost - healing within in order to tap into our own inner power that rightfully belongs to us. In my experience, I have discovered that when a person is able to heal on a spiritual level through gaining knowledge, our own inner wisdom initiates our spiritual healing and leads to the emotional and physical bodies. I was very fortunate to have the training that Many Names gave me on various spiritual levels.

My Reiki practice allows me to perhaps aid others with their spiritual, emotional and physical ailments, which often ignites soul awareness. My goal as a writer is to perhaps offer thought provoking information that stimulates greater awareness, no matter the genre or subject. Some aspects of my writing stirs controversy, which I feel is not a bad thing. After all, if something is perceived as controversial, I feel that is a big signal that the subject matter needs to be addressed. I also invite my readers to take what they want and leave the rest, as I deeply believe that people should think for themselves. To the best of my ability, I strive to create awareness and share my findings with those who seek it and feel that they may benefit in some way from sharing my stories in order to create positive change in a healthy manner.

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

A: I believe that nothing in life happens randomly or without reason. I strongly feel that part of the puzzle to spiritually evolving is to recognize that each negative life event potentially offers enormous spiritual education that can only be attained through experiencing them.

I grew up in a dysfunctional home, became a battered woman by the age of 18, entered another emotionally and verbally abusive relationship, endured many other trials and judgments and then healed to discover happiness and a healthy relationship with Dean, my late husband. Just when everything was progressing in a positive manner, I was widowed at 26. Through all of it, my faith remained and I delved even deeper into seeking the purpose for suffering, the source of healing and evolving to reach my fullest potential and what I may have to offer this world.

Through utilizing what many may call my negative life experiences as examples and by sharing my spiritual philosophies by putting them into practice, perhaps others will be stimulated to tap into their inner source and strive to reach their greatest potential. I am not affiliated with any particular religion or group and strongly believe that every individual is created equal regardless of creed, gender, lifestyle or religious preference.

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

A: My column, Spiritually Speaking..., began shortly after I was widowed. I received a phone call from a local newspaper I was working for writing profiles on people and businesses, and was asked if I would be comfortable writing about my life experience and how I remained so strong through my independent worship. From there, articles from my column 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. I was amazed at how comfortable they felt about sharing their spiritual experiences, traumas, dilemmas and life with me - which many stated they had repressed through fear of judgment in mainstream Western Society.

At the request of my readers, I consolidated my column into book form and expanded some of the articles into greater depth. Spiritually Speaking... Walk in Beauty debuted in December, 2001, and sold successfully where ever I promoted it. At the initial signing, 52 copies sold in 45 minutes. At each signing after that, it was common to sell a minimum of 30 copies per signing. I also began to do motivational speaking and my workshops always filled.

In 2004, I took a break from my writing and Reiki practice when I was finally blessed with a pregnancy that resulted in a beautiful baby after having seven miscarriages. In late 2007, after my second beautiful baby was born, I decided it was time to return to my work.

I am now developing various writing projects, including a non-fiction book that addresses work-related deaths in Canada, as my late husband was killed on the work site. I am also planning many avenues to re-emerge into the public life by late 2009 and into 2010.

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

A: Sharabia Acres was, and still is, based on integrity, honesty and truth. I no longer operate the business as a healing lodge after selling the lodge in 2007. I feel my path has drawn me into other areas I feel I need to focus on right now - mainly writing at the moment. However, I do have many future plans to re-incorporate and develop various workshops - including writing workshops - over the next few years.

In the past, the lodge served as a safe haven, a place of comfort and rest, for others. As such, I did not tolerate prejudices, judgments and divisions between those of varying social status, educational backgrounds, genders, religious preferences, races and lifestyle preferences. I feel that such influences are irrelevant to the matters of the spirit. What was, and what is, always very important to me is seeking the truth in all life situations and to stimulate positive change by having the courage to speak that truth. I feel that this contributes to making the world a better place for everyone, and if I can do that on any level, then I feel I have succeeded. I strongly feel that the process of unity and justice for all is initiated from within and then extends to our families, to our communities, to our nation and ultimately, in our world.

6.) Q: 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?

A: Yes. When we truly understand and comprehend that life is an illusion and that we are each able to create our own experiences through how we choose to perceive and deal with the events in our life, we are also able to understand what is occurring around us and throughout our world with compassion. We can also see that we are being presented with opportunities to make positive changes and contributions through our own life's events, if we choose to.

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

A: On a spiritual level, I believe there are no divisions amongst the masses at a soul level because all have been divinely created. No one individual can claim to be above or more worthy than the next. Life trials can offer a great gift to spiritually evolve and reach for our individual highest potentials. Recent stats state that on average, most people only reach about 10% of their potential in all areas of life. Others say that it is only about 2%. I believe in challenging our self to tap into that 90% that is under-utilized in a positive manner. By working on our self first, we can continue to accomplish positive feats that, collectively, create a better society and world.

No matter what, I feel that we must each honor our individual paths and seek to connect with the Supreme Being individually. I believe that each individual has a right to seek that inner divine wisdom, free from external influences that wish to enslave us to various life experiences and in various forms.

So I guess part of my message would be to encourage everyone to become all that they can be through honest self examination that produces positive actions.