by CHRIS BARRY

Name: Sharon Cheney

Age: 57

Occupation: Psychic/Spiritual Counsellor

Bio: This sassy yet ethereal Ville St-Laurent babe has been communicating with spirits since infancy, but only started offering her psychic services to the public in 1989. A former professional sculptor/painter with an MA in psychology, she is the author of Discover Your Psychic Ability and teaches spiritual development at various community colleges in and around the city. For a modest fee, Sharon will stop by your crib to tell you all about your past lives, contact a few lost loved ones on your behalf and take a peek in to what your future holds in store. She drives a 1999 Honda Accord.

How long it takes her average student to meet their spirit guides: About 10 minutes, right there in the classroom. "People think their spirit guides live on Mars or something, but they're all around you. You just have to be receptive to them."

Does she find people treat her more reverentially upon learning she has intuitive abilities? To a point. "Some people put you on a bit of a pedestal, but my philosophy is not to empower me, but to help empower others."

Something that is of concern to many people when they meet her: That she is able to see every personal detail about their lives. "Which is something I certainly could do, but that would be like being a voyeur. And honestly, I'm not all that interested in their lives to begin with."

How come the spirits are always so goddamned smart? What is it about leaving this spiritual plane that suddenly makes an idiot all-knowing? "Because your soul is eternal and has a memory of everything that has ever happened to you in this or any other lifetime. And as the soul evolves, the knowledge it acquires is cumulative. When you die, it's not like you become any smarter, but you have full recollection of everything you've ever done. But if you weren't very smart before you left, you're not going to be a whole lot smarter on the other side."Yet one more depressing reason why "drugs are bad." Sharon says taking drugs leave holes in your aura that allows nasty spooks to get in.

Something she will always do: Tell the truth - even if it's not the good word you want to hear. "Some psychics just tell you what they think you want to hear, but that's not honourable. I will not compromise my integrity and lie to people. You know, some people want to be in denial. They say, ‘Don't tell me that anyone is going to die.' But hey, people die."

One way she can help make your next social gathering a thing to remember: By stopping by and conducting a séance.

How much she charges for a session: $50.

One way to contact her: www.sharoncheney.com

Musical preferences: New age.

Last book read: Karma and Reincarnation, by Torkom Saraydarian

Words of wisdom: "If it feels right to you, then go with it. Learn to honour what you feel inside."

Comments? dimwit@openface.ca