You ask the questions: Eileen Drewery

Eileen Drewery, 58, was brought up in Morden, South London. She married her husband, Phil, at the age of 17 and moved to Essex with him to run a pub. She started working as a healer and hit the headlines recently for her healing work with Glenn Hoddle, England's football manager. Her book Why Me? was published this month and attempts to explain her work as a healer.

When did you first discover that you had the power to heal people with your energy?

I discovered I was a healer at the age of 32. I was visiting a friend who had arthritis and her hand was deformed and swollen. In an effort to comfort her I leaned forward and took her hand and as she was talking I thought "please God, make her hand better". Almost instantly she snatched her hand away - I thought I had hurt her, because her hand was so swollen. But she said: "What did you do? The pain has gone." and she burst into tears. I was very shocked and thought the pain might come back, but it did not. The pain went, and the swelling. It was a wonderful experience.

Who has been the most inspirational spiritual figure in your life and why?

Jesus, who was the greatest healer of all. He has been my guiding light from a child, and I have tried to live up to His teachings.

Can you interpret dreams and predict the future?

I can interpret dreams. I find they are usually straightforward and the meanings very clear. I sometimes get visions of a person's future when I am healing them, but it is not common. If I do get a vision it is always for the good of the person. But I stress I am a healer, not a medium.

Has your husband Phil suffered from all the publicity you have received? Does he support you in your work?

My husband has found it very difficult to read the constant lies written about me in the newspaper. But he knows the work I do is very important, and it is very important that people receive help. He knows, too, that although the press have been very negative, they have raised the profile of healing, which has meant more people have had the courage to come forward and ask for help, so that is positive. My husband was present on the day I discovered my healing gift and he witnessed what happened to my friend's hand. Since then he has witnessed many more of God's miracles, so he has seen first-hand evidence that healing works and supports me fully.

Do you think that faith healing should be recognised as a proper medical practice?

I am taking part in a documentary programme on Channel 4 on 23 March, and the programme will make my views on this subject very clear. The programme will show there is scientific proof that healing works, and that healers are already working alongside GPs in the NHS. The president of the National Federation of Spiritual Healers is a GP. There is an initiative, headed by the Prince of Wales, to integrate complementary medicines into the NHS within the next five years. I am very supportive of this. Healing has its place alongside conventional medicine, and I always work hand in hand with doctors.

Is it true that you used to run a pub with your husband? Do you ever hark back to those days?

It is true that my husband and I ran a number of pubs and we enjoyed it very much. It gave me a great opportunity to heal people who would never have thought of going to a healer, but because they met me in the pub they trusted me. I did some wonderful work for God in the pub - you don't only work for God in a church. The pub was also a wonderful school of life and developed my already good sense of humour even further!

What book are you reading at the moment? What do you think is the most influential book you have ever read?

At the moment I am reading a wonderful book given to me at one of my book signings. It is called Lady Diana - A Missionary for Charity. It is a wonderful book about the work of Diana, Princess of Wales, and Mother Teresa. I mentioned Diana in my own book because I think she did wonderful work trying to help people. As it says in this book, she was a very evolved soul on a tireless quest to help others. It was published in India, where they believe in reincarnation. The work of Edgar Case, an American psychic, influences me. I particularly enjoyed his book Predictions for the Millennium.

During one of your one-to-one sessions with the England players, before the World Cup, it is said that in reply to you asking, `What can I do for you?', Ray Parlour flippantly replied, `A short-back-and-sides, please'. Is this true, and could it be the reason that Glen Hoddle inexplicably left him out of the final 22?

This is not true. He did not say that and no other player has ever said that. The second half of your question is therefore not applicable. I will say though, if any one of the players had made that comment, it would not have offended me. Healers do have a sense of humour, you know.

In equating yourself to Jesus, do you not think that you are being blasphemous?

No, I do not. Jesus was a wonderful healer and He's taught me a great deal in my life. He taught his disciples to heal and that is how I see a true follower of Jesus. There have been healers following in Jesus's footsteps for thousands of years.

Do you believe in evolution? If so, then how does this fit in with your belief in reincarnation?

I do not believe in evolution. I believe that God created our spirits and our bodies.

Do you consider yourself responsible for Hoddle's sacking?

I most certainly do not. I have worked with Glenn for 21 years without any problems at all. The true reason for him being forced to leave his job was a witch-hunt by the sporting press. I give a full account of what happened to Glenn in the final chapter of my book and that is the true story. The press were out to destroy him, and they used me as a stick to beat him with.

If you truly believe that you reap what you sow and that you pay for your mistakes in the next life, in what form do you expect to be reincarnated?

That is impossible to answer because you cannot evaluate your life accurately on the earth plane. That can only be done when you pass on to the next dimension. I will then choose the life that is best for me to grow spiritually.

Do you personally believe that there is a connection between a disability in this life and behaviour in a previous life?

I believe that when we reincarnate, we choose the life we will lead and we set ourselves appropriate tests and suffering so we can grow spiritually and purify our spirit. We all come back to suffer in some way, so that we can learn. So we are all disabled in some way when we are born, whether physically, mentally or emotionally. We are all working through our karma. Some people who appear to have it all are suffering a lot. So it is important never to judge and never to guess what other people's karma might be. The important thing is self-responsibility; be concerned with the lessons you are learning, so you can grow.

Have any of the England players visited you for treatment since Glenn Hoddle's departure?

Yes, they have. In fact, I was healing one of them just before I filled in this questionnaire. It was always their personal choice to see me, and Glenn leaving his job has made no difference at all.

Which part of my body would you suggest that I manipulate as the best cure for a hangover?

I wouldn't know - healers don't manipulate anything. Perhaps you should see an osteopath. As far as healing is concerned, I have never treated anyone for a hangover, so I can only suggest you drink less!

Can you heal animals too?

Yes. I have given my cats and dogs healing on many occasions.

Do you think that you would have been burnt as a witch in the Middle Ages?

Unfortunately, anyone who tries to help people in this world seems to be persecuted. Jesus was crucified, Joan of Arc was burnt and, as I have been doing good work as a healer, I'm sure that they would have found an excuse to burn me too.

Questions submitted by:

Matt Pocknell, South London

Wayne Richardson, Yatton, North Somerset

Stephen Corkery, Maidenhead, Berkshire

Tony Walton, Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex

Sean Lineham, Highgate, London