John Edward

John Edward (1969– ) American Medium and television personality. John Edward began his psychic career in his 20s. As with all prominent mediums, sceptics have attempted to debunk his ability.

He was born John Edward McGee, Jr., on October 19, 1969, in Glen Cove, New York, on Long Island. His Irish father, John Edward, Sr., was a police officer, and his mother came from a large Italian family. John was their only child. After his parents separated, John and his mother, Perinda, known as Princess, lived with his grandmother. Growing up, John loved to dance, especially anything Latin, and eventually he taught dancing and competed on the professional-amateur circuit. His wife Sandra was his dance instructor.

After graduating from college with a degree in public administration, Edward worked at a large hospital on Long Island, first as a phlebotomist (he drew blood), then in the computer department. He gave readings to some of his friends, establishing a small reputation as a good psychic on Long Island, but he had no intention of becoming a professional psychic.

Princess told John he was special, but Edward always thought she said that because she was his mother. He learned later that he was unique: able to see a person’s aura, experience déjà vu, have knowledge of events that occurred before he was even born. His father thought John was a genius, because he could spell words that would magically appear in front of his mind’s eye that were way too difficult for the average schoolboy. When Edward was 15, a psychic friend of his mother’s, Lydia Clar, told him that he had very evolved spirit guides and would use his gift for others. He was unconvinced.

In 1989, Edward’s mother—a heavy smoker—was diagnosed with lung cancer. She and Edward worked up a series of signs or code words to identify her if she were really able to communicate from the Other Side. The first was “Diana,” to signify Princess, and the second was “Pooh bear,” because Edward loved the Winnie the Pooh character. The last clue was “guiding light” to represent a favourite soap opera by the same name.

By 1995, Edward’s spirit guides—the Boys as he calls them—kept telling him to leave the hospital and work full time as a medium. He took the plunge, putting his faith in the Boys. Next his guides wanted Edward to write a book. He felt that at age 26, he was too young and did not have enough to tell. But they kept after him, so he wrote One Last Time. Sales were mediocre, and the promotion appearances were exhausting. He decided to quit psychic work and become a veterinarian.

The Boys convinced Edward to continue, and he began doing more readings for callers on radio and in person. In 1998, scientist Gary E. Schwartz tested Edward’s psychic abilities at his lab at the University of Arizona in Tucson and pronounced him legitimate. Schwartz’s tests do not convince sceptics like James Randi, but Edward appreciated the validation.

Edward’s television show, Crossing Over with John Edward, debuted on Sci Fi Channel on June 14, 2000. The show took off almost immediately, and the producers had no trouble filling the studio gallery with people longing to hear message from dead loved ones. A year later, the show was syndicated in 90 markets.

The success of Crossing Over catapulted Edward’s book One Last Time (1998) to the top of the New York Times bestseller list. Edward’s other books include the novel What If God Were the Sun? (2000); Crossing Over: The Stories Behind the Stories (2001); After Life: Answers from the Other Side (2003); Final Beginnings (2004); and Practical Praying: Using the Rosary to Enhance Your Life (2005).

SOURCE:

The Encyclopedia of Ghosts and Spirits – Written by Rosemary Ellen Guiley – September 1, 2007

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