John Edward (October 19, 1969)

I’ve been a fan of John Edward from 2000 (and, yes, we got to watch this TV program in England). The delivery is rapid-fire, with seemingly impossible hits, and some delayed misses, and plenty of awkward pauses when the information doesn’t seem to apply to anyone in the audience, until some timid soul puts up their hand and say, “It’s me…” It was riveting ‘reality’ television, but was it real?

Unitel Studios, New York City, June 14, 2000

I’m standing in shadows, waiting to walk out in front of a hundred people and explain that I’m about to connect some of them with their departed relatives. To your side means husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, above you parents, grandparents…appreciate the messages…just answer yes or no… I’ve given this litany a thousand times before, in living rooms and offices and Holiday Inns in states I can’t even locate on a map. But this is different. This is like nothing I’ve ever done before. It’s not something I’ve ever aspired to. But here I am.

Across the dimly lit set, I see Doug Fogel watching me. He’s the stage manager, a Martin Shortish man with a twinkle in his eyes who’s done Cats and The Lion King, Radio City and the Metropolitan Opera. Now he’s working on a TV show about a guy who talks to dead people. He’s in control of what’s happening, unlike the person he’s looking at, the person whose name is in the title of the show. I’m told that this studio was the original home of Big Bird, Bert, Ernie, and Oscar the Grouch. They shot Sesame Street right where I’m standing. And right beside me, Chris Rock did his HBO show here. So I guess I fit right in. I like to think that this show is going to be educational. I won’t break the news to the network just yet. I’m sure they think it’s entertainment.

Doug hears the cue from the control room over his headset and begins counting me down with one hand. Five, four, three two… He points to the irregularly shaped white screen that plays the opening montage of the show. He looks at the audience, extends his hands, and begins clapping with a purpose, turning himself into a human APPLAUSE sign. Then he points to me. It’s showtime. Time for me to walk out from side-stage, make a quick left as I reach the middle of the screen, and bound onto the illuminated disk that will be my new home.

Something tells me we’re not in the Holiday Inn anymore, Toto.

I scan the audience — the gallery, as it’s being called — and try to smile the way I think a TV host is supposed to smile. Regis? Jerry? Oprah? I’m not comfortable. I am extremely uncomfortable. I’m not wearing clothes, I’m wearing wardrobe. I have makeup on. There’s all this stuff around me. Up there, a constellation of lights. Over here, a contraption that looks vaguely like a camera. Back over there, a rolling screen that feeds me little bits of monologue to wrap around the taped segments.

And there’s, like an entire industry of people laboring over a cosmic version of something I’ve been doing for years by myself. Up until now, I’ve been pretty much okay with just God’s help. Now I’m relying on Doug. Everywhere I look there are people in headsets staring at fifty-two TV screens with my face on more of them than really seems necessary. It’s called the control room, and that makes me nervous. I’m a control freak — ask anybody. And I don’t like surrendering so much control that they need an entire room to hold it.

Will I be able to do what I do under these conditions? Will I get swallowed up like that mad-as-hell-and-not-gonna-take-it-anymore guy in that movie that came out when I was in, like second grade? Was this really such a good idea?

How the hell did I get here?

Prologue (pages xix-xx)

Meet John Edward

This is considered the correct timing for John Edward’s birth. Notice the Neptune/Ascendant conjunction in Scorpio (again). There must have been something in the water in New York in the late 60s.

This time there is one double inconjunct involving Saturn (Dad), and there is one single inconjunct involving the Moon (Mom). The South Node in Virgo is (widely) conjunct the Midheaven, while the North Node in Pisces is (widely) conjunct his Part of Fortune. Hmm.

Moon Inconjunct Midheaven

You need to feel that your family, especially your parents, give you consistent and reliable emotional guidance and support. Without it, you may easily feel that you are being pulled in two directions, which can only result in going nowhere.

Work very hard to develop an objective awareness of what you are doing and where you are going. You will need this understanding to guide your emotions, which might otherwise lead you astray and make it difficult for you to focus on your goals. Even though you won’t have to choose a career or a purpose in life for many years, you can learn now to have good perception, which will make it easier to choose later on. Learn to see others’ points of view, even if you cannot accept them. Learn to make logical decision, and do not let passing moods color your attitudes about yourself and you life too much.

Mercury Inconjunct Saturn

This aspect can have several different meanings. First of all, you may have hidden fears that are difficult to express, but they cause you to do things that others can’t understand. These may include fear of the dark or of certain places or people. Or this aspect can mean that you often feel depressed and sad for no apparent reason. You tend to see the serious side of life, and it weighs on you more than on most people.

On the plus side, this aspect can make you a very careful thinker. You may not attempt anything beyond your abilities as you see them, but whatever you do attempt will be done very well. You are a neat and careful worker.

Saturn Inconjunct Uranus

Your parents should understand that sometimes you have to let go and act in an undisciplined manner. Otherwise you will go through periods of great turmoil when you become extremely nervous and tense, so that you have to suddenly release all the built-up emotional tension. This can be quite a difficult experience. And if this pattern of sudden disruptive emotional release continues into adulthood, it could be very disruptive in your career as well as in your personal life. If you have a problem, try to express it and talk to others about it instead of being stoical and keeping it to yourself. You can do this very well, but there are times when you need other people. Learning to handle people and the tensions that arise in relationships is important.

(Is this where the ‘control freak’ energy comes from?)

Conclusion

I’d decided many years ago, now, that John Edward was the real deal. However, he has priced himself out of the range of my financial abilities to get a reading: US$750 per session. That’s a shame. Mom would have liked his energy. I wonder what Mrs Green is doing these days?

Hi, Mom…