Overview of John Edward: Stop Trying to “Move On” After Loss (On Purpose / iHeartPodcasts)
This episode features medium John Edward in a deep conversation about grief, mediumship, and practical ways to keep connection with loved ones who’ve died — without expecting a medium to “fix” grief. Edward explains how readings work, how he was tested by scientists, how to spot fraud, and — most importantly — concrete, everyday practices that help people make peace with loss and live with their grief in constructive ways.
Key takeaways
- Mediums provide connection and validation, not guaranteed closure or healing. Readings often shift the seeker’s focus from checking whether the deceased are “okay” to doing their own inner work.
- John Edward emphasizes survival of consciousness: loved ones continue as consciousness/energy and can communicate in non-physical ways (symbols, dreams, “downloads” of images/feelings).
- Evidence and testing: Edward participated in lab studies (EEG/EKG) and the silent-sitter experiments documented in Dr. Gary Schwartz’s work and the book The Afterlife Experiments — studies he says helped rule out cold reading as the mechanism.
- Practical grief work: name the person, tell their stories, create rituals (food, music, photos), journal, interview elders, and get professional help when needed (therapist, astrologer, numerologist).
- Red flags: beware of mediums who demand details (name/date/how they died), sell “curse removal” for money, rely on generic symbols (butterflies, 1111) without deeper validation, or give philosophical platitudes as “evidence.”
What John Edward does and how readings work
- Abilities Edward cites: clairvoyance (seeing), clairaudience (hearing), clairsentience (feeling). He describes these as “downloads” or impressions rather than an audible voice.
- Typical reading structure:
- Establish the client’s life context (sometimes using numerology/personal year) to frame lessons and timing.
- Tune into energy (sometimes by psychometry — holding an object) and receive images, names, feelings, dates, symbols.
- Validate: give multiple, specific confirmations (names, initials, small private details) and anchor them with supportive details so clients can recognize truth even for things they don’t immediately understand.
- Interpretive layer: Edward often interprets symbols (e.g., pink roses = love; thorns = difficulty) and clarifies meanings for the sitter.
- He stresses the importance of the “silent sitter” test (no prompts from the sitter) and says his public work intentionally avoids low-hanging symbolic prompts to reduce suggestibility.
Background & credibility
- Early path: skeptical teenager who experienced a reading at 15 that launched him on a decades-long study and development of mediumship.
- Scientific engagement: participated in experiments with Dr. Gary Schwartz (documented in The Afterlife Experiments) and other lab work at University of Arizona-style studies, involving EEG/EKG and controlled “silent sitter” protocols.
- Media/teaching: ran TV show Crossing Over, writes books (The Infinite Quest), launched EvolvePlus.tv (hub for courses, astrologers, numerologists, Project You workshop), and authored Chasing Evil (about assisting an FBI agent on cold cases).
Practical grief guidance — how to live with grief (daily practices & rituals)
Edward emphasizes practices you can do daily or regularly that keep connection alive without getting stuck.
- Daily ritual (simple, suggested practice based on episode points):
- 2–5 minute check-in: say the person’s name, express one gratitude or one thing you want them to know, ask one question aloud or silently.
- Journal one line about how you feel or any sign you noticed (dream, song, smell, symbol).
- Carry one small honoring act that day (play their song, cook their dish, post a photo or memory).
- Keep their presence active:
- Tell stories about them to people who never met them.
- Keep or recreate traditions (recipes, music, rituals).
- Record interviews with elders and save video/audio memories.
- Emotional boundaries and self-care:
- Accept that the specific kind of joy you had before loss may not return — aim for new forms of joy.
- Seek therapy or group support for stuck grief; Edward often recommends counselors, astrologers or other specialists when grief is complicated.
- Avoid numbing behaviors; journal, reflect, and find professionals when needed.
- Practical reassurance: “Nobody dies alone” — Edward stresses that many people find comfort in the idea that the dying are met by loved ones/pets in spirit.
How to choose a medium and spot scams
- Red flags to watch for:
- Demands for money to “remove curses” or sell spells/candles as the main service.
- Requests that the client supply exact names/dates/manner of death up front — that suggests the medium needs the info rather than receiving it.
- Overreliance on common symbolic bait (“who connects with butterflies?”) and broad, flowery statements passed off as evidence.
- Blaming the deceased for not coming through (“your dad isn’t evolved enough”) — legitimate readers accept their own limits.
- Good signs:
- The medium offers specific validations (private, trivial details that only the sitter would know).
- They set boundaries (spacing sessions, discouraging dependency).
- They encourage complementary care (therapy, specialized practitioners) and don’t present themselves as a cure-all.
- Demonstrable testing or public controls (if the medium has been studied, documented, or vetted).
Common listener questions & Edward’s answers (short)
- Can skeptics be convinced? Edward says be “objectively skeptical” — investigate, observe, and don’t be cynically closed. He recommends seeing a legitimate, tested medium in a controlled setting.
- Can anyone develop these abilities? He believes we can all tune into intuition to different degrees; skill specialization varies and practice/refinement matters.
- Where are the dead? Edward likens the afterlife to the internet — a non-physical dimension you can access; consciousness can be present in many places/times (not all-or-nothing reincarnation).
- Did my loved one “miss” me if they weren’t present at death? Edward’s answer: nobody passes alone; choices about timing and who is present are complex — don’t blame yourself.
Notable quotes
- “A medium is not going to fix your grief.”
- “They are okay — we are not.” (on why people seek readings)
- “There’s a difference between skepticism and cynicism. Skepticism says show me. Cynicism says no matter what you show me, I won’t believe.”
- “Grief is the other side of love.”
Actionable next steps (for listeners dealing with loss)
- Journal the memory(s) you fear you’ll forget — names, sounds, a story, a favorite saying.
- Start a 3-minute daily ritual: say the person’s name, say one thing you’re grateful for, write one sentence.
- Record an interview with an elder now — ask about life stories, nicknames, recipes, songs.
- If considering a medium: vet them (reviews, documented testing, clear methods), watch for red flags, and set boundaries (space sessions, avoid dependency).
- If grief feels “stuck” or traumatic (abuse, suicide, complicated loss), pursue therapy and consider complementary modalities (astrology, numerology, grief groups) as adjunct tools.
Resources John Edward mentions
- EvolvePlus.tv (Evolve Plus TV & Project You workshop) — a platform Edward curates with astrologers, numerologists, past-life practitioners and his own work.
- Books: The Infinite Quest (Edward), Chasing Evil (Edward’s book about assisting a retired FBI agent), and The Afterlife Experiments (Dr. Gary Schwartz — research referenced).
- When to seek professionals: licensed therapists for stuck/traumatic grief; astrologers or numerologists when looking for meaning/context (Edward uses “personal year” numerology as a framing tool).
If you want the core practical takeaway: you don’t have to “move on” by erasing the person; instead learn how to carry them — name them, tell their stories, build small daily habits that honor the relationship, and seek professional help when grief becomes stalled or overwhelming.