Published May 6, 2002, Pawtucket Times

          Dead men (or women) tell no tales.

          That’s not true for millions of viewers who watch the syndicated hit series “Crossing Over” with John Edward.  The 31-year old internationally acclaimed m medium has touched the hearts and souls of the American public as he uses his uncanny mediumistic ability to connect audiences with their loved ones who have “crossed over.”

         Belive him or not, this show is making waves throughout southern New England, according to Judy Shoemaker, director of promotions for ABC 6.  The dead have something to say and Edward is listening to what they say, she noted.

       Attesting to the popularity of the show, 2,500 tickets costing $45 were sold out in just one hour after being made available for yesterday’s gathering at the Rhode Island Convention Center.

       Edward was the sponsor of the Providence event.  Before Sunday, tickets were sold on E-Bay, prices going for as high as $450 per ticket.

        Edward’s visit to the Renaissance City is the most anticipated promotional event that ABC 6 has sponsored in the last 30 years, noted Shoemaker.  The Providence-based television station on Orms Street – which now airs Edward’s one-hour show on weekdays at 4 p.m. – received hundreds of letters, emails and calls for the last several weeks from frantic fans wanting to go to the event.

        “This show has moved and touched so many people and it makes them feel good,” Shoemaker said, explaining why the show sold out so quickly.

        According to the Sci-Fi Channel, age 50-plus viewers watching “Crossing Over” represents 38 percent of the 503,000 viewers on late Monday-Thursday evenings and 30 percent of the 553,000 viewers of the program at its late Sunday night time slot.

       Rose O. Boucher, 84, a life-long Pawtucket resident, regularly tunes into “Crossing Over” on the Sci-Fi Channel and on ABC 6.  For her, Edward’s show “is educational and relaxing to watch,” she says. Boucher likes how it helps people who have worries and doubts.  Responding to Edward’s skeptics, she said, “There are a lot of things in the world that we don’t know about.”

       According to Edward, at age 15 he tried to debunk a psychic that was doing readings at his grandmother’s house. Going into his reading skeptical, Edward came out impressed with the psychic’s accuracy.

       “The information that came through was factual and not generalities,” Edward said, who noted that she even predicted that he would do the work if he chose to.

        Even with 16 years of studying psychic development and metaphysics, Edward never has forgotten his Catholic upbringing and he believes that it has even enhanced his own religious beliefs.

       While he does not attend church regularly, he is constantly praying with his rosary and doing his spiritual work.  “Using your rosary and saying a repetition of prayers significantly helps you raise your own vibration and frequency,” he says.

        “Everyone is psychic,” Edward said. “Be open to learning about spiritual development.  Go to a metaphysical bookstore or the new age section in a bookstore and let the book pick you.”

       Edward looks at death this way — “Energy cannot be created or destroyed, yet it can change forms.  I just look at death as a transition of the energy of the soul outside of the body.” Over the years, Edward said he has found that his readings have solidified and strengthened the religious beliefs of many people.

        Is there a heaven or hell? No, said Edward.  The other side is made up of different levels and you gravitate to the level appropriate to your spiritual growth.  “The higher more evolved levels might be deemed the heavenly levels while the lower levels are for people who are not so [spiritually advanced].

       Edward urges people to take the opportunity to communicate and validate others in their lives before they “cross over” so that a medium is not required to do it for them.

       Before you greet death, leave your legacy of love behind.  That’s what it is really all about, said the frequently humorous and down-to-earth medium.

       Leaving your legacy of love behind is as simple as looking your loved one in the eyes and saying, “I love you.”

       Herb Weiss is a Pawtucket-based freelance writer who covers aging, healthcare and medical issues.  This article was printed in the May 06, 2002 issue of the Pawtucket Times.