Looking back on the show, Edward described the “magical powers” of Jeannie as being what attracted him. He was also drawn to other shows that featured characters with “powers,” including the “Six Million Dollar Man” and “The Bionic Woman.” Movies that featured ESP also interested him, including Disney’s “Escape to Witch Mountain.”
While this may have forecast his calling, Edward attributes it to escapism within a family in which his father battled alcoholism and his parents ultimately divorced. That said, he did have early experiences of creative insight that involved “transporting” himself and envisioning what he was doing from another perspective. With active dreams and night terrors centered on seeing a wolf, he had a number of “out of body” experiences.
Not until his 20s could Edward put these experiences into proper perspective, with one memorable encounter at his first book tour and signing involving a shaman who walked up to him. Looking past him, the shaman said the words “I see you walk with the wolf in this life.” It turned out that this spirit animal had been protecting him since childhood.