Buzz
During the 1970s, Nancy Ann Tappe, who identified herself as a psychic, asserted that she had discovered “Indigo children,” a unique group of youngsters believed to have indigo-colored auras. Over time, this idea gained traction, blending sensible educational methods with questionable medical practices and an unconventional perspective on the world.
10. Nancy Ann Tappe
Nancy Ann Tappe asserted that she experienced synesthesia, a condition where one sensory pathway activates another, enabling her to see human auras. She initially categorized 11 different aura colors. During the 1970s and 1980s, she observed the emergence of children with distinct indigo auras, believing they possessed traits that would lead a worldwide transformation in human awareness.
According to the Encyclopedia of American Loons, Tappe claimed these children represented the next stage in human evolution: “The Indigo label refers to the energy pattern found in over 95 percent of children born in the last decade. [ . . . ] This phenomenon is occurring worldwide, and eventually, Indigos will replace all other aura colors.”
Over four decades, Tappe identified the defining traits of Indigos, which she detailed in her 1982 book Understanding Your Life Through Color. Indigos are described as laid-back, informal, tech-savvy, energetic, adept at multitasking, and unbound by societal conventions. They can also be straightforward, prone to distraction in academic environments, and display androgynous qualities. They often feel entitled to their desires and have a fondness for junk food.
Indigos are believed to possess self-assurance, intuition, and psychic abilities. Recognizing their uniqueness, they tend to be antisocial and struggle with traditional authority or strict societal norms. Followers of this belief attribute this behavior to Indigos reconnecting with a universal consciousness.
9. Edgar Cayce
The emergence of Indigos was allegedly foreseen by American mystic Edgar Cayce, though this interpretation is somewhat speculative. While discussing a hidden chamber beneath the Sphinx, Cayce cautioned: “This chamber cannot be accessed without proper knowledge, as the guardians left behind cannot be bypassed until their renewal in the Mount is complete, or the fifth root race emerges.”
Cayce borrowed the concept of root races from Theosophical teachings, though he did not strictly adhere to them. Theosophy describes an initial gaseous race that reproduced through fission, followed by an asexual budding race, a hermaphroditic “sweat-born” race, a race of sexually reproducing giants, and finally the Aryan race. This would position the Aryans as the fifth race, but Cayce suggested that the true fifth root race had yet to appear.
Cayce theorized that the fifth root race would start to fully manifest between 1998 and 2015, aligning conveniently with Indigo theory if these children began appearing in the 1970s and 1980s. Indigo proponents Peggy Day and Susan Gale seized upon Cayce’s apparent misinterpretation of Theosophical concepts to develop their own belief system, even authoring a comprehensive book on the topic.
8. Lee Carroll and Kryon
The Indigo children theory gained significant traction with the 1999 release of The Indigo Children: The New Kids Have Arrived by Lee Carroll and Jan Tober. Carroll, who had spent three decades in the technical audio industry in San Diego, experienced a spiritual transformation after encountering a being named “Kryon of magnetic service.” Kryon is said to have arrived on Earth to assist humanity in aligning and harmonizing its electromagnetic fields, enabling societal progress. Kryon has also shared crucial insights about Indigos.
Carroll and Tober’s book argues that many children diagnosed with ADHD or ADD do not have learning disabilities but are instead Indigo children requiring unique nurturing rather than medications like Ritalin. The book offers guidance on fostering reading habits in Indigos and claims that most Indigos can perceive angels and other ethereal beings.
Following the release of a movie, documentary, and video game centered on the Indigo concept, Carroll and Tober published a sequel in 2009. While they initially vowed to avoid sensationalism, they eventually shifted focus from parenting and education to topics like human energy fields and consciousness across dimensions.
7. Categories of Indigos
By 1999, Tappe asserted that Indigos could be grouped into four primary categories: Humanist, Conceptual, Artist, and Inter-dimensional or Catalyst.
Humanists are known for their sociable and energetic nature, excelling in communication and embodying a relaxed, enjoyable demeanor. Notable figures often cited as Indigo Humanists include Barack Obama, Princes William and Harry, and the cast of the TV series Friends.
Artists are characterized as dramatic, intuitive, and creative individuals, often thriving in artistic fields. They tend to be high-maintenance personalities. Figures like Venus and Serena Williams, Eminem, and many Hollywood professionals are considered Artists.
On the other hand, Conceptual Indigos are less sociable, favoring structured environments such as technology, design, and mechanical fields. They are highly systematic and struggle with disruptions. Careers like computer programming and game design are typical of Conceptual Indigos.
Lastly, Catalysts are intense, inquisitive, and often physically large individuals believed to pioneer new paradigms, philosophies, religions, and ideas. They may occasionally exhibit odd behaviors. As the rarest category of Indigos, Catalysts are often seen as aloof, unconventional, and superior, with theorists suggesting they could one day transform the world.
6. Crystal and Rainbow Children
Some theorists propose that after the Indigos came the “Crystal children,” a generation of exceptionally gifted individuals born between 1990 and 2010. These children are said to access higher dimensions of consciousness, functioning as a collective rather than as separate entities. They possess healing and clairvoyant abilities, reaching the sixth dimension of consciousness. For context, Jesus Christ is believed to exist on the ninth dimension, with universal consciousness residing on the 13th.
Crystals are said to possess auras of “octarine”—a magical color with pastel tones beyond human perception. To the untrained eye, these auras appear colorless or “crystal-like,” but experts can detect their high-frequency energy fields.
In truth, octarine was introduced in Terry Pratchett’s Discworld fantasy/comedy series, where it symbolized magic, was depicted as greenish-yellow purple, and could only be seen by wizards and cats.
Rainbow children, the third generation aiding human evolution, are typically born to the earliest Crystal children. They carry no karma or past lives but possess remarkable healing abilities, emotional mastery, and immunity to junk food. Operating on the ninth level of consciousness, they are also psychic.
5. Blue Ray Children and Star Seeds
Closely linked to Indigos are the Blue Ray children, distinguished by their unique temperament and blue-violet auras. Originating from a high plane of consciousness referred to as “blue,” they are believed to descend from ancient Lemurian souls, unlike Indigos, who are often reincarnated Atlanteans. Blue Rays are known for their vivid dreams, linguistic talents, love for water, wanderlust, and emotional fluctuations, as described in Gordon Michael Scallion’s Notes from the Cosmos.
Blue Rays, possessing telekinetic abilities, are seen as guides who will lead humanity to new levels of awareness. Often born into troubled families, they are old souls who may struggle with learning and communication on Earth. However, they can perceive other dimensions and interact with angels, spirits, and extraterrestrial beings.
Star Seeds are individuals who have lived on other planets or in alternate dimensions. With abilities like healing and psychic powers, they often have a strong fascination with space and science fiction. They are categorized into various groups. Most Star Seeds possess heightened consciousness and have undergone 5 to 50 lifetimes on Earth as preparation for adapting to human existence.
Old Soul Star Seeds, a unique group with hundreds of Earthly lives since the beginning of humanity, often take on roles as prophets, shamans, kings, and queens. They have harmonized their extraterrestrial origins with their human experiences.
Lastly, New Star Seeds possess extraterrestrial awareness but have few or no past lives on Earth. Often confused and uncertain in human form, they are frequently mistaken for Crystal or Rainbow children.
4. CIA Experiments
Certain conspiracy theorists acknowledge the concept of Indigo children and their variations but dismiss the idea that they are enlightened souls linked to universal awareness. Instead, they assert that these children are products of clandestine government experiments.
This theory traces back to neuropsychiatrist Andrijah Puharich's encounter with Indian mystic Dr. D.G. Vinod, who claimed to communicate with a group called the “Nine Principles of God.” Puharich, associated with the CIA’s MKUltra mind control initiative, aimed to manipulate New Age followers into embracing the concept of a New World Order.
Puharich later conducted research at the “Turkey Farm,” a facility allegedly testing psychic children from various nations to assess their potential as extraterrestrial assets for military purposes. These experiments reportedly included harmful psychological manipulation and hypnosis techniques.
In 1987, the Turkey Farm was obliterated in a fire, prompting Puharich to escape to Mexico. Interestingly, he had recently applied for a patent on a hydrogen-powered car engine, a move believed to have provoked powerful energy corporations.
The emergence of the Indigo children concept within New Age circles proved advantageous for CIA mind control researchers. Instead of scouting for individuals with psychic potential, they found these subjects conveniently clustered in sunny locales. Agents disguised as 'helpers' could effortlessly blend into these groups.
There's a belief that the characteristics attributed to Indigo children stem from psychological trauma induced by mind control and paranormal experiments conducted by government researchers, masked as a quirky New Age parenting trend.
3. A Grand Deception
The issue with Indigo children, in any interpretation, is that their defining traits are universally applicable to all children. Nancy Ann Tappe even suggested in 1999 that as many as 90% of children could be classified as Indigo.
Fundamentally, the Indigo movement capitalizes on the desire of parents, who are often overwhelmed by their energetic or challenging children, to view their offspring as extraordinary celestial beings rather than acknowledging behavioral issues or learning challenges.
Specific parenting strategies have been tailored for Indigo children, including prompt discipline, steering clear of negative responses, implementing time-outs, and providing straightforward explanations. These methods were largely formulated in the early 1960s by behavioral psychologist Montrose M. Wolf, predating Nancy Ann Tappe's observations of unusual aura colors in some children.
The Indigo community often misunderstands ADHD, asserting that their children cannot have learning disabilities due to high IQ scores (despite ADHD not impacting intelligence). Instead of traditional treatments like medication, they favor biofeedback, blue-green algae, vitamin and mineral supplements, rapid eye technology, neuromuscular integration, and electromagnetic field balancing. Among these, only biofeedback has shown some research-backed effectiveness.
Critics argue that the Indigo movement is a blatant scam crafted by opportunists to exploit parents of challenging children. For instance, James Twyman markets books and online courses about psychic children and charges adults $300 to attend related conferences.
Twyman has gained notoriety for convincing children they possess psychokinetic abilities by attaching a spoon to their forehead (a simple trick with a sweaty forehead). He also profits from questionable Brain Respiration training and easily manipulated blindfolded ESP tests. Most disturbingly, he exploits non-verbal, severely disabled children to showcase supposed telepathic powers, claiming to convey their thoughts to audiences.
Most Indigo children believers are well-meaning parents striving to provide the best for their kids. However, a mix of magical thinking, the wish for their child to be extraordinary, skepticism toward the medical field, and a readiness to spend on pseudoscientific practices has fueled a movement that teaches children they are unique cosmic beings—a potentially harmful belief.
2. Children of the Demonic
Certain Christian fundamentalists interpret the Indigo phenomenon differently. They associate the Indigos' supernatural abilities and defiance of authority with demonic possession, suggesting these traits align with those of malevolent spirits.
A blogger recounted witnessing her neighbor's Indigo child performing bizarre contortions and delivering sermons in the backyard. Upon approaching, the child abruptly stopped and remained motionless until the blogger departed. On another occasion, the child allegedly blew a whistle, pivoted 90 degrees, and prepared to blow it again. The blogger speculated this was a ritual to communicate with directional demons, a practice purportedly significant to witches and satanic musicians.
Christian writer Pat Holliday attributes the Indigo children trend to witchcraft and fantasy media, including The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Harry Potter, and Lord of the Rings. She claims that through companies like Time Warner and Disney, a global network of witches is indoctrinating children with occult-themed toys, games, books, and films. Meanwhile, these witches deceive parents with New Age ideologies, leaving children vulnerable to demonic influence, nightmares, and psychic disturbances.
1. China’s Extraordinary Psychic Children
Another set of children often linked to the Indigo phenomenon are China’s Super Psychics. Authors Paul Dong and Thomas E. Raffill, in their book China’s Super Psychics, reveal that the Chinese government has invested millions since the late 1970s to identify 100,000 children with “Extra Human Function” (EHF) and to create specialized schools and research centers for them. Dong and Raffill also suggest that traditional practices like Qigong and Chinese medicine might enhance psychic capabilities.
One notable ability documented was “psychic writing,” where a blank sheet of paper was placed inside a pencil case, and an EHF child visualized words on it. Upon opening the case shortly after, the words allegedly appeared on the paper consistently.
In 1981, researchers at Yunnan Wenshan Teachers’ College conducted experiments with five blindfolded EHF children. They concluded that these kids could perceive their surroundings through unconventional means, such as their ears, nose, mouth, tongue, armpits, hands, or feet.
In another documented case, a child reportedly read text from a crumpled piece of paper torn from a book and placed under another person’s arm. Additional extraordinary abilities included a girl who could make 1,000 roses bloom instantly and a boy who could insert a coin into a sealed bottle. These feats were allegedly observed by the now-discontinued magazine Omni, which focused on science fiction and parapsychology.
Dong and Raffill, in their book, outline China’s motivations for exploring EHF:
Due to the widespread popularity of [Qigong] in China, a vast number of individuals with EHF have emerged, potentially outnumbering those in the rest of the world combined. In the event of a hypothetical “psychic war,” China’s adversaries would face inevitable defeat. Beyond military and security purposes, EHF research also holds promise for industrial applications like mineral exploration, medical advancements, navigation, and law enforcement.
Comparable justifications were provided for parapsychology research in the US, UK, and Soviet Union.
