Posted on 02/02/2006 9:13:49 PM PST by Coleus
Jurate Cannara knew her daughter Laura was different when, as a toddler, she would stand out in the rain, her tiny hands outstretched toward the lightning.
"Mama, I need energy," the little girl would tell her.
As Laura Mikuseviciuje grew from toddler to child to teen to young woman, Cannara noticed that her daughter's eccentricities only increased with age.
"I didn't understand my daughter," said Cannara, who lives in Verona, of her daughter's early expressions of intuition and odd, energetic behavior.
According to some, Laura's tendencies are not odd at all; they even have a name.
She and others like her, the researchers maintain, are evidence of a new generation of young people among us. Not a generation X, Y or Z, but a unique group of people between ages 12 and 25, believed to be so naturally intuitive as to border on the psychic.
Indigo Children, as they're called, typically exhibit a combination of common characteristics such as being strong-willed, creative, intuitive, independent, restless, possessed of a deep desire to help the world and, often, able to bond easily with animals.
Kirlian photography, developed in 1939 by a Soviet scientist, purportedly captures an aura of energy emanating from animals and plants, which fluctuates with physiological or emotional changes. Indigo Children photographed in this way emit a blue aura around their bodies, hence the name.
The concept has gained most of its traction in New Age circles, but despite attracting more mainstream attention recently, it still leaves many people scratching their heads.
"Everybody has an aura and auras are different colors at different times," explained Lori Talarico, a Hackensack-based alternative-healing practitioner who uses methods such as acupressure, reflexology and aromatherapy to help Indigo Children "manage" their energy.
"Indigo is considered one of the highest spiritual colors (in the aura spectrum), and we are saying that these children's energy vibrates at a different level," Talarico said, "which means that they are resonating with the planet on a different level and that actually parallels how their consciousness appears to be different than a lot of their peers."
Indigo Children proponents claim that these children are "helping to make the world a better place" and are evidence of the evolution of humankind. That means, according to the proponents, such things as promoting a humane and just society, with all people – regardless of age – granted respect.
Skeptics, however, challenge the generalities and vague terminology used to explain the concept. They also say it is on shaky ground scientifically. "I don't know of any actual studies that have shown that there's this actual phenomenon of life force, or an aura, shown by these children," said Dr. Kai-pang Wang, an attending child psychiatrist at St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center in Paterson. "I think there's a lot of public doubt that we are overmedicating children with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and not diagnosing the underlying problems, and this is one manifestation of that uncertainty.
"It all boils down to that stigma of getting a mental diagnosis. There's such a negative connotation ... that people can't help but feel like their children aren't perfect if they get that diagnosis. So they may be thinking that children with ADHD are not imperfect, but that they are actually more special in some way."Last weekend's premiere of the movie "Indigo Evolution" at more than 300 churches, bookstores and healing centers worldwide showed that interest in the topic is high. Five alternative healing centers in New Jersey, including the Chai Center in East Brunswick and New Life Journeys in Montclair, hosted events.
On Friday evening, more than 100 people packed a conference room at New Life Journeys to view the movie, which explores the phenomenon and features Indigos from around the world. One was 10-year-old, blonde, blue-eyed Akaine -- the film did not place her geographically -- who displayed talent in poetry and art. Her paintings (of animals and children) recalled works by Old Masters; her poetry was intricate and sophisticated far beyond her years.
Akaine said she dreams of the images she's supposed to draw or paint and strongly believes her inspirations come from God, to whom she feels a personal connection. "I like him," she said with a knowing smile.
Another Indigo film was distributed in 2005 and several books have been written over the years, but Indigo proponents believe the dramatic increase of awareness during the past 10 years indicates a larger societal problem: the alleged misdiagnosis and overmedication of many children today.
"A lot of people are paying attention now because people are wondering, as we overmedicate our society, is there something else that it could possibly be, that we're missing?" said Jason Mills, New Life Journeys director of conscious parenting. Might the diagnoses of attention deficit disorders, he wondered, actually be a high energy level attributable to the Indigo phenomenon? Mills suggests to parents of Indigo children that they challenge traditional labels, such as ADD and ADHD, and seek alternative educational systems like Montessori schools.
A Ridgewood resident who asked to be identified only as Jackie brought her two teenage sons -- self-proclaimed Indigos -- to Talarico for acupressure treatments two years ago. The youngest has been diagnosed with ADD and ADHD; the eldest has been labeled resistant to authority in every school he's attended. Since their visits to Talarico, she says, she has seen great improvement in the boys' moods and behaviors.
"Acupressure helps the boys," their mother said. "It allows them to be more sensitive to what they do feel."
Jackie's elder son believes it's time for the world to learn about Indigos, but says he doesn't think many people are ready for the concept.
"I think it's right that everybody should get a feel that there are different people, and it's not a bad thing," said the boy, who is 17, "but that it's time for everyone to change and that me, along with other kids, are here to help."
Laura Mikuseviciuje, now 20, who attended Friday's screening of "Indigo Evolution" with her mother, spoke a bit more directly and forcefully: "The world needs us right now," she said. "That's why you see so many Indigo kids. There are no more chances because we've driven our universe" to the brink of extinction.
"That's why you see all the hurricanes; that's why you see so many changes in the world very, very fast; and that's why Indigos are being sent to the world -- to save it and turn it around to bring enlightenment into people's lives that this is not the path."
We took our youngest (at that time) five children to take photos for a company promo, and the lady in charge of the project was all gushy over the children. She started talking to hubby and me about them, and we shared some funny stories. Then it got weird. She started asking us if we had heard of "indigo children." I just smiled and pretended to listen. I couldn't wait to get out of there to look up what kind of lunacy the concept was/is. It was very weird. Thankfully, our weirdest and most intuitive child was not around. She would have thrown the woman for a loop. (she does me.) I think the woman was fairly convinced hubby and I were a part of this crowd, and we had successfully bred seven more with one on the way at the time. It was very, very weird.
I admit that hubby and I are kind of odd. We're married. We're Christian. We have eight children. We're conservative. What else could the woman have seen in us? lol
But if I had said that I needed energy they would have either offered me a sandwich or sent me to my room for a nap.
ROFL! Why hasn't this person been on George Noory yet?>>
Yes.
http://www.coasttocoastam.com/guests/565.html
"I'm sure the other poster was keying in on the "possessed of a deep desire to help the world and, often, able to bond easily with animals" part of the description."
That's true, lol. And while I suppose some of them are like that.. lots of them just pretend that's what they have in mind, going from the sorts of people they elect and support, which is what I was sort-of trying to say. I'm sorry I forgot to address that part of it, but it was after midnight and I was tired. (I have a tendency to sound either incredibly stupid/grumpy or high on something when I'm tired. I know, I know, lame excuse. xP)
"So, by which color do you wish to be referred? ;-)" Hmmm. You know that really pretty blue-grey known as "slate"? I think I'd like that color. :-D
"BTW, welcome to FR! You've been busy!" Thanks! I blame it alllll on my mom. :D
The fact that they never eat at Taco Bell explains a lot...
"...for my name is Legion."
Exactly what I thought. Demonic.
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