With school proving unrewarding and the medical path leading to drugs, Sam took Ben out of school and started a home education programme that has revitalised his life. "The change has been immense. He has confidence now and is blossoming. He can now interact with all people, young and old.I am now home-educating my other children, aged seven and five. Schools do little and society is not helping these children who, in many cases,could be lost and regarded as abnormal"
Homeopathic healer Mary English, who practises in Bath, was introduced to Indigo Children after seeing a child suffering from ADHD.
"I am usually the last resort for parents who have tried everything," she says. "the parents were at the end of their tether, which is common-their children are tagged with having behavioural difficulties. They get banned or suspended from schools too easily. Often there is something that needs to be resolved in the family, some chaos or tension, but once that is dealt with the so-called problems subside. I am convinced that there needs to be more done to stimulate these children."
'He is calmer now but it has been a very tough journey and I'm really annoyed that the system does nothing for these children'
Jenny Mc Carthy, who became an actress and is now dating Hollywood Actor Jim Carrey, has a four-year-old son Evan, who she calls a "Crystal" child, a form closely associated with Indigo. She is on a "global life mission" to create free-thinking schools for Indigo and Crystal children;
copyright Sunday Express Review August 13th 2006
Dr Manjir Samanta-Laighton a former Derbyshire GP turned author, believes there is a clear scientific basis to the concept of Indigo Children. Research has shown that the answer could lie deep in our DNA structure, with the information contained in the molecules of each individual gene, she says;" It is just the next step in evolution, a natural progression," says Dr Samanta-Laughton, who is publishing a book,Punk Science, which explores the scientific background to Indigo Children, in October.
"I heard about them at a science conference in the US, not some New Age event, but the fact that there are scientific explanations has been pushed aside by sceptics. The proven fact is that we cannot find the answers from our genes alone because there is very little difference in the genetic make-up of a human or a mouse. Telepathy is a laughable concept to many but there is scientific evidence that some form of non-connected communication is possible. I am not a zealot about Indigo Children but I believe there is hard scientific fact that backs up the belief that these children do have something different that should be encouraged and developed. A lot of people jump on the bandwagon because they want their children to be special-that's only human nature. But that should not detract from what
these children clearly have. It is important to hightlight these kids but not to seperate them from society".
Author Doreen Virtue , a former child psychotherapist who lecture on Indigo Children, believes the new generation is the key to solving many of the worlds woes. "These children are the answers to the prayers we all have for peace," she says. "They're vigilant about cleaing the Earth of social ills and corruption and increasing integrity. Other generations tried but becamse apathetic. This generation won't, unless we drug htme into submission with Ritalin."
Supporters say as many as 85% of children born have Indigo attributes. The reason it is happening now, they say, is simply that the psychological side of humankind is developing in the same way as the physical, which has seen the average height of an adult man steadily grow from 5ft 5 in in Elizabethan times to 5ft 10 in now. The problem is that public acceptance is lagging behind.
The Indigo movement has its heart in the US, where it attracts supporters from all levels of society. Former Playboy Playmate of the Year,
"I want our children to start each day in silent meditation with an intention for that day. I want organic cafeterias, outdoor class sessions, teaching about the power of thought, getting rid of rote memorisation. I want it all," Jenny has just launched an appeal to open a Crystal school in Los Angeles.
But critics dismiss the movement for its lack of scientific evidence and believe the Indigo diagnosis is wishful thinking to cover up genuine psychiatric disorders in children. Others point to the fact that Indigo has become a publishing byword for profit and that counsellors are charging hefty fees for seminars desinged to unlock the potential of troubled children. Further cash is generated from video sales and speaking engagements. The 2003 movie Indigo, grossed about £1 million.
The concept has been studied since the Seventies but was given a name and clear identity by former Californian audio engineering company boss Lee Carroll, who downed tools and became a full-time prophet after his book, The Indigo Children, became a bestseller and was translated into 25 languages. He has written a dozen books on related subjects and, perhaps sensing that the exploading interest in Indigo Children could lead to misinterpretations, he is preparing a revised version looking at how the movement has developed over the past seven years. Next Saturday, he is star speaker at a self-help seminar in his home city of San Diego, California, where the entry fee is $123 (£65). He will also be on board the senventh annual Kyron Cruise around Hawaii, which departs from Honolulu on Sept 2 at a cost ranging from $1,700 (£898) to $2,600 (£1,372) on the five-star Pride of America, which has 660 state rooms and 500 cabins. Seminars are free.
For many parents, the Indigo concept will release them from the shackles of a system that seems to misunderstand their children and condemn them to a life of frustration. Scientists remain unconvinced but Indigo Children are here. The movement can only grow as long as the embattled education system struggles to deliver and the medical world continues to dole out a conveyor belt of prescription drugs.