©2000 by Donna Cunningham, MSW

According to an important new book, The Indigo Children, the number of children on medication for hyperactivity has doubled in five years and continues to rise. It is predicted that by the end of this year, some 8 million will be taking Ritalin.

While not denying that there are genuine cases of ADD and HDD, the authors question whether that diagnosis could be correct for such a large number. Instead, they describe a new breed born with a new energetic pattern, which they perceive as Indigo on the color spectrum. The trend began with births in the late 1980s, but will become more and more common. (The Indigo Children, written by Lee Carroll and Jan Tober, was published by Hay House, 1999).

Youngsters designated as Indigo Children share a common set of characteristics. They are highly intelligent with many interests and abilities. They are self-possessed, supercharged with energy, and sure of what they want and need. They do not respond to ordinary types of authority or to attempts to manipulate and control them. They react better to respectful and intelligent discussion and to being treated as the adults they are inside. Much of what goes on in school does not interest them, and they are prone to following their own highly purposeful agendas.

Naturally, parents and teachers with more traditional mindsets are confused and frustrated by these children, who are often placed on medication. When tested, however, many place in the gifted range across the board. In joining us on earth in this pivotal point in history, they bring very special talents and abilities that will be much needed in the future. Many of the qualities that cause problems for them as children--like thinking outside the box and following their own counsel--will serve them well as adults.

This valuable guidebook discusses a variety of parenting, educational, and treatment alternatives to medication for the Indigo child. Since vibrational medicine was not included, I began to think of remedies that might be boons for these easily-misunderstood individuals. Of course, flower essences are not a magic bullet that will solve the problem. However, they can be an immense support for a coordinated effort that includes the special parenting and educational techniques described in the book.

One possible help that sprang to mind instantly was the Bach remedy Impatiens. The picture for Impatiens given in Barbara Mazzarella's very fine guidebook, Bach Flower Remedies for Children, is almost a classic for the over-active child. She says that they are so fast moving, nervous, and agitated that they are always bumping into things and frequently involved in domestic accidents.

They bore easily and may switch games four times in half an hour. When their rapid thought processes and high energy levels cause them to be impatient with others who think and move more slowly, Impatiens can help them be more tolerant. (Bach Flower Remedies for Children is published by Healing Arts Press, 1994, pp.73-4. An excerpt from the book appeared here in our 9/99 issue)

An issue Indigos often face is socialization. Carroll and Tober describe them as follows: "They seem antisocial unless they are with their own kind. If there are no others of like consciousness around them, they often turn inward, feeling like no other human being understands them." (p. 3)

Students of the Bach remedies may immediately think of Water Violet, which helps those who are seen as aloof and don't mingle well, though with a certain degree of shyness. Water Violet types are often advanced for their age and tend to be superior to peers in their abilities and for these reasons they feel set apart.

When the difficulties of raising these children have caused a poor fit with their parents--especially Mother--Mariposa Lily is helpful. (Except where noted, all of the remedies that follow are from the Flower Essence Society, though some are offered by more than one maker.)

Their stressed-out parents can find strength and relief with flower remedy mixtures of their own. As articles in this issue on Red Chestnut and treating the family system explain, if you only treat the children who are experiencing difficulty, that won't solve the problem. These children do much better if their parents and teachers aren't so upset and overwhelmed, responses which only escalate the problem.

Because of immense differences from generations past, many Indigo children become alienated from mainstream society, and Shooting Star is a primary remedy for alienation. These youngsters are almost born questioning authority, and since they are so keenly aware of the things that are wrong with our social system, they can become very rebellious. Sweet Pea helps rebellious, alienated teens or young adults feel more connected to the world around them--less like a stranger in a strange land.

For the issue of aliention, Hummingbird Remedies features several selections for what they refer to in their literature as Starseed individuals. These are souls who originally came from other star systems, and who volunteered to incarnate in human form to help us evolve more quickly. From the descriptions, it sounds as though some of Hummingbird's remedies would help Indigo children as well, regardless of where they originated.

One in particular seems relevant--Princess Flower Glory Bush. It is metaphorically described in their booklet as being for, "princes and princesses who incarnate on a planet of peasants." It enhances their ability to express their innate royalty in positive and magnanimous ways, to help unfold the Divine Plan for earth's evolution. (Hummingbird Remedies, along with all the others described here, can be ordered from the Flower Essence Pharmacy).

The remedies we have been discussing can be relevant to the Indigo type in general. However, The Indigo Children describes four distinct varieties of Indigos, and each group would have its own slate of remedies. We don't have space to go through the qualities of the four groups and remedies for each, but I would highly recommend you read this practical, compassionate--and important--guidebook for more detail than we can give you here. If you know parents or professionals dealing with children like these, you might suggest the book. The authors' website has additional information and up-to-date resources.

(EDITORS' NOTE: Though not couched in terms of Indigo children, there are several articles about remedies for children in our index of past issues that may suggest additional remedies for this type of child. See, especially, the articles by Kate Reynolds Yaskot and Patricia Meyer.)

This is not an astrology article, but permit me an astrological aside. Before finding this book, I had been wondering for some time about the exceptional planetary pictures in charts of today's youngsters. Uranus and Neptune were traveling within ten degrees of one another for over ten years, first in Capricorn, then in Aquarius, while Pluto has been in another of the societally-focused Universal signs, Sagittarius, since 1995. When those placements were highlighted in the chart in some way, by all reports, the children were exceptional.

The strength and difficulty of the planet Uranus in some charts made me speculate that many, rather than having ADD, might simply be wired differently--and appropriately--for the demands of high-speed, technologically advanced life in the 21st Century. The Indigo Children confirmed my theory.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Donna Cunningham has a dual background in astrology and psychotherapy, with a Masters in Social Work from Columbia University and over 30 years experience as a professional astrologer. She considers doing the astrology charts of children to be a sacred trust. It is a way of knowing who these Indigo children are on their own terms rather than as their families, teachers, and society expect them to be.

In these sessions, she focuses on typical childhood concerns such as family and peer relationships, the best educational approaches, and the child's special gifts and abilities. She can be reached for consultations at (503)291-7891, by email, or at her web page. Ask about her special rate for children's charts.

Donna is also co-editor of Vibration and a frequent contributor. She has written fourteen books on astrology and other metaphysical topics, including her Flower Remedies Handbook. Astrologers who want to know the special considerations involved in doing children's charts can read the chapter on this topic in Donna's text, The Consulting Astrologer's Guidebook.

ART CREDITS: The background for this article is from Joy Morris. The star graphics were created by Hometown Websmith from clip art.

The World Wide Essence Society does not mean to imply any recommendation of nor give certification to any individuals or companies above. This article is provided purely for informational purposes. We ask consumers to make their own determination as to quality of the services and products offered above. This article is not meant to be advice, and the information is not meant to replace medical or psychological treatment.

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