In a world that has lost touch with its soul, the indigo child is here as a light-bearer, path forger, and paradigm shifter.
Although the concept of indigo children originated in the 1970’s, there have been groups of individuals all through the ages whose mission and purpose have been to awaken humanity.
If you’re an old soul who feels a strong and profound urge to create change in society, you are likely an indigo child.
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What is an Indigo Child?
Also referred to as a crystal or star child, an indigo child is a person who has come into this world destined to create change and spiritually awaken humanity. Indigo children are considered to be freethinkers with profound insight into the human condition and an ability to see the truth clearly. As spiritually gifted old souls, indigo children find it hard to fit into mainstream society and often become misunderstood, rejected, or misdiagnosed and medicated. The indigo child is also thought to possess strong intuition and varying spiritual gifts such as the ability to communicate with spirit guides or see visions.
Truth and Deception
The primary role of the indigo child seems to revolve around exposing truth and deception. From a young age, indigo children are able to see through the illusions, half-truths, and falsehood rife in society. To their parents and teachers, they may seem like overly inquisitive, headstrong, and even obnoxious children. As precocious truth tellers, child and adult indigos can’t help but see through the bullshit facades of other people and expose them. This desire to bring the truth to light seems to be written into the indigo child’s DNA.
Enlightened teacher Jiddu Krishnamurti sums up the indigo child’s philosophy when he writes,
It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.
Many people criticize the indigo child concept as being one that can be misused by parents seeking to make their children look special, particularly if they have special needs. Others claim that signs of being an indigo child are so vague they can apply to anyone (this is called the Forer effect).
While it is true that the indigo child label can be misused, just as any label can, the true signs of an indigo child are so specific that they cannot be widely applied to every person. As I just mentioned above, indigo children are obsessed with finding the truth – this cannot be said of every person or every child. Every rule, belief, structure, and institution will be questioned and ruthlessly challenged by the indigo child – this trait is truly unusual and extraordinary.
It is also common for people to criticize the indigo child label as being delusional. While all labels and concepts used to describe the ego are illusory constructs of the mind, finding a sense of affinity with the indigo child label is extremely beneficial. Identifying with this label helps us to develop self-understanding and acceptance, which are important elements of spiritual growth.
Indigo Children Who Are Misdiagnosed
It is common for the indigo child to be misdiagnosed with behavioral issues such as ADD, ADHD, and other mood disorders. Because of their headstrong and freethinking nature, such children are often feared, misunderstood, and therefore medicated at young ages. Unfortunately, medications such as Ritalin and Adderall often end up numbing the indigo child and causing them to lose contact with their intuitive capacities and truth-seeking nature.
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17 Signs of an Indigo Child
Are you an indigo child? Perhaps your children are indigos? Below I have included a list of seventeen authentic signs.
I have omitted typical signs often mentioned on other websites like “sense of entitlement” and “feeling special and like you should be revered” because these, to me, represent narcissism or unhealthy parenting styles more than genuine indigo child signs.
If you possess more than half of these traits, you’re likely an indigo child:
1. You are strong willed
You are a passionate person who will do anything it takes to accomplish your goals or dreams. Even if other people criticize or don’t support you, you still keep going no matter what.
2. You’re an old soul
You feel as though you’ve lived many lifetimes, and possess a wisdom that others your age don’t yet have. As a child, you may have behaved like an old man or woman, and as an adult, you have a deeply spiritual and philosophical outlook on life.
3. You’re a freethinker
No idea or belief is too holy for you to dissect or reject. You prefer to think for yourself rather than blindly following the crowd. As an indigo child, questioning is everything to you.
4. You’re a headstrong nonconformist
As a child or teenager, you may have been thought of as “naughty,” “obnoxious,” disobedient, and contrarian. As an adult, you still cannot stand being boxed in or controlled by others. As a headstrong nonconformist, you prefer to find your own truth and forge your own path.
5. You’re a passionate truth-seeker
Truth, to you, is of primary importance. You are always seeking to distinguish truth and reality from lies and deception. When you are around others, you can immediately tell when someone is lying or hiding something. Although the truth hurts, you honor it above all else. You would prefer to suffer from the truth than be happy believing lies.
6. You’re perceptive and intelligent
You can see and understand things about humanity and life that most other people don’t perceive. Your keen perception allows you to discover the truth about the human condition, and how to ultimately help.
7. You are highly intuitive
Your keen perception also makes you highly intuitive. You can often intuit the best course of action as well as know things about others that are secret or hidden.
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8. You want to change the world
Deep in your heart, you feel a driving force to create positive change on this planet. As an indigo child, you know that your destiny is to be a paradigm changer/destroyer. This strong sense of purpose forms the axis of your decisions. Whatever is not aligned with your inner sense of purpose quickly dissolves in favor of soul-based decisions.
9. You’re empathetic and compassionate
You care so much about this planet and other people that it often hurts. Every time you see or hear of violence, destruction, and cruelty, you feel sorrow and anger. Your high level of empathy and compassion means that you often struggle with anxiety or depression.
10. You’re a change-making leader
Since you were little, you’ve always gravitated towards leadership. You may find it hard to work in teams or for other people and function better when you’re in charge or working for yourself. You find it difficult to obey authority, particularly when that authority is corrupt, illogical or outdated. You want to offer better, wiser, and healthier ways to live life, making you destined to be a spiritual elder.
11. You’re idealistic
You have high expectations for yourself and other people. While idealism can be a positive trait, it can also carry disadvantages such as being overly critical or demanding. Nonetheless, your idealism is what helps you to strive for the highest and do the absolute best you can for the planet.
12. You have a loner/autonomous personality
As a free spirit, you don’t like to be held down by anyone or anything. You find it difficult to be around too many people at once, and often prefer to spend time in your own company. As a lover of autonomy, you enjoy solitude and the insight it can bring.
13. You’re highly creative
Your nonconformist brain loves to express itself through art and creativity. Whether it be drawing, dancing, singing, building, painting, writing or crafting, you love creative self-expression.
14. You have a strong connection with nature and animals
As an empathic and compassionate person, you gravitate towards the natural world. You feel most at home when you’re near the ocean or surrounded by trees and animals. Nature is so pure and grounding that you find it a welcome break from the pretension of humanity.
15. You’re drawn towards spirituality over religion
To you, spirituality is falling in love with the message, and religion is loving the messenger. As an indigo child, you are drawn towards truth in its purest form – not diluted by dogma or fundamentalist teachings.
16. You struggle with boredom
Because of your sharp and inquisitive mind, you tend to struggle with routine and conventional structures. As a result of your tendency to get bored easily, you may have been misdiagnosed with ADD or ADHD as a child.
17. You are prone to experiencing existential angst
Existential anxiety and depression go far beyond usual anxiety and depression, and this is because it is more concerned with life itself than the self. As an indigo child, you tend to ask questions such as “Why do we suffer?” “What is the meaning of life?” “Why is there injustice?” “Why was I born?” Such deep philosophical questions cause you to lose interest in the meaningless pursuits carried out by the majority of humanity.
Other potential traits of indigo children include:
- Tendency towards addiction to numb feelings
- Seeking only loyal friendships
- Proud/bossy
- Fiery tempered
- More sensitive to environmental and food pollutants
- Spiritual gifts such as clairvoyance or telepathy
Tips for Indigo Children
Indigo children are here to provoke change in a time where conscious growth is more desperately needed than ever.
If you have discovered that you’re an indigo child, you might benefit from the following tips:
- To stay grounded, try practicing mindful breathing.
- Practice meditation each day.
- Practice emotional acceptance.
- Familiarize yourself with the spiritual awakening process and how it is linked to existential depression.
- Creatively express yourself and your visionary ideas. You may even like to try practices such as automatic writing to help you get in touch with your Soul.
- Regularly spend time in nature to unwind and regain balance.
Finally, if you’re still uncertain about whether you’re an indigo child or not, you can take our free indigo child test.
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Every indigo child knows that their mission is to create change on this planet.
Little by little, light will come to penetrate the darkness. Truth will reveal deception. Love will replace hatred. Courage will replace fear. And direct experience will replace dogma. Indigo children are the spiritual leaders, rebels, and revolutionaries of this planet. Thanks to their existence, more and more people are waking up and finding the freedom that is already here, deep within.
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hi, mateo and alentheia i too have the the special gift as yours, well im proud and happy that people like you still lighting the path for people who still in the dark, who still dont know who the are and to offer this planet and humanity, thank you and hope to hear from you guys.
I have the potentials of an indigo child but as time
gos on I fin myself having
Complications with my
Central government
Due to overthinking
Wow, this was extra helpful, Matteo. I too have just abt understood that I’m a very ‘different person’. Always felt misunderstood and I guess that’s what made me have a breakdown and be made to spend 50 days in a rehab. My breakdown was sort of like my Awakening but I handled and filtered my energies the wrong way. I was too direct with people, too in their face and heads. Always telling people off and pointing towards their flaws and getting into physical and heated fights. During this time though, I believed that I was a higher being and expected everyone else to listen to me and take notice. I was burning bridges, left right and centre. But at the same time I’d be spitting stuff out that made so much sense in terms of spirituality,well being of our world, after life. I wanted to create a movement with people especially women who had the same ideology as I did. That’s how ridiculous I sounded to the rest. I shouldn’t have been so proud and so selfish in my ways of thinking even though I had the best of intentions. I accepted my psychiatrist s advice that it would be best for be to stay away from society and go to a rehab facility. It was hell, being put into a facility, knowing I wasn’t nearly as messed up in the head as the others there. I was immediately sent to Dubai to be with my dad as per doctor s orders. Spent 7 months there and was in a complete brain mush. I Had no sense of who I was nor did I remember anything from that 3 month spell of chaotic behavior and enlightenment. I was blank and was on heavy medications that only worsened the depression and toxic thoughts. Then I decided to come home after begging my parents as I needed to be around my best friends whom I hurt the most. It took me almost a year to finally find myself and reconnect with the universe. Now I have a greater sense of who I am and what must be done to make change in this world without acting and sounding psychotic. I have never ever felt this good nor have I had such insight and clairvoyance my entire life. All this has made me understand that I needed to hurt in every way possible for me to be and still become the best version of myself. Now I feel understood and feel enlightened to an extent that I have always dreamed off. But this time though, I won’t act suspicious or leave any clues as to me feeling special or now from what I’ve learnt, to be an indigo child. I have so much information that I’m just waiting to dig out of my head. It’s all there. I used to believe that everyone is special but only now do I truly know that it just takes a nudge from someone else to make people see the beauty and speciality that’s embedded deep inside themselves. All I can say is that I’m ready. I’m ready to take on this responsibility our masters have vested upon me and will not disappoint nor disappear, without leaving every stone left unturned. I’m only a young boy. Early twenties, but I know that I’m going to be a very consequential person in the near future as will many others who learn of the importance of discovering themselves and the tasks that must be completed. We will rise, anonymously. Mark my words, our world will suffer because of the filth that sit upon us in the hierarchy but we will come out on top sooner rather than later. Everything that’s happening to our world is of some purpose. We will wait out the storm till we see the ‘ rainbows’ uniting us all.
Darknightinshiningarmour
r u on facebook, dude? lets connect.
Yes I am. It’s good to be back here after so many years. All set and rating to go. It’s a marathon.
Thanks for writing this. I am so confused right now i dont know who i am. I know that connecting with people makes me feel alive, but i want to connect with the right people. I am an empath but the last 6 years i had so much depression and pain that i feel really empty sometimes. I did make bad choices of people, who i let in my life. I hope this is strengthen my soul and not turning me into something darker.
But Remembering my blue eyes and my freckles from my childhood is the most healing picture i can connect to.
Oh my God! I did not expect that all the signs to be on me. I just deserve to feel different from people. And many people say that I’m weird and unique. I do not know why. Now I am convinced that I am one of the indigo children. I’ve had some traumatic events that caused me a crisis of confidence and fear. Until now I’m still a little scared especially about relationships with friend groups. I’m afraid they refused me. Are there any special tips how does an indigo keep friendship with those who are not indigo?
Thanks for reading my comment.
Regard <3
Thank you so much, Mateo, for posting this incredibly well written article. I agree with comments above that complimented you on how clearly you are able to write about such complex topics. After I read the article, I clicked on a link in it to this book entitled “Indigo Adults: Understanding Who You Are And What You Can Become,” by Kabir Jaffe and Ritama Davidson. I can’t tell you how much this book has helped me cement my understanding of myself as an Indigo adult. For years I’ve known that I am a highly sensitive person (per Elaine Aron) and an INFP (Myers-Briggs personality type based on Jungian psychology). A few years ago, I was diagnosed with the inattentive form of ADD. So when I read this article and the book, I knew I had finally ascertained
who I was. I fit almost all the criteria. I stopped doing freelance science writing over a year ago, and I told my husband that I will never work for anyone else besides myself ever again. Saying that was so difficult, and it took me years to get up the courage to say it with conviction. I had a series of really devastating illnesses from mid-2013 until late 2016, and I believe it was the result of the chronic, unpredictable toxic stress (CUTS) I endured in my childhood. At least now, I have a much better understanding of my place in this world, something that I had to define for myself as an adult, as most indigos do.
What does it mean when many veils are lifted and then you see things in a way that defies rational explanation? What does it mean when you are here in body and your soul is traveling into other earthly creations as a way of communication? What does it mean when you know why you are here and struggle with it………Well I guess that is a sort of spiritual existential crisis. That is what is happening. I am not supposed to talk about my purpose but I badly want to. If I tell people they cannot wrap there heads around it. What does it mean when you hear thoughts, when you see life through the lense of love? What does it mean when you are traveling and you experience other life forms being and feel the energy the unity consciousness. What does it mean when you see a language a mechanism of our creation that is so beautiful that you cry when you know that we destroy it? I feel alien on this planet……..I see that our system here does not have to be as complicated as it is. We do not have to be so complicated……..We are so distracted living in the mind and not learning the other languages outside the mind. I hope that this message finds the right souls…………..Maybe someone can relate……..
I, too, am not to talk about my purpose. That’s what I heard/felt from my higher self. And nothing is more important to me than this purpose, so I can feel so alone with the knowledge/wisdom that has been revealed to me, and not be able to talk about it to anyone (I was told that it would be rejected if I didn’t present it in its entirety, and there’s much to present). Altho, I am given ‘permission’ from my higher self to tell my ex about it, as much as I feel that he would understand, and thru his listening, I would be able to have some feelings of fulfillment of expression, understanding and relating, which is all that I’m to have at this point.
Seeing life thru the lens of love, yes, yes….
And in the last 3 days, I have gotten 7 messages that I’m to remember how to communicate soul to soul with others now, and I’m to let go of the English language and speaking as I know it. Omg, I just remembered, that I had the 8th message last night from watching, ‘Lost’, in the last season, and I think it was about the 2nd episode of the Japanese man who wouldn’t speak our language because it didn’t feel right on his tongue, I think he said.
Thank you for touching my soul. I’m honored…
You’re ahead of me on my journey., but I hear you. Love and light c
I would add also that if you have went through your life being misunderstood by many people…
OMG, OMG, OMG!!! I have no words at all…this is so SPOT ON! You nailed it and it is me on paper to the T! Wow…just amazing to read and truly connect in this way, very profound, encouraging and a tad frustrating at the same time…I sometimes am “drained” by all of the rejection on every level…that life seems to be so fruitless for me…but then I realize how honestly thankful I am to be ME (unapologetically me)! And Bored, OMG, yes, yes, yes! It makes me crazy sometimes…in fact I need a nap now just thinking about it…LOL! Thank you so much Sol! You are so AWESOME in your transparency and teachings! I appreciate you and Luna so much…
Wow.. synchronicity. I just picked up a book on indigo children last weekend, read it during the week, and finished yesterday. I thought “I wonder what Luna and Sol think about this concept,” and then I got this in my email today.
I identify strongly with the term, and I have the classic indigo backstory. However, I think children like us have always been around – just look to classic children’s literature for examples: Anne of Green Gables or the little girl in Frances Hodgson Burnett’s “A Little Princess.” These children are highly intuitive, intelligent, abhor dishonesty and live with authenticity in the face of oppression. The authors who dreamed up such children were on to something, something that undoubtedly stemmed from personal experience.
The other thing I wonder about is the claims, by the people who popularized the idea of indigo children, that something like 90% of all kids now are indigo. If that’s true, then why the persistent feelings of being different, misunderstood, and often alone? Yes, I have met people like me, but they are few and far between even among my peers.
However I do hope that mass spiritual evolution really is happening, and I find that indenting with the term is positive for me. I do enjoy reading about people with similar experiences to my own.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment. Synchronicity is a beautiful thing, not only in its innate nature but the fact that more people are becoming self-aware enough to notice it.
For me, there’s a lot of misinformation out there that has put many people off the term altogether which is a shame.
I agree, there’s always been indigo children and I think they are as uncommon as true Old Souls contrary to what many might think. I find mainly Indigo’s represent a unique stage in the Soulful Evolution period of a person. They carry that headstrong creative energy that is necessary to separate yourself from all the burdens that come by being conditioned through our society in order to really live from a place of authenticity.
I feel we’re on the verge of the next wave in spirituality which is already seen through the many maturing aspects of our culture in the form of eco awareness and thirst for a drastic change in our politics. They are the birthing pains of what is to be born, I’m happy to know we can all be witness and a part of it :).
Help me Don Mateo, I am currently facing such a dark thought of murdering my narcissistic friend who has been mistreating me like belittling me, as much as I want to treat him with love and respect despite what he’s done, I cannot fathom myself killing him.
Help me please, this may not seem like it but it really is urgent or I feel I will explode due to being overwhelmed
Zealot I am not Don Mateo but maybe I can tell you that we tend to attract these archetypes. If we ignore them, they will find us. I have a lot of experience with them. They will tell us lies but it is up to us whether we want to believe what they tell us. We are a challenge to this narcissistic world and it is up to us to shape them without trying. We do not have to feel what they feel, we have the choice. Do not label them. See them as a person with a pattern. Understand the pattern and I know this might be hard but love them. Do not try too hard with them. You will find a balance with them. Try to let their energy roll off of you. Do not try to block them. When they insult you …..acknowledge them and the insult. Smile and agree but inside you do not have to agree nor believe. I have to work beside a narcissistic person. It is easier if you do not disclose a lot to them. They often love to spread lies about others and distort reality. They function in an unusual way in a belief system all there own.