POST YOUR COMMENTS on our message board dedicated to Lorie's pages. Tell us what you think and see what others have to say. ONLY RESPECTFUL AND ON-TOPIC POSTS WILL BE RETAINED. Or, send your comments directly to the author.


This is page 2 - Additional commentary and links.

Read the article first: INDIGO - THE COLOR OF MONEY


ARTICLE "Little Boy Blue," by Jesse Hyde, Dallas Observer article, which includes quotes from Lorie and references to this page. Also, read "Little Boy Blue's Mother Seeing RED.

While blue-green algae warnings have long been reported, "The Indigo Children" book (by Tober and Carroll) and some other proponents of the movement recommend BLUE-GREEN ALGAE, said to benefit ADHD sufferers, etc. Others say this product is NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN and can cause illness or even death, in adults too. "The Indigo Children" website links to "Cell Tech International, Inc," a company being sued for the death of one of their employees -- mentioned here not to imply guilt, but to raise awareness. MORE links to concerns about Blue-Green algae...

Twyman's "Seminary of Spiritual Peacemaking" offers a Masters of Divinity degree, and transfer to a doctoral program.
State of Oregon's Office of Degree Authorization says (updated 5/11/06, as TBC announced that their masters degrees are issued from their Hawaii office): "Not an Oregon degree-granting entity. Degrees issued in Oregon are not valid. Degrees issued in Hawaii are legal for use in Oregon with disclaimer." (MORE...)

Quotes from "Indigo Kids-Does the Science Fly?" by Sharon Jayson, USA TODAY, 5/31/05:
"Certainly in the scientific realm, this is just a bunch of New Age nonsense."
James Twyman
"There has never been any shred of evidence that I've seen to support the existence of Indigo or that phenomenon."
Mother of the child starring in Twyman's film, Indigo.


Twyman's Seminary of Spiritual Peacemaking promises: (content added 1/30/2006)

(3/26/06 Note: At this point, it appears that The Beloved community has removed from their emissaryoflight website most of that to which this section pertains.)

  • "Twyman spiritual center scrutinized," by Steve Zimmerman. Ashland Daily Tidings, August 19, 2004.
  • "Twyman, state reach agreement," by Steve Zimmerman. Ashland Daily Tidings, August 20, 2004.
  • "Beloved Community Challenged Again," by Robert Plain. Ashland Daily Tidings, March 31, 2006.

    James Twyman collaborated with Ilchi Lee to demonstrate supernatural abilities of Indigo/Psychic children. Here's a Brain Respiration experiment you likely won't read about on James Twyman's or Ilchi Lee’s websites:

    Publicly demonstrating the purported paranormal abilities of young students of "Brain Respiration," such as blindfolded “seeing," spoonbending, and spoonsticking, is not uncommon for Ilchi Lee, but on September 20, 2004, in Boston, something different occurred.

    In front of an audience of thirty or so people, many from MIT and Harvard, Ilchi Lee permitted two university instructors/researchers from New York, William Matt Briggs and Sung Won Lee, to design the experiment with some controls to attempt to eliminate the possibility of cheating, such as peeking around the blindfold or getting verbal clues from others.

    Three young Brain Respiration students were flown in from Korea for the experiment, identified by Ilchi Lee as functioning at a particularly high level of HSP (aka ESP). They were to identify the color of cards that were sealed in envelopes in a number of trials. They were even given the opportunity to practice with colored cards in closed envelopes for two weeks beforehand, reportedly experiencing excellent HSP results. For the actual experiment, though, the envelopes were sealed with glue, as agreed upon beforehand.

    The children were permitted to hold the envelopes, but in contrast to Ilchi Lee's typical HSP demonstrations, this time the colored cards themselves were not handed to the blindfolded children or held up in front of them prior to their answering, as I had seen proctors do in a video that used to be available on one of Ilchi Lee’s websites.

    The children appeared to struggle once the controls were instituted. They took much longer to answer; the experiment had to end early due to their rising anxiety levels; one child developed a stomach ache. One child’s envelopes were consistently wet, possibly from sweat as he appeared visibly nervous.

    The results, in a nutshell: When controls against cheating were applied, the blindfolded children who were trained in Brain Respiration performed no better in identifying the color of the cards than would be expected by chance, by simply guessing. The researchers found no evidence of paranormal ESP/HSP abilities.

    Interesting aside: I asked Dr. Briggs for his opinion on why the children would be willing to cheat, and he said maybe because "it looks like fun, and they want to please the adults and fit in with the group. There is always tremendous applause whenever a kid demonstrates HSP, a lot of candy, praise, happiness."

    (Note: Although Dr. Matt Briggs and Dr. Sung W. Lee were instructors/researchers with Weill Cornell Medical College, they conducted this experiment as independents, not under the auspices of Cornell. The information I provided here about this study was reviewed for accuracy by Dr. Briggs.)

    1/3/2009 Update: Professor Briggs explains the experiment he conducted in a detailed five part essay on his blog, dated January, 2009: The MIT Dahn Yoga Brain Respiration Experiment."


    UCI scientists says it's pseudoscience after Ilchi Lee tried (and failed) to demonstrate children's blind-folded vision at UCI:

    Excerpt from August 7, 2005 article in NY Journal News by Shawn Cohen:


    LINKS:

    OTHER CRITICAL COMMENTARIES ON JAMES TWYMAN'S CLAIMS

  • NewHeavenNewEarth's investigative report on James Twyman.
  • "Praying for Bush, Who Preys Upon Us," by Francis Donald Grabau, an individual's page at Starpathvisions.com.
  • "Hopi Elders call to Indigos," Below Top Secret General Forum, thread started Nov. 2005.
  • "Warning - Beware Potential Cults," a commentary on Blog called Love Ministries, January, 9, 2005.

    BLOGS, ARTICLES, AND COMMENTARIES CRITICAL OF THE INDIGO-PSYCHIC CHILDREN MOVEMENT:

  • "That Lazy DNA," by The James Randi Educational Foundation.
  • "Testing Natasha," Center for the Scientific Investigation of the Paranormal.
  • Testing Natalia, 10 year old Russian "psychic" child, by The James Randi Educational Foundation.
  • "The Indigo Children," The Skeptic's Dictionary.
  • "Reader comments: Indigo children, "The Skeptic's Dictionary.
  • "Alien-ated Youth," HoustonPress article by Dylan Otto Krider, December 19, 2002.
  • "Reader Michael Hopkins shares this with us" - growing up with the paranormal, The James Randi Educational Foundation (scroll down or use "find").
  • ADDitude online magazine's Social Skills Expert answers reader's question: Our Children: AD/HD or "Indigo?"
  • "SPARE THE ROD SPOIL THE PARENT," Blog: BrothersJudd.com, December 6, 2005.
  • "Indigo Children See the Future," MuseumofHoaxes.com, commentary and visitor comments, December 13, 2005.
  • "Seeing Indigo, Seeing Red," by Blog: MOM NOS, December 5, 2005. Quote: "In my opinion, a parent of a child with autism takes a significant risk by pursuing the kind of educational philosophies promoted by the "Indigo" movement."
  • "Indigo Films, Black Phones," Blog: "Autism's Edges."
  • "Colors," by Nicholas Colangelo. Article published by the Davidson Institute for Talent Development, Original source: Vision, The Connie Belin & Jacqueline N. Blank International Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development. Quote from article: "The implicit message is that these children know more than adults, cannot be controlled by adults, and are going to bring on a new world order. I would have laughed and left the book in the airplane seat pocket, but I also realized this is a dangerous movement that should be addressed.".
  • "Is other worldliness a trait of high intelligence?" by Davidson, J. & Davidson, B. Source: Davidson Institute for Talent Development, March 2002. Quote from article: "There appears to be a new characteristic that is being assigned to profoundly gifted young people: Other Worldliness. We are deeply concerned that this characteristic is harmful to the children."
  • "Delusional Parenting: Indigo," Blog: I Speak of Dreams, January 16, 2006.
  • "Indigo Kids Go Around the Outside," Blog: Neutronium Headband, January 16, 2006.
  • "I am curious Indigo," Blog: The Rage Diaries, January 12, 2006.
  • "Proof that CNN Smokes Crack," Medical student's Blog: HaleyNeef.com, November 15, 2005.
  • "Attack of the Indigo Children," Sploid.com, December 6, 2005.
  • "Indigo Schmindigo..." Blog: Abraca-Pocus, January 12, 2005.
  • "The Indigo Children," Blog: J-Walk Blog, January 12, 2006.
  • "Mood Indigo," Christopher Locke's Blog, January 13, 2006.
  • "Indigo Children?" Blog: Shrinkette - musings of a psychiatrist in the pacific northwest, January 14, 2006.
  • "Indigo Children," Blog: Tom Hamilton's Blog, January 23, 2006.
  • "Indigo Children? Hogwash!" January 25, 2006.
  • "Mutant Children Poised to Take Over the World," by The Curmudgeon Bastard, January 26, 2006.
  • "Auras and Indigo Children," by Mario Mendez-Acosta; published by Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP), February, 2006.
  • "Indigo? Sorry, Horse Puckies.." Blog: "Dark Lillith," Yahoo!360. February 1, 2006.
  • "Some Parents Fooled by Prophecies of Indigo Children," by Aaron Sakulich, February 3, 2006. (A college newspaper reporter who says he fits the Indigo description.)
  • "On Science, Indigo, Crystals, Rainbows, and (Doreen) Virtue," Blog: Autism Street (written by a dad of an autistic child), February 08, 2006.
  • "Are you ready for the indigo revolution?" a Guest Commentary by Catherine O'Sullivan, Tuscon Weekly, February 9, 2006.
  • "Skeptics View the Indigo Evolution," Indiana Skeptics, February 16, 2006.
  • "INDIGO KIDS - Hocus-pocus kids were not 'news," Letters to the Editor - DailyCamera.com, Boulder, CO. February 21, 2006.
  • "It's not Easy Being Indigo," Blog: Some are Boojums, February 21, 2006.
  • NEW: "Little Boy Blue," article by Jesse Hyde, Dallas Observer Online, March 9, 2006. [Note: This article quotes me and refers to my page, and I would like to offer this minor correction: I noted on my page that "Grandma Chandra" sells "psychic" readings, but contrary to the article, I don't know if she and/or "Koya" offered personal "psychic readings" at Twyman's conferences, for a fee or otherwise. My issue is that Twyman featured these severely handicapped youth, who supposedly use telepathic and/or facilitated communication (alphabet board) to convey complex messages, to "speak" at his conference(s) and promote his agenda. Koya was also supposedly responsible for the design of Twyman's spoon-bending course.]

  • Letters to the Editor, responding to the article, "Little Boy Blue,", Dallas Observer, March 16, 2006. Quote from a letter to the editor by Hannah Brown, Arlington, March 16, 2006: "That people are making money off parents' fears that their disruptive children may have psychic powers is sad and silly. That these children are being guided to believe that they have supernatural powers is reprehensible."
  • "Indigo Children: Have the X-Men arrived?" Blog: Sleepless in Arlington; commentary and discussion after reading the article "Little Boy Blue," March 10, 2006.
  • "Inside the Asylum," Blog: Gene Cowan, Commentary, after reading the article "Little Boy Blue," March 12, 2006.
  • "The Virtues of Watching Television," posted at "Begging to Differ" website after reading the article "Little Boy Blue"; scroll to March 13, 2006.
  • "The Indigo Kids," Blog: Hey There Daddy-O, commentary and comments, March 13, 2006.
  • "Indigo Children, or Hyperactive Brats?" Blog: The Phoenix; commentary and comments; April 3, 2006.
  • "MY BILLY," By PAUL RUDNICK, The New Yorker, Issue of April 4, 2006. (A spoof on the idea of Indigo children.) QUOTE: "The term “Dandelion Child” comes from the children’s vividly colored auras, which are golden and sunny, and which, if you’re not careful, can ruin your lawn."
  • "Indigo Children as Snakeoil," Blog: David W. Boles’ Urban Semiotic; commentary and comments; April 14, 2006.
  • "Apparently Indigo is not just a color anymore," Blog: No Strings Attached; commentary and comments; May 2, 2006.
  • "Junk medicine: Indigo children," by Mark Henderson, Times Online - Health Features, Body & Soul; August 12, 2006.
  • "Behavioral Problems, Attention Defecit Disorder, Bullying, S elf-Centeredness: Signs Your Child Could Be Blessed With Universal Wisdom," article on Websurdity.com: "Websurdity …Dedicated to the Weird, the Bizarre, the Silly, and the Absurd," November 25, 2006.

    DISCUSSION FORUMS/BOARDS WITH (some or mostly) CRITICAL COMMENTARIES:

  • View threads on this topic on this webpage's discussion board.
  • "Indigo Children," ezboard forum, started December 20, 2002.
  • "The Indigo Child," forum discussion on Gazm.com, 2003-2005.
  • "I keep hearing about 'indigo children'... Ask.Metafilter discussion, started December 11, 2004.
  • "Indigo Children," Metachat.org discussion, started August 10, 2005.
  • "Indigo Children?" Buddhist Society of Western Australia, started August 21, 2005.
  • "Am I an Indigo Child I need answers help," forum at Abovetopsecret.com, started August 29, 2005.
  • "Indigo Girls?" Discussion at Skepticality.com, started November 20, 2005.
  • "Parents insist their 'Indigo children' can see the future," ,Snopes.com message board started December 12, 2005.
  • "Indigo Children??" Bad Astronomy and Universe Today Forum, started January 13, 2006.
  • "indigo children - believe or not? why does no one believe in us" and "Star Children, Do they exist??" and "Indigo children, Have your heard of them?" Unexplained Mysteries Discussion Forum, started January 22, 2006. (Use search to find other threads)
  • "Indigo Children," Momsview Message Board, started January 15, 2006.
  • "Craze Watch: ASD and ADHD due to reincarnation experience," Aspies for Freedom (AFF) message board, started January 19, 2006.
  • "I'm off to see 'The Indigo Evolution," a thread on James Randi Educational Foundation Forum, started February 4, 2006.
  • "Indigo Children," InvisionFree forum, started February 22, 2006.
  • "Litte Boy Blue *this is not about me," MTG Salvation forums, started March 9, 2006.
  • "Indigo Children," discussion on SkepticalCommunity.com, started November 15, 2005. And, "Nerw (new) article on Indigo Children out of Texas" started March 14, 2006.
  • "Little Boy Blue," discussion on GhostlyTalk.com, March 24, 2006.
  • "Indigo children," Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN), started March 30, 2006.
  • "James Twyman, Beloved Community (Oregon), Emissary of Light," and "Indigo and Crystal Children," Rick Ross's Cult Education Forum; 2005-2006.
  • "What's all this talk about Indigo children? Do you believe in it?" Yahoo! (Singapore) Answers, December 14, 2006.
  • "Indigo children. Riiiiight," Chronicle of Higher Education - Chronicle Forum; 2006-2007.
  • "Indigo?" forum thread on Paranormal Research Society site; 2008.

    Note from Lorie: As Indigo child proponents convey that Indigo kids feel and act like royalty, have difficulty with authority, are impatient, and are "system busters" who don't respond to discipline, some Internet rants have emerged calling kids/teens who identify with this movement "spoiled brats" who just need a spanking, or worse. While I share their indignance over attributing superiority (a new breed of human, an evolutionary jump in human consciousness, etc.) to children displaying arrogant and fractious behavior, I want my readers to know that I am uncomfortable with that kind of response directed at individuals (and I do believe that most are responding to the concept and not to individuals). The Indigo Child movement attracts parents of children with AD/HD and other neurological disorders that often cause conduct problems. The last thing these challenged kids need is a call for corporal punishment or to be called names.

    BENDING THE TRUTH WITH SPOONS AND FORKS (and sticking it to them):

  • The Skeptic's Dictionary. "Uri Geller" -- Includes a link to a video clip of what happened when Geller couldn't use his bag of tricks on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show.
  • "If you want them to believe you truly possess psychic powers..." Bending Fork, from Hank Lee's Magic Factory.
  • "Shape Shifting Spoon," IanRowland.com.
  • "A Greasy Psychic Is Cleaned Up." Scroll to "A brief report from Korea," about metal coin-sticking. James Randi Educational Foundation archive, February 21, 2003.

    POSSIBLE RATIONAL EXPLANATIONS BEHIND MISPERCEPTIONS OF "NEW," PSYCHIC CHILDREN:

  • "Most kids are much better than their parents..." Article at Fortune City, by Phyllida Brown.
  • "Scientists Say Everyone Can Read Minds," Article by by Ker Than, published by Livescience.com, April 27, 2005.
  • "Glad to be Gullible," by Clare Wilson, published in New Scientist, January 28, 2006. (The other articles on this page are not as relevant but also interesting.)
  • "Evidence for transliminality from a subliminal card-guessing task," study abstract; Perception 2002, volume 31, number 7, pages 887 - 892.
  • "Evolution of Human Brain Ongoing," by Rita Jenkins, published by Daily News Central, September 9, 2005.
  • "Did humans evolve in fits and starts?" by Gaia Vince, NewScientist.com news service, June 17, 2005.
  • "Skeptic Terms," An individual's web page offering brief explanations of the vast number of logical fallacies that can lead to false conclusions.
    NON-PSYCHOTIC HALLUCINATIONS AND VISIONS
  • "Sleep Paralysis and Associated Hypnagogic and Hypnopompic Experiences," A webpage about sleep paralysis.
  • Sleep Paralysis, Wikipedia.
  • "Alien abduction claims examined: Signs of trauma found" (article on hypnagogic/hypnopompic hallucinations) by William J. Cromie, Harvard Gazette, February 20, 2006.
  • "Visions and Hallucinations," by Barry L. Beyerstein, Dept. of Psychology, Simon Fraser University.
    SYNAESTHESIA:
  • "My favourite aunt is purple -- Why some people see 'auras' around their loved ones." Article at News In Science, by Anna Salleh, October 21, 2004.
  • "Psychic powers that enable people to see auras around others may simply be a quirk of the brain." Article at News-Medical.Net, by Medical Studies News, October 18, 2004.
  • "Hearing Colors, Tasting Shapes," article in Scientific American.com by Vilayanur S. Ramachandran and Edward M. Hubbard, May 2003.
  • "Real Rhapsody in Blue," article in Newsweek by Anne Underwood, November 25, 2003.

    FACILITATED COMMUNICATION:

  • "Prisoners of Silence," transcript of PBS Frontline broadcast, 1993.
  • The Skeptic's Dictionary, "Facilitated Communication (FC)."
  • James Randi Educational Foundation From November 11, 2005 Newsletter: "Biklen – or anyone else! – can win the JREF million dollars just by demonstrating that FC works"

    ILLUMINATING THE HYPE ABOUT AURAS:

  • "Aura Photography: A Candid Shot" by Joe Nickell, CSICOP's Senior Research Fellow, May 2000 issue of Skeptical Inquirer.
  • Aura, The skeptic's Dictionary; Excellent links there also.

    PARANORMAL PROPONENTS JOURNEY TO SKEPTICISM:

  • "First Person -- Into the Unknown," by Susan Blackmore, paranormal investigator and author.
  • "Bridging the Chasm between Two Cultures," by Karla McLaren. "A former leader in the New Age culture - author of nine titles on auras, chakras, "energy," and so on - chronicles her difficult and painful transition to skepticism..."
  • "Why I am not a Believer in the New Age - A journey from mysticism to science," by Lucia K. B. Hall.
  • "Confessions Of An Ex-Woo" by Sharon Sifford; SkepticReport.com.

    REVIEWS ON THE MOVIE, INDIGO, THAT YOU WON'T FIND ON JAMES TWYMAN'S WEBSITE

  • "Yahoo! Movies" User Reviews for INDIGO (2005)
  • "Yahoo! Movies" User Reviews for INGIGO (2004)
  • Internet Movie Database (IMDb) User Comments for Indigo.
  • "This Fabled Island," a Blog.
  • Movie Review on "Holistic Healing Blog."
  • Movie Review on "The Urban Lightworker" website, begins: "WARNING: READ AT YOUR OWN RISK….. NOT FOR THE NEW AGE 'FEAR OF CONFRONTATIONAL OPINIONS' CROWD."
  • "Aura Fixation: Indigo: The Movie," by J. Gordon, Nighttimes.com, February 7, 2005.

    CONCERNS ABOUT BLUE-GREEN ALGAE (a product recommended by some Indigo Child proponents):

  • "Cell Tech Sued for Wrongful Dealth," April 25, 2005 summons posted by Casewatch.com on February 1, 2006. (Note: A summons does not imply guilt, but rather an alert to the controversy.)
  • "Algae: False Claims and Hype," by Quackwatch; latest revision July 25, 2003.
  • "Wellness Guide to Dietary Supplements: Blue-Green Algae," UC Berkeley Wellness Letter, July, 2004. Quote: "Bottom Line: This is not a medicine or a good source of nutrients. It is easily contaminated. Children should not take it."
  • "Why Blue Green Algae Makes Me Tired," by John M. McPartland, DO, Director, Vermont Alternative Medicine, Published by Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients 1998. And, Cell Tech's response.
  • "The Trial of the Blue-Green Algae Eaters (1986)" by Carol Ballantine, published by MLM Watch.com (Multilevel Marketing Watch).

    OTHER RELATED:

  • "What the Bleep are They Going On About?" Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Online Science Lab explains the science distortions in the film "WHAT THE BLEEP DO WE KNOW," June 30, 2005. [NOTE: The James Twyman/Doreen Virtue film "Indigo Evolution" endeavored to model their film after What the Bleep Do We Know. Indigo Evolution also features Mr. Emoto.]
  • "Is Masaru Emoto For Real???" "Review and analysis of Dr. Masaru Emoto’s published work on the effects of external stimuli on the structural formation of ice crystals," by Kristopher Setchfield, Chemistry Department Castleton College, Vermont, December 20, 2005. Quote: "After the lengthy review of Emoto’s research methods and results, I have come to believe that Dr. Emoto is offering pseudoscience to the masses in the guise of defensible research."
  • "What's the Harm?" Quote: "It is a fair question. Do these beliefs cause harm?" Published by UK-Skeptics, 2005.
  • "The Hundredth Monkey Phenomenon" by Ron Amundson, 1985. QUOTE from Watson, who is credited with/blamed for this New Age notion: "I accept Amundson's analysis of the origin and evolution of the Hundredth Monkey without reservation. It is a metaphor of my own making, based--as he rightly suggests--on very slim evidence and a great deal of hearsay."

    OTHER COMMENTARIES BY LORIE ANDERSON:

  • Indigo - The Color of Money
  • Bert Hellinger's "Movements of the Soul" Therapy
  • Applied/Specialized Kinesiology; Applied Neurogenics
  • DID JAMES TWYMAN REALLY SPONSOR, ESTABLISH, OR FUND A CHILDREN'S HOME IN IRAQ?
  • Pre-diabetes
  • Exploding Toastmaster Toaster Oven
  • "Methods to Block Racism," Letter to Editor, Ashland Daily Tidings, November 14, 2006.
  • "A Cheerleader's UNbelievable Flu Vaccine Reaction" - Applying Critical Analysis. December, 2010.

    DISCLAIMER OF ENDORSEMENT: Any reference obtained via this Web page to a specific commercial or non-commercial product, process, or service does not constitute or imply an endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by this Web page's author or SelectSmart.com of the product, process, or service, or its producer or provider. The views and opinions expressed in any referenced document or any Web site linked to this Web page do not necessarily state or reflect those of this Web page's author or SelectSmart.com. The views and opinions expressed by the author of this webpage do not state or necessarily reflect those of the hosting website, Selectsmart.com.

    DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY: Neither this Web page's author, nor SelectSmart.com, makes any warranty, express or implied, including warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, or assumes any legal liability for the accuracy, completeness, legitimacy, or usefulness of any product, service, or information presented by outside Web sites pointed to or hypertext linked on this Web site.


    © 2004-2010 Lorie Anderson SelectSmart.com - All Rights Reserved.


    SelectSmart.com