One local support group is the Holistic Moms Network, a local chapter of the international nonprofit support and resource organization. Holistic Moms Network was founded in May 2002 as a local support group in New Jersey. According to Tucson's chapter leader, Michelle Diaz, there are now chapters in 21 states and in Canada. Diaz started the only Arizona chapter in January 2005, after being a group member in Pennsylvania. "I moved here from Philadelphia in December 2004," says Diaz. "I didn't see a chapter, so I called the national headquarters and started one here. I wanted to find a group of mothers that share the same values and ... wanted to be able to hang out with life-minded moms."
The Tucson chapter of the Holistic Moms Network has a monthly meeting and playgroup. During monthly meetings, members and prospective members talk about organic foods, breastfeeding, holistic healing methods, green living, natural parenting styles and similar topics. The group has a newsletter and offers potlucks, mom-and-tot outings and a toy swap--exchanging toys to match a child's development.
At monthly meetings, a guest speaker discusses a topic of interest. "Members fill out a survey and say what they want to hear about. Then I find a speaker," Diaz says. Past guests include a chiropractor and acupuncturist. The subject matter has ranged from stress reduction for parents to how acupuncture can help alleviate allergies in children.
This month, Diaz has scheduled a talk about Indigo children. "I wanted to make sure people could hear that there is another theory to hyperactivity in children," she says.
At 6:30 p.m. on Friday, July 22, Holistic Moms Network presents "Here Come the Indigo" with Dr. Janet Greenlee. The free lecture takes place at Lighthouse Branch YMCA, 2900 N. Columbus Blvd. Visit holisticmoms.org or call 245-7941 for more information.
Dr. Greenlee has been working with children for 40 years as a school guidance counselor and clinical social worker. She has a master's degree in social work and a doctorate in religious studies. But her passion is to "bring awareness to the public to be aware of the Indigo children."
Greenlee says Indigo children "are those who don't feel comfortable in their skin, act out, don't follow rules and many get labeled as ADHD and are put on Ritalin." But on the flip side, these children "are born with an innate knowing of who they are, remember past lives, are sensitive, loving, intelligent, intuitive, creative and gifted. Research says 98 percent of the children coming in are Indigo."
According to Greenlee, the term "Indigo children" was coined by healer Nancy Ann Tappe. "In the 1970s, she saw a new color of the aura and labeled it indigo. It looked like a brilliant cobalt and fits in between the spectrum of blue and violet," explains Greenlee.
Since the 1970s, the term and study of Indigo children has spread--even into mainstream media. Neale Donald Walsch of Conversation With God book fame co-wrote the film Indigo in 2003. In USA Today's June 1, 2005 issue, "Indigo Kids" was a featured story.
Greenlee is passionate about helping educate parents and the general public about Indigo children. She teaches spiritual parenting and has been certified in spiritual healing with Indigo children and adults.
During her presentation, Greenlee will discuss who the Indigo children are, how they are defined, how the term is used, books about the subject, ways to help these children and what they need.
Greenlee's healing method of Indigo children and their characteristic hyperactivity is a spiritual approach as opposed to drugs so readily prescribed. Instead of Ritalin, Greenlee teaches a "process of sacred ritual healing with words to spiritually heal these children." After the healing process (between 30 to 120 minutes), parents of children notice the children are calmer.
While Greenlee admits there is no scientific proof of Indigo children, and her healing methods are not a cure-all, she has seen remarkable changes in children using holistic and spiritual methods.
When working with a 10-year-old boy, Greenlee noticed he seemed unusually worried. During a meditation practice, she told the boy to draw a picture of his power animal. He drew a picture of a donkey and an eagle. Afterwards, he didn't understand why he drew a donkey and said they were the dumbest animals. Greenlee saw this differently and told the boy that the donkey was there to help carry his burdens. The boy resonated with that simple healing technique and felt much better afterward, according to his mother.
Helping the special needs of the Indigo children is Greenlee's "destiny," she says. "I want to bring awareness to the public that they are special. We need to wake up to help them along, because they will help evolve the universe to a more God-like place."
To contact Dr. Greenlee, e-mail greenlee028@aol.com.
