Interview: Idelle Brand and “Indigo Child” Diandra Brand

I had the opportunity to interview Idelle and Diandra Brand, the mother-daughter coauthors of the pioneering book, Enlightened Indigo Child: A Personal Guide to Flourishing with a Sixth Sense, which I reviewed earlier on this site. Idelle Brand is a holistic dentist and integrative healer. Her daughter Diandra Brand is an intuitive metaphysical healer with an MS in Acupuncture, and a self-described “Indigo” — a person with high emotional and physical sensitivities, who often displays extraordinary gifts and perceptions. Diandra has clairvoyant abilities.

Explain what the term “Indigo child” means.

Diandra: As an Indigo, to me it means seeing the connectedness of all things.

Idelle: Indigo means different things to Diandra and me. As a parent, I see Indigo children as having enriched sensory perception. Most have high sensitivities to the physical and emotional environment. These children may also have extraordinary innate intuitive gifts in music, art or academia. Others may have psychic abilities.

What made it difficult for you, Diandra, to fit into mainstream society as an Indigo child and young adult?

Diandra: Being empathic at a young age can be a challenge. I remember energetically picking up emotions from classmates and feeling their fear when the teacher yelled at them. We write about this in our book. On several occasions, I would pick up a classmate’s headaches or other discomforts. Happily, I no longer have this challenge, as I have learned how to protect myself energetically.

What would you tell other parents needing help with raising an Indigo child?

Diandra: My parents believed in me. They didn’t see my gifts as a problem. They focused on my strengths. I had more daily activities than just school. This, I believe helped me to see the bigger picture of who I was. When schools put a label on you, then you believe that is all you are. My school was like that, but my parents let me see how small-minded that thinking is. My parents made me feel good about my strengths and provided help with my weaknesses.

Idelle: I would advise other parents to always get a second opinion from an unbiased outside professional before accepting any diagnosis for their child. And I would also advise parents to focus on their child’s strengths and not succumb to the “victim” mentality. There are always many wonderful attributes about your child that no professional expert will ever acknowledge. You as a parent know your child better than anyone. Trust your own gut feelings.

Diandra, what are you especially sensitive to in the environment, and what do you do to cope?

Diandra: I have several food sensitivities, conventional milk for one. So I now use nut milks like almond or hemp. Goat milk is always okay. Conventional fruit or vegetables are another one. Usually I can taste the pesticides and sometimes my lips or tongue will get tingly or swollen. So I now make sure to eat organic. Meat can be a challenge, as I can feel or see how the animal was butchered for the market. I try to stay to a vegetarian diet. Conventional cleaning supplies sometimes make me feel like I can’t breathe or they affect my skin. I now use more natural cleaning solutions like vinegar and water or baking soda and water. I also do detoxification techniques regularly to keep my system clear. If not, I get sick or don’t feel right.

How do labels for children who don’t conform — such as ADHD, autism, and Asperger’s — get in the way of children’s development?

Idelle: When Indigo kids are diagnosed with a syndrome such as the ones you mentioned, it’s considered as an illness that needs to be medicated. Long-term medication for young minds and bodies is not a solution. It’s affecting how our children mature physically, mentally, and emotionally. Side effects from these drugs are something to seriously consider. Many Indigo children then lose their innate abilities since the meds tend to shift the natural functioning of their brain, making these kids possibly even more dependent on the drugs to be functional. When we focus on the cause of these syndromes instead of the symptoms, then we can get true healing for our children.

You have both channeled your abilities into careers as a holistic dentist, acupuncturist, teacher, and integrative healer. What are you able to offer your clients that other practitioners without your abilities can’t provide?

Idelle: Having faced many incurables by society’s standards, and overcome them, we both know that the impossible is possible. Failure is just feedback. It is an indication to take a step back and reevaluate the next move. There are always other options. And we believe this holds true for anyone looking for solutions to their health challenges. We offer our patients hope.