Three waves, Seven epochs

The three waves of volunteers

Dolores Cannon described three waves of “volunteers” who incarnated on Earth to assist its shift. Below is a plain summary of each wave as she presented them.

First wave — born roughly in the decades after World War II (approximately 1940s–1960s). These souls often felt profoundly out of place, carrying intense homesickness, depression, or a sense of exile. Many struggled to adapt to physical life, experienced strong psychic sensitivity, and at times even contemplated suicide. Their role was pioneering: to break ground, raise the collective vibration, and show by example that incarnation and healing were possible.

Second wave — born roughly in the 1970s–1980s. These volunteers are quieter and less dramatic in appearance than the first wave. They function as stabilizers and bridges, bringing steadiness and calm into communities and systems. Their presence helps anchor the energetic shifts initiated by the pioneers, often working behind the scenes and through relationships rather than overt activism.

Third wave — born from the 1990s onward. Often described in overlapping terms with Indigo, Crystal, or Rainbow children, these souls come in with a higher baseline vibration and more naturally embodied abilities. They tend to remember—or quickly reclaim—their purpose, demonstrate intuitive or healing gifts early in life, and are here to build new systems and ways of being that feel intrinsic rather than learned.

Cannon framed all three waves as volunteers from other realms who agreed, before incarnating, to take human form and assist Earth’s transition; her account is based on past-life regression and hypnotherapy sessions with clients.

Comparison with other frameworks

First wave and Law of One “wanderers”

The first wave strongly resembles what the Law of One describes as “wanderers.” In that teaching, wanderers are souls from higher dimensions who incarnate on Earth to help lift collective consciousness. They often feel alienated, homesick, or disconnected from human society, because their vibrational origin is different. Like Cannon’s first wave, they may struggle with depression, health issues, or a sense of not belonging, yet their presence radiates a frequency that subtly transforms the planet.

Second wave and Spiral Dynamics

The qualities of the second wave can be seen through the lens of Spiral Dynamics, particularly the transition from the “green” to “yellow” value systems. The second wave stabilizes the empathic, community-oriented energy of green, while preparing the leap into the integrative, systemic view of yellow. Rather than being loud activists, they weave connection and balance, holding a steady field that allows collective evolution to take root.

Third wave and New Age concepts of Indigo, Crystal, and Rainbow children

The third wave overlaps with what has been called Indigo, Crystal, and Rainbow children. These children are said to come in with a heightened awareness, intuitive gifts, or healing abilities already active. Indigos often challenge outdated systems, Crystals radiate harmony and sensitivity, and Rainbows bring a fearless creative spark. Cannon’s description of the third wave—souls with a naturally higher baseline vibration who are here to build new ways of living—aligns closely with these portraits.

Short outline of Spiral Dynamics

Spiral Dynamics is a model of human development that describes how values and worldviews evolve in stages. Each stage is represented by a color and reflects a way of thinking, not just personal but also cultural.

Beige: focus on survival, food, shelter, basic needs
Purple: tribal and magical thinking, safety through belonging, traditions
Red: power-driven, ego-centered, impulsive, domination
Blue: order, rules, structure, religious or ideological systems, absolute truth
Orange: achievement, science, progress, success, rationality
Green: community, equality, sensitivity, social justice, pluralism
Yellow: integrative, systemic, flexible, sees value in all stages, self-authoring
Turquoise: holistic, global consciousness, unity of life, collective awareness

The model suggests that individuals and societies move through these stages as they face new challenges, and that higher stages integrate rather than reject earlier ones.

Overlap Three Waves and Spiral Dynamics

First wave and Spiral Dynamics

The first wave resonates most with the Purple and Blue stages. These souls feel out of place in the material world, struggling with rigid structures and fear-based systems. Their sensitivity contrasts with the dominance of Red and the rigidity of Blue, highlighting their difficulty in adjusting.

Second wave and Spiral Dynamics

The second wave aligns with the transition from Blue and Orange into Green. These people are here to radiate energy, to inspire and shift values away from achievement and control toward compassion, equality, and holistic awareness. They mirror the Green stage, often feeling detached from material ambition but deeply tuned to raising collective consciousness.

Third wave and Spiral Dynamics

The third wave connects with Yellow and Turquoise. These new children naturally integrate multiple perspectives, showing advanced awareness at a young age. Their openness, intuition, and global consciousness are in line with the higher stages that seek systemic understanding and unity beyond separation.

Inquiry

“Could it be that the Three Waves are not fixed generations of souls, but rather three stages of a larger evolutionary process? If so, perhaps what Dolores saw as distinct groups might also be understood as overlapping phases, each opening the way for the next.”