Different sources use these different terms, which do indeed have distinct definitions. Most often used, and most often erroneously, is the term 'walk-in', which was popularized by Ruth Montgomery in her books, most notably Aliens Among Us. Many authors and newage workshops following Montgomery in recent years have picked up and begun to apply this term indiscriminately to a wide variety of distinctly different experiences. The term 'starperson' or 'starseed' has had a similar evolution, the former popularized by Brad Steiger and the latter by Ken Carey. The term 'wanderer' was used by anthropologist and contactee George Hunt Williamson in his Other Tongues, Other Flesh and later in L/L Research's The Ra Material - The Law of One. The latter presents thorough and clear distinctions between these various types of experiences.

An understanding of the dimensions is a prerequisite for clearly grasping these distinctions (see this site's excerpt from The Ra Material on the densities/dimensions). A walk-in occurs when an earth 3rd density being (what most understand as 'human') becomes overwhelmed by their life experience physically and/or emotionally, mentally, spiritually, yet are not inclined to act to end their own life. They may be contacted spiritually, most likely during 'sleep,' by a higher density being, usually 4D, who hopes to fulfill a particular mission of service to earth 3D. The 4D being then enters the body of the 3D being, and the 3D being leaves their body to heal and review their earth life before continuing on to their next chosen learning opportunity. The 4D being assumes responsibility for the life/karmic patterns/committments of the 3D being, and also attempts to fulfill their own mission of service.

Most wanderers are 6D, with a few 5 or 4D. The process of walk-in is most suited for 4D positive beings, as they have not the energy level of 5 or 6D and so may be less able to 'pierce the veil of forgetting' that all beings incarnating into 3D experience, which protects and ensures the process of 3D free will. Walking-in to an adult 3D body allows the walk-in to bypass the process of 3D childhood maturation and earth socialization, increasing the likelihood of their awakening and remembering their purpose.

According to The Ra Material, this was the case in the life of Abraham Lincoln:

Ra Vol I Session #26:

QUESTIONER: I was wondering if the one, Abraham Lincoln, could have been a Wanderer?
RA: I am Ra. This is incorrect. This entity was a normal, shall we say, Earth being which chose to leave the vehicle and allow an entity to use it on a permanent basis. This is relatively rare compared to the phenomenon of Wanderers. You would do better, considering the incarnations of Wanderers such as the one known as "Thomas," the one known as "Benjamin."
QUESTIONER: I am assuming that you mean Thomas Edison and Benjamin Franklin?
RA: I am Ra. This is incorrect. We were intending to convey the sound vibration complex, Thomas Jefferson. The other, correct.
QUESTIONER: Thank you. Can you tell me where the entity who used Abraham Lincoln's body—what density he came from and where?
RA: I am Ra. This entity was fourth-vibration.
QUESTIONER: I assume positive?
RA: I am Ra. That is correct.

Ra Vol II #35:

QUESTIONER: Thank you. Earlier we discussed Abraham Lincoln as a rather unique case. is it possible for you to tell us why the fourth-density being used Abraham Lincoln's body, what its orientation was, and when this took place with respect to the activities that were occurring in our society at that time?
RA: I am Ra. This is possible.
QUESTIONER: Would it be of value for the reader to know this in your estimation?
RA: I am Ra. You must shape your queries according to your discernment.
QUESTIONER: Well in that case I would like to know the motivation for this use of Abraham Lincoln's body at that time?
RA: I am Ra. This shall be the last full query of this session as we find the instrument quite low in vital energies.
The one known as Abraham had an extreme difficulty in many ways and, due to physical, mental, and spiritual pain, was weary of life but without the orientation to self-destruction. In your time, 1853, this entity was contacted in sleep by a fourth-density being. This being was concerned with the battles between the forces of light and the forces of darkness which have been waged in fourth-density for many of your years.
This entity accepted the honor/duty of completing the one known as Abraham's karmic patterns and the one known as Abraham discovered that this entity would attempt those things which the one known as Abraham desired to do but felt it could not. Thus the exchange was made.
The entity, Abraham, was taken to a plane of suspension until the cessation of its physical vehicle much as though we of Ra would arrange with this instrument to remain in the vehicle, come out of the trance state, and function as this instrument, leaving this instrument's mind and spirit complex in its suspended state.
The planetary energies at this time were at what seemed to this entity to be at a critical point, for that which you know as freedom had gained in acceptance as a possibility among many peoples. This entity saw the work done by those beginning the democratic concept of freedom, as you call it, in danger of being abridged or abrogated by the rising belief and use of the principle of the enslavement of entities. This is a negative concept of a fairly serious nature in your density. This entity, therefore, went forward into what it saw as the battle for the light, for healing of a rupture in the concept of freedom.
This entity did not gain or lose karma by these activities due to its detachment from any outcome. Its attitude throughout was one of service to others, more especially to the downtrodden or enslaved. The polarity of the individual was somewhat, but not severely, lessened by the cumulative feelings and thought forms which were created due to large numbers of entities leaving the physical plane due to trauma of battle.

The concepts of 'Starpersons' or 'Starseeds' most often are used to describe 3D earth beings who have a physical bodily heritage of ET DNA from various neighborhood positive and negative ET groups who have each attempted to serve earth human evolution in their own way. Many earth cultures have accounts of beings 'from the sky,' 'gods', 'sons of heaven,' etc., who have visited and interacted with humans, including reproductively, physically or through artificial means. Evolution through the dimensions splits in 4 and 5D into positive and negative paths, before unifying in 6D, and earth has been visited by both positive and negative beings (see this site's excerpt on positive and negative beings). So all earth humans have evolved to some extent from interactions of ETs with natural earth evolution, and some heritages more than others (see this site's excerpt on the evolution of life on earth).

Most who begin to intuit that they are not of earth evolution are wanderers - those who have chosen to incarnate on earth to be of service at this time of earth's confused and bumpy transition into 4D positive - some 65+ million - (see this site's excerpt on wanderers). Most who consider themselves 'walk-ins' are likely to actually be wanderers, who became familiar with the term 'walk-in' through the Montgomery books and other sources which followed Montgomery.

An important point and reason to understand this experience as that of the same one being, rather than as perhaps that of a walk-in, is that such a being's entire life experience is important catalyst for their learning, and the person who interprets this as a 'walk-in' experience may dismiss their earlier earthly life experience as that of someone else, rather than apply themselves to learning from these as their chosen lessons. A wanderer's awakening and remembering process is often both sudden and gradual, so that during their overall gradual awakening they are likely to experience periods of relatively sudden leaps of awareness, in which the person may indeed feel they have become a 'different person', and that may be mistakenly interpreted as a 'walk-in.' There may be the attractive temptation, rather than integrate these and remain consistent in their life committments, to separate themselves from their difficult earth experiences and accompanying circumstances and persons, as belonging to someone else's life.

Another subjective misperception and misinterpretation, in my opinion, is that of having two beings in one body. This idea is usually expressed as an earthly being and an ET or spiritual being. I believe this misperception of a split or a less than complete blending occurs due to a single being's difficulty integrating their higher dimensional nature and origin with their present 3D earth existence, so that there seems to be at times a state in which they perceive from a higher dimensional perspective and then at other times a state in which they perceive from an earthly perspective. The integration of these subjective experiences and perspectives is part of the wanderer's process of awakening or remembering, and is not in reality two beings. Eventually, the wanderer may awaken and integrate sufficiently to be able to be aware that they are one being who is aware on all levels simultaneously - the hope and purpose of all wanderers in our awakening and remembering process, which is both our learning and our service, as it is for all beings.

Another term found being used is "Beyonder", the origin of which seems uncertain, though I find some likely contributing materials. One use of the term was by an educational psychologist, Dr. E. Paul Torrance, for creative gifted individuals. Creativity: An Interview with Dr. E. Paul Torrance By Joseph R. Dunn, Ph.D.: "What is known about factors related to personality and motivation as they relate to creativity? From our longitudinal studies we find that factors other than creativity come into play as people grow older. I call these “beyonder” characteristics. These include courage, persistence, having a clear-cut purpose, preferring deep thinking to socio-thinking. Later in life the personality and motivational factors become more and more important. Some become discouraged and stop being creative due to lack of courage and persistence." Here is a book based on Dr. Torrrance' work: The Making of a Beyonder: Ways to Nurture Your Creative Achievement and Spirit" I find that there was a Marvel Comics superhero named Beyonder, and a race called Beyonders, with some of the types of characteristics we are discussing: The Superhero Dictionary - Beyonder and Beyonders - Marvel Comics Directory Here is a website using several terms for the starperson profile: Starpeople - Beyonders - Wanderers.

I believe another confusion is that of many who who feel they are from some physical society and planet, such as the 'Zetas', the 'Pleiadians', the 'Arcturans', and even, after the popular TV show, the 'Taelons'. I think that representations of such societies in newage and mass-media bring to fore legitimate reminders of the lives and experiences of many in their far distant past, but that therefore a focus on this is less relevant than their more recent experience in 6D as non-physical beings, and their present life identity and purpose. If it's true, as the Ra Material describes, that most wanderers are 6D, with very few from 4/5D, then it's most likely that those with other-worldly memories have most recently experienced non-physical and non-planetary lives, since 4D is the last 'physical' dimension, and that 6D begins an experience that is no longer planetary-based.

If indeed a wanderer is from 4D, which is still 'physical', or from 5D, which although beginning a non-physical existence is still planetary-based, then I think memories of a particular planet and past lives are likely to indeed be recent and a more intimate part of the remembering process. The above mentioned societies are, in my estimation, 4D positive, although some descriptions of them are confused, including psychological and social conflicts of the sort no longer found beyond 3D.

There are also a small percentage of beings incarnated on Earth who do indeed come from 3D cycles elsewhere, rather than the 4/5/and mostly 6D societies that wanderers come from. Two origins account for most who are in their 3D cycle on Earth: many have evolved through the usually understood progress of evolution from the Earth ape form, with some help from higher dimensional societies as described in The Ra Material and so may be thought of as 'native' to Earth. The second large category of origin is from the Mars society, most of which reincarnated here with some higher dimensional assistance after they warred and polluted themselves out of a viable biosphere, and which explains the preoccupation with Mars that we see in current Earth society and media. A relative few in their 3D cycle on Earth come from other 3D planets outside this solar system.

Regarding the material we see on 'Indigos', I think the Indigo metaphysic is positive, with many people doing good work, though in my understanding the metaphysic is a bit confused.

I think there are two phenomena that are lumped together in the Indigo formulation. Both individual and societal evolution follow the stages of the chakras, which are colored as the rainbow. One phenomena is wanderers, those incarnating here from positive 4th (Green), 5th (Blue) and mostly 6th (Indigo) dimensions to further their balance of 4D compassion and 5D wisdom into 6D unity, through service. Societal stages of development progress over eons, the stages longer the higher.

Then there are also recent graduates into 4D+ (positive polarity) incarnating here that are the beginning Earth 4D population, as the planet has entered 4D+, the midpoint of this transition being around 2012. Transition can be understood as the way prismatic light shades from one color into the next. Earth's 3rd chakra yellow has shaded into yellow-green, and around 2012 will cross the midpoint into green-yellow, gradually becoming wholly green. And so we see the Green movement and many activities of similar basis in the universal unconditional compassion of 4th chakra.

Some of the recent graduates into 4D incarnating at this time went through their 3D learning cycles on Earth, though many are from other worlds, as Earth can support more 4D population than are likely to graduate from Earth alone. I think this is another reason for the Indigo confusion - that there are both wanderers, largely from 6D, and recent graduates into 4D, showing similar unusual abilities.

This is not a crucial point, as we are all seeeking to be of service. I think some appreciable differences arise in that wanderers tend to feel a bit homesick, and that we are only here for a time, to help with transition, while recent graduates into 4D are more likely to feel the call to community building for the new Earth 4D society, and that they are building a home they will inhabit for a long time to come. Most wanderers I hear from feel they can offer help in all of these activities, but do not feel a longterm belonging.

Understanding this difference can help resolve feelings of ambivalence about such activities and community-building, as wanderers are often confused between our desire to help, yet the feeling we will not be staying to live here for the longterm. Wanderers' feeling of missing home community can often be confused with the building of Earth community, which will seem appealing, yet not appropriate as ongoing members. I empathize, having felt the pull to help and to join communities here, yet also the sense that my place is not here. It has helped me to understand that I can be of help, though will not become a longtime resident.

We can work together in this in harmony and mutual appreciation.

In my understanding of yogic chakra psychology, described well in The Ra Material - The Law of One, published by L/L Research, the indigo chakra is available to all who have opened the 4th/4D heart chakra, and is developed more fully in the 6D learning cycle. I think this and the phenomena of many 6D, indigo learning cycle wanderers incarnated here on Earth for the transition period, lead to the mixing of the concepts of wanderer and indigo in much of the indigo materials. Many awakening in both groups may find the Indigo material of interest, yet may feel some confusion. The characteristics and feeling of calling are somewhat different, though one and in harmony. 4D is a level of unconditional compassion, and those in this learning cycle will feel a call to selfless service and to join the beginning 4D communities, organizations and 'green' service efforts we see. As I hear from many, wanderers feel the worthiness and call to this, yet a bit nostalgically, both missing their homes and vaguely remembering such community in their own 4D learning cycles, admiring the efforts being made here, yet also remembering the limitations and seeking a unified balance of compassion and wisdom, community and freedom, unity and individuality. These are non-different, and evolution moves always towards the balancing of these into unity.

Many of the beginning Earth efforts we see towards 4D community are mixed with remaining 3D forms, of social organizational structure that historically emphasized that structure over the individuals, as we see in the history of organized religions, companies, political parties, families, towns, states, nations, ideologies, and all isms. So many groups I have been involved with, usually in 'liminal' - threshold - ways, not joining fully, have shown this mix. But this is normal, natural and productive, as Muktananda said, when asked how he worked on his devotees, "I don't. I bring them together and they work on each other." "Life in the rock polisher" I call it...

As I like to joke, "We're (almost) all from somewhere 'else'!" And if you add to the concept of Wanderers the thought that we are all made of 'starstuff', atoms that have circulated throughout so much of the universe, then we are indeed all from somewhere else. Another fascinating perspective and realization is that as the universe is all a manifestation of motion in a universal field, then we are all waves in that universal field that only appear to be 'particles', that is, individuals.