Although I don't know much about the Myer-Briggs system I thought I read somewhere that Dr. D. had mentioned that Explorers were more likely to be an S in the lettering, being very aware of their surroundings  and therefore sensory...I could be wrong.  

Having said that I think I am an INTP or some days an INFP.  Can you be two??  And if so what enneagram would be a blend.  I maybe too analytical for myself.  I can see very clearly my children and those around me but find it hard to box myself.     

Quoted from shells

The Foxtel box really annoys me if not turned off at the wall, as a high spinning noise that nobody else in the family can hear!

Probably needs a new hard drive. Try to get one with a fluid bearing.

Shells, you mentioned wool.  Me too.  I have not bought wool sweaters in years, so I guess I never mentioned it to my son.  A couple of years ago, he bought me a beautiful red wool sweater for Winter Solstice.  So the only time I can wear it is if I put on this black lightweight turtle neck sweater with long sleeves underneath.

Anybody allergic to metals?  I am.

I think my husband is an Explorer, although I don't know his secretor or rhesus status (one option for him does lead to Explorer). He doesn't have much interest in individualizing his diet, but I might try to guide him the right direction. While I had thought I had a lot of Explorer qualities, it turned out that in fact I'm a teacher. And in the end, he probably has more Explorer issues--caffeine sensitivity (plus not dealing well with coffee in terms of digestion), sensitivity to wool, and sensitivity to fragrance to the point of having to go to the hospital once when his face swelled up. And, while I'm not sure "having his own way" is such an obvious thing with him, he has a certain defiant nonconformity, where, for example, he doesn't care if people don't like the way he dresses or if they find his opinions obnoxious sometimes! He's the kind of person that can really attract someone, but also the kind of person who can have a few enemies. But maybe they are jealous of his strong character, great sense of humor, and charisma.

@ paul c..... please remember the issues of Briggs-Myers book *gifts differing* here she explains  how sweet we do react..as being i's & introverts...we react exaclty the oposite way of our endings....so far it doesn't astonish me that intp's act likewise intj's...and what's up here as an edge...= istp.......
istj= 6/7.......shells..I feel here you might to be found ....

My Mother is an Explorer and was wondering if there are any other Explorers out there that would be interested in corresponding with her? Expolorers seems to be a tricky one...some things on her do not eat list do not bother her at all. I know fragrances that are too strong make her pretty sick. My sister and I have always joked about her amazing sense of smell and how she is always so scent oriented....Elizabeth

Quoted from RedLilac

Shells, you mentioned wool.  Me too.  I have not bought wool sweaters in years, so I guess I never mentioned it to my son.  A couple of years ago, he bought me a beautiful red wool sweater for Winter Solstice.  So the only time I can wear it is if I put on this black lightweight turtle neck sweater with long sleeves underneath.

Anybody allergic to metals?  I am.

Allegic to wool ever since I was young. Some polyster sweaters that are made to look like wool bother me as well.

I used to have a problem with ear rings (metals) but not since I started the BTD. But, I don't wear a watch, bracelet or necklace. I just don't like the way they feel. I wear ear rings most days, but take them out at night.

Quoted from RedLilac

Anybody allergic to metals?  I am.

My maternal Grandmother was allergic to gold - she had a platinum wedding ring.

She fit the "Physique" description for explorers to a T.  She had short lower legs wide shoulders, wide pelvis.  Her face was not symmetrical, but with wide cheek bones, and a wide forehead.

Queen of the roost she was, but I never saw that myself since she was in awe of my Dad.

Quoted from Amazone I.

as being i's & introverts...we react exaclty the oposite way of our endings....so far it doesn't astonish me that intp's act likewise intj's

Yes Isa, I do remember i's extrovert as their opposites.  

If you happen to find that Emmegram-MBTI article I would like to get a copy.  My sister can translate it if it is in Deutsch or Française.

Quoted from 6053

some things on her do not eat list do not bother her at all.

It doesn't mean it's not doing damage though.  As we joke on these forums, there are avoids....and then there are AVOIDS.  The avoids are the foods you stay away from (generally) simply because they're on that list.  The AVOIDS are the ones you don't eat under any circumstance because you'll regret it if you do!!!

Quoted from shells

-snip-
Having said that I think I am an INTP or some days an INFP.  Can you be two??  And if so what enneagram would be a blend.  I maybe too analytical for myself.  I can see very clearly my children and those around me but find it hard to box myself.     

Yes, I'm like that.  That's why I use a lowercase f.

Quoted from LauraT

Sounds like you're either the 5w4 (iconclast) or 4w5 (bohemian).  The first would apply if you are more analytical and attached... the latter, if you tend towards emotionality and are conscious of the image you present.  Of course, it's more complicated than that, but that's a start.

The 9 makes sense, since 9, 4, and 5 are the three enneagram types in the 'withdrawn' triad.  Would you say you're more introverted than an average introvert?  

Truthfully, I don't think it has much bearing on the explorer status, though.

I suppose 4w5.  But I don't consider myself very introverted anymore, which I why I use a lowercase "I".  I mean I used to avoid people all the time.  Now I don't mind mixing, and sometimes I become energized in certain group situations.  But I tend to be aloof / detached.

Paul please look here ...www.enneagram.com  all is obtainable here

Quoted from SquarePeg

I suppose 4w5.  But I don't consider myself very introverted anymore, which I why I use a lowercase "I".  I mean I used to avoid people all the time.  Now I don't mind mixing, and sometimes I become energized in certain group situations.  But I tend to be aloof / detached.

On second thought, maybe I'm so introverted that I don't realize how introverted I am.  I'm more likely to listen to the music in my head than desire to turn on the stereo.  And I'll pay more attention to my thoughts than to someone talking to me, for example.

I hadn't thought about the sensitivity to wool, but I really have it.  I absolutely have to wear something under anything wool. Actually, it doesn't even have to be wool.  I cut the tags out of all of my t-shirts, or any other article of clothing that is right next to my skin, especially anything with a tag that's sewn with that sparkly metal thread or the plastic thread.  Certain t-shirts also have itchy ribbed necks, too (don't ask me how that happens, I just know it does, and they itch).  Anybody else notice that?  Maybe I'm finally starting to understand all these sensitivities that I've had all my life, and that everyone wondered about....

Oh, I love this thread!

I have the squinty eye thing and my son, who is so much like me in explorer traits (he's only 4.5 but I can just feel it), has it, too!

Any kind of wool, even Merino wool, drives me completely F-ing mad.  And yes on the asperger's traits, too.  And hearing fluorescent lights an setting the refresh on my computer screen to one that's as fast as possible or I go crazy (I can see the flicker).  I can smell things a mile away and my sense of memory is inexplicably linked to smell.  It's amazing.  Perhaps that was one way explorers were so good at navigating and exploring...although, sometimes I think I have a built in GPS system.  I never get lost.  My husband always makes me the navigator!  (And I'm a geologist...talk about exploring!).

Exciting...  Off to go hide back in my cave...

I have a squinty eye.  I buy firming/lifting eye gel and only use it on my right eye to make both eyes equally 'open'.  


Actually, do you want to hear a perfect example of asymmetry: My left eye has better than 20/20 vision and my right eye requires a contact lens.  I've never been cross-eyed, but I definitely have some strange right versus left sides of body stuff.

But, I'm still not sure I'm an explorer.  I could be a hunter.  I'm waiting for my secretor status and my swami.  

I used to itch from wool, but not any more, although turtlenecks or collars of any kind that are high or snug at all drive me absolutely bats.

I can wear a scented oil sometimes, but can't get near perfume.  I can smell the layers of scents on other people (deodorant, perfume, fabric softener) and that can make me dizzy.  One scent, if it's more natural, I can handle, but not all those layers of different forms of fragrance.  I put a couple drops of essential oil in the liquid fabric softener dispenser, and use reusable fabric (chemical-free) dryer sheets.

I'm slightly less sensitive to fragrances over the last year or so.  It has been hard for me to do housecleaning, because I detest the chemicals involved.  Lately, with some guidance from flylady, I've learned that if I do little jobs more often then I don't have to use chemicals, soap is soap.  It's actually somewhat enjoyable now.

My wild-card reactions (that are random and probably not shared among explorers, only their randomness may be) are fermented corn derivatives (citric acid is the biggie, also corn alcohol in natural flavors, and some ascorbic acid), rosemary (itchy rash), and pistachios (anaphalactic type of reaction).

Does anybody out there react to parboiled rice (like Uncle Ben's)?  I used to and could never figure it out, now I don't, but my husband now does!  I wish I could figure out what its deal is.  I don't like it, so at least my husband never gets it from my kitchen. I think it's just rice, but how do they treat it when they parboil it, or what do they parboil it in, I know not.  Maybe it's something they enrich it with...

I love flylady!  

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that it is moist after cooking and a time lapse has occurred with warmth to let little microbes in...not to actually spoil but to affect sensitive digestions...before the packaging is completed to then go on to the suppliers.  I only say this because of my experience with trying to freeze cooked rice plus I tried to get away with rice milk in dandelion coffee but have had so many tummy troubles especially on day 3 or even 2 after opening that I had to stop.

Rice goes off so easily when cooked that it wouldn't surprise me if the conditions where it was packaged wasn't the best  

Explorers, do any of you react to cats?  

I remember bringing home to my kids a beautiful little grey kitten with big blue eyes...I had to pop him into the top of my t-shirt while driving only a suburb or two to our home.  The kids were waiting as I arrived and quickly took the tiny kitten and to my shock I was covered in welts.  Within a couple of hours my eyes were crying and nasal passages started to swell.  

My eldest daughter (explorer) when first was flatting with friends who had a cat developed asthma for the first and only time in her life.  A doc suggested not to have cats or long haired dogs but to try having short haired dogs and for them to mostly live outside to challenge the immune system.

Can anyone relate to this?

Quoted from shells

Explorers, do any of you react to cats?  

I remember bringing home to my kids a beautiful little grey kitten with big blue eyes...I had to pop him into the top of my t-shirt while driving only a suburb or two to our home.  The kids were waiting as I arrived and quickly took the tiny kitten and to my shock I was covered in welts.  Within a couple of hours my eyes were crying and nasal passages started to swell.  

Extremely allergic to cats.  And I love them so much!  But I develop severe asthma, watery eyes, itchiness, redness, everything.

I had scratch tests done years ago and they confirmed a cat allergy. Oddly I have 2 cats that I don't react to, but for some reason I will react to my mom's kitties.

I wonder if the cats' diets have anything to do with how much dander they produce or whether it bothers you or not.

Was listening to a health programme on the radio about animal allergies and the doc/naturopath stated that the animal dander, oils and saliva can all trigger the allergies.  This was a surprise to me as I always believed it to be just the dander.  It does make sense though as the kittens are always licked continuously by their mothers and hence we can react more to kittens  

This makes me sound like a kitty-racist, but the only cats I'm not allergic to have been purely white with blue eyes.     I'm guessing they have different skin or something than other cats.  I'm extremely allergic to calico's, siamese are usually really rough to be around.   Tabby cats with really dry, fuzzy hair don't bother me but silky ones do.  I'm thinking of getting allergy shots & see if that works, because I really do love cats.

I became allergic at age 12, just like my mom.  When my mom went through menopause, her cat allergies went away.  Interesting how all these chemicals interact.