I have alot of open centres but live with someone who has only 1 open centre...her base. My open centres are: Head, Solar plexis, spleen, sacral and base. I have no gates that can connect my head and ajna ( and I wounder what that means ).

Ever since I can remember I have been a 'thinker'. My father told me when I was 13 that if I didn't stop trying to figure out the problems of the world I was going to have a very short life! That isn't such a problem now...but I do feel pressure from people who think I ought to be able to solve a problem or have answers. But in myself...I have become content to just observe my world. Of course I read voraciously and often find myself getting interested in stuff that is way above my head at times. But my favorite pastime is watching birds and hunting for wildflowers to photogragh. I am not as driven mentally as I used to be.

I can really relate to the Open Spleen and hanging on to what is not good for me. That goes for past relationships. It may also apply to my current workplace...I do tend to like to hug the familiar no matter how difficult things get.

I have an open sacral. I TOTALLY relate to Super Slave! Maybe in the past I may not have been able to find the stop button. I can be Super slave when I am passionate about something. But in the workplace..especially when I was younger..I was always the one who never had any sick leave left! I hate the mundane drudge of the 9 to 5 workplace! I was rarely on time for work. My favorite thing to do was to play my guitar and just sit with my daydreams.
I am not much good at taking care of myself. I know that doesn't sound very adult! I don't know how to be good to myself or pamper myself. But I think I am learning and having more knowledge of my design is kind of like confirmation I guess. Luckily my partner is much better at looking after me than I am.

I have an open solar plexis. I can cry at the drop of a hat when I think of my dead pets, or see the tragedies and injustices suffered by other people, animals and our beautiful planet. But I have been accused of being disconnected from my feelings especially in workshops where you have to relive your childhood. I just hated being proded and goaded into reliving my past. My experiences in those workshops have been cathartic! But I am good at picking up other peoples' feelings. I am so sensitive to the emotions of others. But I don't feel my own to any great degree. Except when it comes to my children and my partner. I am a great worrier as a mother!

And lastly my open base. I hate pressure! But I put myself under pressure constantly! I often bite off more than I can chew. I find it hard to say no to people. I am often very good at what I do...whatever I chose to do. And I am that way because I like to be good at what I do. The downside is that people then start to expect more of me and before I know it I become overwhelmed and just want to withdraw.

I have a great ability to listen to people and my communication skills are also very good. I have started to enjoy talking to people and now days I tend to talk to groups. I also teach. As a child I remember I was painfully shy at times and a huge showoff at others. I love having people around me..but I spend most of my time at parties hiding from people! I am much happier on my own or being with my family. I don't seek company.
The last 10 years have been a time of hiding for me. Maybe not hiding as such...but very content to be at home or just with my family.

Our ecovillage project is into it's 4th year. Our vision is huge and the project has been a challenge and a steep learning curve. It seems ironic that someone like me who is much happier lurking on the fringes should be smack in the middle of this plan to bring 300 people to live in a sustainable community. In fact, all three of us are quite private people but we have a strong belief in the power of community and collaboration. I am a trained facilitator, medical herbalist, horticulturalist and school dentist. At present I work in office administration particularly in the area of finance. I do it well...but I hate it! I also teach 1 day a week, a group of 15 - 19 year olds deemed youth at risk. Although I teach them business skills most of my time I teach life skills. This is something I have just started doing and I am really enjoying it.

As a Manisfestor there is no doubt that I have been strongly conditioned. But I also know that beneath all that conditioning there is something much stronger, perhaps wilder and still untamed. I see it every now and again...like and old friend. But we don't go out to play as often as we used to!

Tookie