Article: What is the Enneagram

The History of the Enneagram

The Enneagram is a geometric figure that maps out nine fundamental personality types of human nature and their relationships. It is a development of modern psychology that has roots in ancient wisdom.

The word Enneagram comes from the Greek for “nine” ennea and “line” grammos.  Thus the Enneagram is a figure with 9 points drawn in a circle, one point for each personality type.

The Enneagram figure was introduced to the west by the Armenian Mystic and spiritual teacher Georg Ivanovich Gurdjieff (1872- 1949) who had been traveling extensively, visiting monasteries and mystic schools in Asia. He later wrote about and taught about the 9 energies of the Enneagram. 

The Bolivian born philosopher Oscar Ichazo is considered by many to be the modern Father of the Western Enneagram, connecting the 9 points of the Enneagram figure with 9 personality types. He taught this model in the Arica Institute in USA, which he founded in 1970.

The Enneagram in its Western form soon spread in the USA, and has during the last 30 years been further developed and combined with theories of psychology and psychiatry.

The Three Centers

The Enneagram describes that we have 3 different intelligences: A Mental intelligence, an Emotional intelligence and an Instinctive intelligence. Represented by the Head center, Heart center and the Body center.

The nine personality types each have a base in one of these centers. That means the starting point for the type is emotional, instinctive or mental. Thus, although we all use all three centers, we have specially developed one- and that influences where the types attention is, skills and what the type can benefit from working with in personal development.

 The Body center – the instinctive types- Type 8-9-1

These types are subconsciously driven by their instinctive intelligence. They have a special ability to let themselves be guided by the body’s impulses that means to be acting spontaneously.

The instinctive intelligence gives us humans a natural, spontaneous way of experiencing the world and sustains life-force and energy. Most of us have distortions in this center but for type 8-9-1 the distortions result in issues and problems with Anger- Aggression- Regression-Self-control

The Heart Center – the emotional types – Type 2 – 3 – 4

These types are subconsciously driven by their emotional intelligence. They have a special capability to focus on other people and to relate to others, thereby finding themselves

The emotional intelligence provides us with a natural identity and a healthy experience of our own and others' sense of esteem and worth. Distortions concerning this can cause issues and problems with Shame - Hostility - Comparison - Self-definition - Image - Positive Response.

The Head center – The cerebral intelligent types – Type 5 – 6 – 7

These types are subconsciously driven by their mental intelligence - they have a special ability to think, plan, analyze, and create ideas. They like to collect knowledge, and intellectual discussions.

The mental intelligence provides us with the ability to guide us in life and to give us direction so we can feel safe. Distortions for the 3 mental types in this natural intuitive guiding brings out issues and problems with Fear - Flight - Planning - Internal dialogue -Support - Safety.

Wings

The circle in the Enneagram connects the nine types. Because of that each type can be influenced more or less by its neighbors. This is called the type's wings .

Arrows – legs

The Enneagram explains the shifts in our personality in situations where we experience increased pressure and uncertainty as well as periods of feeling secure and safe.

When experiencing safety and security we have the strength to “swim against the current” and move against the arrows, hence getting access to the resources from the type where the arrow is coming from. This positive development increases our comfort zone.

Opposite, when we experience situations of prolonged pressure like a difficult relationship, problems at work or emotional problems, we get weakened and don’t have the strength to withstand the current but get swept away downstream and take on some of the characteristics from the type the arrows point to.
A type 9 who feels safe and secure will move towards type 3 and become more effective and goal oriented and have focus on results and own identity.

When type 9 is feeling prolonged pressure he/she will move toward 6 and become more skeptical and doubtful towards self and others.

The path of self development for the 9 types

The Sufi’s say we humans have fallen asleep to ourselves and that we subconsciously keep repeating our patterns again and again. - Patterns that don’t always give us what we wish for. The Enneagram describes each type's pattern which the type repeats under the illusion “if I keep going like this for long enough I will get happy “.

A lot of us have gotten wiser with age and we have realized that repeating the same patterns have not given us more happiness and joy.

When we become conscious about our patterns trough the Enneagram it’s like waking up to ourselves and se life with our eyes wide open. The Enneagram thus describes a way to stop our patterns - wake up - and instead do the opposite.

Oscar Ichazo’s focus and great contribution to the Enneagram has been the assignment of the nine “ego fixations” and ‘vices” around the Enneagram, and the offering of the path of development for each type through 4 elements for each type.

Vice

Every personality type has a starting point or is driven by a vice. One can say that this vice often is the driving force that motivates us to do the things we do. It is this vice that determines our values, and is fundamentally the basis for what we think about the world and ourselves.

When we are introduced to this information we tend to reject the idea that this vice is our subconscious passion, our inner most driving force. But by observing ourselves we become conscious about our type in the Enneagram and come to understand that our type's vice is what we are driven by.

Fixation
Our vice or motivation is then resulting in the fixation.

The fixation is the behavioral pattern that we keep repeating again and again, as we think this action will satisfy us and give us the inner state that will make us happy.

Unfortunately it does not work and the opposite effect occur.

This fixation amplifies our vice which in turn amplifies our fixation, amplifying our behavior so our pattern continues in a negative circle.

Virtue
When we become conscious about this fixated behavior we can then stop up and focus on our virtue – our special ability.

Each type has a virtue that is the direct opposite of the subconscious vice. And which will neutralize the habitual behavior that we are normally fixated in.

Each type has this special ability which the type already knows and uses in resourceful situations.

This virtue is the pathway to a psychological development that again reinforces the possibility to get in contact with out true selves, our essence.

Essence

The essence state is when we experience to be “One with everything” around us.

A state where there is no feeling of disconnection or conflict between oneself and the environment. Where we act intuitively and just know what to do. A state without internal dialogue or doubt, a state where our emotions are marked by peace, happiness, and internal harmony.

The essence state is expressed in everyday life when we are engaged with producing or creating something that makes us forget time and place. Or when we experience something really beautiful as a sunset, or the intense experience we sometimes have with another human being where there is no difference between you and me and what we are experiencing together.

Often it is our subconscious goal to recreate this state which we presumably know from the foster state and early childhood.

Wrongly we think we can connect to this state by doing what we usually do. But only if we break our old patterns and follow the development path of the Enneagram will we be able to connect to our essence in a prolonged and more permanent way. Life becomes easier, more beautiful.

Type 1
The Perfectionist

Thinking and behavior
Is engaged with how things can be improved and reacts often immediately if something isn’t as it should be. Type 1 has developed a strong inner critic, that holds their emotions and needs in place, so they tend to do what the inner critic is telling them is correct, instead of what they really feel like doing They enjoy doing a job right and well, and one can trust them to do their outmost, to do their best.

You might be a type 1 if you can recognize the following:

• You often think about how something could be done in a better way.
• You try to avoid mistakes and what is mean or bad.
• You have high moral standards.
• You value practical virtues like: work, honesty, competence.
• You have a particularly stern inner critic that tells you what is right and wrong.
• The inner critic is judgmental and controlling your emotions and your needs.
• You can feel indignation when other people get away with things too easily.
• You can be worried about making decisions – as you worry about if it is the right one.
• You have an instinctive intuition about how perfect things could be.

Pressure
When you are under pressure and become insecure, you can recognize the patterns from type 4. You easily lose your self-worth and feel like your problems overshadows everything. You get connected to your emotions and remember all the other times when things didn’t work out, at the same time that you become aware of other people’s emotions too, and how they experience your behavior.

Security
When you are on top of the world and feel resourceful and secure you recognize the patterns from type 7. You start getting lots of ideas and like planning events, and dream about everything you might want to do in the future. You let go of the need that everything has to be perfect and can easier just be with what is, without having to correct it.

The path of development for type 1
Type 1’s path of development is to get to know their emotions and impulses and to realize that negative emotions quickly disappear when they are accepted. Thus the type 1 can let go of the fixation of condemnation, and instead experience peace of mind and clarity that will lead to an essence state where everything is complete as by a higher “order”



Type 2:
The Helper

Thinking and behavior
Are very attentive to how they can help people that they are close to. Type 2 is willing to give from a good heart but is not good at receiving and they have great difficulty in expressing own needs. This can cause conflict in relationships where the Helper often does not feel free, because they have to give all the time. Type 2 is extroverted people who are good at taking care of others, praise others and they appreciate recognition for their good deeds.

You are possibly a type 2 if you recognize the following:

• You have a special ability to feel empathy.
• You are fantastic at seeing other people’s skills, abilities and possibilities.
• You like finding exactly that which other people need, to get on with their lives.
• You are proud of the fact that you are needed, and of being a central person in other people’s lives.
• You find it difficult to ask for help and express your needs.
• You often adapt to make others comfortable, and because of that you might experience that you have lots of “selves”
• You experience a strange inner emptiness when you get too much attention.
• You sometimes asks yourself: who am I?
• You can feel inhibited by having to give all the time, and have a wish for freedom.

Pressure
When you are under pressure and become insecure, you get access to type 8’s patterns and experience anger quicker. You suddenly know exactly what you need, what you want and can take control in a manner that often surprises your surroundings. You become more focused on justice and can feel that people don’t respect you.

Security
When you feel secure and resourceful you get access to type 4’s patterns. You become more creative and it’s easier to feel what is important to you. You value intensity and closeness and it’s important for you to put your personal touch on things and make them special.

The path of development for type 2
Type 2’s path of development is to learn to trust one-self and to ask and receive help from others. This gives the two accesses to their virtue: humbleness. Thus the two will experience the special aspect of the Essence where there is freedom to give and receive and to be oneself.

Type 3:
The Achiever

Thinking and behavior
Are always busy because they are focused on reaching their goals Type 3’s are capable of doing a tremendous workload, but often forget to take care of themselves, because they are focused 110% on everything that needs doing. This sometimes means that they collapse before they realize that they have been neglecting their own needs. They are people that express their emotions trough what they do for others or together with others.

You are possibly a type 3 if you recognize the following:

• You have focus on performance, productivity, goals, and results.
• It is important to be a success and to avoid fiasco.
• Your heart is in your work and you identify yourself with your job. – You are what you do.
• It’s easy for you to put your emotions aside and you don’t have enough time.
• You are good at playing the game and take the role required to reach your goal.
• You find it difficult not to be active, and you relax by for instance cleaning or renovating
• You are good at keeping focus on the goal through a longer period of time and to approach it from many different angles.
• You can change roles and image if needed and have “chameleon qualities”
• You are good at motivating others and is a fantastic role model.

Pressure
When you feel emotional pressure or feel “bugged” down you get access to type 9’s patterns. You experience it is difficult to prioritize, every task becomes equally important. It is difficult for you to finish your tasks and you feel like you are running around yourself not accomplishing anything.

Security
When you feel resourceful and secure you get access to type 6’s patterns. You look realistically at your tasks compared to the time and the resources you actually have. It is easy for you to analyze the consequences and have a sound skeptical approach. 

The path of development for type 3
Type 3’s path of development is through total honesty to oneself and others. The path is through contact with their emotions and work on the belief “I’m loved regardless if I do something or not, if I’m a success or not” - thus the type 3 will get access to the special aspect of the Essence where one knows that everything is going in the right direction and that it is not up to one person to do everything.



Type 4:
The Individualist

Thinking and behavior
Are emotional and take things personally, can change moods many times during the day. They have a deep seeded feeling of being abandoned and suffer from low self-worth as a result of not being worth staying with. They know wild happiness and deep sorrow and focus often on what is missing, both in regard to themselves and others. Type 4 enjoys deep and close relations and like putting a personal touch on what they work with.

You are possibly a type 4 if you recognize the following:

• You have a tendency to long and wish for what you think is missing right now. 
• You have a fine taste and like the extraordinary, and like being something special.
• You often think about what other people think of you and mindread their opinion of you.
• You seek what is missing through intense experiences and through being creative.
• You reject ordinary life and are bored with the ordinary
• You usually make the ordinary more exiting by fantasizing, creating, and dramatize internal imaginations.
• You experience great depth in your emotional life and you have the ability to support others in their crises situations.
• You often feel like withdrawing from social situations and feel you don’t really fit in the group.

Pressure
When you feel pressure and feel insecure you get access to type 2’s patterns. You lose contact with your emotions and become insecure on what you really want. Suddenly it is easier for you to focus your attention on other people’s needs and you experience that you adapt to other people's wishes.

Security
When you are secure and feel resourceful you get access to type 1’s patterns. You can keep focus on the task and forget to be preoccupied with yourselves and other people’s opinion of you, thus keeping focus on the task at hand. You get more detail oriented and have an eye for improvement.

The path of development
Type 4’s path of development goes through using their special ability to experience everything through equality. Keeping focus on what is in the now and find it as valuable and attractive as what is not present. Thus the type 4 can experience that they don’t have to suffer and get connected to the Essence where they are totally connected to everything.

Type 5:
The Observer

Thinking and behavior
Has an immense need for privacy. Protects themselves from others' intrusion by building an invincible wall between themselves and the world. They are often introverted, preoccupied with deep thoughts about specific issues or about the state of the world. They like studying, reading, researching and collecting information. They are usually very sensitive people but are often miscomprehended as cold, because they don’t show their emotions but instead express themselves objectively and with a distant air.

You are possibly a type 5 if you recognize the following:

• You have a great need to be alone and can easily be “alone” even in company with others.
• You are preoccupied with collecting information and wish to hold the key for understanding the world.
• You like to plan and prepare mentally to avoid surprises.
• You can go with very little and have few needs in terms of basic needs.
• You go to a party but only experience the party once you are home thinking the party through.
• It’s like you are not there if there is a lot of people around you.
• You have the ability to be objective and don’t let yourself sway by other people’s point of view or needs.
• You like experiencing nature by yourself where you can think and re-energize.
• You value privacy and would never reveal a secret.

Pressure
When you are under pressure and feel like your boundaries have been invaded, you get access to type 7’s patterns. You lose your inner balance and experience an inner invasion of unrealistic ideas, that gives you a state of insecurity. You treat problems in a superficial way, and become extroverted, thus giving yourself a feeling of being respectless toward yourself and others.

Security
When you feel secure you get access to type 8’s patterns. You become more domineering and take control easily. It becomes easy for you to get your needs fulfilled, and you can be very charming. Your usual strategy where you just think things through is replaced by action.

The path of development
Type 5's path of development is through generously sharing resources – and self. Type 5 will then discover an infinite source of knowledge and energy. Thus it becomes possible to connect to the special aspect of Essence known as omniscient: an ability to have a greater contact to a greater intelligence and see life’s big picture.



Type 6:
The Loyalist

Thinking and behavior
Has focus on being on guard “you never know when something can go wrong” and often imagine the worst scenario in a situation. Type 6 copes with fear by either reacting with it or against it... Type 6 sometimes finds it difficult to trust others and have developed a special ability to look through other peoples motivations. They are good at analyzing a situation for possible dangers, which super optimists have overlooked, and to see things from the opposite point of view. They are very loyal to people that have earned their trust.

You are possibly a type 6 if you recognize the following:

• You often analyze all the consequences before you make a decision.
• Authorities are an issue in your life. Either you go with then or you rebel against them.
• You identify with the cause and will fight for the unfortunate and weak.
• You often experience being skeptical – a mental “yes, but..” or “the opposite could be true”?
• You habitually speculate if your decision was the right one.
• You search for the hidden agenda that could affect a co-operation.
• You are very loyal and supportive of your friends.
• You try to balance opinions by highlighting the opposite viewpoint.

Pressure
When you are under pressure and feel threatened you get access to type 3’s patterns. You become more active, and at the same time frustrated because you don’t get to think things through exhaustively before making a decision.

Security
When you feel secure and trusting you get access to type 9’s patterns. You become more leisurely and is able to just be with what is, and see mainly the positive side of people. Your skepticism fades away in favor of the experience. ”it’s easier if we just enjoy each other’s company”.

The path of development
Type 6’s path of development is through letting go of the fixation of doubting and developing trust . Due to this the 6 will get access to the special aspect of Essence where there is a firm belief that everything is going well.




Type 7:
The Epicure

Thinking and behavior
Are motivated by everything that is new and exciting. Type 7 looks at the “glass as half full” and experiences the world as full of possibilities. They don’t like to be trapped by appointments and procedures and can become totally panicked if they don’t feel like having a choice. They like making fantastic plans, that don’t necessarily have to become realized, and have an extroverted enthusiasm that others might experience as superficial.

You are possibly a type 7 is you recognize following:

• You easily become fascinated by people, experiences, everything new.
• You want to stay in a positive mood and find it easy to change other people’s mood.
• You create many possibilities for yourself and don’t like being “held down”
• You can wonder how some people find life to be problematic and heavy.
• When you get in contact with deep and painful feelings you find it easy to give them an explanation and thus let go of the pain.
• You use your charm as first line of defense and avoid conflicts by talking your way out of it.
• You have an exceptional ability to get ideas, and to think up new concepts.
• Your head is full of ideas and plans and its fine if they don’t all get realized. 

Pressure
When you are under pressure and feel you have limited choices, you get access to type 1’s patterns. You lose sight of the big picture and become detailed oriented on the one particular task at hand. You feel anger more easily and become more condemning of others and self.

Security
When you are resourceful and fulfilled you get access to type 5’s patterns and become more introverted and thoughtful. It becomes more important to spend time collecting knowledge and you enjoy spending time alone with a good book.

The path of development
Type 7’s path of development is to be present in the now, regardless of how the now is. Thus the type 7 develops their special ability to view reality with soberness.




Type 8:
The Boss

Thinking and behavior
Has focus on their instantaneous needs and on whether things are just. - Will take up the challenge if they experience anything to be unfair. They are full of vitality and have abundant energy, and if things don’t work out their way they can seem domineering. Type 8’s have a big heart under the shining armor and are very protective and responsible. Once they feel trust they reveal a vulnerable side that they usually try to protect.

You are possibly a type 8 if you recognize the following:

• It’s important for you to feel like you are in control of your personal space and belongings.
• You don’t show weakness and can feel contempt towards people who don’t really try to take control of their life.
• You have a tendency to see the extremes in situations: it is either fair or unfair. People are either strong or weak, there is nothing is in-between.
• You spend some energy helping people and taking responsibility.
• You like food and drink and want instant gratification when a need arises.
• You make quick decisions and will take charge if nobody else does.
• You feel great responsibility, and sometimes feel like the world is resting on your shoulders.

Pressure
When you are under pressure and feel like you have “bitten more off than you can chew” you get access to type 5’s patterns, - you withdraw, while brooding over new ways of doing things. You withdraw from others and do not involve others in your personal problems and sorrows.

Security
When you are secure and can "put down your weapons" you get access to type 2 and become more aware of other people’s needs. You are very considerate, take great care of people close to you, or people in need in general.

The path of development
Type 8’s path of development is through connecting with the inner vulnerable side where the soft emotions are. Type 8 has to develop their ability to be present without influencing the situation without taking control, or responsibility.



Type 9:
The Mediator

Thinking and behavior
9s have a fantastic ability to create harmony by involving themselves fully in other people and accepting them totally. Type 9 sometimes forget about their own needs in their pursue of creating harmony and following other's needs. As it is very important to them to avoid conflicts, they can see an issue from multiple viewpoints and are exceptional mediators. They can find it difficult to finish important projects because the gets sidetracked by other things they might find as important as the project at hand.

You are possibly a type 9 if you recognize the following:

• You try to avoid conflict and find it difficult to express yourself clearly if there is something you don’t feel like doing.
• You easily see all points of view and sum up everybody’s point in your resolutions.
• There is ample of time. It can wait until tomorrow. You know how to be leisurely.
• You find it easier to work out what you don’t want than what you want.
• You let go of your needs if somebody wants’ something else.
• You experience that you almost merge with other people, music, and nature.
• You have the ability to support and be attentive to what is important to other people.
• You charge your “batteries” when alone, but feel enriched by other peoples praises too.
• You sometimes feel overlooked but at the same time feel better than others.

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