Enneagram (geometry)

The Enneagram (also sometimes called Enneagon) is a nine-pointed diagrammatic figure used for various purposes in a number of teaching systems. In recent years the figure has come to prominence in its use with what is often called the Enneagram of Personality. The historical origins of the figure is disputed.

Gurdjieff & Ouspensky

The modern use of the Enneagram figure is credited to George Gurdjieff (c. 1870-1947) and his Fourth Way teaching tradition.

The Enneagram figure as presented in the Fourth Way tradition represents two fundamental cosmic laws: combination (called the Law of Three or Triads) and process (called the Law of Seven or process). Combination means those events or forces which combine to create a new event. The law of process governs the order of how things occur.

The line of development associated with the Fourth Way developed out of the writings of Gurdjieff's students. Chief of these are P.D. Ouspensky, Maurice Nicoll, J.G. Bennett and Rodney Collin. They developed Gurdjieff's ideas and left their own accounts. There is an extensive bibliography devoted to the Gurdjieff-Ouspensky system.

A Gurdjieff foundation exists which claims an authority based on a line of succession directly through Mr Gurdjieff. The foundation preserves Gurdjieff's music and movements and continues its own work with the Enneagram. Recently a secondary line of development centered around the teachings of Robert Burton and the Fellowship of Friends has taken Gurdjieff's brief references on body type and developed a complete system. Rodney Collin first presented this system in his "Theory of Celestial Influence". His theories connect seven types to the seven endocrine glands. There have been a number of published works on the Enneagram and body type that use this system, among the: "Body Types: The Enneagram of Essence Types" by Joel Friedlander, "Human Types: Essence and the Enneagram by Susan Zannos" and "On the Elephant's Knee" by Thomas M. Easley.

The Enneagram of Personality

The Enneagram is supposed to have its origins in Greece, where the mathematician Pythagoras said to have made it as a diagram for symbolising humanity.^{[citation needed]}

Unlike the personality types of the zodiac (in which one's sign is determined by one's time and date of birth), one's Enneagram type (often called "Enneatype") can only be discovered through self-examination. The Enneagram maps the nine distinct personality types and shows how these types move when under stress and when flourishing. Many different schools and teaching systems use the Enneagram as a tool of self-knowledge, as a means of becoming conscious of the ploys and games that personalities commonly play and as a way of discovering the essence that is unique to each personality type.

The nine types of the Enneagram are often given names that indicate some of their more distinctive characteristics. Such names are insufficient to capture the complexities and nuances of the types, which require study to understand in their depth. Common brief descriptions of the Enneatypes are as follows:

One: Reformer, Critic, Perfectionist - This type focuses on integrity. Ones can be wise, discerning and inspiring in their quest for the truth. They also tend to dissociate themselves from their flaws or what they believe are flaws (such as negative emotions) and can become hypocritical and hyper-critical of others, seeking the illusion of virtue to hide their own vices. The One's greatest fear is to be flawed, and their ultimate goal is perfection. The corresponding "deadly sin" of the One is Anger, while the One's "holy idea" or essence is Holy Perfection. Under stress, Ones express qualities of the Four, and when flourishing, they express qualities of the Seven. A classic example of the One is Sherlock Holmes.

Two: Helper, Giver, Caretaker - Twos, at their best, are compassionate, thoughtful and astonishingly generous; they can also be prone to passive-aggressive behavior, clinginess and manipulation. Twos want, above all, to be loved and needed and fear being unworthy of love. The corresponding "deadly sin" of the Two is Pride, while the Two's "holy idea" or essence is Holy Will. Under stress, Twos express qualities of the Eight, and when flourishing, they express qualities of the Four. A classic example of the Two is Mother Teresa.

Three: Achiever, Performer, Succeeder - Highly adaptable and changeable. Some walk the world with confidence and unstinting authenticity; others wear a series of public masks, acting the way they think will bring them approval and losing track of their true self. Threes are motivated by the need to succeed and to be seen as successful. The corresponding "deadly sin" of the Three is Deceit, while the Three's "holy idea" or essence is Holy Law. Under stress, Threes express qualities of the Nine, and when flourishing, they express qualities of the Six. A classic example of the Three is Donald Trump.

Four: Romantic, Individualist, Artist - Driven by a desire to understand themselves and find a place in the world, they often fear that they have no identity or personal significance. Fours embrace individualism and are often profoundly creative and intuitive. However, they have a habit of withdrawing to internalize, searching desperately inside themselves for something they never find and creating a spiral of depression. The angsty musician or tortured artist is often a stereotypical Four. The corresponding "deadly sin" of the Four is Envy, while the Four's "holy idea" or essence is Holy Origin. Under stress, Fours express qualities of the Two, and when flourishing, they express qualities of the One. A classic example of the Four is Vincent Van Gogh.

Five: Observer, Thinker, Investigator - Fives are motivated by the desire to understand the world around them, specifically in terms of facts. Believing they are only worth what they contribute, Fives have learned to withdraw, to watch with keen eyes and speak only when they can shake the world with their observations. Sometimes they do just that. Often, instead, they withdraw from the world, becoming reclusive hermits and fending off social contact with abrasive cynicism. Fives fear incompetency or uselessness and want to be capable and knowledgeable above all else. The corresponding "deadly sin" of the Five is Avarice, while the Five's "holy idea" or essence is Holy Omniscience. Under stress, Fives express qualities of the Seven, and when flourishing, they express qualities of the Eight. A classic example of the Five is Albert Einstein.

Six: Loyalist, Devil's Advocate, Defender - Sixes long for stability above all else. They exhibit unwavering loyalty and responsibility, but once crossed, they are not quick to trust again. They are prone to extreme anxiety and passive-aggressive behavior. Their greatest fear is to lack support and guidance. There are two types of sixes, phobic and counterphobic. Phobic sixes will have a tendency to run from or hide from what they fear, while a counterphobic six is more likely to attack or confront said fear. The corresponding "deadly sin" of the Six is Cowardice, while the Six's "holy idea" or essence is Holy Faith and Strength. Under stress, Sixes express qualities of the Three, and when flourishing, they express qualities of the Nine. A classic example of the Six is Woody Allen.

Seven: Enthusiast, Adventurer, Materialist, Epicure - Sevens flit from one activity to another with all the energy and enthusiasm of the Puer Aeternus. At their best, they embrace life for its varied joys and wonders and truly live in the moment; but at their worst they dash frantically from one new experience to another, being too scared of disappointment to enjoy what they have. Sevens fear being unable to provide for themselves or to experience the life in all of its richness. The corresponding "deadly sin" of the Seven is Gluttony, while the Seven's "holy idea" or essence is Holy Wisdom, Work, and Plan. Under stress, Sevens express qualities of the One, and when flourishing, they express qualities of the Five. A classic example of the Seven is John F. Kennedy.

Eight: Leader, Protector, Challenger - Eights are motivated by justice and the desire to be in the right. They worry about self-protection and control. They are natural leaders, who can be capable and passionate, such as Gandhi, or dictatorially manipulative, ruthless, and willing to destroy anything in their way. Eights seek control over their own life and their own destiny and fear being harmed or controlled by others. The corresponding "deadly sin" of the Eight is Lust, while the Eight's "holy idea" or essence is Holy Truth. Under stress, Eights express qualities of the Five, and when flourishing, they express qualities of the Two. Another classic example of the Eight is Martin Luther King, Jr..

Nine: Mediator, Peacemaker, Preservationist - Nines are ruled by their empathy. At their best they are perceptive, receptive, gentle, calming and at peace with the world. On the other hand, they prefer to dissociate from conflicts and indifferently go along with others' wishes or simply withdraw, acting via inaction. They fear the conflict caused by their ability to simultaneously understand opposing points of view and seek peace of mind above all else. The corresponding "deadly sin" of the Nine is Sloth, while the Nine's "holy idea" or essence is Holy Love. Under stress, Nines express qualities of the Six, and when flourishing, they express qualities of the Three. A classic example of the Nine is Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Wings

To some extent the personality issues and traits of the nine Enneagram types can be understood as 'overlapping' around the circle. Observation suggests, for example, that Type One people will also tend to manifest some of the characteristics of either or both Type Nine and Type Two. The two types on each sides of a person's principal type are usually called the Wings. This aspect of Enneagram theory was first suggested by Claudio Naranjo and then further developed by Jesuit teachers. Some Enneagram theorists do not give much or any importance to the Wing concept.

Some theorists believe that one Wing will always be more dominantly active in someone's personality dynamics whilst others believe that both Wings can be more-or-less equally active depending on life circumstances.

Stress & security points

The internal lines of the triangle and hexagon indicate what are called 'Stress Points' and 'Security Points'.

In Don Riso's teachings the lines also indicate what he calls the 'directions of integration' to healthier psychological states and the 'directions of disintegration' to unhealthy psychological states.

The sequence of stress points is 1-4-2-8-5-7-1 for the hexagon and 9-6-3-9 for the triangle, whereas the security points sequence is in the opposite direction (1-7-5-8-2-4-1 and 9-3-6-9). These sequences are found in the repeating decimals resulting from division by 7 and 3, respectively, both of those numbers being important to Gurdjieff's system. (1/7 = 0.1428571...; 1/3 = 0.3333..., 2/3 = 0.6666..., 3/3 = 0.9999...).

These sequences or directions are often indicated on the Enneagram figure by the use of arrows on the lines of the triangle and hexagon.

The traditional understanding of the stress and security points is that when people are in a more secure or relaxed state they will also tend to express aspects of the connected type in one 'direction' of their particular sequence and the other 'direction' when in a more stressed state. A relaxed One, for instance, will tend to manifest some more positive aspects of the Seven personality type (which makes sense, as Ones tend to be highly self-inhibitory, whereas Sevens give themselves permission to enjoy the moment). On the other hand, a stressed One begins to express some more negative aspects of the Four personality (particularly the obsessive introspection; they also share a certain amount of self-loathing and self-inhibition).

Another common understanding is that people may access and express both the positive and negative aspects of both points depending on their particular circumstances.

Instinctual subtypes

Each type also has three main instinctual subtypes - the Self-Preservation, Sexual and Social subtypes. Because each point is different it may be perceived as having a tendency toward one subtype or another. Keen observation and understanding is required.

Self-Preservation subtypes pay most attention to physical survival needs.
Sexual subtypes focus most on intimacy and one-to-one relationships.
Social subtypes care most about others, in groups and communities.

Ego-fixations & deadly sins

The Enneagram types have also been correlated with the traditional Seven Deadly Sins plus two additional descriptors - 'deceit' and 'fear'. The '7 sins + 2' need to be understood in a much more specific meaning than usual.

One – Anger as a frustration in working hard to do things right, while the rest of the world doesn't care about doing things right and doesn't appreciate the sacrifice and effort made.
Two – Pride as a self-inflation of ego, in the sense of seeing themselves as indispensable to others - they have no needs yet the world needs them.
Three – Deceit in the misrepresentation of self by marketing and presenting an image valued by others rather than presenting an authentic self.
Four – Envy of someone else reminds this individual that they can never be what the other person is, reawakening a sense of self-defectiveness.
Five – Avarice in the sense of hoarding resources in an attempt to minimize needs from a world that takes more than it gives, thus isolating oneself from the world.
Six – Fear often in the form of a generalized anxiety that can't find an actual source of fear yet may wrongly identify one through projection, possibly seeing enemies and danger where there are none.
Seven – Gluttony not in the sense of eating too much, but instead, of sampling a taste of everything the world has to offer (breadth) and not taking the time for richer experience (depth).
Eight – Lust in the sense of wanting more of what this individual finds stimulating to the point that most people would feel overwhelmed and say too much.
Nine – Sloth or laziness in discovering a personal agenda and instead choosing the less problematic strategy of just going along with others' agenda.

Research issues

Because of differences among teachers in their understanding of the personality characteristics of the nine types and more theoretical aspects of Enneagram dynamics some skeptics argue that more research needs to be done to test the Enneagram as an empirically valid typology.

While some believe that current research does not support the Enneagram's validity (especially regarding the concepts of Wings and the Stress and Security Points), others believe that because of its complex and 'spiritual' nature the Enneagram typology cannot be accurately evaluated by conventional empirical methods.

Recently published research (2005) based on a type indicator questionnaire developed by Don Riso and Russ Hudson [1] claims to have demonstrated that the nine Enneagram types are "real and objective".

Katherine Chernick Fauvre also claims to have statistically validated research that indicates that the three Enneagram Instinctual Subtypes are "real and objective".

In addition, a partially finished book entitled "Personality and the Brain" was posted for free download in December 2005. This book, written by a self-described "hacker", presents a model for linking the Enneagram to the current findings of neuroscience regarding prefrontal cortex (PFC) and amygdala asymmetry. If this model proves correct the Enneagram will enjoy direct validation. At present, however, the model is merely one layperson's hypothesis.

Criticism

Many psychologists and scientists regard the Enneagram as a pseudoscience that uses an essentially arbitrary set of personality dimensions to make its characterizations. Lacking falsifiability, the claims of Enneagram theorists cannot be verified using the empirical scientific method. In this respect it is not considered to be any different from many other typological models such as that of Carl Gustav Jung's on which the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is based.

The Pontifical Council for Culture and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue of the Roman Catholic Church has also expressed concerns about the Enneagram when used in a religious context because it is claimed that it "introduces an ambiguity in the doctrine and the life of the Christian faith". [2]

Its "accuracy" may be attributed to the Forer effect, a tendency for individuals to believe a supposedly tailored description of themselves, yet the description has also been worded in such a general sense as to be interpreted as being tailored specifically for them.

Growing Popularity

The Enneagram is now being used in various companies to help employees work together more effectively. Genentech, Boeing, Motorola and the Stanford MBA program have hired Enneagram consultants.

Integration of Astrology and the Enneagram

File:Gnostic circle.gif

The Gnostic Circle

Vedic Cosmologist Patrizia Norelli-Bachelet criticizes the modern approach to the Enneagram as lacking an understanding of time and lacking cosmological perspective. In her 1972 book "The Gnostic Circle", she superimposes the Zodiac on the Enneagram and uses both the 12 and 9 divisions of the circle as an Integral Yoga which she presents an approach to understanding the evolution of consciousness. Norelli-Bachelet suggests that there is more to the Enneagram than personality typing. She teaches an understanding of the Enneagram that includes the individual's journey in various cycles of time. In her work the Zero figures into the Enneagram, holding the same place as the 9 point at the top of the circle and she sets the numbers flowing in a counter-clockwise direction, following the direction of the planets around the sun and the astrological signs around the Zodiac. Each integer or point on the Enneagram of the Gnostic Circle corresponds to one of the planets, with the Sun as the Zero, Mercury as the One and finally Pluto as the Nine.

Literature

'The Enneagram Made Easy'; Renee Baron & Elizabeth Wagele, 1994, ISBN 0062510266
'The Enneagram: Understanding Yourself and the Others In Your Life'; Helen Palmer, 1991, ISBN 0062506838
'The Enneagram in Love and Work: Understanding Your Intimate and Business Relationships'; Helen Palmer, 1996, ISBN 0062507214
'The Wisdom of the Enneagram'; Don Richard Riso & Russ Hudson, 1999, ISBN 0555378201
'Facets Of Unity: The Enneagram Of Holy Ideas '; A. H. Almaas, Shambhala Books, ISBN 0936713143
'My best self: Using the Enneagram to free the soul'; Hurley, Kathleen V. 1993, ISBN 8572720669
'Enneagram Instinctual Subtypes: by Katherine Chernick-Fauvre; Enneagram Explorations, 1997
'Enneastyle:The visual presentation & language inherent to Enneagram Type by Katherine Chernick-Fauvre; Enneagram Explorations, 1997
'Self-Realization and The Enneagram'; Eli Jaxon-Bear, 2005, ASIN: B000B5KX10 (DVD)
'The Gnostic Circle: A Synthesis in the Harmonies of the Cosmos'; Patrizia Norelli-Bachelet, Aeon Books, 1972, ISBN 0-87728-411-3
'The New Way: A Study in the Rise and Establishment of a Gnostic Society'; Patrizia Norelli-Bachelet, Aeon Books, 2005

External links