The Dynamic Enneagram
Another feature of the Enneagram that makes it unique against other personality assessments is its dynamism. Every person is operating on a different level of awareness and healthy behavior from moment to moment. We will always retain our core Enneagram type, but there are ways in which we have access to the energies of four other types. These would be our wings and resource points that we access in times of stress or when we’re feeling secure. There is a natural flow of energy around the Enneagram symbol. yet we will always return to our core Enneagram type. This flow is depicted in the symbol itself.
All 9 Enneagram types are arranged around a circle. This circle represents oneness and unity. It is the container that holds the entire system. It indicates our wholeness that we find when we’re in Presence.
Groups of 3 are everywhere in the Enneagram. The central triangle represents Gurdjieff’s Law of Three. This teaches that every phenomenon comes from the interaction of three different and opposing forces: affirming (Type 3), denying (Type 6), and reconciling (Type 9). Aspects of 3 are central in many religious traditions. Three-ness puts things in motion.
The hexad represents the continual flow of energy around the Enneagram. Gurdjieff’s Law of Seven describes how life moves in a cyclical yet non-linear process. When applied to the Enneagram, the hexad shows how one can move between the points at different times in life based on varying levels of stress or security, while also implying the habitual cycles we may fall into.
Wings
Wings are the types on either side of your core Enneagram type. For example, the wings of Type 9 would be Type 8 and Type 1. The wings give added “flavor” to the expression of the primary type. While you don’t take on the motivations, worldview, or core fears of your wings, you can access some of the behavioral energy of those types.
If you go to a hardware store and look at the wall of paint swatches, you see different shades of colors before it transitions into the next color. That’s what the wings are like with the Enneagram. The wings are stronger for some people than others. And some people lean more heavily to one wing while others have more of a balance between the two.
The wings create further variation among the expression of each of the 9 Enneagram types.
Arrows
Many Enneagram symbols will use lines with arrows on them. These arrows indicate our core type’s resource points. We are connected to two other types and have access to the behavioral energy of those types under different conditions. We often access these energies on an unconscious level. However, it is possible to intentionally utilize various aspects of our resource points to deepen our self-awareness and live more fully in Presence.
The line with the arrow moving away from our type indicates our resource point in times of stress. This energy can be extremely helpful in navigating certain situations. But it can also be unhelpful when we begin to unconsciously utilize the more challenging aspects of this type. For example, Type 9 has the arrow pointing to Type 6. When accessing the energy of Type 6, there is the possibility of utilizing its critical thinking and problem-solving potential, while also holding the possibility of utilizing its ruminating and worst-case scenario spirals.
The line where the arrow is moving toward your type indicates our resource points when feeling more secure and self-assured. In this place, our type structure tends to relax. However, like our stress point, we can access either the helpful or unhelpful aspects of this type, particularly when operating on an unconscious level. Again with Type 9, the arrow pointing to Type 9 is coming from Type 3. When accessing the energy of Type 3, there is the gift and ease of being seen, and having a sense of confidence in their role. However, there is also the potential of becoming too focused on image, adapting to the needs of the group, and further losing sight of themselves.