What Is The Enneagram?
BY REV. RHONDA ABBOTT BLEVINS, DMIN
Author’s note: This is the first in a series entitled “Enneagram 101.”
The Enneagram (pronounced “ANY-a-gram”) gets its name from two Greek words: “ennea” meaning “9,” and “gram” meaning drawing or figure. The Enneagram, therefore, is simply a 9-pointed figure. Let’s look at the three components of the Enneagram.
First, there is a circle. The circle represents oneness, divinity, and eternity. The circle symbolizes a container in which we humans “live and move and have our being,” (Acts 17:28). The circle points to wholeness—the unitive state that exists beyond ego fragmentation. The circle reminds us that we are all connected because we are all a part of this oneness.
Second, there is a triangle. The triangle represents the Law of Three. We find the Law of Three, for instance, in the Christian concept of the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.1 The points of the triangle mark the midpoints of each of the three centers of the Enneagram. At the top, we have the Body or Instinctive Center (Enneagram types 8, 9 and 1). Moving clockwise we have the Heart or Feeling Center (Enneagram types 2, 3 and 4). Continuing clockwise, we find the third of three centers: the Head or Thinking Center (Enneagram types 5, 6 and 7).
The third part of the Enneagram is a hexad, a six-pointed figure. The hexad symbolizes process or change, and it represents the Law of Seven. Examples of the Law of Seven can be found, for instance, in the seven colors of the rainbow or the seven notes on a musical scale. Those well-studied in the Christian tradition may remember that the number “7” in the Bible represents completion, as in the seven days of creation. The hexad, as a symbol for change, reminds us that the Enneagram can be a powerful tool for transformation.
When we put the three components of the Enneagram together, we find something more than a symbol—we discover a map to abundant life and a pathway to freedom from ego and personality fixations.
There are many uses of the Enneagram—the most familiar is the Enneagram of personality. The nine points of the Enneagram represent nine basic personalities. The manifestations of our personality can change depending on our life circumstance, whether it be stress or maturity or social adaptation, however, our basic personality never changes according to Enneagram theory. An Enneagram type Four will be a Four her whole life through, or once a One, always a One.
The numbers on the Enneagram, One through Nine, do not indicate a hierarchy—Ones aren’t better than Nines—Nines aren’t better than Ones. The numbers are kind of like a shorthand way to describe the nine basic personalities.
Speaking of personality . . . the personality manifests as we become fixated with habitual responses to the stimuli in our early environment. Early on, each of us discovers behaviors that help us deal with threats, whether real or perceived. Those behaviors become patterns, patterns become habits, and behavioral habits become what we call “personality.” The problem with these behavioral patterns or habits, when we become fixated in these habitual responses, is that we can become imprisoned by our habits of personality. When that happens, we are not free.
That’s where the Enneagram comes in. Other personality inventories measure behavior; the Enneagram helps us discover the motivations underneath our behaviors. When we begin to understand what motivates our behavior, coupled with deepening our awareness, we can transform our lives, awaken to greater freedom, and ascend to new levels of consciousness.
Admittedly, the process isn’t quick or seamless. The Enneagram isn’t some magical elixir. It’s a pathway—the journey is the work.
If you want to continue your journey of transformation, I hope you’ll check out my next blog post: “Enneagram Types Explained.”
Visit AscendEnneagram.com for opportunities for Enneagram coaching, typing, team building opportunities or group encounters.
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1 For an illuminating understanding of the law of three, I recommend The Holy Trinity and the Law of Three: Discovering the Radical Truth at the Heart of Christianity by Cynthia Bourgeault.