Enneagram Basics
Our Type descriptions refer to some basic information about the Enneagram that can best be seen on Enneagram symbols. You have already seen the main Enneagram symbol [LINK TO STORY OF YOU] with the nine personality types marked on the outer circle.
The Enneagram is also divided into different groupings called Triads. The Triads show us fundamental underlying patterns shared by certain types…. Each set of Triads is a lens through which you can try on or explore your pattern.
The Centers of Intelligence
We all have three Centers of Intelligence- the Instinctive or Gut Center, the Heart or Feeling Center and the Head or Thinking Center. We all have instincts, we all feel, and we all think. However, one of these usually dominates our experience. The Centers of Intelligence Triads tells us which Center is dominant for each Type.
We all feel anger, shame and fear, but one is the core underlying emotion for each Center of Intelligence. As you learn about the nine Types you will see how the core emotion shows up as a feature of the personality.
Putting what each Type is “after” in life together with the core emotion is one way to understand the personality. For example, if I am mainly concerned with autonomy, I will experience issues of power and control and be sensitive to violations of my boundaries. Anger makes sense as the emotional theme related to these issues. If I am mainly concerned with my value or worth, it makes sense I would feel shame or sadness when my worth is not seen. If I am mainly concerned with my safety or security, it makes sense that fear would be my core underlying emotion.
We all want to have autonomy, feel valued and know we are safe, but one concern is dominant in each Center of Intelligence. As you learn about the nine Types you will see how the personality tries to “go after” what the person is mainly concerned about in life.
Social Styles
The Social Style Triads divide the Types according to whether they are Assertive, Dutiful or Compliant, or Withdrawn.
When you combine the Centers of Intelligence with the Social Styles, you see how each Type goes about getting what they are after in life- for example, Eights Assert for Autonomy.
Lines and Arrows
Each Type is connected to two others by inner lines on the Enneagram symbol. These lines show us the direction for growth for each type, called the Integration Line, and where each type tends to go under stress, called the Stress Line.
These lines are what make the Enneagram a map of a moving system. How the lines work and what they mean for each Type is discussed under the heading Return Journey for each Type.