What is the enneagram?

The enneagram is much more than a personality test, as it offers us a tool that can be used for greater self-awareness and growth.

Have you ever wondered why you often run into the same issues, or why you get stressed out by the things you do - and others don’t?

Chances are this is driven by the way you view the world, and growing in understanding of your motivations can help you become more conscious about what’s driving you.

When it comes to understanding how we see the world, the enneagram is a powerful tool, and perhaps the greatest gift it offers is the shared language we can use.

Nine perspectives

The enneagram is a tool that offers nine different perspectives on the world, which helps with recognising subconscious drivers and motivations.

These nine perspectives are often referred to as types or numbers, as each point around the enneagram symbol represents one of these perspectives. Here are some basic descriptions of the motivations of the nine types using the language of the Narrative tradition:

Type 1 (the perfectionist)

focuses on what is right, wrong, correct or incorrect, and is driven by a desire to improve the world.

Type 2 (the giver)

focuses on others’ needs, feelings and desires, and is driven by a desire to give of themselves and to help others.

Type 3 (the performer)

focuses on gaining recognition for their accomplishments, and is driven by a desire to work hard and look good.

Type 4 (the romantic)

focuses on what is missing, and is driven by a desire to find meaning and depth in their relationships or their work.

Type 5 (the observer)

focuses on gaining knowledge and intellectual understanding, and is driven by a desire to limit intrusion from a demanding world.

Type 6 (the loyal sceptic)

focuses on what could go wrong and worst-case scenarios, and is driven by a desire to gain certainty and security.

Type 7 (the epicure)

focuses on seeking pleasure and having multiple options, and is driven by a desire to escape limits and avoid boredom.

Type 8 (the protector)

focuses on avoiding being controlled and confronting injustice, and is driven by a desire to be strong and protect the weak.

Type 9 (the mediator)

focuses on the agendas of others and the external environment, and is driven by a desire to avoid conflict.

Three centres of intelligence

Each enneagram type sits within one of three centres of intelligence: the head, the heart, and the body.

Just like other forms of spirituality that talk about the importance of mind, body and soul, the enneagram teaches that each of these centres offers us a form of intelligence - like when we speak about having a gut feeling or knowing something is right in our heart of hearts.

In the case of the centres of intelligence, the types that sit within the centre tend to reflect a similar type of energy and focus:

The head centre

Types 5, 6 and 7 usually desire to minimize anxiety, manage potentially painful situations, and gain a sense of certainty and security through the mental processes of analysing, figuring out, envisioning, imagining and planning.

The heart centre

Types 2, 3 and 4 usually perceive the world through the filter of relational intelligence, which covers the range of emotions, and tunes us to the mood and feeling state in others, and ourselves, so that we can meet the vital needs for connection, contact, and approval.

The body centre

Types 8, 9 and 1 usually filter the world through a more kinesthetic intelligence, including physical sensations and gut instincts, which serves to empower us in our pursuit of our needs, assuring our well-being in all sorts of ways through physical and emotional survival.

A path for growth

But you’re much more than just a number or a type, and your type shouldn’t define you!

While your type may have kept you safe and helped you to navigate the world, you’ve likely landed here because there’s something about your life that you want to change - and the enneagram offers a fantastic path for growth.

One of the key components of the enneagram symbol is the lines between the numbers themselves that show how the different types are connected, with the idea being that the types with a line to your core type offer you resource points on your growth journey.

Some enneagram teachers will refer to these as stress and growth points, as they tend to reflect the journey in a stressed out or ideal state. Regardless of what you call them, they offer vital resources for breaking free of constrictive type patterns.

Each of the types connected by the lines to your core numbers is likely to have a perspective that you struggle with in some way, and engaging with this is one of the moves that can bring you the biggest sense of growth.

While the words on this page are only starting to scratch the surface of all the enneagram offers, my hope is they've provided a glimpse into how working with this powerful tool can bring about truly transformational growth.

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