What’s in an Enneagram of Personality symbol?
What’s an Enneagram of Personality? Personality you probably already know; but the word “Enneagram” is a combined word, made up of two other words, both of which are Greek in origin. So it makes sense that the word Enneagram might sound “Greek” to some people. To pronounce Enneagram, think “any-a-gram.” The two Greek words are “ennea” and “gram.” “Ennea” means “nine” in Greek; and “gram” can mean “something in writing” or “drawing.”
Basically, then it seems the word Enneagram literally means nine drawings or nine “somethings” in writing. And that is actually what the Enneagram of Personality is: a symbol of nine archetypes that can be drawn or referenced with a circle, a triangle and a hexagon. The graphic attached to this article is a good example.
While there are many ways to meet a need and as many other ways to argue about a name, its use, etc., for brevity, the Enneagram or the Enneagram of Personality and other combinations of the word Enneagram, in this article (and this website) are referring to the circle symbol with nine distinct numbers, a triangle and a hexagonal figure on the circle, as pictured in the image above.
Numbers and names of Enneatypes
In addition to the geometrical figures of the Enneagram, there are also numbers: the numbers 1-9, to be specific. Each number represents a human archetype. These archetypes can be used to understand how, and often why, people of one Enneatype predictably act, react and interact. These interactions could be with humans of the same or different Enneatypes. And these interactions could be internal to the person involved, or external with inanimate objects of attention.
Each of the nine numbers has a particular name, a general goal, a particular motivation or two, and a way they get stuck or unstuck in the act of daily living on this planet. (Find out more about the specific Enneagram Enneatypes.)
Many Enneagram teachers have named and renamed the 9 numbers, for brevity, for political correctness, for diversity, for whatever. The names listed in the graphic above this article are just one variation. (See the chart below for other Various Enneagram Type Names.) What all the names and their variations have in common is that they point in the general direction of an otherwise illusory archetype.
These illusory archetypes are a form of call and response that can be engaged in or ignored. These call and responses can lead to a duality experience, or they can lead to the unitive experience many of us long for at a deep level. So don’t get hung up on the particular names; focus on the dataset behind the name. That’s where real transformation just might occur.
“A beautiful thing about the Enneagram:
The beauty of the Enneagram is that it will meet you where you are….if you let it. And once you have familiarity with the Enneagram of Personality, its system or protocol of viewing data, is available 24/7, to track YOU back to that place of personal bliss or satiety in Reality As It Is Now.”
The Enneagram may be used for personal growth
The Enneagram is a symbol and a way of viewing the world, which may be used as a tool for personal growth and development. Where possible, in this and other article, links will be included for further research for you the reader, to read and decide for yourself what suits, and what doesn’t suit you, in this moment of time.
Because there are many “sets of three” in the Enneagram of Personality, there are multiple ways to unpack the whole of the Enneagram into bite-size pieces on scales of three. But don’t worry; It takes a while to absorb this complex data! You may not get it all incorporated on the first pass. Or the third pass.
Another beauty of the Enneagram of Personality is that it will meet you where you are, in all of those settings, if you let it. And once you have familiarity with the Enneagram of Personality, its system or protocol of viewing data, is available 24/7, to track YOU back to that place of personal bliss or satiety in Reality As It Is Now.
Curious to know more about the Enneagram of Personality?
There is plenty to read or participate in to help you learn more about the Enneagram. The following series of articles will give you a broad base understanding about the Enneagram, its history, the nine basic Enneatypes and the three Centers of Intelligence. If you are interest in more information, contact us directly using our Grounded Relating contact form. Otherwise, please enjoy the following articles:
- Enneagram historical origins remain cloaked
- Universal Enneagram symbol explains life
- What is an Enneagram of Personality symbol? (this article)
- Three Centers of Intelligence mapped by Enneagram
- Core Enneatypes and Enneagram variations
- Enneatypes: nine archetypes of the Enneagram
- Suggested books, websites and other Enneagram resources
