September 12, 2019
It's ENNEAGRAM MADNESS. Today we have not one, not two, but three episodes about the Enneagram featuring one of our favorite teachers: Annie Dimond.
This episode was sponsored by Betterhelp. Get 10% your first month of safe, private, affordable mental health counseling by visiting http://betterhelp.com/liturgists.
Annie Dimond is a teacher of the Enneagram Personality and a PhD Student of Practical Theology at The University of Aberdeen in Scotland. In this episode, Annie and Mike McHargue dive deeper into the Enneagram by exploring its 27 subtypes and how it can act as a map for healing and self-acceptance.
To learn more about Annie Dimond, visit her website: enneagramforwholeness.com
For more about Ryan O'Neal and his music visit: sleepingatlast.com
To learn more about Enneagram Subtypes:
The Complete Enneagram: 27 Paths to Greater Self-Awareness by Beatrice Chestnut
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CENTERS OF INTELLIGENCE AND PERCEPTION (enneagramworldwide.com)
8,9, 1 - Body or Gut Type
Body-based types lead with the body for movement, sensate awareness and gut-level knowing. Their focus is on personal security, control, social belonging and taking right action. Also known as the Instinctual Center.
5,6,7 - Head Type
Thinking-based, head types lead with ideas, gathering information, figuring things out and rational decision-making before acting. Their focus is on creating certainty and safety, or finding multiple options. Also known as the Intellectual Center.
2,3,4 - Heart Type
Feeling-based types emphasize the heart for positive and negative feelings, empathy and concern for others, romance and devotion. Their focus is on success and relationship, performing up to expectations of the job or other people. Also known as the Emotional Center.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SUBTYPES - (enneagramworldwide.com)
Our evolution as human beings has required three basic survival strategies, known as the basic instincts:
- Self-preservation – responding to perceived threats and needs
- Social – creating social structures within communities
- One-to-one – primary relationships or coupling
TYPE 2 - THE GIVER
Self-preservation: Privilege – The Nurturer - the nurturers excel in fostering warm relationships with all kinds of people, and spends a lot of attention on supporting and nurturing others. This can sometimes lead those within this subtype to feel entitled when it’s time for them to get their own needs met. They can at times have a prideful attitude about this, and a kind of false modesty, where the insistance on helping other firsts creates a kind of value.
Social: Ambition – The Ambassador - this subtype can value social approval and visible accomplishments as a way to get more self esteem. They can empathize and tune in to the needs of others to create a sense of importance, or even an indispensible role. For them, being allied with the right person in the right way, is more important than being at the centre of it all.
One-to-One: Seduction/Aggression – The Lover - this subtype uses warmth and attunement to others to make connections or deepn relationships and win the approval of a specific someone, even if just for a time. They can appear seductive in their body language and verbal tone, although not necessarily sexually so. At times this can appear as aggressive with demands for personal attention and affirmation.
TYPE 3 - THE PERFORMER
Self-preservation: Security – The Company Man/Woman - With this subtype, a person’s ability to work hard, and perform at a high level an create a good image can be used to create material success. With all their commitment and energy, they can accomplish all sorts of things, including creating financial security, getting all the nice things, etc. but the risk is losing touch with who they really are in the process of it all, and becoming too identifiied with work.
Social: Prestige – The Politician - for this subtype the drive for achievement is geared towards winning social approval, and knowing the right people, getting the right kind of power in the right system or institution. This could be a kind of genuine social leadership, or more about self-aggrandizement through image curation.
One-to-One: Femininity/Masculinity – The Movie Star - The ability to create the right image is about focusing on performing the gendered ideal. For example, they may try to create personal power by being attractive as a woman or man. But underneath it all their might be some confusion about their identity. People with this type tend to be more of a performer, whether on stage, or in their day to day lives.
TYPE 4 - THE ROMANTIC
Self-preservation: Dauntlessness – The Creative Individualist - people in this subtype tend to be willing to jump into new situations, get up and go, taks risks, or to take off when their preservation instinct gets activated, or when authenticity or an authentic life seems to be anywhere but here. To other poeple, they might seem reckless, careless, or without any caution, but this works well with a creative, artistic, or expressive lifestyle. For this type, they might have a tension between wanting to aquire material goods, and feeling disconnected from it all.
Social: Shame/Honor – The Critical Commentator - for people with this type, they may feel deficient based on what is happening in social situations, and can feel envious of others poeple with more social status, or who seem to belong. They likely want to establish an acceptable social role , possibly the one who is the truth teller about emotional content, and feels the need to resolve tension between the dsire to live authentically, and what is expected of them socially.
One-to-One: Competitiveness – The Dramatic Person - this subtype uses competition with others to overcome a sense of deficiency internally, and create the drive to complete a personal agenda. They may see the power and strenghts of others as a challenge, and judge their own value, either the increase or decrease of their sense of their own worth, based on comparison to others.
TYPE 8 - THE PROTECTOR
Self-preservation: Satisfactory Survival – The Survivalist - In this subtype, the Eight’s aggressiveness and excess are channeled into physical survival and material security. In a hostile world, the self-preservation Eight will either win or go down fighting. Fiercely protective of friends and family, this subtype can establish more territory and stockpile more supplies than anyone, but in a friendly world, may miss the boat altogether.
Social: Friendship/Social Causes – The Group Leader/Gang Leader - A sense of powerlessness or injustice is overcome by being part of an aligned group, usually in a leadership role. This subtype’s anger and aggression are mediated by the group’s needs, and harnessed for a common agenda. Loyalty to friends and social causes take precedence over personal feelings and needs.
One-to-One: Possession/Surrender – The Commander - A one-to-one Eight uses forcefulness and self-assertion to possess (or control) a partner or significant others. At times unable to adapt or let go, a strong enough yearning to be met fully can help this subtype let go of control and turn it over to a partner.
TYPE 9 - THE MEDIATOR
Self-preservation: Appetite – The Collector - This subtype excels at creating the practical infrastructure and the daily rhythms that support instinctual life. But there is a tendency to fall asleep to personal needs or narcotize oneself with food and other kinds of material consumption. (They are often collectors.) A life of material abundance and comfort can preclude efforts toward personal or spiritual growth.
Social: Participation – The Community Benefactor - Blending well with the style and priorities of their friends and different social networks, this subtype has the ability to be both a leader and a selfless supporter for the common good but can be numb to their personal priorities when in a comfortable social role
One-to-One: Union – The Seeker - This subtype has a longing to merge, either with a partner, nature or Spirit. This can be indiscriminate or heedless at times, but also can be a doorway into a transcendent state. In daily life, this can become problematic with keeping personal boundaries and focus, since it’s so easy to be pulled outside of oneself.
TYPE 1 - THE PERFECTIONIST
Self-preservation: Anxiety – The Pioneer - This subtype can be anxious or self controlled, but there is a focus on concerns about survival and security that get channeled into success. The focus here tends to be on being a good person, doing the right thing. This can be done by having control over nature, and imposing order. With this subtype, family life and the home, food prep, all the day to day things can take precedence over other needs. For these subtypes, too much self sacrifice can lead to tension in the body and resentment.
Social: Inadaptability – The Social Reformer - Comfortable with a secure social role and a clear set of rules, this subtype is usually quite friendly and gregarious on one’s own turf. But an emphasis on doing things the right way can make it hard to adapt to new situations, and also can generate resentment or criticism toward others who may be acting “incorrectly.”
One-to-One: Jealousy/Zealousness – The Evangelist - With clear rules and standards for correct behavior, this subtype keeps a highly charged instinctual center under strict self-control, leading at times to over zealousness in everything. Keeping a partner’s attention is vital to avoid self-recrimination. Jealousy toward a partner is common, and also may be experienced toward others who seem to have more room for self-expression.
TYPE 2 - THE GIVER
Self-preservation: Privilege – The Nurturer - Excelling in creating warm, personable relationships with many kinds of people, this subtype spends much attention on supporting and nurturing others, which can lead to a feeling of entitlement when it comes to getting one’s own needs met. This can contribute to a prideful attitude, or an insistence on going last that supports another kind of specialness, as in false modesty.
Social: Ambition – The Ambassador - Gaining self-esteem through both social approval and visible accomplishments, this subtype empathizes and attunes to other’s needs to create an important, even indispensable role within an organization or cause. Being allied with the right people is usually more important than taking center stage.
One-to-One: Seduction/Aggression – The Lover - This subtype uses all of the Two’s capacity for interpersonal attunement to make a connection and win the approval of selected people in a one-to-one relationship, even a brief one. The use of body language and feeling tones can be experienced as seductive, although not necessarily in a sexual sense. The same capacity also can show up in a more aggressive style that demands personal attention and recognition.
TYPE 3 - THE PERFORMER
Self-preservation: Security – The Company Man/Woman - With this subtype, the Three’s ability to work hard, perform well and maintain the right image are placed in the service of material success. With considerable drive and energy, this subtype can accomplish goals of financial security, a nice home, etc. The danger is losing contact with one’s real self in this effort, and becoming overly identified with one’s role at work.
Social: Prestige – The Politician - The drive for success is directed toward winning social approval, knowing the right people, and achieving power in social institutions, whether in government, business or community groups. There can be genuine social leadership or simply self-aggrandizement through propaganda and image-making.
One-to-One: Femininity/Masculinity – The Movie Star - The ability to create a successful image is focused on gender identity and issues. Personal power or charisma rests on being attractive as a woman or man. Yet underneath, there may be confusion about one’s real sexuality. This subtype tends to stay in the performer role, whether on stage or in personal relationships.
TYPE 4 - THE ROMANTIC
Self-preservation: Dauntlessness – The Creative Individualist - This subtype is willing to jump into new situations, to pack up and move, to get going or take risks when the preservation instinct is triggered, or when an authentic life seems elsewhere. To others, these actions may seem reckless, like throwing caution to the wind, but it can work well with an unorthodox, creative or artistic style. The tension here is between wanting to acquire material security and feeling detached from it all.
Social: Shame/Honor – The Critical Commentator - Feelings of deficiency can be provoked by social situations, with envy directed toward other people’s status or appearance of belonging. This subtype seeks to establish an acceptable social role, possibly as the emotional truth-teller for the group, and often feels a need to resolve the tension between the quest for individual authenticity and social expectations.
One-to-One: Competitiveness – The Dramatic Person - Competition with others helps to overcome feelings of inner deficiency and create motivation for a personal agenda. This subtype takes the power or strength of others as a personal challenge, and one’s own value tends to rise and fall in comparison.
TYPE 5 - THE OBSERVER
Self-preservation: Home – The Castle Defender - Home is the place wehre this subtype can retreat from the world and experience safety. This subtype is concerned about having enough supplies, which at times can lead to hoarding supplies. Or the opposite may be a true, with a lack in allegiance to any geographical location, living a nomadic life and traveling from place to place. .
Social: Totem/Symbols – The Professor - This subtype has a passion for knowledge and mastery of the symbols and language of the group or society . But, this subtype can become trapped iwithin the framework of veing an observer, with an over-emphasis on analysis and interpretation, which can get in the way of joining in or interacting with others.
One-to-One: Confidentiality – The Secret Agent - This subtype will share confidences from the inner, private world in one-to-one relationships. This subtype has a kind of secretive quality and they can experience a tension between the need to connect with others and the need to guard their sense of autonomy.
TYPE 6 - THE LOYAL SKEPTIC
Self-preservation: Warmth – The Family Loyalist - this subtype navigates fear by making connectiosn and alliants with others through warmth , they do not want to be abandoned or rejected. But becuase of that, when warmth is lacking or there isa threat to security early on in life it can create a sense of fear about takign risks and can cause a person to want to stay within secure boundaries.
Social: Duty – The Social Guardian - For this subtype, a priority is about being clear about one’s role in a group or society. To avoid rejection and overcome fear, this subtype likely wnat sto know the rules and have clarity in agreements with those they are in connection with, at work, or home. Being clear about one’s role in the group or society is an overriding concern. But with that here could also be some uncertainty about belonging. To do one’s duty can be both a blessing and a burden.
One-to-One: Strength or Beauty – The Warrior - This subtype actually has two styles: the first style can tend to overcome or avoid fear through force of will, and feats of strength , mastery, braverty, or the ferocity of an ideological position. In the second style, insecurity and fear can be negotiated through channelling idealism and perceptivity into creating beauty. It’s important to note though that this is about creating stability and control.
TYPE 7 - THE EPICURE
Self-preservation: Family – The Gourmand - This subtype likes to enjoy an abundant lifestyle within family and a circle of friends. The emphasis is on sharing good ideas and conversation, preparing elaborate meals or dining out, and planning fun projects. This subtype can have problems with over-talking, over-eating, and over-stimulation.
Social: Limitation/Sacrifice – The Utopian Visionary - There is a tension here for theis subtype- they seem to need those around them to express their social idealism and intoxication with life. Giving themselves for the good of the group can feel like self sacrifice, and joining with those in the community can limit personal growth and planning for the future.
One-to-One: Suggestibility/Fascination – The Adventurer - This subtype can be influenced easily by the attractiveness of new ideas, people, adventures, that can get them caught up in the state of fascination. The one-to-one Seven can also influence others, and can use their charm and warmth to lead people into new paradigms, habits, relationships, ways of thinking, or activities.
TYPE 8 - THE PROTECTOR
Self-preservation: Satisfactory Survival – The Survivalist - In this subtype, the Eight’s aggressiveness and excess are channeled into physical survival and material security. In a hostile world, the self-preservation Eight will either win or go down fighting. Fiercely protective of friends and family, this subtype can establish more territory and stockpile more supplies than anyone, but in a friendly world, may miss the boat altogether.
Social: Friendship/Social Causes – The Group Leader/Gang Leader - A sense of powerlessness or injustice is overcome by being part of an aligned group, usually in a leadership role. This subtype’s anger and aggression are mediated by the group’s needs, and harnessed for a common agenda. Loyalty to friends and social causes take precedence over personal feelings and needs.
One-to-One: Possession/Surrender – The Commander - A one-to-one Eight uses forcefulness and self-assertion to possess (or control) a partner or significant others. At times unable to adapt or let go, a strong enough yearning to be met fully can help this subtype let go of control and turn it over to a partner.
TYPE 9 - THE MEDIATOR
Self-preservation: Appetite – The Collector - This subtype excels at creating the practical infrastructure and the daily rhythms that support instinctual life. But there is a tendency to fall asleep to personal needs or narcotize oneself with food and other kinds of material consumption. (They are often collectors.) A life of material abundance and comfort can preclude efforts toward personal or spiritual growth.
Social: Participation – The Community Benefactor - Blending well with the style and agenda of their friends and different social groups, this subtype can show great leadership and selfless contribution for the common good (on the high side) but tends to fall asleep to personal priorities in a comfortable social role or through indiscriminate activities (on the low side).
One-to-One: Union – The Seeker - This subtype has a longing to merge, either with a partner, nature or Spirit. This can be indiscriminate or heedless at times, but also can be a doorway into a transcendent state. In daily life, this can become problematic with keeping personal boundaries and focus, since it’s so easy to be pulled outside of oneself.
