Wings and The Flavor of the Enneagram
How can all people be categorized into just nine types? It sounds far too limiting to be reasonable. and while the enneagram is a basic nine point system, there are actually over 60 types and this estimate derives without considering levels of functioning. A number of fine nuances to typing make a difference in how people of different types behave and see the world in trance.
One of these finer points is that of "wings". A wing is the subtle influence of the type adjacent to someone's basic enneagram number. So for example, a two might have either a one wing or three wing. A two with a one wing will have more concern for propriety while a two with a three wing will tend to be a more hospitable, presentation oriented person but both are helping types, the hallmark of twos.
And it's this way for every type in the enneagram. Each type will have a potential to be attached to the wing on either side and cause that person's trance to be a bit different from that of people with the other wing.
As people grow older, the other wing will also become more developed but always one of the wings will be the predominant "flavor" of that person's type.
The beauty of wings is the fine spin that they put on basic type. Let's say that a person has a heart type, such as a four. That person may have either a five wing, which would be a head type and add a more thinking quality to the four personality. Or that four type might be coupled with the adjacent three type and would be more into presentation and goal directed activity on the surface.
For students of the enneagram, learning to consider wings when looking at one's own or someone else's type and taking into consideration the flavor that a wing adds to someone's personality, can be a step forward in understanding the enneagram. For one thing it makes clear why people of the same type can seem "different" on the surface. Understanding the main elements of each type and then using them to look carefully at the influence of a wing can bring that person's trance into light. An 8 with a 7 wing will be a bit more mental on top of the feeling component of 8's and prone to impulsive behavior based on over fear than an 8 with a nine wing who will appear calmer in a domestic situation yet is doubly anger driven within that triad.
It's important to understand that wings, like types, do not tell the whole story. Sub-types, levels of health and movement within the enneagram during times of stress can also affect one's type behavior
How can all people be categorized into just nine types? It sounds far too limiting to be reasonable. and while the enneagram is a basic nine point system, there are actually over 60 types and this estimate derives without considering levels of functioning. A number of fine nuances to typing make a difference in how people of different types behave and see the world in trance.
One of these finer points is that of "wings". A wing is the subtle influence of the type adjacent to someone's basic enneagram number. So for example, a two might have either a one wing or three wing. A two with a one wing will have more concern for propriety while a two with a three wing will tend to be a more hospitable, presentation oriented person but both are helping types, the hallmark of twos.
And it's this way for every type in the enneagram. Each type will have a potential to be attached to the wing on either side and cause that person's trance to be a bit different from that of people with the other wing.
As people grow older, the other wing will also become more developed but always one of the wings will be the predominant "flavor" of that person's type.
The beauty of wings is the fine spin that they put on basic type. Let's say that a person has a heart type, such as a four. That person may have either a five wing, which would be a head type and add a more thinking quality to the four personality. Or that four type might be coupled with the adjacent three type and would be more into presentation and goal directed activity on the surface.
For students of the enneagram, learning to consider wings when looking at one's own or someone else's type and taking into consideration the flavor that a wing adds to someone's personality, can be a step forward in understanding the enneagram. For one thing it makes clear why people of the same type can seem "different" on the surface. Understanding the main elements of each type and then using them to look carefully at the influence of a wing can bring that person's trance into light. An 8 with a 7 wing will be a bit more mental on top of the feeling component of 8's and prone to impulsive behavior based on over fear than an 8 with a nine wing who will appear calmer in a domestic situation yet is doubly anger driven within that triad.
It's important to understand that wings, like types, do not tell the whole story. Sub-types, levels of health and movement within the enneagram during times of stress can also affect one's type behavior
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