Here we are, at the last two types of the Enneagram. Have you identified yourself yet? Remember these summaries are brief and broad. There are subtypes that help refine each major type. Please refer to the sources I cited in the first post here for more information. I've loved sharing these insights with you and hope you have found them helpful.
Another important thing to remember is that the personality our ego has constructed to help us in this human body life is not the be all, end all of what and who we are. We can grow into greatest emotional health by exploring these types and aiming for our highest good. AND above and beyond these types lies our True Self -- the constant, never changing, always watching and supporting Essence of our Soul. In Elizabeth's Yoga Nidra class today, she reminded us of this place with her guided meditation. We are so much more than the personality we have developed and we can use various tools to touch this place of "beyond". The Enneagram and Yoga are two important tools to help us on our path.
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TYPE EIGHT: Known as the "Asserter" or the "Challenger", the TYPE EIGHT has a strong personality characterized by being direct, authoritative, protective, self-confident, and loyal. The Eight enjoys taking on challenges and also enjoy challenging others. They are natural protectors who will go to great lengths to ensure the safety of those in their care. They are persistent, showing great endurance when pursuing a goal or interest they find worthy. They show great leadership, not caring to follow the crowd, and have a solid and commanding presence. The TYPE EIGHT often runs into trouble when their intense personality is misinterpreted by others as too abrasive. Eights like a good argument and often can push the limits and make people feel intimidated or overpowered by their passion. They may persist too long and raise their voices. But while others may interpret this as being "bullied", generally the Eight sees this as a normal interaction, just trying to make a good point.
The TYPE EIGHT may have heard a message like "You are good or okay if you are strong and in control of your situation." This leads to a fear of being harmed or controlled by others. Their deepest desire is to protect themselves and determine their own course in life. Consequently the Eight often has a hard time taking advice, compromising, or trusting very many people. The Eight can feel threatened and find a "fight" where there is none. At the very same time, under this challenging exterior, the Eight has a huge loving heart and a very tender vulnerability that they have a hard time revealing except to a very chosen few. They can be amazingly generous and insightful, have concern for others' welfare, watching closely for unique ways to show their love and care.
The TYPE EIGHT in the Covid crisis might initially decide that silly virus cannot touch them! I dare ya! But they are also practical and face reality head on. They would carve out a path of "normalcy" in going about their lives as usual, but would also try (maybe not consistently) to take necessary precautions. They would want to help and protect those close to them, offering solace, distraction, and encouragement. They will be eager to help as a way of showing protection -- getting groceries so a more health-compromised person doesn't have to. But they might also take risks, feeling they are impervious to the virus.
TYPE EIGHTS can move to a healthier place by learning to open their vulnerable hearts to others. Eights show this often in their love of, and ease with, children or animals, when they feel freer to let down their guard. They do not have to always be strong and in control to be safe, which is a valuable learning for an Eight, but a lesson they will need to practice to stay in touch with it. The Eight can be as intensely loving as they are challenging, and finding this balance will help integrate the intensity of emotions the Eight feels.
YOGA FOR THE TYPE EIGHT: The Eight does not need strong Warrior type poses. You might want to include a gentle flow into their practice. Heart opening poses such as Cobra or Bow will allow you to expand your chest and lead with their hearts. Deep hip opening poses, like Frog, can often help access deep emotions. Finding restorative, meditative poses will allow you to practice letting down your guard and resting in safety and comfort.
Type Eights are the enigma of the Enneagram. Intensely assertive and intensively sensitive they can yell in anger (publicly) and cry in grief (privately) in equal measure. They are serious and funny, strong and soft, self-promoting and self-deprecating. Eights, we depend on your strength and appreciate your protection, but we see the toll this can take on your ability to share your true self with others. Be gentle with yourself; show us your heart. There is great strength in your vulnerability.
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TYPE NINE: "The Peacemaker", Nines are pleasant, patient, generous, empathic, and receptive. Nines seek to avoid conflict and want to always find peace and harmony internally and externally. They do not like to get angry, or feel out of sync with others. They have a hard time forming an opinion or following through on their own ideas, especially if they are challenged or intimidated by someone they see as having more strength. The Nine is often thought of as an amalgam of all the other types, having some of the best aspects of each, but never feeling they are fully themselves. This melding into the characteristics of others is the challenge for Nines -- to assert their own independence.
The Nine may have heard a message like, "You are good or okay as long as those around you are good or okay." This co-dependent message becomes a life goal for the Nine -- making sure others are okay so they can feel okay too. They fear being lost or separated from others and work hard to maintain stability and peace of mind. Often this takes on the form of people-pleasing or of always looking for a silver lining. This is not bad, but can be limiting. The Nine often feels they are living half a life, shutting out all "darkness" and trouble, seeking only peace and calm, which is unrealistic. They may end up in jobs they don't like, in relationships that are less than ideal, with friends that don't quite fit, but the fear of conflict or of hurting another's feelings is too big a risk for a Nine to take to find their own true happiness. They tend to "go along to get along" and try to find a way to make everyone else happy, which keeps the peace externally, but can bring up dreaded (and repressed) anger internally.
The TYPE NINE in the Covid crisis would be concerned but perhaps slow to embrace the magnitude of the issue. They would follow the lead of others around them in their response. They will be generous and caring, looking out for others and doing all they could to ensure others are feeling healthy, safe, and cared for, even if they themselves might question the seriousness of the situation. They will try to find the bright side, looking for optimistic outcomes. They will generally follow the rules although "cheating" on them might also bring the Nine a bit of release from their constant self-restraint; they can often act out their anger passive-aggressively.
The Nine can move to a healthier place by fully engaging in their lives in the present moment. They may have a habit of escaping into a fantasy "what if" life (or a deeply "blissed out" spiritual life) that ultimately is unsatisfying. By living in this fantasy, they may have a hard time showing up in their own real lives, instead "checking out", and "going with the flow" to the point of being a passive observer to their own experience. To find their true self, they need to learn to acknowledge and express anger and to face the fear of taking a risk on disrupting the peace. Learning to be assertive will serve the Nine in growing toward a fully lived life.
YOGA FOR THE TYPE NINE: Nines need to find inner strength. A Sun Salutation practice will get you moving through a strong flow. Core poses like Plank and Boat will allow you to focus on inner energy. Deep hip openers often provide access to intense, hidden emotions.
Nines are selfless, gentle, kind, and generous -- all good qualities much needed in a harsh world. We love the safety and peace we feel with Nines. Yet, for you to be fully in your gentle power we need to see the whole, real you -- warts and all. Asserting yourself confidently will not make us leave you; we will love you all the more. ©
Namaste, donnajurene
Photo Credits: pixabay; wikipedia; yoga journal
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