Enneagram Connections
· Angie Morgan
The Enneagram is not just descriptions of each individual number but has several connections between numbers that can tell us even more about ourselves. These connections are often found in triads as they include similarities between three numbers. Exploring the different triads and connections can expand our understanding of ourselves and others as the complex humans that we are. I will provide an introduction here, but there is much more to explore.
One triad describes the intelligence centers, which include the body (instinctual/gut), the head (mind, thinking, rational), and the heart (feelings). The intelligence centers are how we understand the world, take in information, and make decisions. For example, some people make decisions based on their “gut reaction”, some by thinking rationally about the matter, and some based on how they feel.
Another triad is called the Harmony Triad and consists of The Relationists, The Pragmatists, and the Idealists. Christopher Heuertz explaines that our intelligence centers are what we use to observe our world and connections, and our Harmony Triad is what we use to connect with our observations. The Relationists are made up of Two, Five, and Eight and show how we relate to our world through connections/relationships. The Pragmatists are made up of Threes, Sixes and Nines and they relate to the world through what works. Idealists are made up of Ones, Fours, and Sevens and relate to the world through their dreams for a better world.
Another connection involves movement towards another number when in health and when in stress. The arrows show which direction each number moves in each. When in health, sometimes called security or integration, we move towards another number and borrow the positive traits from that number. Likewise, when in stress, sometimes called disintegration, we move towards another number and borrow the negative traits from that number. There are books and websites that list descriptions of health to unhealth for each number. A person can change where they land on the spectrum depending on life circumstances and coping mechanisms.
