The Enneagram Centers of Intelligence

Enneagram stances (independent, dependent, and withdrawing), which I spoke of in my previous articles, can be fairly evident in others.

Enneagram centers of intelligence, however, may not be as clear.

While stance is what we do "to get what we want" in this world, one's main center of intelligence is how we take in the world.  

This center of intelligence is our "filter" through which we see everything.

Each one of us takes in the world first through one of three filters: the body, the head, or the heart.

This is important info because not everyone perceives the world like you.

And, that's a beautiful thing!

And, it can cause a lot of conflict.  See: current political state here in the U.S....

It can be difficult to discern which center we lead with because we live in a very heady information age, and yet, we are not all "head types".

I've had clients who assume they are head-centered, when in reality they are heart-centered or body-centered.  Learning this is very validating to them and allows these clients to be more confident in who they are authentically.

Let's start with the body (and I'll explain why we always start with the body).

The Body Center of Intelligence

This is where our instincts are - our "gut knowing" and sensing.

The body center's intelligence is all about energy.  Sensing and intuiting.

You know how animals can sense a hurricane or tornado coming? Or when your cat goes straight to the person who assumes* they don't like cats? That's the body center of intelligence in action.

*cats know that deep down everyone loves cats... but I digress.

Unfortunately, we humans sometimes forget we have a body.  Gut knowing isn't always accessed;  mostly because we haven't been taught how to use this center.

Ah, the woes of the information age...

To help with this, one question I ask my clients when they are feeling conflicted about something is:  "What is your gut telling you?"  Almost instantly, these clients have an answer.  They know exactly what needs to happen.

(whether or not these clients take action or follow through is another story, as the head usually takes over and starts thinking of logistics and consequences)

The body center is the only thing about us that is 100% present all the time.  Thoughts and feelings come and go.  We may dwell on the past or get anxious about the future - but our bodies?  Here. Now. Always.

This is why mindfulness and meditation practices often start with "sensing the breath" or "feeling your feet on the ground".  These practices invite you to become aware of and present with your body center and its underused intelligence.

The Body Types:  8, 9, and 1

While we all have access to the body center, Enneagram types 8, 9, and 1 filter the world through this lens and are considered "body types" (see the yellow area on the symbol above).

These types unconsciously take in the world first through sensing and instinct. 

Fun fact about Enneagram teachings:

Enneagram teachers usually start with 8 when talking about the 9 types.

This is because before we had a fully functioning heart center of intelligence (feelings, relationships) and a fully functioning head center (thinking, reasoning), we had an intelligent body that instinctively knew when we were sleepy, hungry, or needed a diaper changed.

So, most teachers start with 8, 9, 1 - and not 1, 2, 3.

Neat, huh?

Anger and the Body Center

Each Center has an emotion associated with it. For the body types, it is anger. 

Why anger?  Because Types 8, 9, and 1 value and desire control and autonomy. When they don't get that, BOOM!  Anger appears.

This anger can be quite subtle (being annoyed, detached, cold, indifferent, impatient, exasperated, resentful) or more intense (being sarcastic, righteous, spiteful, hostile, vengeful, etc). 

Anger shows up differently for each type:

• Type 8's tend to overdo anger.  They can be direct and blunt in their anger, and their energy can get BIG. They don't always see this, but others do.
• Type 9's tend to underdo anger.  They can disconnect from it, and they may become passive-aggressive.
• Type 1's tend to repress anger.  This anger might turn into resentment and leak out in the form of judginess, a self-righteous attitude, or even getting angry at oneself for being angry in the first place. 

Do you or anyone you know lead with this center?  How do you know?

The Heart Center of Intelligence

This center is the core of emotions and relationships.  They take in the world through the filter of their feelings.

After the body develops and we are born into this world, we start noticing others and feeling things (not talking about poop in the diapers, but about how we feel towards our caregivers, siblings, or other family).

When I tell clients about the three centers and ask them which resonates the most with them, those who truly lead with the heart center say almost immediately:  "Oh, for sure, my heart!"

The head and gut types always always have to think about it.  And if you have to think about it, you probably don't lead with the heart center!

This triad is also called the "image" triad and strives to seek attention and approval from others. This striving is usually unconscious.

The heart center can get a little "woo" for many, and, much like the body center of intelligence, this center can be overlooked in our culture. Which is unfortunate, because heart intelligence has a great deal to offer us!  This center allows us to feel, process, and understand our emotions.

It also allows us to feel empathy and compassion for others.

Who wouldn't want more of that?

Sadness and the Heart Center

Each Center has an emotion associated with it. For the heart types, it is sadness or shame. 

Types 2, 3, and 4  desire to be loved for who they are.  When they don't get that love, shame or sadness appears.

Sadness and shame show up differently for each type:

• Type 2's tend to repress sadness and shame. This type can overlook their own feelings and needs and put others ahead of themselves, striving to put on a happy face and be positive instead of fully feeling their emotions.
• Type 3's tend to deny or ignore any sadness or shame. Instead, they work even harder and lead a life based on their work or image - not who they truly are.
• Type 4's tend to overdo sadness or shame.  They focus on their inner world and how unique and creative they are, and can get lost in fantasy.  This type may not be afraid to share their sadness or shame with others.

Working with the heart center

I work with a lot of clients who want to be "less emotionally reactive".  This can happen when the heart center is out of balance.

Working on the heart center is a great place to start.

What happens to you when you place your hand over your heart and just relax into this center of intelligence?

Do you or anyone you know lead with this center?

What indicates this for you?

The Head Center of Intelligence

This center (Types 5, 6, and 7) is where thoughts, logic, reason, words, labels, and stories hang out.

People who lead with their head take in the world through the "filter" of their minds.

The head center is the last to develop, after the body (sensations) and the heart (emotions).

This triad is also called the "fear" triad and strives to seek safety. Keep in mind, this striving is usually unconscious.

Our information-age culture prizes the head center above the other two centers, which can lead many people to think they lead with this center  - when in fact, they don't!

Understanding our preferred filter and bringing in the other two filters of the body and the heart is part of working with the Enneagram.

Fear and the Head Center

Each Center has an emotion associated with it. For the head types, it is fear.

Types 5, 6, and 7  desire security and safety and overcome this fear by thinking, planning, analyzing, and forecasting potential problems.  

Fear shows up differently for each type:

• Type 5's tend to repress fear.  They will retreat to their inner worlds and control their energy and boundaries (this Type usually has the best boundaries of any Type!) to deal with fear.
• Type 6's tend to overdo fear. They get really focused on finding danger and worst-case scenarios, and are excellent troubleshooters.
  Note:  You want a 6 on your team or with you on a trip because when things go wrong, they will have already thought up a plan for that issue! They tend to be the calmest in the room in a crisis because they have already thought through the problem and know exactly what to do.  
• Type 7's tend to deny or ignore fear.  They focus on what's positive and good and ignore those unpleasant feelings.  Type 7's are also great in reframing any situation to a positive one, and can spin their fear into a great story to be told over and over again.
    

Again, it's important to remember that this fear and our responses to it are usually unconscious.

SIDEBAR about the three subtypes of Type 6:  While most of the time fear can manifest as anxiety for Type 6, one of the three subtypes will move towards their fear, which can look like anger to the outsider.  This subtype can often be mistaken for Type 8 for this very reason, which is very direct and open with their anger.

More on subtypes in a future post, but my point is:  Typing can be difficult. It's important to understand with which type you lead, so you are not doing someone else's work.

Working with the head center

One of the best ways to calm the mind and stop the train of unproductive thinking is to tune into the body.  In the somatic work I do with my clients, this can be super awkward if we are not used to noticing our bodies (says the coach who did not realize she had a body up until a few years ago...).

Feeling your feet on the ground is a great place to start:

1. Simply notice your feet on the ground.
2. Then, notice every time your head starts up with the thinking, the planning, and the "what ifs". It may be a lot!  And that's ok.
3. Come back to noticing the body and feeling your feet on the ground.

As you practice this, you may start noticing other bodily sensations - tingling, a tension in the jaw, maybe that you are holding your shoulders up around your ears.

You don't have to do anything other than notice.

I invite you to set a timer for 3 minutes and try this practice. Let me know what comes up for you, if anything.

Until next time, stay curious, my friend!