The Enneagram: The Process model
The Cosmic Laws
The Enneagram is an expression of three different laws:
The Law of One is the expression of the Absolute. You could also call it undivided and unmanifested Oneness, Unity, Origin or Source of all creation and manifestation. In the enneagram this is the implicit mid-point of the circle, while the circle itself represents linear time.
The Law of Three states that every phenomenon (manifestation) in the world is the simultaneous action of three forces: a positive (active, affirming), a negative (passive, denying) and a neutralizing (neutral, reconciling) force. In other words, for anything to happen we need three forces acting at the same time. These forces are not things or objects. Rather, the forces act through things. Our thoughts, aims and desires are good examples of these forces. In other words, one thing (or person) can have many forces acting through it (him or her) in different processes.
The Law of Seven (also called the Law of Octaves) is a law of vibration. This Law is (amongst other things) responsible fact that everything is constantly changing in the universe and that everything either develops and evolves (also called the ascending octave) or goes down and degenerates (the descending octave). In the enneagram, this law is expressed as the numerical sequence 1-4-2-8-5-7 and is symbolized by the irregular hexagram in the enneagram (point 9 is the seventh point). This sequence shows the (internal) steps necessary to complete a process. The hexagram thus signifies the continuous movement of every process.
- the law of One (the circle),
- the law of Three (the triangle),
- the law of Seven (the irregular hexagram).
The Law of One is the expression of the Absolute. You could also call it undivided and unmanifested Oneness, Unity, Origin or Source of all creation and manifestation. In the enneagram this is the implicit mid-point of the circle, while the circle itself represents linear time.
The Law of Three states that every phenomenon (manifestation) in the world is the simultaneous action of three forces: a positive (active, affirming), a negative (passive, denying) and a neutralizing (neutral, reconciling) force. In other words, for anything to happen we need three forces acting at the same time. These forces are not things or objects. Rather, the forces act through things. Our thoughts, aims and desires are good examples of these forces. In other words, one thing (or person) can have many forces acting through it (him or her) in different processes.
The Law of Seven (also called the Law of Octaves) is a law of vibration. This Law is (amongst other things) responsible fact that everything is constantly changing in the universe and that everything either develops and evolves (also called the ascending octave) or goes down and degenerates (the descending octave). In the enneagram, this law is expressed as the numerical sequence 1-4-2-8-5-7 and is symbolized by the irregular hexagram in the enneagram (point 9 is the seventh point). This sequence shows the (internal) steps necessary to complete a process. The hexagram thus signifies the continuous movement of every process.
The Process model
The nine points along the circumference of the circle describe the different phases of a process.
An example - the making of Chocolate Cake:
The circle in the enneagram represents linear time: Waiting for an impulse (9 fragile harmony). You are going to have guests (1 desire, intention) and you decide to make a chocolate cake. You check what ingredients you still have at home (2 effort) and get the rest from the shops (3 action, impulse from the outside). You mix the ingredients (4 creation, refining) and put the cake in the oven (5 transformation). If the cake is ready (6 feedback), you take it out. You decorate the cake (7 innovation, manifestation) and receive appreciation for the result (8 control, enjoyment). The cake has been eaten, the guests are gone, harmony is restored and you are waiting for a new impulse (9 harmony). The process can come to a halt at any of these points.
An example - the making of Chocolate Cake:
The circle in the enneagram represents linear time: Waiting for an impulse (9 fragile harmony). You are going to have guests (1 desire, intention) and you decide to make a chocolate cake. You check what ingredients you still have at home (2 effort) and get the rest from the shops (3 action, impulse from the outside). You mix the ingredients (4 creation, refining) and put the cake in the oven (5 transformation). If the cake is ready (6 feedback), you take it out. You decorate the cake (7 innovation, manifestation) and receive appreciation for the result (8 control, enjoyment). The cake has been eaten, the guests are gone, harmony is restored and you are waiting for a new impulse (9 harmony). The process can come to a halt at any of these points.
The internal lines (the irregular hexagram) describe the internal route that must be taken to complete a process. This means that if we want to get from 1 to 2, we must go via point 4. To get from 2 to 4, we need to go via the points 8-5-7-1. In short, to complete a process (from 9 to 9), we must walk thought the enneagram 3 (!) times. Moreover, the lines of the hexagram cross the triangle 12 times (I-XII). These points correspond to the 12 astrological houses. It should come as no surprise that this creates many opportunities (36 to be precise) to get it wrong during every process. Actually, you might say it is something of a miracle that any processes get finished at all!
Through the methods used in Life Coaching it is possible to identify the points where people tend to get stuck in their processes and get the processes going again. Read more about the Psychological model and Enneatypes here. To learn more about Defence Mechanisms go here.
I have worked as a Life Coach and Masseur since 2005. Find out more about my background and the techniques I use.
Read more about My way of working here. Find out more about Life Coaching here. Go here to read about Massage.
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Read more about My way of working here. Find out more about Life Coaching here. Go here to read about Massage.
Read here what others are saying about Massage: Relax into in your Body.
