Enneagram Type Six
By Denise L. Dahl, M. A.
Oscar Ichazo, a Bolivian spiritual teacher, developed the basic principles of the Enneagram by drawing on ancient spiritual ideas from Greek philosophy, Taoism, Buddhism, mystical Judaism – the Kabbalah, and early Christianity.
Last month we described Type Five the first of the three thinking types. This month we will describe Type Six – the second of the three thinking types. Next month we will describe Type Seven, the last of the nine Enneagram types. Previous articles on the different types can be found at the PTCI website www.transformationANDcourage.org
As mentioned before, each personality type has a particular Holy Idea (some of them have more than one) and a Virtue to which they especially resonate. When contact with the Holy Idea and the Virtue are lost, the ego substitutes a Fixation and a Passion to compensate for the loss. Here are the Holy Ideas, and the Virtue, Fixation, and Passion for Type Six.
- Holy Ideas – Holy Strength, Holy Faith.
- Virtue - Courage.
- Fixation/Personality – Cowardice/Doubt.
- Passion – Fear.
The Holy Ideas for Type Six are Holy Strength and Holy Faith. Holy Strength is the direct experience of Essence as truth, lovingness, and perfection. It is the recognition that Essence is our innate nature and Holy Faith is the transformation that occurs in the soul after the experience of Holy Strength.
When Sixes lose contact with their Holy Strength and Holy Faith, their ego identifies with the Fixation of Cowardice/Doubt. The presence of Holy Strength and Holy Faith brings with it a feeling of trust, confidence, security, and a sense of being supported and guided. When contact with these Ideas is lost, Sixes feel like they no longer have these qualities and self-doubt sets in. They become fearful and feel they have to find a powerful person who is capable of giving them guidance and support.
In early childhood Sixes may have received an unconscious message that it’s “not okay to trust yourself.” As a result, they didn’t feel safe or protected. They may have looked to their father for protection only to find that he was either absent from the home or unable to fulfill the role of protector. Some Sixes report that one or both of their parents were emotionally unpredictable. Often their parents or caregivers took out their frustrations on them by punishing or humiliating them in some way. This led them to become highly vigilant and hyper-alert to changes in the environment so they could sense danger and find a way to avoid the emotional and/or physical abuse. Because this habit is carried on into adulthood, most Sixes are highly self-observant and can become excellent troubleshooters.
Sixes build their personality (Cowardice/Doubt) around the desire to “be safe and secure.” They see the world as a dangerous place and spend a lot of time worrying about what “might” happen in the future and trying to come up with solutions they can employ if these catastrophes actually come about. They don’t feel supported or secure. Because the feeling of being weak and powerless carries over from childhood, Sixes form the habit of trying to ward off danger by constantly worrying and formulating plans that will keep them safe and secure. They also try to form alliances with people in authority that they feel can protect them and help them feel secure.
Sixes want to be safe and secure above all else but their habit of focusing their attention on the outer world (looking to others for advice and guidance) leaves them out of touch with their own inner world. Their mind is continuously worrying about what might happen and they can’t quiet their mind and get in touch with their own inner knowing. Because they can’t get in touch with their own inner guidance, they seek guidance from others. This may take the form of other belief systems, authorities, friends, or someone they have cultivated as an authority figure. Sixes have a tendency to be plagued with self-doubt, and they constantly question everything. When they become too stressed out, they are overcome by their self-doubt and anxiety and may take on some of the traits of Type Three. They can be filled with feelings of inferiority and worthlessness and become more aggressive towards others.
Sixes at their most healthy have a positive attitude and overcome the idea that the world as a whole is dangerous and unsafe. They begin to trust themselves and as they do this, they begin to trust others. The self-doubt, skepticism, cynicism, suspicion, and anxiety that they are prone to begins to dissolve as they learn to quiet their mind and have faith that their experiences will bring them the guidance that they need. Sixes at their best are friendly, loyal, and responsible. They are independent and rely on their own inner guidance instead of totally relying on others to give them advice and direction. They work hard for the group as a whole without feeling that they have to be in the limelight. They may be self-effacing and most Sixes have a habit of not remembering their successes. Others often have to remind them of all that they have accomplished.
When the Enneagram types feel secure, they go toward the Enneagram type that has the qualities that they most need to develop. This is called the direction of integration. For Sixes, this is Enneagram Point Nine. When healthy Sixes move toward Nine, they become more open and trusting of others and discover their own inner support so they can be supportive of others. They no longer feel that they have to rely on others for support, and they become more stable and mature. Instead of feeling insecure and anxious they become more relaxed and feel a sense of stability within themselves. Their mind slows down, and it is easier to stay focused in the present moment instead of trying to troubleshoot future problems that may not ever occur. Their anxiety attacks and their tendency to overreact diminishes, and they are more receptive and trusting of others. They become trusted mentors for others and instead of seeking support they provide it. Their anxiety no longer runs their life, and as a result they become more stable, secure, confident, and peaceful.
The Enneagram Virtues are essential qualities of the heart that are experienced when we are in touch with our true nature. The Virtue of Point Six is Courage. Courage as defined by Ichazo is: “the recognition of the individual’s responsibility for his own existence. In the position of courage, the body moves naturally to preserve itself.” (Maitri, 2005, p. 167)
The Passion of Type Six is Fear. All of the Enneagram types experience fear, but Type Six in particular is characterized by fear. It is the distinguishing characteristic of this type. They have a tendency to doubt their perceptions and question and constantly second-guess themselves. They can be suspicious and lack certainty and confidence. Much of their mental energy is used to cope with the anxiety that all of these activities generate. They feel threatened in some way by other people and may cope with this fear in two distinct ways depending on whether they are what is called a “phobic Type Six” or a “counterphobic Type Six.” Phobic Sixes are overtly fearful and look outside of themselves for an authority figure that they see as powerful enough to protect them. They seek guidance and advice from this authority and sometimes follow them with blind faith.
A counterphobic Type Six may be rebellious and seem to seek out challenging situations to prove to themselves and others that they are strong, confident, and courageous. They often take foolish risks just to prove that they can conquer their fear. Most Sixes find themselves bouncing back and forth between both of these ways of being.
It takes Courage to face fear and it takes Courage to face ourselves honestly and try to break habitual patterns of thinking and reacting to life. It also takes courage to see through the identities we have created to help us function in life. Sixes (and the Six part of all of us) exhibit courage when they practice self-observation and identify habits that no longer serve them well. One of the best ways Sixes (or anyone else) can get in touch with Courage is by quieting the mind. Quieting the mind helps Sixes feel more safe and secure and helps them get in touch with their inner guidance. When they are in touch with their inner guidance, they no longer feel like they are so heavily dependent on others. They begin to trust themselves and as they do, they begin to trust others. The self-doubt, skepticism, cynicism, suspicion, and anxiety that they are prone to begins to dissolve as they learn to quiet their mind and have faith that their experiences will bring them the guidance that they need.
Transformation for Sixes comes about when they confront their fear of being without support and guidance. They realize that what they are seeking is within not without. As they transform they realize that they already have all of the qualities they have been idealizing in others. They are self-reliant, confident, courageous, and feel safe and secure in their own groundedness.
Bibliography
Almaas, A. H. (1998). Facets of Unity: The Enneagram of Holy Ideas. Boston Shambhala Publications, Inc.
Keyes, Margaret Frings (1992). Emotions and the Enneagram. Muir Beach, CA: Molysdatur Publications.
Maitri, Sandra (2000). The Spiritual Dimensions of the Enneagram. New York: Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam.
Maitri, Sandra (2005). The Enneagram of Passions and Virtues. New York: Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam.
Riso, Don Richard & Hudson, Russ (1999). The Wisdom of the Enneagram. New York: Bantam Books.
Riso, Don Richard & Hudson, Russ (2000). Understanding the Enneagram: The Practical Guide to Personality Types. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. (Original work published 1990).
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