The
Three Intelligence Centers
By
Denise L. Dahl, M.A.
There are many ways to identify which Enneagram type
you are. Some people read the characteristics
and traits of all nine types and choose the one they
think fits them. Others may take a test to pin
point which type they are or go to a counselor who will
help them identify their type. Regardless of which
method we use to pinpoint your type, it is best to get
familiar with the types and use self-observation techniques
and an open mind to see which type best describes how
we operate in the world. It’s important
to keep in mind that no type is better than any other
type. We all have parts of every type but according
to the theory, we resonate with one type more so than
the others.
One way that may be helpful is to divide the Enneagram
into three parts with three types in each section.
George I. Gurdjieff called these three parts the “intelligence
centers” or the three lower centers – the
instinctive, feeling, and thinking centers. According
to this philosophy, there are two higher centers –
the higher intellectual center (the Holy Ideas) and
the higher emotional center (the Virtues). These
two centers are aspects of higher consciousness and
contain potentials available for each of us to use but
because we have become identified with one particular
center and use the centers for purposes other then they
were intended, we have blocked the signals coming from
the higher centers. Thus, the instinctive, feeling,
and thinking centers are imbalanced and the particular
way that they are imbalanced is the way each of the
nine Enneagram types try to imitate their particular
Holy Idea and Virtue. The spiritual work of the
Enneagram is to balance the three centers and use each
of them for the function they were intended. This
idea of an imbalance of the three centers and doing
spiritual work to balance them is not new. Plato
taught that we can hear God and authentically fulfill
God’s will when the head, heart, and body are
in balance. Balancing the centers consists in
using each of the centers for its intended purpose.
The intended purpose of the feeling center is to support
the interconnectedness and healthy relatedness with
others, the universe, and God. The thinking center
develops the vision and creative awareness that gives
us clarity about the meaning of life and the instinctive
center’s true purpose is to generate movement
and give us the energy to act on the vision of the thinking
center and the connectedness of the feeling center.
But, most of us have “scrambled centers.”
That is, we favor one center over the other and use
the other two in a limited way. The way we use
the three centers is one of the main ways we can identify
which type on the Enneagram we are. Each center
has its issues and defense mechanisms. The last
part of this article describes each of the centers and
relates three Enneagram types to each of the three centers.
See if this helps you find which of the three areas
your type may be located.
The Instinctive
Center (Belly Center)
The instinctive center is the body’s intelligence.
It has to do with movement, security, survival, and
instinctual energy – our passion, vitality, and
zeal. This triad is about maintaining a felt sense
of self.
The three
types that make up this triad are Types Eight, Nine,
and One. The dominant emotion for these three
types is anger. Eights express anger outwardly,
Ones inwardly, and Nines repress it. This anger
or rage originates as an instinctive reaction to feeling
the need to shut down and put a lid on our aliveness.
The types in this center are rarely present with all
of their energy.
The types
in this center have a difficult time accepting things
the way they are. They want to improve on things
and make them better because they see life in terms
of right vs. wrong, win vs. lose, good vs. bad, etc.
They are seldom aware of their bodies and are not fully
present to their vitality. They don’t want
to be influenced by their environment so they try to
remake it in some way, control it, or hold it back.
All three types need to realize that they no longer
need to protect their “personal space” when
there is no actual threat to it. This frees up
energy for more fulfilling goals including transformation.
The Feeling
Center (Heart Center)
The feeling
center has to do with emotions, feelings, and relationships.
The three types in this center are Types Two, Three,
and Four. When we experience our true nature our
hearts are open and we feel loved and valued.
When our hearts are closed or blocked we lose that feeling
and the three types in this triad - Types Two, Three,
and Four are concerned with creating a substitute identity
that will make others love them and give them a sense
of value. They are primarily concerned with creating
a self-image.
The dominant
emotion of the feeling center is shame. This feeling
arises because we were not accepted as our authentic
self in early childhood and so we came to the conclusion
that something was wrong with us and the result is a
sense of shame. Each of the three types use different
methods in order to feel valuable by creating a certain
self-image of themselves. Type Two’s self-image
has to do with caring about others and being of service.
Type Three’s self-image has to do with performing
in an outstanding manner and being an over-achiever.
Type Four’s self-image is that of a victim.
They often over-dramatize their hurts and losses and
feel loved when others come along and rescue them.
All three types can become hostile if others interfere
with the self-image they have of themselves.
The Thinking
Center (Head Center)
The thinking center has to do with thinking, calculating,
and deliberating. The three types in this center
are Types Five, Six, and Seven. These types have
lost touch with the quiet mind that is a quality of
our true nature. Quiet mind is the source of inner
guidance that allows us to see things as they really
are. Without quiet mind, the personality is trying
to come up with strategies that will enhance safety
and security.
The dominant
emotion of the thinking center is fear. These
types are out of touch with their inner guidance and
support and the reaction to this is fear. Type
Five reacts to fear by retreating from the world and
living in the safety of their mind. This retreat
lasts until they master a skill that will allow them
to feel safe enough to come out of hiding. Sixes
direct their energy both inward and outward. They
may direct their energy outward but then become fearful
that they will make a mistake and be punished or that
unreasonable demands will be placed upon them.
They then retreat until they become fearful of their
inner feelings and repeat the cycle by going outward
again. Sevens seem to be happy go lucky people
with no fears at all. They are outwardly adventurous
but this is because they are afraid of their inner world.
They don’t want to feel emotional pain of any
kind, especially fear and anxiety. They lose themselves
in activity and by keeping their minds occupied with
plans for the future. All three types are looking
for the sense of inner guidance and support that is
an aspect of our true nature.
Did you resonate with any one particular center?
Narrowing the search for your type to a particular center
is helpful. Next month we will take a closer look
at the characteristics and traits of some of the personality
types.
Copyright
© 2006 by Denise L. Dahl
Bibliography
Hurley, Kathleen
V. & Dobson, Theodore E. (1991). What’s
My Type? HarperSanFrancisco.
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)
October 06
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