Enneagram Type Four
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 Kabbala, and early Christianity. In 1970, he taught these principles to a group of forty students. Claudio Naranjo, a Chilean psychiatrist, was among these students and he brought the Enneagram ideas back to the United States and elaborated on some of them using his background in psychology. He taught the Enneagram to students in the San Francisco area.
Ichazo originally presented 108 enneagrams but only four of these enneagrams are usually taught in the United States. They are the Enneagrams of the Holy Ideas, Fixations, Virtues, and Passions. The most familiar enneagram is the Enneagram of Fixations which is also known as the Enneagram of Personality.
The Enneagram was designed by Oscar Ichazo to distinguish the difference between Ego/Personality and Essence, which is our true nature. There are nine personality types (Fixations) and each type has a Holy Idea, a Virtue, and a Passion. The Holy Ideas are an enlightened way of experiencing life – higher essential qualities of the mind which we experience when we are in touch with our true nature. Each of the Holy Ideas has a corresponding Virtue which is an essential quality of the heart that we experience when we are in touch with our true nature. All of the Holy Ideas and the Virtues are a part of each of us but there is one Holy Idea and one Virtue that we especially resonate with and were attuned to at birth.
Last month we described Type Three the second of the three feeling types. This month we will describe Type Four.
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 is the Holy Idea, Virtue, Fixation, and Passion for Type Four.
- Holy Idea – Holy Origin.
- Virtue - Equanimity.
- Fixation/Personality - Melancholy.
- Passion – Envy.
The Holy Idea for Type Four is Holy Origin. Holy Origin is the understanding that we are all part of a vast universe yet at the same time, we are unique individuals. It’s the idea that everything and everyone is interconnected yet each of us is unique. “Holy Origin is the objective view that you are never disconnected from your center, which is Essence, at whatever level it is operating on; that this Origin is the Source of the soul and its final home; and that this Origin is characterized by the Ideas of truth, perfection, and intrinsic goodness . . . ” (Almaas, 1998, p. 232.)
Fours build their personality around the idea of “being special or different” from others. Some Fours report that they feel like they landed in the wrong family when they were born. That somehow the hospital switched babies and sent them home with the wrong parents. They feel like they are so unlike their parents that they could not be possibly related. Other family members seemed to fit in better and this created a sense of loneliness and an intense longing to be included. It also created a sense that they were somehow flawed or defective in some way. These feelings of abandonment and longing are so strong that Fours build their whole sense of self around it as they search for what is authentic and real about themselves.
Fours build a self-image that is based on feelings, fantasies, and stories from their past memories. This sense of self they build is presented inwardly to themselves and they spend a great deal of time and energy maintaining this inner self-image. Fours are also concerned with their outer self-image and how they present themselves to the world. They want to display an ideal image but their superego is relentless in letting them know when they are not living up to their inner idealized image. There is always the sense that something is wrong and nothing they do or feel is quite right. Their superego constantly measures them against an inner idealized picture of how they should be. Thus, Fours seem to never be content with the way things are. Their longings are never satisfied and something is always missing inside. They turn their attention outward and try to connect to someone in the outer world to regain the sense of connection they lost and to assuage their sense of longing. But, somehow that other person never quite fulfills the longing and so they reject or undermine the relationship and go on pining for what might have been. Fours (or the Four part of all of us) live in their memories of the past and their dreams of the future instead of being content and grateful for what is.
Self-actualization is of primary importance to Fours. They want to be authentic and they want what is “really real.” They care a great deal about beauty, taste, and style. Many Fours are involved in artistic pursuits but even if they are not artistically creative themselves, they may be interested in art, poetry, music, or other expressions that they find beautiful. They also want to feel that their self-expression and emotional depth are unique. They do not want to be thought of as ordinary in any way.
The tendency of Fours to create and maintain moods by thinking of the past can lead to trouble if they start living in their imaginations instead of the real world. They think they can find a solution to their emotional turmoil by going over and over problems in their mind. Instead of finding solutions they stir up their emotions even more and this causes more turmoil. They become self-absorbed and moody and withdraw from close relationships. They begin to lose their perspective and the ability to deal with life in an effective way. They start to take on the traits of average Twos by reassuring themselves that they have not alienated others with their emotional outbursts. At Point Two they ignore their own needs and expect others to take care of them but often end up resenting those who help them. They can become engrossed in self-pity and feel that no one is capable of understanding them.
But psychologically healthy Fours are a different story. They are sensitive, self-aware, intuitive, and in touch with their feelings but not absorbed by them. They are compassionate, tactful, and emotionally honest. Of all of the Enneagram types, Fours are the most willing to explore their inner feelings without judging them. They love beauty and enjoy expressing their feelings in an aesthetic way. Because they are so adept at exploring their own inner feelings they often understand the suffering and sorrow of others better than others and can help them through their time of need.
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 Fours, this is Enneagram Point One. When healthy Fours move toward Type One, they become less self-conscious and more involved with outer reality. They take on some of the One’s idealism and realize that their refinement and sensitivity are gifts that can help others. They become more self-disciplined and are no longer ruled by their ever-changing moods. Instead of feeling flawed and defective in some way they see themselves as good people dedicated to honesty, forthrightness, and hard work. .
The Passion of Point Four is Envy and the Virtue is Equanimity. Envy is the result of the loss of contact with the Virtue of Equanimity. It makes us feel like something is missing in our lives. We compare ourselves to others and come away with the feeling that they have something that we don’t and if we had it our lives would be much better then they are. The ego identifies with the idea that there is something missing. Envy also makes us feel that we do not belong while imagining that others do. This interferes with our ability to get in touch with our true nature. The Virtue of Equanimity is the antidote for Envy. It is emotional balance and brings a sense of contentment with the way things are. With Equanimity we embrace all of what life brings us ad find peace in the knowledge that every experience can be transformed into something worthwhile and valuable.
When Fours release the idea that they have a “separate identity” and that something is wrong with them, they discover their authentic self and realize that they have personal significance. They can express their individuality in a creative way and release their attachment to emotional intensity without losing any of their talents and abilities. They can share their originality and uniqueness with others and help others express their own unique talents and skills. Bibliography
Almaas, A. H. (1998). Facets of Unity: The Enneagram of Holy Ideas. Boston Shambhala Publications, Inc.
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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