Enneagram Point Eight
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 Ichazo to distinguish the difference between ego/personality and Essence which is our true nature. There are nine personality types 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 resonate with and were attuned to at birth.
We are starting with Point Eight on the Enneagram because Points Eight, Nine, and One are the first triad – the instinctive triad – at the top of the Enneagram and Point Eight is the first of these three instinctive types. In the coming months we will describe Points Nine, One, Two, etc.
The Holy Idea for Type Eight is Holy Truth, the Virtue is Innocence, the Passion is Lust, and the Fixation (personality type) is Vengeance.
Holy Truth is the perception that all is One. When this Idea is lost, we see objects as separate and lose our sense of Oneness. The Eight’s response to the loss of Holy Truth is Vengeance. Eight’s become fixated on the idea of Vengeance or revenge. Deep down they feel like someone is to blame for this loss and they want to punish or get revenge in some way. Subconsciously they may even blame themselves for this loss. They may feel that if they had just been stronger they could have prevented this loss. As time goes by, they get fixated by the idea that they must be strong and fight for what they want. The unconscious childhood message for the Eight is: “It’s not okay to be vulnerable or to trust anyone.” As adults, they want to be assured by others that they will not be betrayed. In their effort to suppress their fear of being weak and not in control, they turn relationships into power struggles and see any kind of intimacy as weakness.
Eights also lose their Virtue of Innocence at about the same time they lose their Holy Idea. Innocence is simplicity itself. When we are in a state of Innocence, we are present and aware. We are sincere, authentic, and spontaneous. We are living in the moment. Ichazo’s definition of Innocence is: “The innocent being responds freshly to each moment, without memory, judgment, or expectation. In innocence one experiences reality and one’s connection to its flow.” (Maitri, 2005, p. 68)
Eights learn that it is not safe to be out there in the world if they are too open-hearted. For an Eight, loss of Innocence gives rise to the Passion of Lust. Lust is not primarily about a sexual appetite but about an addiction to intensity. This addiction to intensity is the Eight’s attempt to recreate the feeling of natural vitality, vibrancy, and sense of aliveness that they experienced in the state of Innocence. This intensity often has anger at its root. Point Eight is an instinctive types and it overuses its instinctive energy. Eights can use that energy to push and challenge others. If Eights want something they go after it without beating around the bush. They are natural born leaders and can be very forceful. They want to be in control of their environment and the people around them. If an Eight gets pushy with you, the best thing you can do is push back. They do not like any sign of weakness in themselves or in anyone else. If they do allow you into their inner circle, you can be sure that you have a steadfast friend who is very protective of you.
A healthy Eight is a strong, energetic leader. They are confident, reliable, and decisive. They do not like injustice and will be the first to step forward and defend someone they think has been treated unfairly. They have great vision; they are courageous, self-reliant and enjoy a good fight or challenge. They communicate in a direct way and they are fair and honorable.
The average Eight may be impressed with themselves and become overbearing and noisy. They have a tendency to want to dominate others and become controlling, aggressive, and cynical when someone is viewed as standing in their way. Their forceful expression of anger often frightens others. Thy can be wheeler dealers, braggarts, and impose their will and ideas on others. They may even use intimidation to get their way.
At their worst, Eights can be totally self-centered and want to dominate everyone they come in contact with. They may shamelessly exploit the weak and approach life with a “take no prisoners” attitude. They can’t assess their limits and become hard-hearted, destructive, and tyrannical.
When Eights are under stress they may take on some of the behaviors of an average Five. They may become reclusive and emotionally withdrawn. They may pull back in order to come up with some kind of strategy – they withdraw into their heads. They can become secretive and develop a cynical and pessimistic outlook about the world and other people. The Eight’s basic fear is of being weak and not in control or on top of things and stress makes them more fearful of this but the harder they try to assert themselves and take control, the more they alienate others. This is the place where the Eight can become vengeful, blaming others for their loss of control.
When Eights feel secure, they go to Point Two and take on some of the behaviors of the healthy Two. They are magnanimous, merciful, benevolent, and discover compassion for others. They take others under their wing and make great mentors because of their ability to inspire others. At this Point, they give up their love of power for an understanding of the power of love. Giving up the love of power for an Eight means getting in touch with their vulnerability and opening their hearts and helping others.
Bibliography
Almaas, A. H. (1998). Facets of Unity: The Enneagram of Holy Ideas. BostonShambhala Publications, Inc.
Lilly, John C. & Hart, Joseph E. (1994). The Arica Enneagram of the Personality Who am I?: Personality Types for Self-Discovery. 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)
November 06 Newsletter Article
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