Viewed as a closed, nine-sided
shape, the Enneagram has nine points, each representing one of the nine core
personalities. The points on either side
of a core personality function as its wings.
My perspective on Enneagram wings
is rooted in the idea that the wings hold the key to understanding the
infinitely individual personalities out in the world. The fact that there are an unlimited number
of ways that each core type can interact with each of its two wings accounts
for the full extent of personalities on the human spectrum.
Generally, the relationship between
a wing and its core is either circumstantial or pervasive. In other words, a wing can either wait for
certain circumstances to ‘activate’ it, or it can be an ever-present force in
the personality. If the wing’s influence
is circumstantial, there are many different types of circumstances that can act
as trigger. And even when the influence
is pervasive, the wing can take many different forms that translate into human
individuality.
This next series of posts will
discuss some of the distinct ways that each, core type can be influenced by its
wings.