What Does PEACE Mean for Your Enneagram Style?
by Jerome Wagner, Ph.D.
There are many facets to peace. Each Enneagram style has its particular perception of peace and reminds us of the various aspects of peace. These insights come from essence and turn outward. “What’s in it for everyone?”
Each Enneatype also has a skewed sense of peace. This is an egoic perspective which turns inward. “What’s in it for me?”
Unfortunately, when we get what we mistakenly want, we also frustrate what we really want.
And, ironically, when we attain our distorted egoic notion of peace, we fuel our vice, setting up the vicious circle of our biased thinking and contaminated feeling.
Anger is said to be the emotion associated with the body types 8-9-1. When we are in our essence, there is no place for anger. Our ego believes that when we have created the proper internal and external conditions, we will no longer need to be angry.
Sadness is said to be the emotion associated with the body types 2-3-4. When we are in our essence, there is no room for sadness. Our ego believes that when we have created the proper internal and external conditions, we will no longer be sad.
Fear is said to be the emotion associated with the body types 5-6-7. In essence there is no need to fear. Our ego believes that when we have created the proper internal and external conditions, we will no longer be afraid.
ONE
All is good. All will be well. Everything is in its proper place. Peace is the tranquility of order. The universe is basically good and is unfolding as it should. There is no reason to be angry and resentful.
I can be at peace when I’m perfect; you’re perfect; everything is perfect. There are no imperfections in my life and so I don’t need to be resentful. Unfortunately, when everything is perfect, there is entropy; no more growth.
When you are the most perfect person in the room, others tend to pick out your flaws and then you will get angry and that will disturb your peace.
TWO
All is love. When we love one another, we contribute to the well-being and building up of the community. The foundation and glue of the universe is love. Though grief is the price we pay for love, love is larger than and enfolds sadness.
I can be at peace when I am loved, appreciated, accepted, and approved of. There is no rejection in my life and so I won’t be sad. Regrettably, when there is no fear of rejection, there is no necessity for affiliation and connection.
When you are the most helpful person in the room, people will constantly seek your help and that will disturb your peace. But it will inflate your pride.
THREE
All is accomplished. The universe is running efficiently. It is a cosmos of finely tuned intra- and inter-connected parts. Creation has achieved its purpose. It is doing what it is meant to do and so there is no reason to be sad.
I can be at peace when I am successful and admired. I can do. There is no inefficacy in my life and so nothing to be sad about. Paradoxically, when I have done everything, there is no more purpose in my life.
When you are the most efficient person in the room, people will invariably ask you to do things for them and you will have no rest. But it will enliven your vanity.
FOUR
All is beautiful. Everything is what it is: authentic. Everything is inner and inter-connected. Everything belongs. All is grace. Nothing is missing and there is no need to be sad.
I can be at peace when I am seen to be special and I belong. There is no ugliness or isolation in my life and I won’t be melancholy. Sadly, when I am completely unique and like no one else, no one could ever possibly understand me.
When you are the most sensitive person in the room, people will inevitably hurt your feelings and that will upset your equilibrium and you will become envious of people who are peaceful.
FIVE
All is true. Reason, nous, the noosphere oversees the universe and the meaning of it all is apparent. The essence of the universe is consciousness which replaces fear.
I can be at peace when I know everything. There is no ignorance in my life and I don’t have to be afraid. Unfortunately, when I know everything, there is nothing left to learn. So, what’s the sense?
When you are the smartest person in the room, you can’t learn anything and that will make you the stupidest person in the room which will then make you avaricious for more knowledge.
SIX
All is faith. The laws of the universe are benevolent and beneficent. They can be known and followed. They can be trusted and not feared.
I can be at peace when I have considered every consequence and am prepared to deal with all of them. When there is no doubt in my life, I will no longer be afraid. Tragically, when I am dogmatic, I am rigidly constrained and on guard instead of free and safe.
When you are the most anxious and suspicious person in the room, people will continually disturb your peace which will make you more fearful.
SEVEN
All is hope. All will end well. All will be fulfilled. There is every reason to be optimistic and there is nothing to worry about.
I can be at peace when I have experienced everything and have exhausted all of my options. When there is no pain, suffering, or darkness in my life, I won’t be afraid. Regrettably, when I have experienced everything, there is no more adventure and I will be bored.
When I am the bubbliest person in the room, people will try to burst my bubbles and that will upset me and make me gluttonous for even more good times and experiences.
EIGHT
All is just. The arc of the universe bends toward justice. Everyone’s rights are honored and everyone gets their due. I can let go of my anger.
I can be at peace when I am in control and my strength will keep me safe. When there is no vulnerability in my life, I no longer need my anger to protect me. Ironically, the strongest person in the world, is also the loneliest and most exposed.
When I am the strongest person in the room, people will want to topple me and that will limit my peace and I will become even more lustful for power and control.
NINE
All is one. The harmony of the spheres. Unitary consciousness vs. duality. Separateness is an illusion. Anger arises from separation and so is no longer needed.
I can be at peace when I am content, satisfied, and settled. When there is no conflict or upset in my life, there is nothing to be angry about. However, since there is no friction in my life and I don’t stand out because I blend in, I will be overlooked.
When I am the most effaced person in the room, people will not notice me and my real needs won’t be met. That will upset me and I must resign myself, settle for what I have, and become more indolent.
INSTINCTS
Mother Nature has evolved three instincts to keep us alive (self-preservation), connected (social), and procreant (sexual).
But these instincts can be used either for the individual or for the community. I’ll do whatever I can to stay alive, to belong to a group, to prolong my genes and legacy. Or, I’ll do what I can to help others stay alive, belong, and be generative.
Just because Mother Nature evolved these instincts, it doesn’t mean they can’t be misused. Our celebral cortex and heart may need to override possible distortions of the instincts.
For example, our instinct to survive may resort to homicide or genicide to maintain our life and lifestyle.
Our instinct to survive in groups creates ingroups and outgroups, friends and enemies, like-minded and alien people who don’t look like or think like us. We close the gates and borders to immigrants and promote xenophobia.
Our sexual instinct may forbid bonding and mating for anyone except heterosexual couples and discourage adopting and surregacy by homosexual partners.
May we use our instincts for peace and the good of everyone. In the timely observations of Pope Francis:
Rivers do not drink their own water.
Trees do not eat their own fruit.
The sun does not shine on itself.
Flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves.
Living for others is a rule of nature.
We are all born to help each other.
No matter how difficult it is.
Life is good when you are happy;
But much better when others are happy because of you.
