Uncovering Enneagram Wings and Subtype Nuances
If you're familiar with the Enneagram, you know that it's a powerful tool for self-awareness and personal growth. Each of the nine types has distinct patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving, and understanding your type can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, improve your relationships, and navigate life's challenges with greater wisdom and compassion.
Enneagram Wings: Finding Your Secondary Type
But did you know that each Enneagram type also has two "wings"? Your wing is the neighbouring type on either side of your core type. For example, if you're a type Nine, your wings are Eight and One. Your wing types can influence the expression of your core type in subtle but significant ways, giving you unique strengths and challenges.
How to Identify Your Instinctual Subtype
Understanding your wing types can help you deepen your understanding of your Enneagram type and develop greater compassion and empathy for others. Here's a brief overview of each type's wings and how they can impact your personality:
Type One: The Perfectionist
One with a Nine wing (1w9): more laid-back and introverted, prioritizes inner peace and harmony
One with a Two wing (1w2): more social and outgoing, prioritizes helping others and building relationships
Type Two: The Helper
Two with a One wing (2w1): more task-oriented and driven, prioritizes productivity and efficiency
Two with a Three wing (2w3): more image-conscious and ambitious, prioritizes success and recognition
Type Three: The Achiever
Three with a Two wing (3w2): more relationship-oriented and people-pleasing, prioritizes helping and connecting with others
Three with a Four wing (3w4): more artistic and creative, prioritizes self-expression and individuality
Type Four: The Individualist
Four with a Three wing (4w3): more success-oriented and driven, prioritizes achievement and recognition
Four with a Five wing (4w5): more analytical and introverted, prioritizes understanding and knowledge
Type Five: The Investigator
Five with a Four wing (5w4): more creative and imaginative, prioritizes self-expression and individuality
Five with a Six wing (5w6): more loyal and security-conscious, prioritizes stability and predictability
Type Six: The Loyalist
Six with a Five wing (6w5): more independent and self-reliant, prioritizes knowledge and understanding
Six with a Seven wing (6w7): more adventurous and outgoing, prioritizes excitement and novelty
Type Seven: The Enthusiast
Seven with a Six wing (7w6): more security-conscious and anxious, prioritizes stability and predictability
Seven with an Eight wing (7w8): more assertive and confident, prioritizes power and control
Type Eight: The Challenger
Eight with a Seven wing (8w7): more outgoing and adventurous, prioritizes excitement and novelty
Eight with a Nine wing (8w9): more laid-back and easygoing, prioritizes peace and harmony
Type Nine: The Peacemaker
Nine with an Eight wing (9w8): more assertive and confident, prioritizes power and control
Nine with a One wing (9w1): more perfectionistic and detail-oriented, prioritizes order and structure
Understanding your Enneagram wings can be a powerful tool for personal growth and development. By recognizing your strengths and challenges, you can learn to cultivate greater self-awareness, empathy, and compassion for yourself and others. So take some time to explore your Enneagram wings, and see what insights and wisdom they have to offer!