Enneagram in the Arica Tradition: Nine Ego Types
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The Enneagram in the Arica Tradition: The Nine Ego Types
It was from these nine ego types that the Enneagram of
Personality Types developed.
"We call the intellectual part of the ego the fixation, and each
fixation is remedied by an idea. Every person develops a style of compensating for the
lack, the ontological emptiness, which is at the center of the ego. We say there are nine
basic styles or points of ego fixation.
There are certain biological understandings within the body which naturally result in a
harmonious emotional life. These are the objective virtues. An essential individual will
be in contact with these constantly, simply by living in his body. But the subjective
individual, the ego, loses touch with these virtues. Then the personality attempts to
compensate by developing passions. The passions which are a product of the mind alone can
be seen as the subjective expression of the lack of the objective virtues."
-- Oscar Ichazo1
To summarize:
"each fixation is remedied by an idea"
"passions...can be seen as the subjective expression of the lack of the objective
virtues"
1. Ego-Resent
|
|
|
| Fixation |
Resentment |
 |
Trap |
Perfection |
| Idea |
Holy Perfection |
| Passion |
Anger |
| Virtue |
Serenity |
2. Ego-Flat
|
|
|
| Fixation |
Flattery |
 |
Trap |
Freedom |
| Idea |
Holy Freedom |
| Passion |
Pride |
| Virtue |
Humility |
3. Ego-Go
|
|
|
| Fixation |
Vanity |
 |
Trap |
Efficiency |
| Idea |
Holy Hope |
| Passion |
Deceit |
| Virtue |
Truthfulness |
4. Ego-Melan
|
|
|
| Fixation |
Melancholy |
 |
Trap |
Athenticity |
| Idea |
Holy Originality |
| Passion |
Envy |
| Virtue |
Equanimity |
5. Ego-Stinge
|
|
|
| Fixation |
Stinginess |
 |
Trap |
Observer |
| Idea |
Holy Omniscience |
| Passion |
Avarice |
| Virtue |
Detachment |
6. Ego-Coward
|
|
|
| Fixation |
Cowardice |
 |
Trap |
Security |
| Idea |
Holy Faith |
| Passion |
Fear |
| Virtue |
Courage |
7. Ego-Plan
|
|
|
| Fixation |
Planning |
 |
Trap |
Idealism |
| Idea |
Holy Work |
| Passion |
Gluttony |
| Virtue |
Sobriety |
8. Ego-Venge
|
|
|
| Fixation |
Vengeance |
 |
Trap |
Justice |
| Idea |
Holy Truth |
| Passion |
Excess |
| Virtue |
Innocence |
9. Ego-In
|
|
|
| Fixation |
Indolence |
 |
Trap |
Seeker |
| Idea |
Holy Love |
| Passion |
Laziness |
| Virtue |
Action |
Footnotes:
1. Sam Keen, "A Conversation about Ego Destruction with Oscar Ichazo," Psychology
Today (July 1973), p.64
The fixations, traps, holy ideas, passions, and virtues listed above for each ego type
also come from this article.
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This page was last modified September 15, 1998.
Comments or suggestions? Email me at: dwl@fccj.cc.fl.us
