I've found the Enneagram to be two very different things.

1. A symbol used in the Gurdjieff tradition to understand universal processes.
2. A system of nine personality types which takes the Enneagram symbol as its logo.

It's strange how often the two differences get mixed up into one.

When most people hear of the Enneagram, it's generally in reference to a system of nine personality types. I often wonder whether the Enneagram symbol adds more confusion to the system than clarity. It may be better to simply call the symbol a logo instead of trying to force-fit the types and system upon the symbol. Here are some examples I notice of this force-fit.

• There are nine personality types because there are nine numbers on the symbol.
• The supplemental wing types are limited to the types on either side of the dominant type because their relative proximity around the circle indicates that their closely related.
• The concept of triads (e.g., centers of intelligence, Karen Horney's types, parental relationships, id/ego/superego, etc.) divides the types into three groups of three because 3 x 3 = 9.
• The direction of integration is against the arrow on the inner line and the direction of disintegration is with the arrow on the inner line because that's the way the arrows point and those are the numbers connected by the inner lines.
• The stress point can be found by following the connecting line with the arrow and the security point can be found by following the connecting line against the arrow because that's the way the arrows point and those are the numbers connected by the inner lines.
• Points 3, 6 and 9 mark the middle point of each center of intelligence because that's what the inner triangle indicates.

So then, what exactly is the Enneagram? It's a symbol. This symbol was used by Gurdjieff and his followers to understand universal processes. This symbol is also a logo that is incorrectly used in an attempt to understand personality. Unfortunately, it's too late to disassociate the symbol from the system or create a new symbol that works better. Not only does the Enneagram symbol create an irrational legitimacy for some of its features, it has become too important to the system's marketability and appeal.

My solution is to create a new system that uses the Enneagram symbol to represent the process underlying each personality style. In other words, use the Enneagram symbol in the Gurdjieff tradition to understand each personality style as a habituated psychological process.