First introduced to the western world around 1916 by G.I. Gurdjieff, the Enneagram symbol was not initially used to represent personality types.
Gurdjieff often placed processes on the symbol to understand those processes as they moved around the symbol (the process started at point 9, moved clockwise around the circle, and ended at point 9). The inner lines of the symbol consisted of two different figures and indicated two different influences upon the process.
The hexad or six-pointed figure showed the relationships between the steps in the process. For example, step 1 is influenced by steps 4 and 7.
The triangle or three-pointed figure introduced something outside the process that had an influence on it. Points 3 and 6 were called shock points because they shocked or moved the process along (3 shocked the process from 2 to 4 and 6 shocked the process from 5 to 7) while point 9 indicated the beginning and end of the process.
The law of seven is indicated by the hexad points and point 9. Because the musical octave is placed on the symbol and used as an example of the law of seven, it is also called the law of octaves. With an octave the notes start with Do at point 9, move clockwise around the circle, and end at the higher Do at point 9.
The law of three indicated by the triangle divides the process into three parts. The labels placed on points 3, 6, and 9 vary according to what process is placed on the symbol, but commonly the law of three forces are referred to as denying, affirming, and reconciling.