Enneagram Associations

This 1-Pager includes Enneagram Associations, which are the only thing on the page of my own invention (the rest is standard Spiral theory). This is a way of associating the Enneagram types with each layer of the Spiral. It is intriguing to me how well the Enneagram and Spiral overlap in this way, starting with 8, the first of the Body types on the Enneagram and moving clockwise around the circle, each type/number maps amenably onto the meme/color.

These associations do NOT indicate that someone who primarily fixates at a particular Enneagram number is also living primarily within the associated Spiral color. There is no research to back up these associations. That being said, I think at least for some of the associations, it might be true that someone of a particular Enneagram number is more likely to be “in-tune” with or “comfortable in” the associated Spiral levels (think of how a 3’s defense mechanisms make them likely to “succeed” in Orange whereas a 9’s defense mechanisms make them likely to do well in Purple). But of course each Enneagram type could be drawn towards multiple colors as well — 8s are most likely to be in-touch with their Beige but their pursuit of power makes them likely to get to the “top” of any power-system, especially Red and Orange ones. And while 1s have some Red, angry reforming energy, they tend to be drawn to Blue planning and authority structures. Thoughts around any of these ideas is welcome! It’s always good to remember that while these categories are helpful frameworks they are not fixed boxes within people. Plus, each of us has a relationship with every Enneagram number and every Spiral color.

Spiral Dynamics is a language for understanding human and societal development.

Each color of the spiral is termed a “meme” or “vMeme,” short for “value meme,” which is a motivational thinking system which colors all of a person’s (or society’s) concerns. Each color can be thought of as a worldview, a value-pattern, or a consciousness level.

Societies have progressed through the spiral’s colors consecutively, and individuals typically do the same, as each color is a response to problems of the previous color. Each color contains the previous colors and is in some way dependent on them. Yet each color is easily blinded by their own hue, and view other colors as deficient, impractical, or incomprehensible, leading to many conflicts.

Each individual spends different amounts of time in each color, and may use strategies from multiple. Many people find they primarily “live” in one color, but may “pop” into another color at certain times. One can be healthy, successful, and virtuous in any color. There is no “best color.” Each color has a “high side” and “low side.” Growth work with the Spiral involves reflecting on one’s health and unhealth in each of the colors. As life circumstances change, some colors will become a more or less appropriate response.

In Beige we “strive to survive.” The instinctual self begins with consciousness and infancy. People live in survival clans, focused on food and essentials, and meeting sexual and social instincts. In Beige, “I exist.”

In Purple kin is safety and the world is wonderous and frightening. The magical self is animistic, seeing a spirit in everything, and is concerned with ritual and symbols, which provide a “homing” effect, producing the desired familiarity and comfort. People live in tribes, valuing the family, obedience and the fulfilling of one’s role, and are concerned with safety vs fear. In the history of human development, imagination and language develop. In Purple, the “self is merged in the collective.”

In Red you stand up for yourself, assert your desires, and refuse to be passive. The egocentric self is all about personal expression, adventure, fun, instant gratification, and pursuing whims. Red can be hot, passionate, and sexy. The seeds of Red develop with the ego sense-of-self emerging as a child leaves the family, realizing they are not their family. On a societal level, this ego-assertion looks like a dictatorship in which one person asserts their desires on everyone else. Might makes right. The concern is with power and control, honor and shame. These social structures lend themselves to short-term thinking, irresponsibility, corruption, and violence. In Red, there is the realization and desire to express that “I have will and power.”

In Blue there is order and meaning for our lives. The purpose self is concerned with their societal duty, as guilt emerges, and service and self-sacrifice become ideals. Social systems are based around authority — a right to lead or rule, such as a kingship or priesthood. Order and fairness are prioritized to tamp down the chaos of Red. There is a new focus on what is right and wrong, in clear black and white categories, and an merging awareness of human evil and capacity for self-deception. People start to plan for the long-term with a new focus on the future. Historically Blue emerges alongside agriculture, literacy, and an understanding of the rule of law (rather than rule of a person). In Blue the “self has obligation and values.”

In Orange we can understand the world and maximize our gain from it. The achievement self is concerned with competency, strives for goals (StriveDrive), and feels the need for freedom and rights. It is often about self-improvement and useful tools/skills. Orange first emerges in ancient Greece and later ramps up with the Scientific Revolution, Enlightenment, and Industrial Revolution. People become strategic thinkers, able to rise in status through trade and innovation, breaking down many Blue social structures (while depending on many others). In Blue, religion & government held the most sway, and in Orange it shifts to science & industry (including corporations, tech, & advertising). Industry grows and efficiency is prioritized. Scientific rational, propositional knowing, and materialism become dominant ways of thinking. Material prosperity and amenities become more desired and attainable. In Orange, “I can make my own life.”

In Green, we care about global acceptance, belonging, and affect. The connection self is concerned with feelings and sensitivity (for oneself and others), bonding with others (HumanBond), and deals with questions raised by globalization with pluralistic and relativistic thinking. Society begins to think of itself as serving the communal good and trying to right the wrongs of Orange, becoming environmentally conscious. Green groups tend to try to follow values of non-hierarchical structure, consensus-based decision making, listening, and empathy. Green is soft and slow, more than any other color, very much like hippies, and thus tends to struggle to actualize their values of acceptance, especially without force or hierarchy. Green correlates with the post-modern world, Orange with the modern world, and Blue with the pre-modern world. In Blue the “self seeks accepting community.”

In Yellow, one can appreciate insight form every color and belief and is focused on integration within themself and within the world. The integration self is interested in ambiguity and paradox, seeing these as places of truth which afford authentic incorporation of seemingly mutually exclusive values or frameworks. “Yellow people” are Spiral wizards, able to jump up and down the Spiral, relating with people at every level. Thus they are bridge builders, able to facilitate communication across various value-memes/groups. They are systems-gardeners, cultivating (relationally affording) healthy structures/ecosystems. While no Yellow societies have existed yet, they are theorized to be full of variety, making space for people at any level of the Spiral. Yellow policies and systems would focus on flexibility and becoming, not locked into one mode. They would try to make acupunctural interventions — using a minimal amount of force in key places, with an eye on the wholistic health of the eco-system. The internet is often correlated with Yellow, since it provides space for every layer of the Spiral, affords diverse knowledge & systemic impact, and is a somewhat integrated ecosystem. In Yellow, “I authentically support.”

In Turquoise there is trust in the Divine Process and mystical experience. The mystical self is involved in an expanding purview of perspectives, feelings, awarenesses, and presences. They are self-forgetful and thus likely very humble and generous. They are tapped-into their own intuition and the energies of the universe. The integration that Yellow focused on in self and world was primarily mental, procedural, and perspectival, while in Turquoise it is primarily emotional and participatory. No society has progressed to Turquoise, but it is theorized that Turquoise systems would be harmonious, with each other, the environment, and the Divine. People would live with minimal luxury, with deep spiritual fulfillment, and holistic intra- and inter- personal relationships. Compassion is expanded out cosmically, up to the heights, and down to the depths. Turquoise correlates with Maslow’s top need of “self-transcendence” (and Yellow with “self-actualization”). Quantum theory is often considered correlated with Turquoise because it breaks all the pre-existing categories. Light can be both particle and wave (this is also reflective of Yellow paradox), two things can be connected across distances in quantum entanglement (Turquoise relationality), and many other aspects of quantum theory have been paralleled with Turquoise’s mystical sense of the one-ness of all things, relationality, and consciousness. In Turquoise the “self is blended with All.”

I (Individual) memes are self-focused. Beige is focused on survival of self, Red on asserting one’s wants/will, Orange on improving oneself, and Yellow on becoming adaptable/understanding enough to live with and help people all over the spiral.

We (Collective) memes are self-sacrificial. Purple self-sacrifices for the sake of the tribe & spirits, Blue for the sake of the Way & Truth, Green for the sake of being accepted & peace, and Turquoise because it is the most true manifestation of self.

Second Tier Consciousness is when one is no longer stuck in one’s meme, seeing it as the answer. Indicated by being able to work with any meme to serve the situation, not being triggered by other beliefs, and a non-judgmental presence. This requires openness and distance from one’s ego.