The Enneagram Series #4 Balancing Your Wings
Plus descriptions of all 18 wing-types
In The Enneagram, balancing your wings refers to consciously integrating and developing both of your adjacent wing types.
Each Enneagram type has two adjacent numbers, known as wings. While a person’s core type remains dominant, their wings influence how that type expresses itself. Typically, most people have a dominant wing, but balancing your wings suggests that accessing both leads to growth and flexibility.
Read on for descriptions of all 18 wing-type combinations and how to balance your wings.
A Breakdown of All 18 Wing-Type Combinations
9w8: “The Bear”
More direct than the typical 9, the 9w8 is stubborn, earthy, and seeks peace through cooperation.
9w1: “The Dreamer”
Idealistic, introverted, and dependable, the 9w1 has a strong sense of right and wrong and strives to be a positive force in the world.
1w9: “The Idealist”
Thoughtful and supportive, the 1w9 is passionate about their ideals but calm and considerate in their approach to help.
1w2: “The Advocate”
Engaged and eager to help, the 1w2 is ethical and determined to encourage and inspire others to do the right thing.
2w1: “The Altruist”
Motivated by a strong sense of duty and ethics, the 2w1 loves to serve others and holds themselves to high standards of care.
2w3: “The Host”
Intuitive and outgoing, the 2w3 energetically socializes and prides themselves on their ability to make strong connections.
3w2: “The Charmer”
Always striving to be admired and appreciated, the 3w2 possesses strong social skills. They are warm and engaging but can lose themselves trying to win people over.
3w4: “The Professional”
Introspective and calculated, the 3w4 cares deeply about how they are perceived and strives for meaningful success, often as an artist or intellectual.
4w3: “The Performer”
Expressive and image-conscious, the 4w3 has a deep need to be unique and seen as a success in their field. They are charming and aesthetic-focused.
4w5: “The Bohemian”
Introspective and independent, the 4w5 is focused on depth. They seek to engage with their intellect and creativity rather than express it.
5w4: “The Philosopher”
Self-aware, melancholic, and creative, the 5w4 searches for deep personal meaning. While they can struggle with isolation, they possess great perspective and invaluable knowledge about the world.
5w6: “The Analyst”
Logical, skeptical, and independent, the 5w6 excels at research and preparedness. They are cerebral and thoughtful but can struggle to take action and fully engage with the options they have thoroughly vetted.
6w5: “The Defender”
Loyal, analytical, and hesitant, the 6w5 engages in a problem-solution cycle. They are seekers, always looking for new ways to think and live.
6w7: “The Confidant”
Social, vibrant, and fun-seeking, 6w7s thrive on shared experiences. Ever-changing, their propensity to question everything adds texture to their adventures.
7w6: “The Optimist”
Spontaneous, cooperative, and distracted, the 7w6 has tremendous faith in themselves. Always willing to change course, they balance their need for security with endless fun and hobbies.
7w8: “The Maverick”
Fearless and action-oriented, the 7w8 is determined to carve their own path. Fond of pushing boundaries and taking risks, they never back down from a challenge.
8w7: “The Independent”
Bold, energetic, and charming, the 8w7 is always balancing their opposing needs for control and excitement. They require freedom to explore intense experiences and push their limits.
8w9: “The Protector”
Grounded, calm, and protective, the 8w9 is slow to respond but firm in their convictions. Their composure lends itself well to boundary-setting and standing up for their beliefs without becoming inflammatory.
How to Balance Your Wings
1) Identify your dominant wing
2) Learn more about your less-developed wing
Research your less-dominant wing type and evaluate how you might embody their traits. For example, a 9w1 might practice the assertiveness of type 8 while a 6w5 might practice spontaneity. If you have someone in your life who is the same type as your less-dominant wing, it is helpful to note what you admire about them. I (a 9w1) have a dear friend who is a type 2 (hi, DeAnna!) and she consistently inspires me to foster my connections with others instead of withdrawing. Watching your less-dominant wing type in action is so helpful and motivating when you’re trying to balance your personality!
3) Notice when you overuse your dominant wing
The traits of your dominant wing become your comfort zone. A 5w6 who avoids their feelings entirely needs to tap into their 4 wing’s ability to deeply feel their emotions but it can feel foreign to do so. Challenging yourself when you sense that you’re relying on old patterns is the fastest way to get out of your comfort zone and tap into underutilized parts of yourself.
The exploration of your wings is a lifelong process. Your relationship with them will evolve but awareness will help you maintain the balance.
In case you missed it…
If you’ve made it this far, thank you so much for reading! Comment or respond to this email with your type and dominant wing. Would love to hear from you. Don’t forget to share this post with a friend!
I imagine most don’t voluntarily identify as 6w5 or 6w7