The Rarest Enneagram Type After learning about the enneagram, you may have wondered what type is the most rare of all the types. Are there more or less of certain types in the world? Today we are going to talk about the rarest enneagram type, which happens to be enneagram type four. Of all the types, there are fewest enneagram type fours in the world. In a way, this is perfectly fitting as well as ironic since fours long to be unique and set apart from others. They would probably be delighted to know that they are in fact, the most different, and the rarest of the enneagram types. Why are there less fours? This question is harder to answer. Could it be that culture simply skews the numbers toward other types? Possibly. We have no way of really knowing why there are more of a certain number than another. What makes fours so unique? 1.Fours like to be unique outwardly as well as inwardly. They value aesthetically pleasing surroundings as well as style and the way they present themselves. This alone will set them apart from others in their own way. They also have a dynamic inner world; a sanctuary safe and strong. This inner world is a place they can explore their feelings, and retreat to whenever needed. 2. There is no emotion that a four finds uncomfortable. In fact, fours embrace all feelings, and can be found contently sitting in melancholy or delight. Unlike other numbers, Fours don’t feel the urge to “fix things.” They can simply be with you in a strong emotion. More than other types, you will also see all the emotions in a four. They can be a dramatic roller coaster with high highs, and low lows. 3. No one is deeper than a four. One thing a four can’t stand is small talk. They want to talk about the things that really matter in life, and they want to know that they matter. What is the meaning? How do you feel about this? What is the purpose of life? They want to deep dive into the heart of the matter, and leave all that surface stuff which feels “fake-y” behind. Religion, politics, existential crisis… fours are always ready for these conversations. Are you a type four? Do you know a type four? I hope this helped you understand the rarest type on the enneagram. We love those fours! You might also like these posts: Enneagram Type 4 and Fictional Characters Love Letters to Enneagram Types 3, 4, & 5! Grab the poster below by clicking This Button! More Enneagram Printables!
Harry Potter and the Enneagram (types 3&4) Harry Potter and the Enneagram (types 3 &4) Fictional characters really help us get a handle on what an enneagram type might look like. Though typing fictional characters isn’t always accurate, its a fun way to see the enneagram types in a different light. This week, we are focusing on Harry Potter and the enneagram (types 3&4)! Let’s take a look at who in the Harry Potter Series represents these two types well, and what we can learn from them. Draco Malfoy: Enneagram Type 3 Unfortunately, we see many qualities of the darker side of type three come out in Draco Malfoy. It begins innocent enough with typical grade school competition, but Draco quickly moves into a space of making everything about being “the best,” no matter the cost. He is willing to step others, exclude others, and actually hurt others to achieve his goals. When famous Harry Potter turns down a friendship with Draco, it intensifies his already competitive spirit. He assumed Harry would automatically buddy up to him. Maybe, he even had visions of the future, of them being the leaders of the pack together. Some of that fame may have looked good on him. However instead, Draco is humiliated (something that enrages type 3) in front of everyone, and an arch enemy in born. Types threes are defined by their success or their failure, and feel an immense amount of pressure keeping these to opposites in balance. We know that much is expected of Draco from his family, especially his Father. He only feels accepted or loved through performing well, which is compounded over time, causing him to double down in hopes to live up to achieving what is expected of him. James Potter: Enneagram Type 3 Similarly to Draco Malfoy, James Potter was also a very charming and competitive character. He was very popular, and well liked by most, although he had a mischievous streak that often got out of hand. He led his group of friends to taunt and teas Severus Snape, merely because he could. Under the surface, we see motivations of wanting to show others that he was better, had power, and could do whatever he wanted. His character matures and begins to change after his relationship with Lily gets serious. She is the influencing force that brings out the good in him. Those same characteristics that led his friends in school, developed into leading others in war against evil. James’ confidence, enthusiasm, and focus are what made him an excellent leader during the fight against Voldemort. Type threes are often in leadership roles because others are naturally drawn to them. The tricky thing is not letting that go their heads. Threes have a hard time being honest with themselves at times, especially in the intelligence center of feelings. As long as they’re performing well, threes can ignore important things that are going on inside, or with their relationships. Moaning Myrtle: Enneagram Type 4 Moaning Myrtle is the ghost that hangs around in the girl’s bathroom… the very place she died. It’s like she is reliving her death over and over, and soaking in all the melancholy, deep feelings that tie her to that place. In true type four fashion, she’s totally fine re-living the past (withdrawn stance) and sort of wallowing in all the wrongs that have been done to her. When she gets the chance, she talks to some of the students about the tragedy of her death. And even says statements like: “I was just sitting in the U-bend, thinking about death…” Moaning Myrtle Not only is Moaning Myrtle in touch with her feelings, but she is temperamental, individualist, romantic, and a little bit quirky. She enjoys the fact that she is a mysterious being, and surrounding her death is a huge secret. She will never be seen as she truly is, because she’s now a ghost. A type four longs to be seen, known, and understood. They spend most of their lives feeling out of place, different, and like they don’t belong. Furthermore, fours have a longing for what is missing, and become easily envious of others. This is played out so well in the character of Moaning Myrtle. She literally can’t have anything that the rest of the characters have. Myrtle missed out on much of her life, and now she is stuck watching everyone do things she can’t do. This abandoned feeling is an emotion fours relate to well. I hope you enjoyed reading about these Harry Potter characters and what their enneagram types explain about them! Who are your favorite characters? What type do you think they are? You might also like: Enneagram Type 3 and Fictional Characters Enneagram Type 4 and Fictional Characters Enneagram Type 4 and Spiritual Practices Want to know more about the all the enneagram types? Grab the overview packet below! It includes all the basics for each type! Yes! I want this packet! I want the quiz bundle! Check out even more enneagram instant downloads by clicking the button below: Yay! Enneagram downloads!
Enneagram Type 4 and Spiritual Practices Spiritual practices enrich our lives in many ways. A practice can add rhythm and structure to your day. A daily discipline grounds you mentally, and continually gives you benefits from that initial place of centering. When you combine the enneagram with a daily spiritual practice, the growth and benefits sky-rocket! Today, we are focusing on enneagram type 4 and spiritual practices that will best fit this type. It is my experience that type fours are quite familiar and comfortable with spiritual practices. More than other types, enneagram type four enjoys exploring a variety of spiritual practices. “Going deep,” is sort of type four’s specialty, so they naturally thrive in the area of spirituality. Nothing is too strange, taboo, or far fetched, for these hearty feelers. I love and appreciate the openness of fours. Their attitude makes it possible for growth, and deep diving on many levels. In fact they are so good at searching through their own feelings and exploring their own soul, that the spiritual practice I am going to recommend is quite the opposite. The Spiritual Practice for Enneagram Type Four If you’ve been following the series, you know that we all have practices that come easy to us. We call these down-river practices. They are natural and comfortable, but don’t necessarily make us grow tremendously. Practices that are uncomfortable and challenging, we call up-river practices. We want to focus on these up-river practices because they force us to grow the most. Each type has a certain practice that will help them develop into a higher, healthier version of themselves. Check out previous posts in the series here: Enneagram Type One and Spiritual Practices Enneagram Type Two and Spiritual Practices Feasting as a Spiritual Practice The practice I am recommending for type four, is feasting. How is feasting a spiritual practice? Feasting is about celebrating. Usually the focus is on a certain individual, cause, or for a certain purpose. Feasting develops three things: 1. Hospitality 2. Generosity 3.Community Why is Feasting a good spiritual practice for fours? Fours have access to hospitality, generosity, and community building, but it is often hidden. They spend a lot of time dwelling on their own feelings, as well as past occurrences. Fours are naturally inward focused, as well as past focused. So then, the practice of feasting brings type four to the present, as well as pulls them out of their inner world. It allows them to bless others in a new and creative way, using their skills of relating, and deepening relationships through connection. Furthermore, type four has a beautiful ability to sit with. Meaning, no matter what someone is going through, a type four can listen and not be scared off by big feelings. This comes in handy at a gathering, and becomes a blessing when the four allows it to be. How to Practice Feasting… Plan it. The first step of feasting, is deciding who or what you are celebrating. This isn’t just a pot luck, feasting is all about meaning, honor, and being present. Who do you want to honor? What meaning to you want to bring to this gathering? How can you make sure you and your guests stay present to yourselves and those around you? Decide What Matters To You. What colors will evoke the meaning you are trying to initiate? Will there be music playing to add to the mood? Add special lighting, or light candles. What food will you make, and how will you present it? How will you serve the drinks to make people feel welcome, and feel honored? Conversation. To really celebrate, words need to be spoken, and honor needs to be given where honor is due. How will you incorporate this into your feasting time? Depending on your purpose, you can also add conversation cards, or a game to help people stay on track or in the moment. The key is in the connection, and the combination of hospitality, generosity, and community being developed. Practice. Add feasting to your weekly or monthly calendar. To make it stick, you need repetition. This will become something you really look forward to. You will begin to look for people and things to celebrate! Thanks for reading! I hope you found these ideas about feasting helpful! You might also like: How to Create a Space For Your Spiritual Practice Enneagram Type 4 and Fictional Characters Want to learn more about the enneagram and all 9 types? Check out the packet below including an overview of each type! Grab the 9 Types Overview Packet using the button below: 9 Types Overview Packet!
What Are You Chasing: Types 4,5, & 6? Last week, we started this series on what we are chasing after. These distractions and subconscious patterns can really take us down paths we never meant to go on. This week, “What are you chasing: types 4,5, and 6?” will focus on these three types, their chase, and tools to help each type derail this seemingly endless chase. Read last week’s post here (types 1, 2, & 3) For each enneagram number, the chase looks very different. When we are unaware, our chase can not only control us, but continue long after it should have run its course. However, if we are willing to go deeper beyond the surface level, we can discover: why we are chasing what we are chasing we can find the healthier path to get what we really want out of life The first step to understanding your chase is to identify it. What is it you are after? Why are you on this path? Is this the best way to get what you want and be who you want to be? What are your core motivations? Are you being honest with yourself? What parts of yourself have you been ignoring? Have you been putting feelings aside, skipping over taking time to think through things? Or maybe you get stuck in thinking and feelings, and never quite get around to doing. These important questions can really help you pinpoint what is going on with you. Pay attention to what comes up when you ponder these thoughts and ideas. what are you chasing? Type Four Let’s jump in and take a look at enneagram type four. The chase of the four centers around authenticity, belonging, and being unique. At first glance, these strivings seem harmless, even dare I say, beautiful? When there are healthy boundaries around these longings they can be lovely, but notice the words striving, and longing… Type four’s chase turns dangerous when they are striving after authenticity, belonging, and being unique. This becomes a distraction and they miss the beauty they could be embracing that is happening all around them. They feel they are missing out in a big way. While they are stuck in their feelings of missing out… here comes the irony, they actually miss out on life. Tools to derail the chase for Fours Go for a walk. This can be a great re-set for fours. Changing their environment, particularly if they can find a beautiful place to hike or take in nature. The outdoors have a deep healing capability and can reach fours in a way that is very unique. This also takes the focus off of comparing with others and what they might be missing out on. The real challenge for fours is to stay out of their own minds while out on the walk. If this is a struggle, bring along inspiring music. Make a playlist of songs that lift your mood and help you focus on positivity. Connecting and celebrating with others To get out of their chase, fours can reach out to others to connect. Fours are particularly good at seeing others and accepting whatever is real in the moment. This can be used in a positive way to derail their chase and also help a friend. Finding someone who is in worse shape than you, and connecting with them or even celebrating them will work like a tonic to your soul. Join in, and their will be no room for comparison or feelings of not belonging. Spend time with these people that love you for your authentic self, this will fill you up like nothing else. Type Five Type five is chasing knowledge and capability. The more they can know and the more they can do independently, the more confident and safe the type five feels. A thirst for knowledge and skills seems like something to be admired, so what is the danger? Just like all other numbers, this becomes the type five’s obsession and closes them off from growth. The chase of knowledge can turn into walls for the type five, keeping others out and also keeping the five from taking action. Their chase keeps them distracted by what seems good, but inevitably keeps them away from what they really need: connection. Learning, planning, and acquiring knowledge are all good things, but they can keep the type five from doing what needs done, and being with others. Tools to derail the chase for Fives Be Uncomfortable. Not what you expected… right? Fives are really good at staying inside their comfort zones, and building up walls of protection. The problem is, you can’t grow inside those walls. Do something at least once a week that is uncomfortable for you. This will break up those patterns that keep you from growing. It doesn’t have to be something huge and scary. Choose something small every week (you can even research ideas first)! For example: Talk to someone you wouldn’t normally talk to. Go somewhere you don’t want to go with a friend (at the last minute)! Stay at an outing an half an hour after you feel like leaving. These are small ideas, but you will feel yourself making the effort and that is where the change begins to happen. Your awareness that these are hard things for you, will begin a new pattern of growth and change inside you. Leap before you have all the answers I know. Another shocker! This is quite the opposite of a type five’s instincts. Usually I say, trust your instincts, follow the voice inside you, but part of the struggle here is too much researching and too little action. Fives want to know that they are completely capable before beginning, but this just isn’t realistic. Be okay with knowing a little, and jumping in anyway. It’s okay to leap before you have all the answers. You are allowed to make mistakes, you will still be highly respected and highly valued. In fact, getting going on what you’ve meant to get going on, will have a surprising effect on you. You will find that once you’re out there doing, you’re good at it. And it will feel good inside! Even the things you didn’t research… no one else will know but you. Type Six The type six is chasing safety and security. They ask all the questions, and seek after the things that make them feel most safe. Sixes are searching for situations where they can be prepared and have the most control. This chase can easily turn sour with over-vigilance and anxiety. It is impossible to control anything, and no one can be prepared for everything. This simple reality keeps the type six digging themselves in a deep hole. They want nothing more than a predictable life, but life is always unpredictable. This stresses them out, so they double down and try harder to be more prepared. And the chase goes on and on… Tools to derail the chase to type six Journaling The journal focus for type six needs to be: what things have I done that have went well for me? Sixes often forget that they have experience making good decisions and that things have gone well for them in the past. With every new doubt and dilemma, they feel anxiety rise up, full of what ifs. Journaling positive outcomes will help reinforce the fact that sixes make good decisions. Since they tend to doubt themselves, this is a perfect “derailing practice” for them. With consistency, this journaling focus will help type six develop confidence, and come to realize that they can trust their decisions and their instincts. Do it scared. Type six can walk circles around a decision with fear leading the chase. What if this happens, what if that happens, what would I do if… and on and on anxiety and doubt will go. What if you just did it scared? This is what true courage is after all, and the virtue of the type six. This means that it’s possible. That you can do things that you don’t think you can do. And when you do things that are hard and scary, they make you stronger and courageous! Before you do it scared… It might help to talk things all the way through. We know that the type six verbally processes and processes in real time, the moment happening right now. Choose someone who is willing to listen to do this. Talk out all your worst case scenarios and take them all the way to the end. Usually, you will find that even in your talking it through version of the scenario, things turned out okay. And even if the worst happened, you have someone there willing to support you. Notes to remember for all types As you are becoming more self-aware and making efforts to grow, be kind to yourself. It’s hard to make changes, and it’s best if you don’t do it alone. Let someone know that you are on the journey, maybe they can join you and you can lighten each others load. Remember that it is a journey. It takes time to notice your chase, practice to pause and pivot towards healthy choices, and to turn these into habits. It really is a life long effort, and one that is worth pursuing for yourself and all the people you love. Thank you for reading! It is my hope that these words have brought you some inspiration. Blessings, peace, and joy to you on your journey! You might also like: Enneagram type 6 and fictional characters Enneagram Type 5 and fictional characters Behind the scenes of enneagram type 4 Grab this type 4 printable here grab this type 5 overview here Grab this overview of type 6 here
Enneagram Love Letters Types Three, Four, and Five I am continuing the Love Letter Series this week, dedicating a love letter to each enneagram number. What better gift, than the expression of love through words? Please enjoy today’s enneagram love letters to types three, four, and Five! Want a download of this love letter? Grab it here: Love Letter to type 3 Want to download this love letter? Grab it here: Love Letter to Type 4 Grab a download PDF of this love letter to type 5 here: Love Letter to type 5 I hope you have enjoyed these love letters to types, 3, 4, and 5! Share them, print them, read them aloud! Live an inspired life! You might also like: Is Your Enneagram Passion Controlling You? 5 words each Enneagram type needs to hear most
Enneagram type 4 and Fictional Characters The thing about enneagram type fours that is most noticeable is their intensity. Whether up or down, type fours aren’t afraid to embrace the emotion they are in. Let’s take a look at the enneagram type 4 and fictional characters. Anne Shirley (Anne of Green Gables) Enneagram type 4 and fictional characters Talk about intensity… Anne Shirley is the Queen of ups and downs. She is famous for her dramatic responses. Remember how she must have puffed sleeves? She focuses on this as a life or death need. She also uses phrases like, “I’m in the pit of despair!” and names every tree and special place in Green Gables, in awe of the beauty in her surroundings. Type four is also known for their tendency to compare themselves to others and count themselves short. Anne is always wishing she had any color of hair, but the red locks she has. “If only…” then I would be happy. “How would it feel to have beautiful raven locks?” Fours go deep fast. Almost instantly, Anne decides that she and Diana will be bosom buddies, best friends forever. Type four hates the mundane and shallow, they long for depth of meaning and express this openly, as Anne does constantly. Marilla is often scolding Anne for neglecting her chores, instead finding her singing a sonnet or reciting a poem. Playing pretend is one of Anne’s favorite things to do. This lets her escape the boring reality of her situation. Often times, she finds herself in her imagination, a safe and beautiful place to be when the world outside has rejected and scorned her. Luna Lovegood Enneagram Type 4 and Fictional Characters What’s not to love? Luna Lovegood from the Harry Potter Series, shows us the mystical side of fours. She loves to believe in the strange and magical. Even for the magical world, she edges on the bizarre and non-typical. She is open to others opinions, and values everyone as equal. This is a beautiful and disarming feature of four. They are open-hearted and accepting, making others feel loved and brought in easily. Luna often seems like she is living in her imagination, daydreaming and almost floating along. She also understands the darker side of life and is not afraid of it. Only people who have seen death in their lives can see the Thestrals (the skeleton-horses that pull the carriages to Hogwarts). Both Harry and Luna can see them. Everyone else thinks the carriages simply pull themselves. Luna really takes this in stride, allowing the deep emotion to linger and even sharing it with Harry. Marianne Dashwood (Sense and Sensibility) Enneagram type 4 and fictional characters You have probably heard a type four referred to as, “The Romantic Individualist.” This title fits Marianne Dashwood through and through. She would never settle for someone down to earth, and boring! (or would she)? Type fours, like Marianne, are also known for their idealistic nature. They have high hopes and dreams for a perfect world, or partner, or lifestyle. Fours love to daydream and get lost in these notions of finding their perfect… whatever it may be. As we see with Marianne, what looks like an exciting romantic partner, may not be what actually compliments type 4. She finds a harmonious partner in the unexpected, ordinary Colonel Brandon. When she overlooks him in the beginning, it is mostly because he is not her romantic ideal. She hasn’t imagined herself with someone so “boring.” But we see that he adds the balance to her dramatics that she so desperately needs. We also see Marianne’s “four-ness” affect her sister Eleanor’s life. Marianne just can’t understand how Eleanor can be so emotionless about the man she loves. In her eyes, Eleanor needs to speak up about her feelings for Edward, or risk losing him. Marianne also shows the hot and cold of the type four well. When things are going well for her, she is singing and dancing and the most joyous woman who ever lived. When she is faced with disappointment, her pit of despair is so deep she can barely crawl out of it. Thanks for taking a look at this intuitive, sensitive, and passionate enneagram type 4 through these fictional characters with me! I hope you enjoyed it! To learn more about type four check out the links below: Behind the scenes of enneagram type 4 Is your enneagram passion controlling your life? Want to download this enneagram type 4 overview? I want the download! enneagram type 4 and fictional characters Want even more enneagram downloads? Follow the link below to see all of my creations for all things enneagram! enneagram downloads please!
Behind the Scenes of Enneagram Type 4 Let’s talk enneagram type four! This type is known as the “Romantic Individualist,” but there is a lot more to them then this generic title. (Pssst… this type is the rarest)!Today I am going behind the scenes of enneagram type four to tell you what they are really all about! The Heart Triad Fours fall into what we call the “heart triad.” This means that fours are feelings dominant. But unlike the other two types in this triad, fours express their own feelings outwards as well as having a very vivid and deep inner feelings center. Fours feel everything, and want to feel everything. They don’t shy away from hard or painful feelings. In fact, melancholy is comfortable for fours. They crave the sad and deep. What others may find depressing, is like warmth and breath to a four. Fours can be considered intense in all ways. This comes from their deep desire to be authentic and unique. They hate small talk, and would rather discuss the meaning of life, or other philosophical conundrums. In their effort for uniqueness, they will express themselves through the way they dress, what they buy, and how they present themselves. What else can we learn behind the scenes of enneagram type 4? Like the other two types in the heart triad, fours are image conscious. Though a four’s take on image has more to do with their core longing to be authentic and unique, rather than to impress or draw attention. All three numbers in this triad also deal with shame which is sometimes related to how they feel about their image. Fours in particular, are constantly comparing themselves to others. And, next to the type 1, fours are the next most likely to fall into perfectionism. Behind the scenes of Enneagram Type 4 Strength and Stress Fours share a line on the enneagram with type one, so this may explain part of their perfection tendencies. When Four is in strength or growth, they have the ability to access the high side of type one, allowing them to focus on getting things done, following a schedule, and improving their world. When type four is in stress mode, they move toward the low side of type 2 causing them to be prideful, have deflated self worth, and need the approval of others. The Withdrawn Stance Fours are in the withdrawn stance. This means their orientation to time is the past. They long for what was, and rarely find themselves planning the future, or in the present. They are also oriented inward. Their identity comes from within, and they meet their own needs inwardly. This also means they physically withdraw in order to figure things out for themselves. They will come out of time away from others more energized and at peace, and if a decision needed to be made they will have that figured out too. The withdrawn stance also makes fours doing repressed. They have a hard time getting going on tasks, especially if the task in mundane. Fours will avoid doing what needs to get done for doing what they want to do or what sounds more interesting. Doing repressed also means that fours think, feel and talk a lot more than they do. They might spend a lot of time ruminating on relationships, and what is missing from their own lives. Thanks for looking behind the scenes of enneagram type 4 with me! Isn’t this type unique? I love enneagram type fours!!! I hope you enjoyed this post. Please share it. Encourage a four today! It is my hope that you live an inspired day! Want the printable below? Click Here to grab it from the shop! behind the scenes of enneagram type 4 Enneagram type 4 Candle This candle makes the perfect gift for any type four! Grab it Here!
