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As we've seen previously, Greer's model identifies specific Tarot cards - the Soul, Personality, and Hidden Factors or Teacher - on
the basis of a numerologic calculation using the date of birth. In the table and illustration below,
the major arcana have been grouped by numerologic value, each group represented by its lowest reduced number (for simplicity, I'll call this the Soul Card). Thus, for example, Tower (16, 1+6=7)
is part of the Chariot (7) constellation, while Temperance (14, 1+4=5) is part of the Hierophant (5) constellation.
Let us posit a one-to-one correlation between the Soul Cards (1-9) with the ennea-types (1-9), such that constellation One, identified
by the Magician (1), correlates with ennea-type One; constellation Two, identified by the High Priestess (2), correlates with
ennea-type Two; etc. This means that, if you calculate your Soul Card using Greer's model, the result will correlate with your
ennea-type, thus indicating your Chief Feature. We have no statistical evidence that this is actually the case. It
is certainly possible that the correlation will not work at all, though anecdotal reports suggest that, in many cases, it does.
Let us also posit that, once we've identified our Soul Card, we've identified a dominant archetypal pattern in personality.
Our Chief Feature may be described by that pattern, or subsequent analysis of the pattern may lead to introspective
insight which helps pinpoint the Chief Feature.
In my case, the Soul Card is Hermit (9). That leads me to consider ennea-type Nine as my Chief Feature.
But studies of the Enneagram and my experience with the model persuade me that a sub-type, Five/Four, is the Chief Feature,
not Nine. On the face of it, the one-to-one correspondence doesn't seem to work. But we're engaged in an introspective process, here;
let's see what we can make of this.
We might think of the major arcana as representative of archetypal patterns which sometimes present in personality, reflected
in our thoughts, feelings and expression. They are "real", in that sense, even if we define or personify them only in creative imagination.
If we think of the major arcana as archetypal patterns, we might identify a dominant archetype that is closely bound with
the "I", through which meaning is apprehended and actions are justified. In Greer's model, that dominant archetype would be represented
by the Soul Card, reinforced by the other major arcana in the same constellation. Hermit/Moon resonates for me in that
respect, but does not appear to correlate with my Five/Four ennea-type. Or does it?
When I work with the Enneagram, or any other model of personality, including the MBTI, I internalize it, presuming that all of the types
exist as principals within me. In this instance, though I resonate with Five/Four, I can engage each of the ennea-types in dialogue. While
Five/Four is my Chief Feature, I can also dialogue with Five and Four, even with both at once. Whether such dialogues involve
the use of creative imagination or represent a different mechanism that is not self-intimating, my experience of such communications is quite
real.
Now, the fact that I can communicate with all nine ennea-types in this context is consistent with the descriptors for ennea-type Nine,
which tends to identify with all of the other types. Nine experiences accidia (self-forgetting) and has difficulty with personal boundaries;
avoiding conflict, Nine sees merit in every position. In its highest expression, however, ennea-type Nine is characterized by the desire
to recognize personal boundaries and transcend them, rising above the limitations of personal perspective in the quest for universal truth.
That certainly describes my objective, but it doesn't reveal the mechanics by which I achieve it. Where ennea-type Nine represents
an appreciation of all "players" as equal partners in a spiritual gestalt and is gripped by the need to transcend the limitations of
personal perspectives, ennea-type Five/Four is a detached observer with a tendency to withdraw in melancholic rumination,
searching for fundamental truth regarding the nature of self and other. That strikes home. The defensive mechanisms, ruminative (melancholic) and
analytic assessments engaged by my Chief Feature lead me, through rather tortuous (often schizoid) introspective territory, to eventual
understanding and the achievement of an ennea-type Nine transcendence. This is very similar to the quest of the Hermit, who seeks truth through introspective
work and solitude, often struggling with a need for personal acceptance. As each new existential problem is resolved, through empathy and analysis,
knowledge is gained that can prove helpful to others.
The Hermit (9) "fits" me, but again, shouldn't ennea-type Five/Four more properly indicate Hierophant (5) and the Emperor (4)? Other
major arcana in the these two constellations hold significance for me - Temperance (14), the Fool (22) and, in particular, Death (13).
Perhaps these themes have been and remain fixations for me. Perhaps I have focused on those themes in result of childhood traumata in
response to which I dissociated from my true nature and perpetuate that split by focusing on familiar themes. My Chief Feature, in
that sense, may indeed be the self-forgetting Nine. And if I don't remember, how do I know that I've forgotten?
If we explore the myth(s) associated with our dominant archetype, we tend to experience a resonance - as if reading our own personal
"story". The Hephaestus myth holds meaning for me, but it is the myth of Amun that truly resonates. Amun had no story of his own, so he
borrowed the stories of all the other gods. That's certainly consistent with ennea-type Nine, and it may be at the bottom of the Hermit's quest.
It is said that when the Chief Feature is revealed, one experiences an AHA! realization that is at once deeply humiliating
and a great relief. I have experienced both in my work with Five/Four, and acutely so. On the other hand, if I am Nine, perhaps the best way
to recover my sense of self is via Four and Five, where I can grapple with the problem more productively, using well-honed tools.
In terms of the MBTI, my type is INFJ/INTJ. Introvert is obvious (I), as is Intuitive (I). Tests show F (Feeling) dominance, and close friends tend to see me as an NF, but
NT (Intuitive Thinking) is usually my salvation in crisis. I admire Ps (Perceivers), but J (Judging) is home turf. Does that
help in the current assessment of types?
Fudjack and Dinkelaker (1996-7) compare the work of several writers who have presented correlations between MBTI and Enneagram types.
Adapted from their work, the following table summarizes those efforts. Note the placements for INFJ (eight instances) and INTJ (seven instances).
The preponderance of INFJ/INTJ placements appears to indicate ennea-types Four and Five. Note also that these two MBTI types are
usually paired, suggesting that most of these authors do not treat the F/T variables as sufficiently different to justify correlation with a separate ennea-type.
In summary, within the limited parameters of this exploration, our correlation of Greer's
Tarot constellation with the ennea-types does not appear inconsistent with either model, but we cannot conclude that identification
of the Soul Card clearly identifies one's Chief Feature among the nine ennea-types. We posited the existence of
a dominant archetypal pattern, represented by the Soul Card, which might indicate the Chief Feature or help us identify it
through subsequent analysis. We discussed the Hermit (9) Soul Card in my case, identified ennea-type Five/Four as dominant, but
showed that Five/Four best describes defensive and analytic mechanisms which lead to insight and understanding consistent with the
Hermit theme and ennea-type Nine. Finally, we looked at correlations between MBTI and Enneagram types, noted that INFJ/INTJ represent
my MBTI type, and that most authors correlate these with ennea-types Four and Five.
These correlations have enabled me to review my understanding of all three models and explore insights of introspective value. |
