Key Characteristics of Enneatype 9
Pleasant, Agreeable, Easy Going, Considerate, Gentle, Patient, Accommodating, Unassuming, Identity-less, Stable, Trusting, Receptive, Reassuring, Withdrawn, Dreamer, Go With The Flow, Avoid Conflict, Optimistic, Spiritual, Complacent, Resistant, Stubborn, Procrastination, Inaction, Numb.
General Description
Nines feel that they lack an intimate connection with the universe, so they yearn to be included, noticed, loved and appreciated in their everyday lives. Their strategy for achieving this is to be supportive and loving to others, but more importantly to never do anything that might cause them to be rejected. So Nines are pleasant and non-confrontational – they fade into the background and barely ever assert themselves. They rarely form their own opinions because they want what the group wants, so they may come across as indecisive, wishy-washy and a pushover. Their focus is always on what other people think and want, and this mental attunement makes them great mediators.
The Three Sub-Types (or variants)
Self-Preservation Nines
- Calm, steady, homely, comfort seekers who are concerned with meeting their physical needs, e.g. eating, reading, relaxing and their general well-being.
- Having lost touch with their deeper sense of being, they find a substitute sense of ‘being’ in the cosiness of their comfort zone.
- They find comfort in the familiar, in routines and in maintaining the status quo, so they try to avoid conflict and overstimulation.
- They love to potter around at home, and time management can be challenging, so they avoid taking on too much.
- They enjoy the simple things in life and have a dry and self-deprecating sense of humour.
- Like all Nines, they are reluctant to make decisions or take action, but unlike other Nines, they are more irritable, stubborn and need more alone time.
- They would benefit from owning their anger and using it to connect with their deeper power, which would enable them to express more decisiveness, action and strength.
Sexual Nines
- Can look like Fours.
- Kind, gentle and sweet, but not very assertive or self-assured, so they find it difficult to “stand on their own two feet”.
- Having lost touch with their deeper sense of being, they find a substitute sense of ‘being’ by merging with another person or connecting with nature.
- Their indistinct sense of self can make it difficult to establish personal boundaries and challenging to be on their own.
- They live vicariously (through other people) so they often take on other people’s beliefs, attitudes, feelings and behaviours, so they lack their own purpose in life.
- They don’t pay much attention to themselves and often sacrifice their own desires to go along with others.
- They would benefit from recognising and acting upon their subconscious need for separation, i.e. being alone more, discovering their true sense of self, and finding their own purpose in life.
Social Nines
- Countertype – Can look like Threes.
- Friendly, social and cooperative; they enjoy group participation but often at the expense of their own wants.
- Unlike other Nines, this countertype is not held back by inaction – they keep busy, work hard and enjoy social activities, but within their familiar environment.
- They are light-hearted, fun and sociable people who love to be part of the group (especially a group of oddballs or misfits), because it hides their subconscious sadness about being different and not fitting in.
- They are generous, unselfish, considerate and fair, which make them good mediators, facilitators and group leaders.
Further Information About Enneatype 9
Evolutionary Behaviours
(when safe and relaxed)
- Nines become more energetic and self-developing, like healthy Threes.
- Nines become more engaging and courageous, like healthy Sixes.
Devolutionary Behaviours
(when stressed)
- Nines become anxious and worried, like unhealthy Sixes.
- Nines become hyperactive and shallow, like unhealthy Threes.
Nines with an Eight Wing
Nines with a One Wing
General Advice for Nines
- Inquire into your tendencies to avoid engaging with yourself deeply and to avoid engaging with life fully.
- Accept that you have to be yourself and express yourself if you want authentic relationships with other people.
- Learn to recognise what you want, instead of trying to work out what everyone else wants, and don’t be afraid to say it.
- Acknowledge that your inner peace is artificial (because you supress your anger and anxiety), and know that you must accept these emotions if you want true inner peace.
Core Beliefs & Strategies of Enneatype 9
Lost Essential Quality: Basic Trust
Basic Trust is the felt experience that the universe is loving and supportive. It gives us the sense of being held in a warm and benevolent (masculine) presence. It makes us feel at home and at-one with the universe. It allows us to relax into our being and relax into life.
Mental Ideal (Holy Idea): Love
The mind’s sense of the lost essential quality – the recognition that all is one and that the oneness is inherently loving and supportive.
Emotional Ideal (Virtue): Dynamism (Action)
The heart’s sense of the lost essential quality – the dynamism that comes from being an active participant in the unfolding of the oneness.
Core Belief: I am Separate / Isolated / Alone / Lost
The loss of the essential quality (basic trust), the mental ideal (love) and the emotional ideal (dynamism) contribute to the development a core belief of being separated, isolated or lost.
Core Motivation (to disprove the core belief): To be Peaceful
In an attempt to correct the core belief (separated) and to reconnect with the essential quality (basic trust), the mental ideal (love) and the emotional ideal (dynamism), Nines develop a strong desire to be peaceful. They want to be comfortable, contented and stress-free.
Mental Strategy (Fixation): Dissociation (Laziness)
The ego-mind doesn’t see the loving oneness – it only sees isolation but doesn’t really want to acknowledge it, so their attention becomes unfocused, dissociated, lazy and dreamy.
Emotional Strategy (Passion): Disengagement (Sloth)
They disengage from the immediacy and dynamism of life to maintain their (artificial) sense of inner peace.
Ego Ideal (what we aspire to be): To be Warm, Benevolent & Included
The ego-ideal (to be included) is an aspirational idealised idea of ourself that incorporates the lost essential quality (Basic Trust).