This meme that I’m discussing (where 4, 6, and 8 can look alike) is basically part of the Red to Amber levels of consciousness development. Rather than all types moving through all colors at an even rate, certain character-traits of certain types will continue to hold on to some of these worldviews for much longer, or further up into their development. The division of the levels is somewhat arbitrary, because Maslow, Gebser, and Graves looked at development from their own Enneagrammic perspectives.

When you are a detached observer, you will see detached observation as a higher level of consciousness (Orange) than force of will (Red), and of course being connected to Heart Triad would mean stepping up further from detached observation to compassion (Green).

Until I’ve re-written the definitions of my own color scheme, living with Spiral Dynamics will have its limitations.

When you listen to someone speak, their tempo, whether they match or mis-match, whether they say “I think…” “I feel…” or “I know…” all give you insight into their Enneagram type.

A Five will speak more slowly than a Seven. A Seven is more likely to be visual than a Nine, who’d be more likely kinesthetic. These are all additional clues into each other’s internal worlds, so using them together gives us that much more information.

–Laura