The enneagram was introduced into the western world during the early 1900s as a teaching tool. The enneagram describes the inner workings of natural laws within the confines of unity.

Today, an incomplete representation of the enneagram may be encountered in modern works relating to personality typology and parapsychology. However, it must be stated that although The Eminent Way recognizes that the enneagram can be used in this capacity, these personality-type systems are based on an incomplete understanding of the enneagram and are, therefore, generally inaccurate in their application of the symbol.

As you will come to discover in time, the body of knowledge contained within the domain of The Eminent Way includes the correct and complete symbol, along with its original application and teaching. However, for the sake of presentation, we will begin by offering the incomplete form, as we believe it will serve as a proper introduction to the teaching.

The enneagram comprises three fundamental symbols: A circle with nine equal divisions, an equilateral triangle, and a hexagram.

THE CIRCLE

The circle represents the theater of space in which all things manifest.

There are two aspects of a circle worth consideration: First, when one traces the line of the circle, it is noted that there is no beginning nor end. Therefore, the circle represents the infinite qualities of the universe – infinite space.

At the same time, the circle encompasses a perimeter, which is a necessary feature if something can occur within its confines; thus, we encounter its finite aspects. These two concepts require further explanation:

Philosophers and scientists have often pondered the nature of space – is it limited or limitless? If it is fixed, what lies beyond its edge? If it is infinite, why is the night sky dark? For indeed, in an endless universe, there would exist an infinite number of stars, and every line of sight would eventually terminate at the surface of one of them, thus making the night sky bright, not dark.

This paradox can be solved if we consider that, like the circle, space is both limited and infinite, depending upon the way it is viewed. By way of analogy, think that although the earth's surface is limited by its circumference, if one set out to do so, one could walk upon its surface forever, thus traversing an unlimited distance in finite space. Similarly, if one set out in a spaceship, pointed in any direction, one could travel forever, covering an infinite distance, and eventually even pass through one's initial point of origin. Space is a finite system of endless possibility.

THE TRIANGLE

The inner triangle of the enneagram represents the Law of Three, which is the fundamental mechanism by which all manifestations may occur. The triangle is the prima materia of the alchemists, from which all things take form.

As you likely recall from your introductory lessons, three forces must be present for any physical manifestation to occur. These forces are abstractly called the positive, negative, and neutral forces. In the case of solid matter, like atoms, these forces are identified as the outward force, the inward force, and the spin. In the case of space, these forces are known as height, width, and depth. In the case of time, which we will discuss next, the three forces are past, present, and future.

Whatever the context may be, the triangle represents the ability to manifest. Thus, the triangle symbol is often used to represent matter, for this is the most basic form of manifestation.

Now, consider this carefully, and understand that the triangle can only manifest because of the circle, for it cannot exist without the space in which to operate.

However, it can also be said that without the triangle, the circle cannot exist, for the triangle gives the circle of space definition by introducing the dimensions of height, width, and depth. So, it can also be said that the circle cannot exist without the triangle.

The duality of this esoteric teaching has been represented symbolically as the triangle within the circle and the circle within the triangle:

THE HEXAGRAM

Finally, we arrive at the hexagram, the symbol for time. Concerning time, we encounter a similar paradox to that of space. If time is limitless, what existed before time? If time is unlimited, why are there differences between things? For it must be understood that if time were eternal and had no beginning nor end, the universe would have already had unlimited opportunities for every particle within it to interact with every other particle, eventually, but inevitably, reducing it into its fundamental component, light.

Like space, time is both finite and eternal. Similarly, if one could travel in any "direction" through time, one would eventually return to the point in time when one began.

The hexagram of time holds two properties: the first is linear and is sequentially represented by the numbers 1-8 (without 3, 6, and 9, which will be addressed shortly). The other feature is the internal structure, a repeating decimal of the fraction of unity, expressed as the circle of space, divided by the septenary, or 1¸7, which equals .1428571.

Thus, when time traverses the circle, we observe a linear progression like birth, youth, adolescence, adulthood, seniority, and death. However, there is another aspect to time that is not linear, which forms the inner symbol of the enneagram:

Thus, in the inner dimension of time, we observe this kind of order: (1) birth, (4) adolescence, (2) youth, (8) death, (5) adulthood, (7) seniority, and back to (1) rebirth.

Thus, it can be inferred from this fact that one's birth affects one's adolescence, which influences one's youth, which in turn forecasts one's death, influences one's adulthood, and informs one's seniority, which impacts one's rebirth or reincarnation.

It is also important to point out that every number except 3, 6, and 9 is present in the repeating decimal .142857. This feature points to the fact that time is incomplete without the reinforcement of past, present, and future, which is derived from the Law of Three, symbolized by the triangle. [see that 1 ¸ 3 equals .333, 2 ¸ 3 equals .666 and 3 ¸ 3 equals .999]. Thus, space, matter, and time are interdependent and cannot exist in isolation.

*Note: The author recognizes that the above concepts may not be readily grasped at this level of teaching. However, we are assured that it will make perfect sense in due time.

THE ENNEAGRAM

The enneagram is an important symbol in The Eminent Way, for it represents all that was, is, and can be. The enneagram is the symbolic representation of all that exists within the triune theater of space – the circle, matter – the triangle, and time – the hexagram. These forces are the only tools we have to inform our spiritual evolution.

It has been said that a man, alone in the wilderness, can trace the enneagram in the sand and come to know all there is about God, the universe, and himself.

In its incomplete form, we introduce the enneagram early in your Eminent