Triads
The Enneagram styles were arranged by the Greeks in a circle, with the nine at the top (see above). The Enneagram has three Triads (in the circle around the Mandala) reflecting our three brains, organized by color.
The Emotional or Heart Triad –2,3,4 is in RED for the Limbic system or mammalian brain. These are the Dreamers who look for possibilities in the future or bemoan the past. They seek approval with hurt as their primary emotion.
The Mind or Mental Triad –5,6,7 is in GREEN for the Neo-Cortex or thinking brain. As the Practicals, they look for understanding, security or fun to avoid their fear. They can get caught in their imaginings right or wrong.
The Strength-Gut Triad –8,9,1 is in BLUE for the Visceral-Gut or body brain. These Managers intuitively know how to keep everything in control in the present carrying anger as their dominant or hidden emotion.
The middle numbers (3,6,9) in each triad avoid their originating emotion (3s avoid hurt, 6s avoid fear, 9s avoid anger). For balance, each number needs to connect to the other Triads along the lines of its triangle, as discussed with the Triangles.
1. The Strength/Gut Blue Triad from our Visceral or Reptilian Brain
This Brain is present in all creatures, connects to the gut (intuition and immune system), operates bodily functions, and responds to life and death with the Fight, Flight, or Freeze response. The Autonomic Nervous System, with its Sympathetic and Parasympathetic responses, is active here. The Visceral Brain is reactive: if triggered into a response to an early childhood event, it will have little recall of that memory or emotional imprint. The three Enneagram styles that come from the gut are the 8,9 and 1. Paul McLean called this the Reptilian brain as all reptiles have only this brain.
2. The Heart-Emotional Red Triad from our Limbic or Mammalian Brain.
This Brain is present in all Mammals, connects to our Heart, and comprises the emotions of Anger, Hurt, Fear, Joy, Love, and the vibration of Peace. Hence, named the Heart Triad. This brain is emotionally relational and stores memories (implicit) of emotional events, both positive and negative, which can be recalled through a trigger but are mostly unconscious. The limbic/heart system appears to be the place where we store “beliefs” based on experience. The three Enneagram styles that come from the limbic brain, the 2,3,4’s, are in the Heart Triad.
3. The Mental Green Triad from our Neo-Cortex or Thinking Brain.
This Brain is fully present only in humans, assisting us in negotiating the world. The Neo-Cortex or new brain has no emotions but stores facts (as we know them, true or false), analyzes facts, records memories (explicit) that can be recalled, and is conscious. There is a right and left side of the Neo-Cortex, with the left more analytical and the right side more creative. Only on the right side is there a gate into the limbic system of emotions. The three Enneagram styles from the Neo-Cortex, the 5,6,7, are in the Mental Triad.