The Enneagram of the Body - Chi and the Chakras
Part II
by Alan Sheets and Barbara Tovey
In our last article (EM Jan '96) we gave a detailed description of the energy, or "chi" that we observed to be correlated with the nine enneagram points in our Enneagram of the Body (EOB) model. We also discussed the seven chakras and how they might correlate with the nine enneagram points. We had prepared two tables to illustrate this which were inadvertently left out of that article. What follows are the two missing tables from the last article and a further explanation about the correlation between the chakras and the EOB.
Ever since we began developing the EOB paradigm, we noticed that the chi for the different enneagram points seemed to be associated with different parts of the body, as we have detailed in our first four articles (EM Aug-Nov '95). In the beginning, we noticed that the chi for types 8, 4 and 2 seemed to come from the lower abdominal area, the chi for types 6, 3 and 9 seemed to emanate from the chest region and the chi for types 1, 5 and 7 seemed to come from the head. As we worked with more people and refined our skills for observing this energetic process, we began to notice that types 8, 4 and 2 came from distinct locations in the abdomen, with 8 lower than 4, and 4 lower than 2. We also observed that 7 came from the forehead, 5 from the top of the head, and that 1 emanated from between the bottom of the chin and the top of the eyes.
We do not know whether or not it was because we live in California(!) but we were periodically asked by our students if what we were working on had any relationship to the chakras. We did not seriously consider it until one day Barbara came home with a major "Ah-ha!"...convinced there was something to this idea, and when we opened ourselves up to the possibility further, we discovered that there were many more correlations than we had at first thought.
Clearly, one of the biggest obstacles to overcome was the fact that there were nine enneagram points and seven major chakras. However, we already knew the chi for 6, 3 and 9 came from the same location in the body, the sternum, which meant there were indeed seven distinct locations where we had observed chi coming from the body, a perfect fit with the number of major chakras.
With the chakras as a model to explain our observations of the EOB, we were able to further refine the locations from where chi flows from the body. Type 8 seems to be associated with the bones of the pelvis and sacrum. We've associated type 4 with the soft, yielding abdomen just above the pubic bone. Associating 2 with the third chakra gave us our biggest refinement by placing the energy for 2 between the navel and the base of the sternum. It immediately became significantly easier for us to reproduce the energetic configuration of the 2. It was also a nice bonus to read that the sense organ associated with the third chakra is the eyes, which fits very nicely with our observation that the 2's eyes are more prominent than those of any other type. We knew the chin position was very important for the 1 and that it needed to be slightly elevated and forward in order for the 1 to assume their posture of strength. This position both exposes and emphasizes the throat, which is the center of the 5th chakra.
Our findings are summarized in the two tables. We would invite any comments or ideas about this unfolding investigation. If time proves this model to be correct, it could go a long way toward explaining the origin and significance of the enneagram.
Alan Sheets, Barbara Tovey and Gina Catania can be reached:
e-mail: AlanS31416@AOL.COM. phone: 415-459-6796 mail: 1330 Lincoln Ave., Ste. 202, San Rafael, CA 94901
|
CHAKRA NUMBER
|
ENNEAGRAM TYPE
|
PHYSICAL LOCATION
|
|
1
|
8
|
pelvis |
|
2
|
4
|
lower abdomen |
|
3 |
2
|
upper abdomen |
|
4
|
6
|
sternum |
|
4
|
3
|
sternum |
|
4
|
9
|
sternum |
|
5
|
1
|
throat |
|
6
|
7
|
forehead |
|
7
|
5
|
top of head |
ENNEAGRAM CHAKRA CORRELATIONS
|
TYPE
|
NUMBER
|
CORRELATION
|
|
8
|
1
|
Abdomen/Pelvis: The EOB identifies 8, 4 & 2 as dealing directly with human interactions. In the chakra system, this area is associated with physical and emotional earthly pursuits. |
|
4
|
2
|
|
|
2
|
3
|
|
|
6
|
4
|
Chest: The EOB identifies 6, 3 & 9 as dealing directly with the process for the mechanics of living. The 4th chakra is the transition chakra between earthly and spiritual pursuits. |
|
3
|
4
|
|
|
9
|
4
|
|
|
1
|
5
|
Head: The EOB identifies 1, 7 & 5 as specializing in brain functions. In the chakra system, this area is associated with mental and spiritual pursuits. |
|
5
|
6
|
|
|
7
|
7
|
