Wings for Enneagram Type 8
Enneagram Type 8
Summary
As a Type 8 (The Passionate Protector or Challenger), you are confident, decisive, and assertive leaders. You are powerful change agents, especially when seeking justice and protection for others. However, you can be too blunt, confrontational, insensitive, domineering, cynical, and even vengeful because of your fear of weakness and vulnerability.
You are connected to the two numbers on the right and left of the Enneagram diagram. We call these numbers wings. As a Type 8, your wings are Type 7 (Enthusiastic Optimist or Entertainer) and Type 9 (Peaceful Accommodator or Mediator).
Just as wings are connected to the body of a bird, your Enneagram wings are always the numbers directly beside your main type.
These wings bring balance and nuance to your main type, offering you unique traits from both connections. However, the way we use our wings mirrors our level of health. When we are healthy and mindful, our wings can be strong and supportive, helping us navigate life with greater agility and balance. But if we are unhealthy or unaware, our wings—like a bird’s damaged wings—may hinder rather than help us.
Understanding your Enneagram wings provides a deeper and more nuanced understanding of yourself, especially when it comes to internal conflicts. It explains why you may exhibit traits seemingly contradictory to your main type. This awareness allows for greater self-compassion and the ability to leverage the strengths of both your main type and wings.
Both wings are always present, and you use them in varying degrees depending on your current circumstances and needs, much like a bird adjusts its use of each wing based on navigational requirements. By cultivating mindfulness and understanding how to use them effectively, you can allow your wings to benefit you when you need them most, enabling you to respond intentionally and with greater flexibility. This awareness lets you soar rather than struggle.
Enneagram Type 8 Wing 7:
The Maverick (8w7)
The 8w7, also known as The Maverick, combines the Type 8's desire to protect themselves and those in their inner circle with the Type 7's desire to be happy, fully satisfied, and content. This combination creates an individual who is excitable, spontaneous, distracted, impatient, and more social and outgoing. The 8w7 may feel an inner tension between their desire to protect and their desire to be happy and content.
✅ Healthy 8w7
⚠️ Average 8w7
❌ Unhealthy 8w7
💡Expert Insight: Mistyped as Type 7 - Both types are aggressive and assertive personalities who know what they want and go after. Type 8s deal with life as it truly is, while Type 7s are true optimists with quick minds that reframe anything negative.
Enneagram Type 8 Wing 9
The Bear (8w9)
The 8w9, also known as The Bear, combines the Type 8's desire to protect themselves and those in their inner circle with the Type 9's desire to have inner stability and peace of mind. This combination creates an individual who is more open and receptive to others’ viewpoints and interacts with more kindness and compassion. The 8w9 may feel an inner tension between their desire to protect and their desire for inner stability and peace of mind.
✅ Healthy 8w9
⚠️ Average 8w9
❌ Unhealthy 8w9
💡Expert Insight: Mistyped as Type 9, although this is not a common mistype. Eights are openly assertive and do not mind getting into conflicts to make their point, while 9s want inner stability and peace.
Remember, both wings are always present:
Both wings are always part of you, influencing your actions to varying degrees depending on the situation.
The key is to recognize which wing is at play and intentionally choose your response.
By aligning your wings with truth and embracing all aspects of yourself, you allow them to support your journey toward growth and transformation.
Next Steps in Learning for Enneagram Type 8:
Enneagram Internal Profile (EIP)
As you explore how your wings influence your Type 8 personality, you might be curious to understand even more about the different parts that make up who you are. At Your Enneagram Coach, we've developed a unique approach called the Enneagram Internal Profile (EIP), which goes beyond just your main type and wings.
EIP reveals the distinct "parts" within you, like the Wounded Child and Beloved Child, as well as how your wings and paths (Enneagram arrows) interact to create your unique inner world. This can be a powerful tool for self-understanding and growth. If you're intrigued to discover more about how EIP can help you, we invite you to:
