When we think of the Enneagram, most of us fixate on the points—the nine numbers that seem to define who we are. But here’s the main thing: the lines are the basic building blocks of the Enneagram, not the points.

An Enneagram line is an archetype—a collection of themes, like a novel or a life story. These themes are meant to be engaged, wrestled with, and consciously lived. At one end of the line is a point, the most extreme position in the argument, representing an Enneagram type. But that type doesn’t exist in isolation; it’s part of a dynamic story with its opposite, found at the other end of the line.

When the archetype tells its story consciously, creativity, imagination, grace, and vitality emerge. Life becomes meaningful because we are living a dynamic story that matters to us. We make choices and embrace the fullness of our many selves.

However, when someone becomes fixated—stuck—the storytelling stops. We pretend the line doesn’t exist and cling to our “point,” our type, as if it’s the whole story. This stagnation silences the interplay of opposites that makes the Enneagram so dynamic. Fixation is not just a limited point of view; it’s the abandonment of the story. The work of the Enneagram is to bring that story back to life.

Fixation: The Ego’s Trance

Fixation is always a narrow, static perspective. The real issue is not whether you’ve evolved your type, but rather whether you’ve escaped the trap of identifying too much with it. Working to “evolve” your fixation is, in the American idiom, like putting makeup on a corpse. It might look prettier, but it doesn’t address the fundamental problem.

The goal isn’t to sanctify or enhance your type but to deconstruct it, to free yourself from its limitations by fleshing out the forgotten story of the line. This means engaging with the archetypes of the line as a whole, exploring the themes and choices embedded in its dynamic. Story, myth, art, music, and science can all be tools to bring these archetypes to life.

For example, in Greek mythology, Persephone (type 4) struggles between life in the Underworld (type 5) and the Upperworld (type 3). Persephone’s journey reflects the true path for Fours—not curing depression but learning how to live gracefully between two worlds. These dynamics bring the story of the Four line to life.

We Are All the Points

In most Enneagram classes, the first lesson is that we are “all the points.” Yet, this foundational idea often gets lost as we dive deeper into the intricate details of fixation—subtypes, wings, and sub-subtypes. While these descriptions can be fascinating, they risk pulling us further into our ego trance.

The truth remains: we are all the points. This is central to real work with the Enneagram. Recognizing the interplay of all points—and the dynamic nature of the lines—is far more transformative than endlessly dissecting our fixation.

The Role of Wings and Instincts

Oscar Ichazo understood that the Enneagram is dynamic and that fixations are static. The work of the Enneagram is to topple entrenched fixations, liberating us to engage with the full story. Wings, for example, offer an initial leverage point to free the forgotten story. Over time, we discover that all the lines, triangles, and other interconnections within the Enneagram have their own intentions and purposes.

Instincts, too, can serve as tools for transformation. If they’re used to further embalm your type, they can deepen fixation. But if applied thoughtfully, they can galvanize your engagement with your story and archetype. For instance, wings aren’t subtypes—they’re the dynamics that breathe life into the passions of each type, adding nuance and depth.

Living the Whole Story

The Enneagram, at its core, is a dynamic system that calls us to live the fullness of our stories, not to be trapped by a single point. Fixation is static, but the lines are alive, inviting us into a narrative of transformation, creativity, and choice.

The work is not to perfect or evolve our type but to undermine our fixation and re-enter the dynamic, evolving story of the Enneagram. By doing so, we bring the archetypes to life, honoring the complexity and beauty of being human.

Let us remember: the Enneagram is not a map of who we are but of how we move, grow, and live our stories.

[This article represents an updated and enhanced exploration of ideas originally discussed in The Lines Are the Basic Building Blocks of the Enneagram, Not the Points, a Skype interview with Michael Goldberg by Viviana Trucco.]

Michael J. Goldberg is an internationally acclaimed management consultant, author, and teacher of the Enneagram, recognized for his ability to illuminate the intersections of personality, group dynamics, and leadership. A trusted advisor to organizations ranging from the CIA to Motorola, Michael brings decades of expertise in guiding teams, corporations, public agencies, and nonprofits toward greater understanding and collaboration.

With an academic background that includes teaching at graduate schools of management, psychology, and law, Michael bridges ancient wisdom with modern application. He is the author of The 9 Ways of Working, a groundbreaking exploration of personality styles in the workplace and Travels with Odysseus, a powerful reimagining of Homer’s epic as a lens for personal and professional transformation.

Michael is also the author of the groundbreaking LA Weekly article, Inside the Enneagram Wars, which chronicled the vibrant and often contentious debates surrounding the Enneagram’s development and dissemination. A gifted storyteller and sought-after speaker, Michael is known for his compelling seminars on The Odyssey, where he unpacks its timeless teachings on resilience and self-discovery for audiences worldwide.

© Michael J. Goldberg, 2025, all rights reserved.