What are Enneagram Wings?

In the Enneagram system, each type is connected to two neighboring or adjacent types, which are called wings. Your Enneagram type (also called core type, dominant type, or main type) is the primary focus of your personality, while your wings serve as a secondary influence. Wings add a “flavor” to your core type. Your wings can complement or contradict your dominant type, and understanding them can provide valuable insights into your behavior and patterns.

How to Determine Your Enneagram Wing

To determine your Enneagram wing, you need to identify your dominant type first. There are many ways to determine your Enneagram type, but not all are created equal. I suggest you take our online enneagram test. Once you know your dominant type, you can identify your wings by looking at the two types adjacent to yours on the Enneagram circle. For example, if you are a type 3, your wings would be type 2 (the Helper) and type 4 (the Individualist).

The Wings of Each Enneagram Type

Each Enneagram wing has its own set of characteristics, which can influence how your dominant type manifests in your behavior and thinking. Here is a brief overview of the wings of each type:

• Type 1: The wings are type 9 (1w9) and type 2 (1w2).
• Type 2: The wings are type 1 (2w1) and type 3 (2w3).
• Type 3: The wings are type 2 (3w2)and type 4 (3w4).
• Type 4: The wings are type 3 (4w3) and type 5 (4w5)
• Type 5: The wings are type 4 (5w4) and type 6 (5w6).
• Type 6: The wings are type 5 (6w5) and type 7 (6w7).
• Type 7: The wings are type 6 (7w6) and type 8 (7w8).
• Type 8: The wings are type 7 (8w7) and type 9 (8w9).
• Type 9: The wings are type 8 (9w8) and type 1 (9w1).

How Do Enneagram Wings Influence Your Personality?

Enneagram wings can influence your personality in different ways, and they can complement, compensate for, and/or contradict your dominant type.

Complementary Wings: If your wing complement your dominant type, they can enhance the positive traits of you.r type and help you balance your weaknesses. For example, if you are a type 4 (the Individualist) with a 5 wing, you may have a stronger intellectual curiosity and introspection.

Contradictory Wings: If your wings contradict your dominant type, they can create tension and conflict within your personality, which can lead to confusion and ambivalence. For example, if you are a type 9 (the Peacemaker) with an 8 wing, you may struggle between your desire for peace and harmony and your assertiveness and need for control.

Understanding your wings can help you become more aware of these tendencies and develop strategies to manage them effectively. By recognizing your wings’ influence, you can also deepen your self-awareness and gain insights into your behavior, thoughts, and motivations.

Frequently Asked Questions about Wings

While it is possible to have both wings equally strong, most people tend to have one wing that is more dominant than the other.

Your dominant type and wings tend to remain stable throughout your life, but it is possible for them to shift slightly in response to significant life events or personal growth.

Identifying your dominant wing can be challenging, and it may require some introspection and self-reflection. Consider taking our online Enneagram test to help you determine your wing.

Subtypes are another aspect of the Enneagram personality system that relates to how each type expresses itself based on the three human instincts: self-preservation, social, and one-to-one. Wings, on the other hand, are more closely related to the dominant type and influence its expression.

Yes, all three of the types in your Enneagram tri-type also have wings.