Since
so many people think they can accurately type public figures, I decided to take
on one of the most important public figures of all – Santa Claus. If we can so
effectively type everyone else, why not dear Santa?
Here’s
what we know about Santa:
Physical Description: He’s a plump, older man
with white hair, a white beard and a coordinating white handlebar mustache, who
doesn’t seem to shave or get his hair cut very often. He also likes red; he is most often seen
wearing a red coat, hat and trousers, all with white trim (someone else
probably does his laundry), and a belt and boots, both black. Often, he has
rosy cheeks, but this may be due to many factors: (1) his over-exerting himself
to squeeze through all those chimneys in such a short period of time; (2) he
may be oxygen deprived from living in the North Pole; or (3) he could be
straining his heart severely because of his excessive weight. It’s also possible
that too much brandy or rum in the eggnog may have something to do with it.
Enneagram Analysis: It’s not advisable to
assess a person’s Enneagram type from his or her physical appearance alone, but
there are some clues here. Santa obviously likes red, white and black, and he wears
the same outfit every year. This consistency in dress-style suggests that he is
somewhat conserving – that is, he likes tradition – but otherwise doesn’t pay a
great deal of attention to his public image. This lack of concern about his
physical persona suggests he is not likely one of the three image types: Enneagram
Two, Three or Four. If he were, Santa would be far more likely to get shaves
and haircuts before appearing in public, or at least he would do something to
update his appearance every few years.
Interests: He likes to travel (Santa Claus is coming to town) and is
keen on children and animals, especially reindeer. Children and reindeer like
him so much, it’s possible he might be one of those sincere adults who likes both
children and animals better than their adult counterparts. Santa seems to be an effective, facilitative leader. This conclusion is based on the fact that he organizes all of those
elves throughout the year, and we’ve never heard one complaint about his
leadership style, nor have there ever been rumors of conflict among the elves. There
was one incident among the reindeer in which the reindeer picked on poor
Rudolph because he was different (red-nosed), but Santa mediated that situation
immediately (Rudolph with your nose so
bright, won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?). Santa Claus also likes the outdoors; otherwise, he would not ride
in an open sleigh in the freezing cold (Oh,
what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh).
Enneagram Analysis: Santa’s interests give us
a great deal of useful information about what his Enneagram style might be. His
liking of reindeer and children (especially “good” ones) may be an example of
his tendency to merge with positive people and pleasant objects. If so, this
suggests that Santa might be an Enneagram Nine. His facilitative leadership
style and his adeptness in maintaining harmony (and mediating conflict when it
does arise) are also traits common among Nines. In fact, Nines are often called
The Mediator, and Santa certainly is that (Then
all the reindeer loved him [Rudolph] as they shouted out with glee….)! In
addition, many Nines love the outdoors – although most prefer warmer weather – because
nature feels peaceful, even blissful to them.
Personality Traits: Santa is jolly, smiles a
great deal, likes to eat (especially cookies and milk), and is a very likeable,
accessible fellow. Anyone can write him at the North Pole through the local
post office, and he sometimes responds with a return letter or just the present
you asked for in your letter to Santa. He loves to give presents, but he seems
to do better when you give him a list rather than having to figure out what you
want on his own.
He
laughs a great deal and is particularly fond of the words, “Ho, Ho, Ho.” We
also know he is a good listener; millions of people sit on his lap every year,
and Santa listens attentively to each and every one of them. Santa can also be
a bit judgmental, looking for children who have been “nice” all year rather
than “naughty” for his present giving (He
knows if you’ve been bad or good, so be good for heaven’s sake).
Enneagram Analysis: Santa’s strong affability
also suggests he is an Enneagram Nine, as do his frequent smiles and excellent
listening skills. Although Enneagram Twos like to give presents, most Twos
neither need nor want a wish list from you. They simply know – or think they know
– what you want. Nines, by contrast, often like doing things for others, but
prefer that you tell them what you want or write down what it is so they can do
it or get it for you. If Santa is a Nine, he might be a self-preservation Nine,
a subtype of Nine known by the name “appetite.” Santa seems to have
unquenchable taste or appetite for cookies and milk, hence his big belly.
Santa
is a bit judgmental as he makes his present-giving decisions based on who is
“naughty” and who is “nice.” Nines are not externally judgmental, even though
they often do have strong options about people and events, so it is possible
that Santa is a Nine with a One wing, because Ones are more critical of others
and more vocal about these opinions than are Nines.
Some curious things about
Santa:
Santa Claus has several aliases, such as Saint Nicolas, Father Christmas, or
Kris Kringle. Sometimes he simply goes by Santa.
It
is also unclear as to whether Santa is married or not. There have been
sightings of Mrs. Claus, although very few photographs exist of her. In
addition, Santa has been known to be involved with many mothers (I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus). As a
result, we don’t know if Santa is currently married or not. Perhaps he simply
enjoys romance on the road.
Enneagram Analysis: Considering these odd
Santa facts, it seems dear Santa may have some secrets. This might suggest that
Santa could be an Enneagram Five who compartmentalizes his life, maintains his
privacy, and keeps secrets. However, everyone knows all of Santa’s aliases,
just as we all know he’s kissing a lot of “mommies,” so what may be
questionable behavior is certainly not secret behavior. Maybe Santa just loves
everyone (like the good Nine that he is) and needs to be in so many places simultaneously
that there are actually multiple Santas, all Nines, out there doing all this
good work during the holidays!
So
Santa Claus (aka Kris Kringle) is absolutely, definitely, positively an Enneagram
Nine. Or is he?
Thanks to my brother, Martin Snapp, for
suggesting I write a blog about Santa and his type. Other than that, I take
full responsibility for all the facts, opinions, and conclusions in this blog.
Pure Acceptance | To accept ourselves and each other as we are
“Serenity comes from trading
expectations for acceptance.” ~ Unknown
Pure Generosity | To give that which is not easy to offer,
without expectation
“A person who does things that
count does not stop to count them.” ~ Albert Einstein
Pure Flow | To allow ourselves to go with our natural
flow and order
“To stop the flow of music would be like the
stopping of time itself, incredible and inconceivable.” ~ Aaron Copeland
Pure Compassion | To fully experience the suffering of others
without absorbing it
“If you want others to be happy,
practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” ~ Dalai
Lama
Pure Clarity | To know what is important from a clear mind,
heart, and body
“Clarity of mind means clarity of
passion, too; this is why a great and clear mind loves ardently and sees
distinctly what [s]he loves.” ~ Blaise Pascal
Pure Potency | To recognize our power to change what needs
to be changed
“The
violinist is that peculiarly human phenomenon distilled to a rare potency –
half tiger, half poet.” ~ Yehudi
Menuhin
Pure Possibility | To honor the art and beauty of possibility that
includes accepting our limits
“Once we accept our limits, we go
beyond them.” ~ Albert Einstein
Pure Openness | To open ourselves to all that is real, inside
and out
“Now
there’s a person with an open mind – you can feel the breeze from here! ~ Groucho Marx
Pure Awakening | To be alert and conscious to all things in
all time
“The
key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into
our awareness.” ~ Lao Tzu
A
Nine said recently, “Please don’t choose the elephant to represent Nines.” I
think what she was thinking is that elephants are lumbering animals, kind of
lumpy and sometimes slow. Besides the fact that I picked elephants to represent
Enneagram style Twos, elephants are nothing like the above stereotype (and neither are Nines). To the
contrary, rather than lions, it may be elephants who are kings and queens of
the jungle! They actually have no natural predators (other than humans),
although lions occasionally kill calves or weak individual elephants. And
although a great deal of the elephant’s power is in its sheer size, the
elephant has enormous power and versatility in its trunk, as well as highly attuned
emotional sensitivity and concern for others.
Sensitivity and
emotionality
Although
most plant eaters (and the elephant is a herbivore) possess teeth adapted for
cutting and tearing off plant materials if the desired food item is too high
up, the elephant actually wraps its trunk around the tree or branch and either shake
the food loose or simply knock the tree down altogether. The elephant's trunk
is sensitive enough to pick up a single blade of grass, yet strong enough to
rip the branches off a tree.
Elephants also
cry, play, show anger, and laugh. They are so sensitive to their fellow animals
that if a baby elephant complains, the entire family will rumble and go over to
touch and caress it. Elephants have greeting ceremonies when a friend that has
been away for some time returns to the group.
Enneagram
Commentary:
Like elephants, Twos are very clever in getting what they want for others or
for themselves. If one way doesn’t work, they move to another using subtle
strategy at first, a bigger and bolder one if necessary. Twos also display a
variety of emotions, moving from one to another quite fluidly as they emerge.
And with the reaching out to those in need, who can doubt that Twos are
elephantesque?
Communication
Elephants can communicate over long distances by producing a
sub-sonic rumble that can travel over the ground faster than sound through air.
Other elephants receive the messages through the sensitive skin on their feet
and trunks. It is believed that this is how potential mates and social groups
communicate.
Elephants
make a number of sounds when communicating. They are famous for their trumpet
calls, which are made when the animal blows through its nostrils. Trumpeting is
usually made during excitement. Its use varies from being startled to a cry of
help to rage. Elephants also make rumbling growls when greeting each other. The
growl becomes a bellow when the mouth is open and a bellow becomes a moan when
prolonged. This can escalate with a roar when threatening another elephant or
another animal.
Enneagram
Commentary:
Twos are also highly focused on communication, with an astute ability to read
other people’s non-verbal cues. Otherwise, how would a Two know so readily what
others need? Also interesting is the variation in elephant communication, from
suggestive mating rumbles (maybe the sexual subtype Twos) to the threatening
roar when needed. Have you ever seen an angry Two roaring? If not, Twos can
make Eights seem like amateurs!
Sociability
and protectiveness
The
elephant’s trunk plays a key role in many social interactions. Familiar elephants
will greet each other by entwining their trunks, much like a handshake. They
also use them while play-wrestling, caressing during courtship and mother-child
interactions, and for dominance displays; a raised trunk can be a warning or
threat, while a lowered trunk can be a sign of submission. Elephants can defend
themselves very well by flailing their trunks at unwanted intruders or by
grasping and flinging them.
Elephants form deep family bonds and live in tight
matriarchal family groups of related females called a herd. The herd is led by
the oldest and often largest female in the herd (the matriarch). Herds consist
of 8-100 individuals depending on terrain and family size. When a calf is born,
it is raised and protected by the whole matriarchal herd. Males leave the
family unit between the ages of 12-15 and may lead solitary lives or live
temporarily with other males.
Enneagram
Commentary: It is wise advice to never get between a Two and another
person (particularly a child) whom they want to protect. Most Twos are also
social animals, just like elephants, and they are also highly tactile. Twos
often reach out to others physically with an embrace, a soft pat on the back, a
warm hug (even if some others may not be ready for it). And many Twos are called
“mother hens” of their clans, although “mother elephants” may be a more apt description.
Power
Despite
their popularity in zoos, and portrayal as gentle giants in fiction, elephants
are among the world's most dangerous animals. They can crush and kill any other
land animal, even the rhinoceros. They can experience bouts of rage, and engage
in actions that have been interpreted as vindictive.
Enneagram
Commentary: Those sweet, adaptive Twos can also be fierce, so never
underestimate their real power and the energy they can muster up when required.
They may not sit on you and squash you, but Twos have a variety of strategic resources
they use when needed. Many years ago when I did a large group workshop on
Enneagram styles and their relationship to power, the only type group that had
to report out on the topic was the Twos. When asked, they said, “We felt very
uncomfortable discussing it.” When asked why, they answered (very honestly), we
think about power, influence, and relationships all the time, but it is subtle
and implicit. And we don’t like acknowledging that we do this, ‘good’ people
that we are!”
Underestimated intelligence
Elephants are extremely intelligent animals and have
memories that span many years. It is this memory that serves matriarchs well
during dry seasons when they need to guide their herds, sometimes for tens of
miles, to watering holes that they remember from the past.
The
elephant's brain is similar to that of humans in terms of structure and
complexity. With a mass just over 5 kg (11 lb), elephant brains are
larger than those of any other land animal. A wide variety of behaviors
associated with intelligence have been attributed to elephants, including
feeling sensitivities, making music and art, altruism, surrogate mothering, use
of tools, compassion, and self-awareness.
Enneagram Commentary: It is too often said that
Twos are not intellectually oriented, and this always implies that Twos have a
little less brain-power than people of other styles. Often what accompanies
comments that negate the intellectual capabilities of Twos is this: “After all,
Twos have no link to the Head Center of Intelligence through their wings or
arrows.” Well, many Twos have highly developed cerebral functioning, with right
and left brains that are active and even talk to each other. Their social
intelligence integrates well with mental intelligence to make a strong, but
underestimated, intellectual nature – just like elephants. Never underestimate
the brain-power of a Two (or an elephant, for that matter} particularly when
you are face-to-face with them!
 Gerry Fathauer, a Senior Member of the Enneagram in Business Network, is now writing the
Monthly Insights for 2012. Thanks to Gayle Hardie for doing this for 2011 and
to Ruth Landis for 2010. All three of these Senior Members have an affinity
for the transformational aspects of the Enneagram, so it is with great pleasure
that I write the month’s first blog from these Insights.
Gerry has a vast background in arts management and currently
works as a coach, trainer, and consultant whose work centers on actualizing
organizations and individuals.
The holidays are upon us, and what an inviting time of year
to be present to gratitude! Gratitude is a state of being. Being in gratitude
provides an almost magical shift in perspective.
Gratitude has the capacity to transform our experiences, our
attitude, and our self-perspective. When was the last time you experienced
difficulty, perhaps with someone who challenges you? How might your experience
have shifted if, in the moment, you felt gratitude for this individual? When we
open to a state of gratitude, we experience a qualitative shift, even in the
most difficult of conversations.
The state of gratitude also has the capacity to shift our perception
of reality. Moments of disappointment, defeat, or mindless “shutting down,”
when held in tandem with gratitude can be transformed to an awareness of self-acceptance
and self-love. Your energy is qualitatively different, as is your perspective
on life.
Can you open to gratitude when your attitude is affecting
your day? Or in the midst of difficulty? When you do, are you aware of a shift
in your perspective? Are you able to hold both the difficulty and a state of gratitude
in your experience and open to a qualitative shift in your way of being?
What a gift this state of being we call gratitude is, to
ourselves and to others.
Gerry’s Insight Activity demonstrates how all of us can shift
our perspective to move into gratitude. In this blog, I’ll add some additional
ideas for individuals of each Enneagram style.
Enneagram Ones
Obvious idea: Focus equally on what is wonderful and glorious
about something that is not completely stellar as you do on what is wrong
with it.
Non-obvious idea: Tell three different people who you care
about what they really mean to you and the gratitude you have for them.
Enneagram Twos
Obvious idea: Think of a recent time when something didn’t go as
you had hoped – for example, someone didn’t respond to you in an affirmative
way or didn’t follow your advice and suffered – and yet you didn’t get deflated
or feel unhappy about it. Allow yourself to feel gratitude for your growth and
how you handled what might have been a deeply discouraging situation, one in
which you might have felt angry, or engaged in self-recrimination.
Non-obvious idea: Write down three things about yourself that
you feel deeply grateful for. Say these out loud and place them on your
bathroom mirror where you can read them every day.
Enneagram Threes
Obvious idea: Think about what you actually have, not what you
think you need to gain. Experience gratitude for what you actually have.
Non-obvious idea: Experience your deepest felt gratitude for
allowing yourself to do something you really wanted to do, not for the sake of
success or respect, but because you simply enjoyed the process of doing it, not
the outcome.
Enneagram Fours
Obvious idea: Spend just as much time thinking about what is
“present” as you do with what is missing. Enjoy feeling appreciative for what is right in front of you.
Non-obvious idea: Make a list of what you have to offer and then
shorten this list to three items. Draw a picture, create a song, write a poem,
or take a photograph that symbolizes each of these three items. Then put them
someplace special in your home or at work so you can look at them every day.
Enneagram Fives
Obvious idea: Think of three things (objects, people, ideas,
or events) that you feel extremely grateful for. Every day, add to this list and
continue this activity for a full week.
Non-obvious idea: Make a list of everything in the world and
your life that you like very much which is abundant and replenishes itself
automatically. In other words, it never becomes depleted. Ponder this list for
at least three days.
Enneagram Sixes
Obvious idea: Consider this idea: "Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that
something else is more important than fear" (Ambrose Redmoon). Express
gratitude for the role that caution and concern play in your life.
Non-obvious idea: Ponder this idea: “It is curious that physical courage should be so
common in the world and moral courage so rare” (Mark Twain). Think of all the
times you have shown moral courage and be grateful for your integrity.
Note: Ambrose Redmoon is the
pseudonym used by James Neil Hollingworth (1933-1996); he was, according to
Wikipedia, “a beatnik, hippie, writer and former manager of the psychedelic
folk rock band Quicksilver Messenger Service.”
Enneagram Sevens
Obvious idea: Be in gratitude for all the times you have felt
uncomfortable and stayed with this experience rather than avoiding it.
Non-obvious idea: Think of one thing in your life that you
care about so deeply that your interest in it is self-sustaining. Be in
gratitude for this one area for showing you that you can sustain your focus
when you allow something to touch your heart.
Enneagram Eights
Obvious idea: Think of three things that someone else made
happen (and you had no role in) that you feel in gratitude about. Sit with
these in your mind, heart, and body for one half hour.
Non-obvious idea: Feel your vulnerability and experience
gratitude for your openness, flexibility, and gentleness in allowing yourself
to feel this. Do this daily for one month.
Enneagram Nines
Obvious idea: Express yourself honestly to three different
people. Feel gratitude for your courage and directness.
Non-obvious idea: Write an advertisement for yourself, promoting
all that you are, your accomplishments, and your capabilities. If you are
artistic at all, make this into a visual advertisement and post it on your
bathroom mirror.
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