Enneagram Embodied
Inspired by Sleeping At Last's Enneagram song series, I created costume designs for each type. I asked the question 'how would I visually express each archetype's personality and growth journey, as if they were a character in a play?' I followed a costume design methodology and collected 'textures' from people of each type (visual representations of their type).
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Type One
The Reformer
The Type One is inspired by kintsugi pottery- the art of taking broken pottery and making it whole with gold or silver. Ones move from rigid perfection and control (making no mistakes) to grace and wholeness that allows them to move fluidly through joy and struggle. Grace is the glue that keeps humans together, as we all have cracks and crumbling corners of ourselves.
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Type Two
The Helper
The design of the Two includes their veins shown on their clothes, and a cloak of healing and nourishing water that embraces others, but protects them from others getting to close. Giving and giving. Twos experience empathy viscerally, and can be feel quite raw in the body. Their journey involves letting go of pride ('I don't need others but they need me') and learning to receive love.
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Type Three
The Achiever
Threes are shapeshifters that embody the best in a culture, but often have a hard time embodying the best of themselves. They step into big shoes. Their journey moves them from inflated ego (deceit)Â to truthfulness, flaws and all. The design is a metallic dress patinaed at the edges- awards are temporary and don't show who a whole person is.
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Type Four
The Individualist
Fours feel like they inherently lack something that others have (envy), and try on different 'fantasy selves' in the search for their true self. They often conflate their feelings with thoughts and ARE their feelings, addicted to suffering and wounded by the beauty of others. Their journey takes them from envy to equanamity.
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Type Five
The Investigator
Fives are collectors who test the truth and systematize information and their rhythms. Their journey is moving from greed and scarcity to non-attachment and abundance. The design of the Five represents the dark void of the unknown and 'lack' they feel, and their systematic organization of the beauty of the universe. I like to think that Fives have pockets with universes in them- their depth of knowledge about certain topics makes them masters.
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Type Six
The Loyalist
Sixes are lookouts for danger and build firm grounds and support systems of trust and safety. Their journey is from fear to courage (choosing action over fear because something is more important than security and safety).
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Type Seven
The Enthusiast
Sevens see life as a Disney movie with blinks of sadness. They desire freedom and happiness and avoid deprivation and pain. Their journey is from gluttony (seeking stimulation and excitement to run away from pain)Â to sobriety (allowing for positive and negative feelings equally).
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Type Eight
The Challenger
Eights feel they have lost their innocence and use toughness and charisma to feel invincible. Their journey is from lust (intensity) to innocence (openheartedness without cynicism).
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Type Nine
The Peacemaker
Nines move from sloth to action. They often walk through life half asleep to themselves because it is easy to avoid conflict with others and yourself if you don't have needs or desires. Nines wake up to who they truly are, take responsibility for their life and take action with passion.