It’s Time to Set the Record Straight on Enneagram Wings
Now that we have cleared up how to understand and use the Enneagram, it’s time to set the record straight on Enneagram Wings. And ICYMI - check out my blog, What People Get Wrong About the Enneagram so you’re up to speed.
If you’ve ever told someone your Enneagram type, I guarantee you’ve heard this question:
“Okay, but what’s your wing?”
It’s one of the most common and misunderstood aspects of the Enneagram. Most people treat wings like personality subtypes, casually saying, “Oh, I’m a 3 wing 4” (or in Enneagram slang, a 3w4).
But that’s not what wings actually are.
And when we misunderstand them, we miss out on one of the most powerful tools for growth the Enneagram offers.
Let’s set the record straight.
Where Did We Get Wings Wrong?
There’s an old Enneagram tale about how this misunderstanding began…
In the early 1970s, Chilean psychiatrist Claudio Naranjo came to the U.S. to teach his Seekers After Truth (SAT) program, blending the Enneagram with Gestalt therapy, psychodynamics, and Eastern spirituality.
Some of today’s most respected Enneagram teachers—Helen Palmer, David Daniels, Kathleen Speeth, Jesuit Preists and John Lilly—were there. Others, like Don Riso, Russ Hudson, and Richard Rohr, learned indirectly through these students.
Now, here’s where things get interesting.
The story goes that someone left the room halfway through Naranjo’s teachings on Wings and Arrows.
They heard the first part—that wings unconsciously shape our personality—but they missed the most critical point:
Wings are not personality add-ons. Wings are growth points.
Instead of thinking of them as fixed traits, Naranjo taught that:
Your wings might unconsciously shape your personality—but they don’t define you.
In ego, your wings may be underdeveloped, weak, or even nonexistent.
Their real purpose is to help you grow—to break free from the limitations of your type.
That’s why they’re called wings.
Because when you develop them, you learn how to fly.
The Truth About Enneagram Wings
If you’re operating in ego, you may have no wings, only one underdeveloped wing, or two malformed wings.
In other words—your wings aren’t working!
They keep you stuck in your type’s limitations. They don’t serve their true purpose—to help you expand, integrate, and grow beyond your unconscious personality structure.
True wing work means learning to access both wings as tools for:
Transformation, not just identification.
Adaptability, not rigidity.
Freedom, not fixation.
When I first learned this, my mind was blown.
I thought, “DUH! Now, THIS makes sense. THIS is why they’re called wings!”
This distinction is critical because when we think of wings as a “subtype” or fixed personality addition, we’re just using the Enneagram as another way to justify our behaviors… instead of transforming them.
For example, saying, “I’m a 2 wing 3” doesn’t tell me much—except that you likely need to:
Integrate the high side of Type 3 to develop ambition, confidence, and effectiveness.
Develop your Type 1 wing to bring in structure, discernment, and boundaries.
And what if you’re mistaking subtype influence for a wing? A 2w3 might actually just be a Social Type 2 (which has a lot of similarities to 3 energy).
So, where do you start?
How to Develop Your Wings
There are two key ways to work with wings:
1. Follow the Universe’s Call
Sometimes, life pushes you to develop one wing.
If you’re a Type 7 in a season where you need to set boundaries and speak up, you may be called to develop your Type 8 wing.
If you’re a Type 7 needing to slow down, be more cautious, and assess risks, you may be called to develop your Type 6 wing.
2. The “Backward & Forward” Method
If you’re not feeling a natural pull to one wing, move counterclockwise first (your backward wing), develop its strengths, and then move clockwise (your forward wing).
Example: A Type 5 would first develop their 4 wing (emotional depth, creativity), and then their 6 wing (engagement, trust).
How Wing Development Gets You Unstuck
By integrating both wings, each type becomes:
More adaptable in different situations.
More balanced between core strengths and blind spots.
More whole, embracing both softness and structure, emotion and logic, action and reflection.
Let’s review a few examples break it down:
Type 8 → 7 & 9
Moving to 7: Gains playfulness, adaptability, and joy.
Example: A Type 8 is used to being in control at work but struggles to relax on vacation. Integrating Type 7’s spontaneity helps them let go and enjoy the moment.
Moving to 9: Gains patience, receptivity, and diplomacy.
Example: A Type 8 is frustrated with a teammate at work. Instead of demanding immediate results, integrating Type 9’s calmness helps them approach the conversation more diplomatically.
Balanced 8: Leads with both power and wisdom, balancing strength with softness.
Type 2 → 1 & 3
Moving to 1: Gains boundaries, discernment, and integrity.
Example: A Type 2 friend is feeling drained from constantly saying “yes” to helping others. Integrating Type 1’s discernment helps them set healthier boundaries and say “no” when necessary, without guilt.
Moving to 3: Gains confidence, ambition, and self-worth.
Example: A Type 2 is always supporting their partner’s goals but neglects their own dreams. Integrating Type 3’s ambition helps them pursue their own passions while still being supportive in their relationship.
Balanced 2: Gives love without losing themselves and finds fulfillment in both relationships and personal achievements.
Type 5 → 4 & 6
Moving to 4: Gains emotional depth, creativity, and connection.
Example: A Type 5 is struggling to express love in their relationship. Integrating Type 4’s emotional depth helps them share their feelings more openly, strengthening intimacy.
Moving to 6: Gains trust, loyalty, and engagement.
Example: A Type 5 avoids group projects at work because they prefer working alone. Integrating Type 6’s collaborative spirit helps them trust others more and work as part of a team.
Balanced 5: Uses their intellect while staying emotionally present and collaborating effectively.
For the complete breakdown on how each Enneagram Type can move to their Enneagram Wings for growth and evolution, click here to download my free guide.
Final Thought: The Enneagram Is a Map, Not a Label
I’m on a mission to teach you how to actively use the Enneagram Map for deep, life-changing transformation.
Because here’s the truth:
The Enneagram is not a justification for your behavior.
It’s not a label that boxes you in.
It’s a tool—a map to wake up from the patterns that keep you stuck.
When you use the Enneagram for growth and healing, you become the master over your ego. You improve your relationships, your career, your health, your spiritual connection—your entire life.
So, self-healing journeyers, let’s fly!
