Evolving Enneagram

Instinctual Stacking

Guide & Questionnaire

CREDIT: As with all Enneagram teachers, I stand on the shoulders of those who have come before me. I credit the following breakdown of our 3 biological, survival instinctual drives (self-preservation, sexual, and social) into 3 zones with 5 categories each to the work of Russ Hudson.

Note, however, that the following questions themselves are based on MY personal interpretation of his wonderfully elaborate body of work in this area. I have developed this synthesis (my own paraphrasing) to support, best I can, all of you who are interested in doing deep inner work based on discerning your unique instinctual stacking. Please know that this questionnaire is not meant to be definitive of who you are or even definitive of your stacking but merely a helpful guide in your own conscious evolution.

In Sacred Service, Reverend Nhien

Instructions:

For each question...

CIRCLE 1: If you tend to ignore or neglect this area

CIRCLE 2: If you feel fairly balanced in this area

CIRCLE 3: If you tend to focus on this area a lot, possibly obsessing over it

Once you've completed the questionnaire, there is a handy chart at the end where you can input and tally your answers, while taking a look at the results all in one place! One is a blank chart and one is a sample chart (already filled out) to demonstrate how you might fill out yours.

IMPORTANT! Gaining greater clarity about ourselves can be painful! Looking at our Neglected and Dominant instinctual areas, in particular, can be triggering. I encourage you to be as compassionate with yourself as you'll let yourself be. Love, more than anything, transforms and heals!

Instinct: Self Preservation

Self-Preservation Zone One: SELF CARE

  1. Diet & Eating
  2. I tend to focus on food--not just on the act of eating but on making decisions about what to eat (or not eat) and on gaining information about how to eat well or healthily.

  3. Exercise & Fitness
  4. I spend a good amount of time and energy on physical exercise and/or physical fitness.

  5. Sleep & Rest
  6. I pay attention to the amount or quality of sleep or rest that I'm getting (or not getting).

  7. Relaxation & Stress Reduction
  8. I make time for relaxation and/or stress reduction.

  9. Stimulation/Comfort
  10. I tend to be aware of how I shift between seeking stimulation and seeking comfort.

Instinct: Self Preservation

Self-Preservation Zone Two: PRACTICALITY & RESOURCES

  1. Money & Finances
  2. I pay close attention to my budget and finances. It is important to me to keep track of my money and to save it.

  3. Time
  4. I tend to be concerned with how I conserve or manage my time.

  5. Energy
  6. I tend to be concerned with regulating and conserving my personal energy. I often wonder about whether I will have enough energy.

  7. Persistence
  8. I'm steady, persistent, and consistent--able to stay with a process, look at the long term, and take steps toward the longer term goal, even when it's not particularly exciting.

  9. Practical Know-How
  10. I enjoy cultivating practical skills for everyday life, such as fixing household things, cooking, etc.

Instinct: Self Preservation

Self-Preservation Zone Three: HOME LIFE

  1. Structure & Organization
  2. I care about my home being set up, functional, and organized to support what is important to me and/or my family. (I know where certain things are kept, where important papers are filed, etc.)

  3. Safety & Security
  4. I focus my time and energy on creating safety in my home. (This might look like putting security alarms in or creating privacy in my space or being territorial about my personal property.)

  5. Holding Environment
  6. I care about creating a home space that feels nurturing and supportive (e.g., I enjoy nesting).

  7. Chores & Maintenance
  8. I value taking care of my home (through domestic chores or other maintenance activities; possibly also enjoying doing these things together with my family).

  9. Launch Pad
  10. My home is set up as a launch pad--something that supports me in my outside activities and also a home base from which I can operate and invite people into (like a hub). Contrast: When this category is low, my home might be more of a “crash pad.”

Instinct: Sexual

Sexual Zone One: ATTRACTION

  1. Broadcasting & Transmitting
  2. I focus on broadcasting or transmitting my personal energy and people tend to notice when I enter a space. I carry myself so as to draw attention (even if I'm acting as if I don't want that attention).

  3. Being Attracted
  4. I focus on what I'm attracted to and, sometimes impulsively, on following what I'm attracted to (i.e., who looks interesting). I tend to notice and immediately go check out "what's over there?"

  5. Display
  6. I tend to display myself or focus on how I am displaying myself (specifically to attract others to me). I behave in ways to make myself stand out.

  7. Choosing & Discriminating
  8. I tend to be occupied with the dilemma of choosing between the things/people I am versus the things/people I'm not attracted to. I reflect a lot on these decisions (how, whether, or when to respond).

  9. Competition
  10. I am aware of my competition and can be competitive (or even ruthless) in getting the object(s) of my desire. (Biologically, this is rooted in competition for the right to mate!)

Instinct: Sexual

Sexual Zone Two: EXPLORATION

  1. Activation
  2. I like to feel activated. I tend to notice and be interested in when I'm turned on--whether by people, experiences, or ideas. I'm drawn to know "where's the juice?"

  3. Risk
  4. I am willing to take risks in multiple areas of my life--whether it be financial, relational, physical, or otherwise.

  5. Getting Out of Comfort Zone
  6. I like to shake things up, break free of routine, and regularly get out of my comfort zone.

  7. Finding the Edge
  8. I relish the energy of seeking, finding, and pushing against my own creative edges. (Even if it applies to ideas or business, this can feel like sexual energy or excitement.)

  9. Going for It/Stopping in Time
  10. I'm aware of when to go for it versus when to pause or stop and take a breath. (Biologically, I'm aware of when NOT to rush toward orgasm. When such energy is skillfully held, it can elevate to a blissful, spiritual experience.)

Instinct: Sexual

Sexual Zone Three: MERGING

  1. Focus & Involvement
  2. I tend to get intensely focused and energetically fully involved with a person or activity (like art or listening to music). It can take all my attention and seem like everything else has dropped away.

  3. Losing Self
  4. I enjoy losing myself or my boundaries and "disappearing" into an activity or person.

  5. Spending Energy
  6. I tend to pour my energy into things (e.g., a person or activity); while this can sometimes lead to burnout, I feel most alive when I spend my energy in this intense way.

  7. Passion
  8. I feel a lot of passionate energy and enjoy expressing that energy.

  9. Concentration/Distraction
  10. I tend to feel very energetic and can struggle between times of intense concentration and, alternatively, feeling very scattered and distracted by every new possibility.

Instinct: Social

Social Zone One: INTERPRETING

  1. Reading People
  2. I'm very conscious of verbal and non-verbal communication (expressions) and am skilled in reading the meaning behind that communication.

  3. Reading Between the Lines
  4. Relating to verbal communication, I'm able to read between the lines and discern what others are actually saying even if they're not saying it directly.

  5. Attunement
  6. I can sense people's emotions, attitudes, and energy and can adjust my own speech or behavior to adapt to what feels appropriate in the moment.

  7. Empathy
  8. I readily feel care, empathy, and concern toward others and tend to communicate or demonstrate that sense of care.

  9. Adaptation
  10. I readily adapt to different and fluctuating worldly contexts, particularly different social contexts.

Instinct: Social

Social Zone Two: CONNECTING

  1. Creating relationship
  2. I'm comfortable initiating relationships, greeting people, and establishing social connections (not just romantically, but for work, based on shared interests, etc.) This includes my ability to respond with social ease and grace when I am approached.

  3. Sustaining
  4. I work on doing what is appropriate and needed to sustain my relationships and adjust to their evolution over time.

  5. Communication
  6. I'm conscious of what I and others are communicating, both verbally and non-verbally.

  7. Play
  8. I'm enjoy playing and being playful. I bond with others through playfulness or actual time playing together with others (e.g., sports, hobbies, cards, etc.)

  9. Reciprocity
  10. I'm aware of giving back when I receive from others--of doing my part in a group or team or partner effort (and I notice who doesn't do this). Through this pact (implied or explicit), we help take care of one another. "I scratch your back and you scratch mine."

Instinct: Social

Social Zone Three: PARTICIPATION

  1. Involvement
  2. I enjoy getting involved and participating in group or social activities and I am discerning about which activities I engage in.

  3. Enrolling
  4. I enroll (or try to enroll/involve) people in what I'm interested in, whether it is a social cause or my favorite bands. This might also look like trying to convince others of my political or social views.

  5. Contribution
  6. I feel driven to contribute meaningfully and serve my community or the world through my gifts, talents, energy, and/or involvement.

  7. Awareness of Context
  8. I'm aware not only of myself and what I, personally, am doing; rather, I see the bigger picture of how my speech or actions fit within the larger world context (I'm aware of systems) and I can adjust accordingly.

  9. Belonging
  10. I seek a sense of belonging and am focused on discerning where and when I belong.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

Subscribe to our newsletter!