THE THREE CENTERS.
The wisdom tradition behind the Enneagram holds that humans are “three-brained beings”—that we function through three different “centers of intelligence.” These centers represent the three modes of perception, processing, and expression: moving or sensing (kinesthetically), feeling, and thinking. Each center’s function has its advantages and its disadvantages—its positive uses and its misuses—ways it helps us interpret and interact with the world around us, and ways it can steer us of course.
Understanding how imbalanced Centers of Intelligence negatively impact us and what we can do to activate centers that are underdeveloped can open up possibilities for deeper inner transformation.
THE BODY CENTER
The “body” center includes the “motor” center (Points 8, 9, and 1), which takes an active part in all physical movement, and the “instinctive center,” which corresponds to our instinctual functions. When thought initiates movements within you, your motor center is activated. An impulse from the motor, or gut, center can be a solid guide to right action, but misuse of the motor center can also lead to impulsive behavior or inertia.
THE HEART CENTER
The “heart” center or “emotional” center (Points 2, 3, and 4) regulates the feeling function: the experience and expression of emotions. It allows you to feel your emotions and connect to others through empathy; but overuse (or misuse) can lead to oversensitivity, insensitivity, or emotional manipulation.
THE HEAD CENTER
The “head” center or “intellectual” center (Points 5, 6, and 7) regulates the thinking function: the experience and expression of thoughts, beliefs, and other cognitive activity. While essential for dispassionate analysis and reasoning, this form of intelligence can paralyze you if you get caught up in overanalyzing a situation.
THE CENTERS OF INTELLIGENCE ARE NOT AS SIMPLE AS YOU THINK.
HERE ARE SOME EXERCISES TO HELP YOU BALANCE YOUR CENTERS
CONCENTRATING ENERGY IN THE BELLY
Sit down and bring two hands to your belly, around the navel. Try to sit with good posture without leaning back, ensuring that neither the chest nor head lean forward more than the belly. For about five minutes, concentrate on your breath, while you try to sense your abdomen.
Then, stand up and, for about three minutes, walk with your hand still on your inflated belly (as if you were pregnant, regardless of gender). Notice the temperature, noises in the room, and any sensation in your body (vitality or tiredness, hunger or thirst). Try to occupy and delimit your territory when you walk. Try to sense how it is to live life through an instinctual experience. When you finish, come back to your normal walk, observing how fast your body posture changes when you take your hand off your belly.
CONCENTRATING ENERGY IN THE HEART
Sit down and bring one of your hands to your chest. Try to sit down with good posture, ensuring that neither the head nor belly lean forward more than the chest. For about five minutes, concentrate on your breath, while you try to sense your heart space. Then, stand up and, for about three minutes, walk with your hand on your chest, having it a bit "inflated" and leaning it more forward than your head and your belly. If possible, try to do this exercise with other people and look into their eyes and smile as you pass them.
Try to sense what it is like to live life through an emotional experience. When you finish, come back to your normal walk, observing how fast your body posture changes when you take your hand off your chest.
CONCENTRATING ENERGY IN THE HEAD
Sit down and bring one of your hands to your forehead. Try to sit down with good posture, making sure that neither the chest nor belly lean forward more than the head. For about five minutes, concentrate on your breath, while you focus your attention on your whole head space. Then, stand up, and for about three minutes, walk with your hand on your forehead and with the head leaning forward beyond your chest and belly.
Try to sense how it is to live life through a mental experience. When you finish, come back to your normal walk, observing how fast your body posture changes when you take your hands off your forehead.