The Sacred Enneagram: Finding Your Unique Path to Spiritual Growth

by Christopher L. Heuertz

Fives may appear aloof or absentminded, but just the opposite is true. The mental thought processes of Fives are constantly churning through questions to be deciphered and answers to be discovered. Minimalists on the exterior, Fives have an interior life as complex as any Enneagram type—this is the great misunderstanding of Fives, especially for those who don’t have close relationships with people dominant in type Five. The traditional Passion of the Five is avarice, a form of greed, yet when Fives choose their friends they are far from greedy. In fact, Fives are frequently generous, thoughtful, and surprisingly present in their closest relationships. The avarice or greed of the Five has to do with their withholding of energy, specifically the energy they have for social interactions. This is their way of protecting their mental space from intrusions that feel like invasions. Fives feel worn out by the perpetual analysis and questioning of their theorizing and investigations, so protecting their energy is a priority. The traditional Fixation of the Five is stinginess, which fuels the disengagement they are accused of. The stinginess of the Five is really their ability to keep from giving more externally than they feel they can give themselves internally.