The 'Young' Types

The 'Young' Types

From 'A Question of Presence' by Sergio Antonio

The Lunar Type The Lunar type corresponds to point 1 in the enneagram. To the Romans, the moon was Diana, a nocturnal hunter. The heavenly body influencing this type is the moon, which is still a satellite. The immaturity, so to speak, of the moon, is reflected in the physical characteristics of this type, which has a childish quality. Often the head is rounded and the chin is weak, like those of children. The energy is shy and quiet. The Lunar type is at ease in the night, and often likes to dress in black. This type also likes to use a lamp or candle that illuminates only the book he is reading or the work he is doing, leaving the rest of the room in darkness. Each type is active or passive, positive or negative. These attributes follow one another in the cycle of the enneagram in a precise sequence that I won’t describe, as you can see it for yourself. The Lunar is a negative type (that is, the negative parts of centers are more developed than the positive ones) and a passive one; the energy emanating from this type is feminine, regardless of the person's gender. The gland that receives the energy of the moon is the pancreas, a large gland that regulates the digestive processes. (The smaller the celestial body that transmits, the larger the receiving gland.) Each type is particularly subject to a main weakness in essence, also called chief feature. For the Lunar type it is willfulness. This is the tendency to say no when others ask us to do something, to passively resist, and is a way that this passive type can oppose the active power of other types. The Lunar type is eclectic and is very good at precision work, since it prefers small dimensions and details: building model ships, being a watchmaker, an analyst, or a programmer. Some extremely detailed works of art—such as entire scenes carved in a walnut or pebble, are typically Lunar works. Famous Lunar conscious beings are Rainer Maria Rilke and Lewis Carroll.

The Venusian Type Following the line drawn by the enneagram, we come to the next type, the Venusian, at point 4. For the Greeks and Romans (and many civilizations before them that had an equivalent deity), Venus was the goddess of love, both in the aspect of pleasure and of fertility. Among the planets of the solar system, Venus is the most similar in size and the length of its year (period of rotation around the Sun) to the earth. This is why the Venusian type is said to be at ease on our planet. The physical characteristics of the Venusian are soft, fleshy lips, high cheekbones, and abundant hair and (for men) beards. The gaze is peaceful and welcoming. The Venusian loves to “get dirty,” often choosing sensual trades like cooking or gardening to be in contact with the raw materials of the earth. It is a positive and passive type. If for the Lunar the answer to many requests is "no," for the Venusian it is "yes" (note that both answers are mechanical). Venusians are also good at taking care of people: they make good nurses, massage therapists, psychologists, because they are sensitive to the energy of others, emit positive energy, and absorb negative energy. They can listen and people don’t feel threatened. The endocrine glands that react to the planet Venus are the parathyroid glands, which are placed in the neck at the sides of the thyroid gland and inhibit its action. The thyroid stimulates several types of activity, and parathyroid glands dampen this energy. The chief feature or weakness typical of the Venusian type is nonexistence. Nonexistence is the tendency not to process impressions; it is an extreme passivity to external influences. The Venusian is a little sedated. It’s no coincidence that many individuals of this type like stimulants such as coffee or chili pepper, which they use to become more active. Nonexistence leads to living through others. The Venusian feeds on energy from other, more active types, and can become dependent on it. This type tends to be a follower rather than a leader. To overcome this characteristic in essence (and this applies to all characteristics and all essences), one must be present. Remember that these descriptions of types are generalizations, and that countless variations exist in nature. It is as if I said that a certain breed of dog tends to be aggressive; I would be sure to receive responses from owners of such dogs contending that theirs is not aggressive at all. In reality, our type is conditioned by other factors; this is a simplified scheme.

The Mercurial Type The Mercurial type corresponds to point 2 of the enneagram. The planet Mercury is small, fast, and has a curiously irregular orbit when seen from the earth. This sprightly rhythm has given rise to the myth of Hermes, messenger of the gods, who has wings on his feet. The Mercurial is usually as small and fast as the planet, with bright eyes and teeth that are white and regular. This type can have a powerful voice and step that seems at odds with its compact body. The active endocrine gland in the Mercurial type is the thyroid gland, which releases hormones into the machine that provide energy and regulate the metabolism. It is an active and negative type. It’s not always noticeable at first sight that it is negative, because Mercurials have a great capacity for making connections with others, due to the speed of their many ‘I’s. To Mercurials other machines appear slow, and they can generally exploit this higher speed to their own advantage. Meanwhile, others may feel cheated by their smooth arguments. One of the features that the Mercurial has in essence is “Mercurial power,” a form of power that is exercised indirectly. A classic conversation with a Mercurial could be: "Are you going out tonight?" "No." "Then you have no problem lending me your car." Another type with a power feature would simply approach the person directly and say, perhaps aggressively, "I need the car." Another weakness or feature typical of the Mercurial essence is vanity. He's a good actor. A typical job for this guy could be a comedian. He’s also good in communications, marketing, and highly competitive businesses.

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