This small tree grows fast, often directly exposed to the inhospitable environment of highlands - it’s a pioneer species, and has archetypal status as the Celtic tree of life.

The enneagram 368 personality tritype is a kind of warrior.In their younger less evolved states both the enneagram 3 and 8 also move fast to action, without contact with their heart (3) or appreciation of their impact on others (8) and are likely to draw negative attention and retaliation to themselves. This will set up fear in the 6 part. This fear is likely to be suppressed and masked by the other parts, which are unable to self soothe, and often still running things in adulthood.

The early survival strategies needed, are to suppress your feelings and see the opportunities in the environment (3), dissociate from your fear and act regardless (counterphobic 6) and act boldly, treating yourself solely as an agent of control, and others as pieces to move around a game board (8)

The Rowan tree offers insights into a healing journey for those living with the challenges of this archetype. Like the Rowan you have needed to be indispensible (supply berries) hide your fear (grow on a craggy drop if need be) and protect smaller dependent others (the small mammals and birds you feed through winter).

These three survival strategies in combination have often been honed in very tough childhood settings. where the child had to become resilient and bold, since no one was acting on their behalf.

It’s easy to see why this human put themself in leadership positions before they were ready. The work humans living in this place need to do to become mature, is not about fighting or leading as a response to fear, but about facing inner vulnerability, and finding a sanctuary where that healing can happen.

In Violet Jacob’s poem about the Rowan in my longer post, the fearful one can be seen as the six part of the personality that is sat on the floor, ‘fleggit like a wain’ (fearful like a child) inside the house, looking to the Rowan tree to fight the warlock on the hill.

This post is a companion to a longer piece on my substack containing the full poem which you can find here

But, if most of this is an inside job, peace will need to be found between these inner parts.

True leadership is not reactive and paranoid, but measured and courageous. It doesnt elicit fear in others either. We know it when we see it. It is empowering. It mirrors the deeper qualities of 368, the qualities of veracity, courage and innocence. This innocence is not naive. It is the kind of innocence that comes at the end of a long journey into surrender, with an understanding what real power can do. I saw this in my 863 friend who battled cancer and in that journey, before he died, discovered love.

Part of this journey will be about creating your own internal safety, and this is where a trauma-informed creative practice can support you. A deeper layer will be about finding the self-compassion you need to take responsibility for harm these younger parts of you caused you, and those around you.

Working with trees and with your soul imagery are powerful tools. They can cut through to what is important so that you can find the healing parts within you too, to offer you the inner resourcing you need.

If you would like to explore this more , here is where you can set up a call with me to talk about working together.

Healing for enneagram 368 with insights from the Rowan tree

Seven Kinds of Tree Medicine

October - Enneagram archetype 145 and Ash, keeper of stories.