13. How I created the square symbolizing the psyche?

To use the square as a symbol of the psyche, I was Inspired by Enneagram and Jungian psychology.

Enneagram uses the idea that character types can change their psychological states. It means, in Enneagram, we have such states:

1. Typical State.
   Enneagram types have typical mental states characteristic of the given types. It is a state with which representatives of given types identify. And in this state, these types feel the most natural. The term “typical state” is not used in Enneagram. It is simply said about particular types of character that can have the following two states.
2. Stress.
   When a given type of Enneagram is under stress, this type stops behaving in a typical way for this type. And then a given type begins to behave in a way characteristic of another type. So, a given type somehow becomes similar to another type. Thus, we can say that under stress, a given type moves to another type of character.
3. Relax (comfort).
   Similarly to stress, during comfort, a given type moves to another type. However, this is a different type than under stress.

Once when I thought about this movement of Enneagram types from one psychological state to another, it came to my mind one idea. It means the idea that I can present this movement using a simple scheme.

So, in the above diagram, we have a triangle which creates three psychological states, that is:

• Typical State,
• Stress, and
• Relax (or Comfort).

Thus, I associated the movement between psychological states in Enneagram with a triangle.

Later, under the influence of Jungian psychology, I decided to complete the above triangle with a second triangle.

And after many considerations, I created another simple scheme.

In the diagram above, we have two triangles, namely:

• Conscious Triangle, (which I created thanks to inspiration taken from Enneagram),
• and the Unconscious Triangle (which I created thanks to Jungian psychology).

Besides, we can see that another fourth psychological state has appeared at the bottom of the diagram.

I decided to name the four psychological states differently than in Enneagram. It means I decided to modify the names of the states to make them more general and ambiguous. Thanks to this, the Mandala of Characters is more symbolic.

Thus, in the Mandala of Characters, we have the following psychological states:

1. Typical State from Enneagram I decided to describe as—Conscious State. (Here I was inspired by Jungian psychology). Conscious State is when we are most typical or normal, or when we are under control of our Consciousness.




2. The Stress I described as Soft Self-Esteem State or Vulnerable State. Phrases “Soft Self-Esteem State” or “Vulnerable State”, in my opinion, are more ambiguous and more appealing to our imagination than only the word—stress. Vulnerability or Soft Self-Esteem also can be both positive or negative.

   Vulnerability or Soft Self-Esteem can negative when we simply have too low self-esteem, or we are too vulnerable.

   In turn, positive Vulnerability or Soft Self-Esteem can result, for example, from modesty, innocence, harmlessness, respect, forbearance, patience, tolerance, empathy, etc.




3. Relax or Comfort I described as Strong Self-Esteem State or Power State. This state is opposite to the Soft Self-Esteem or Vulnerable State. Beside, Strong Self-Esteem or Power State (like Soft Self-Esteem or Vulnerable State) has both positive or negative meanings.

   Positive when it helps in solving various life problems.

   In turn, negative, when someone has too high self-esteem or feels too powerful. Then, someone may neglect others, be difficult in relationships, misjudge its value and abilities, etc.




4. The fourth State is—Unconscious State. (This State does not occur in the Enneagram). Unconscious State is simply the opposite of Conscious State. When I was creating and naming this State, I was also mainly inspired by Jungian psychology.

   Unconscious State I also decided to give, so to speak, the second name. It means, I also like to define the Unconscious State—Complementary State. During developing the Mandala of Characters, It became more clear for me that our Unconscious State is not so unconscious. Thanks to the Mandala of Characters, I realized that we contact with Unconscious State very often. My belief that we have frequent contacts with the Unconscious State simple comes from knowing, what character has our Unconscious State? For example:
   — if our type of character is Moist Air, that is, our Conscious State is in the point—Moist Air,
   — then our Unconscious State is in the opposing point—Dry Earth.

   So, if our character type is Moist Air, then our Unconscious State is similar to Dry Earth. And if we know what character has our Unconscious State, then we can recognize when this State is influencing our thoughts and behavior.

I think here can be interesting the fact that in Polish I use different terms. It means I used different names for Strong and Soft Self-Esteem States (or Power and Vulnerable States).

So, in Polish, I used the phrases “self-certainty state” and “self-uncertainty state”, (that is “stan pewności siebie” or “stan niepewności siebie”). In Polish, words “certain” and “uncertain”, (namely “pewny” and “niepewny”), are much broader, more ambiguous, and they have more meanings than in English. So, I decided to find in English terms which are more specific and characteristic for English.

Then, I used English phrases “high and low self-esteem”. In English nowadays, these phrases are very popular. However, I modified them, and I used the phrases:
— Strong Self-Esteem State, (as high self-esteem), and
— Soft Self-Esteem State (as low self-esteem).

I did it because I want to give these two phrases more ambiguity. Mainly I want to give these phrases both positive and negative meanings. It is because in the Mandala there are not bad or good States. All State are positive or negative depends on this how we are using them. Or depends on how we are impacted by our psychological States. Because in many circumstances or life situations, our psychological States are overwhelming us. In means, it is difficult to consciously control our States all the time.

Besides, personally, I like to use phrases:
— Power State, as the equivalent of “Strong Self-Esteem State”, and
— Vulnerable state, as the equivalent of “Soft Self-Esteem State”.

I like that “Power and Vulnerable States” are very ambiguous. We can use it in many contexts. So, in sum, we can treat them as symbols which we can use for many associations. I think it is helpful in considerations about types of characters.

As I mentioned above, the four states in the Mandala of Characters are at the vertices of two triangles. These two triangles are connected with each other, and together they form a square. These triangles are:

• Conscious Triangle—between Conscious State, Power State and Vulnerable State.
• Unconscious Triangle—between Unconscious State, Power State and Vulnerable State.

All in all, the four psychological States and Conscious and Unconscious Triangles together create a fascinating square.

In the diagram below, we can additionally see arrows connecting individual psychological states. These arrows symbolize the flow of psychic energy between individual states, and between Conscious and Unconscious Triangles.

The square, (together with Conscious and Unconscious Triangle, and four psychological States) is some kind of symbol of the human psyche.

As we can see in earlier chapters, this square, appropriately inscribed in the Mandala of Characters, will specify the individual type among twelve types of the Mandala. Actually, the appropriate arrangement of this square will create individual Mandalas for each type of character.

In the above diagram, there is another change regarding Strong and Soft Self-Esteem State (or Power and Vulnerable State). I have already mentioned this in the chapter “Square and psychological states”. I think here about two speech balloons which have the inscriptions “Strong or Soft Self-Esteem State (Power or Vulnerable State”.

This is because, during the development of the Mandala of Characters, I came to the conclusion that a given type can have its Strong Self-Esteem State (or Power State) in two places. Similarly, a given type may also have its Soft Self-Esteem State (or Vulnerable State) in two places.

At first, when I was inspired mainly by Enneagram, I assumed that during Power State or Vulnerable State, we can move to one place. And that is why in the previous diagram these states are only in one place.

However, after many considerations, I came to a surprising conclusion. It means I found out that for a given type Strong or Soft Self-Esteem State (Power or Vulnerable State) can be in two places. I will write more about it in the updates, and I will write about it later in this description of the construction of the Mandala of Characters.

In general, how types move while changing their psychological states was for me the biggest problem to solve during the development of the Mandala of Characters.

In principle, I should rather say that this is not a problem, but rather one of the main “engines” of the development of the Mandala. Among others, thanks to this “engine”, I came to many interesting discoveries and conclusions. Perhaps thanks to this “engine”, I will make further changes in the above diagram. I assume this because the Mandala of Characters is under development. So, I am already curious, what else thanks to Mandala will be discovered by me and others who will use it.