The last two Posts served as a general introduction to the enneagram, which, when properly understood, can provide powerful insights into all aspects of one's life. This post will explore one of the grand principles involved in the enneagram, known as The Law of Three.

Before diving into the mechanics of how the Law of Three operates in the cosmos, it will be helpful to understand where it comes from and how it appears.

As mentioned in previous lessons, the triangle is the symbol for manifestation, for nothing can appear in the universe unless it carries at least three defining aspects. But from where do these forces come? Moreover, how can they be used with intelligence to achieve a specific outcome?

THE LAW OF TWO

The Law of Three is based on a more fundamental cosmic law known as The Law of Two, which simply states that every force in the universe has a polarity as a fundamental property. That is to say that all forces in the universe demonstrate dualistic properties that appear as opposites.

This observation is quite familiar to us in our daily lives. So much so that it often goes unnoticed. For example, consider our day-to-day familiarity with the following forces in their opposing manifestations:

…and the list could be carried on indefinitely.

Now, one thing that is often missed is that no force can find expression without the presence of some mediating factor. For example, hot and cold cannot exist simultaneously, independent of some medium as a reference point. When referring to the temperature bar, one must first identify the object that is either hot or cold. Next, to draw a contrast, one must recognize the thing's relationship to some other object or state. Hot and cold cannot exist without some mediator and frame of reference. The mediator and frame of reference serve as the neutralizing vector for the opposites in question.

To illustrate the point further, consider that the Law of Three manifests the interaction of two sets of opposing forces. To clarify, consider the following diagram, which shows the intersection of two distinct forces:

It should be noted that although something cannot simultaneously be both hot and cold, nor wet and dry, a thing may be hot and dry or cold and dry or cold and wet or hot and wet. The above diagram perfectly illustrates how one force, subject to the Law of Two, is mediated by another force, also subject to the Law of Two, to create a result. Thus, the intersection of two forces creates a new possibility by virtue of their interaction. In the above example, the effect produced by the meeting of two forces, subject to the Law of Two, is elemental, the manifestation of the four elements: Air, Water, Earth, and Fire.

It should be clear from the above diagram that although abstract forces such as hot/cold or wet/dry do not find direct expression at our level, elements such as fire, earth, water, and air do.

To further illustrate this, consider two more forces that exert a strong influence in all planetary life, including that of the human:

In the above diagram, the horizontal force of life splits the vertical force of gender. This splitting, of one force, by another is the fundamental way the Law of Three operates. This results in four manifestations or four Neutral Vectors:

The above diagram raises some interesting reflections. Consider, for example, that the opposite of a mother is not a father but a son. Similarly, the opposite of a father is a daughter. These observations are based on considerations of polarity alone.

The first thing to note is that there are always two potencies at play on the diagonal vectors. For example, in the "Father" vector, the potencies are +/-. The "Mother" vector contains the -/- forces. The "Daughter" vector corresponds to the -/+ powers, and the "Son" vector adopts the +/+ potencies. In other words, when looking at the results of the Law of Three, all manifestations will either appear as wholly positive, wholly negative, or a combination of the two. Another way to say this is that one vector remains intact (--/++), whereas the other will be split (+-/-+).

We will return to this feature of the Law of Three in upcoming lessons. At this point, let us press forward in our overview of the inner workings of this fundamental law.

THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE LAW OF THREE TO THE OCTAVE.

Let us now return to the above diagram, but this time with the notes of the octave imposed upon the vectors:

As you will recall from previous lessons, there are two places of difficulty encountered in any octave. These correspond to the missing semitone between the notes MI and FA and between the notes SI and DO of the next octave.

As you will note, the position of the first "shock" corresponds to the intact vector of "-/-"and is powered by the note SI. What does this indicate regarding the nature of the first shock? Stated quite simply, what is required to pass from the not MI to FA, in any process, is a state or function of receptivity powered by something active. In terms of psychological function, the higher, active aspect corresponds to the individual's will, whereas the receptive element represents the individual's need. To put it more succinctly, the will powers the need.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

The above theory is all well and good as a theory, but The Eminent Way always has three stages: Knowing, Being, and Doing. Learning the idea is one thing, but if one cannot become it and do something with it, it is useless knowledge.

In the coming days, we suggest the following ordering of this lesson into three parts:

1. Read the post several times until you feel confident that you understand the subtleties of how the Law of Three works. The Law of Three pervades every manifestation in the universe, and examples of it are everywhere.

2. At this level, one does not become the Law of Three but rather embodies it by seeing how it applies to one's own life. By way of example, consider the following scenario:

Let us say that you've gone to the doctor and have been informed that you're overweight. Upon learning this information, you decide to start exercising and dieting to remedy the situation.

A week goes by, and you've been good at maintaining a strict diet and exercising, and you feel confident that you will attain your goal. What happens next? Slowly but perceptibly, things start to slip; maybe you miss a day of exercise or go over your caloric limit. Feeling guilty, you resolve to 'do better,' and for a time, you do. Eventually, however, things gradually revert to how they were, and you remain stuck.

This same example may not apply to you, but the principle does. Without understanding the role that the Law of Three plays in our lives, we are destined ever to repeat the inertia of our life. Why is this? Let's break down the example by using our knowledge of the Laws.

· DO – The note "DO" is sounded when one sets a new intention. In the above example, "DO" is sounded when one resolves to exercise and eat more consciously. A good way to remember this is "I intend to 'DO.'"

· RE – The note "RE" is always preparatory. In the above example, this note is sounded when one decides the kind of exercises and the kinds, amounts, and frequency of meals to achieve the goal. No action is performed at "RE," only planning and preparation.

· MI – The note "MI" is sounded when one begins to put into motion the intention as visualized by the preparation. In the above example, this would be when one begins to exercise and eat according to one's plan.

· SHOCK – it is at this point that "something" comes to resist you. What is this "something"? To answer this, let us return to the diagram of the octave, represented by the eight-pointed star with some additional labels.

You will notice that the labels' Intention,' 'Planning,' and 'Execution' have been added to 'DO,' 'RE,' and 'MI,' respectively. You will also notice that the word 'Resistance' has been added to the note 'FA.' Why is this so? You will see that the notes 'DO' and 'FA' belong to the same vertical bar. In other words, they belong to the same force but are of opposing polarities.

From our personal experiences, we know that opposite forces attract one another. Thus, when one sounds an intention to do something at the note "DO," an equal and opposite force also appears to counter that intention, which corresponds to the note 'FA'; this is the solution to the enigma!

As is often the case, an intention is set, but no planning or execution is implemented, and the DO – FA forces collapse back from whence they came. In cases where we do sound the notes DO-RE-MI, the tendency of FA to collapse back into DO must be anticipated and compensated.

How is the return of FA to DO compensated? Through the force of SI, which in the above example is one's will terminating in one's need.

At this point, it should be seen that just as DO and FA are connected on one bar, so too are SI and the first SHOCK coupled, and thus it can be seen that if the need and will are more potent than the tendency of the resolution of DO-FA, the intended result will manifest. Similarly, if the need and will are weaker than the intention and resulting counterforce, one will inevitably revert to the state of previous intention. And this is the secret to all manifestations of one's intentions.

What does this mean in practical terms? It means that if one is to succeed at anything, one's will and need must be stronger than the inertia of intention and counter-intention. The strength of one's will and need depends entirely on why one engages in an intention.

Returning to our previous example, suppose that instead of the desire to lose weight manifesting as a weak whim, the doctor had said, "unless you do so, you will die within six months." Would this not invigorate the will and need to overcome the inertia of intention and counter-intention?

3. Set an intention, plan for it, begin to execute it, and ponder why you are doing it. If the reason is insufficient, change the reason.

Respectfully,

Pierce!