KA Byrnes – Enneagram and Encaustic

MILES, SEVEN

The story requires that Miles have a broken heart. It’s how he and Iris bond. He’s such a cheerful person, though, that it’s disconcerting to see him feel sad. His spontaneous personality — singing loudly in the video store, offering Christmas fettucine — seems impervious to depression.

Miles finds so much joy in his daily life that I want to call him a Seven. His songwriting and film scoring work bring him pleasure. Being tossed into the middle of Arthur’s dinner party brings him relaxation. Although his girlfriend cruelly dumps him, he finds a way to move past her without lingering or wallowing. Life is too exciting for Miles. He won’t be bogged down by sorrow.

It’s hard to separate Miles from Jack Black. The actor’s real life personality infuses any character he portrays. Dewey Finn from School of Rock is also impulsive and bold. Miles is a dependable adult unlike Dewey (lol), but they share an authenticity. What you see is what you get. Black’s style meshes well with Miles’ happy Seven qualities.

He also meshes well with Iris’ Two. She doesn’t need more drama in her life, and Miles is low maintenance. He’s easy to love: expecting nothing and welcoming everything.

IRIS, TWO

The Holiday has become a Christmas staple over the past 20 (!) years. Wow, has it really been that long? Well, then, it’s certainly worthy of a look at its Character Enneagrams.

When you first meet Iris, our English rose, do you like her? On the one hand, she has a generous and vulnerable heart. On the other, she’s seduced by an obvious and repugnant con artist. She wins us all over, though, when she gets to Los Angeles and takes such pleasure in her vacation.

Unlike Amanda, whose problem is herself, Iris’ problem can be left behind in England. She forms relationships with people — Arthur and Miles — who aren’t toxic. Her routine at home was a prison. Here she’s free. Iris, named after a flower that emerges at the end of winter, blooms in warm California.

This is a Heart Type. Iris is a Two. Her caring nature leads her to overextend her sympathy for Jasper, the cad. The sweetest personality in the Enneagram, a Two, can be manipulated by vultures, and Iris is a textbook case. Jasper expects (and demands) that Iris take care of him. It’s exhausting for her; she’s depleted by their relationship. Arthur, the elderly neighbor, is the opposite. He’s a bit grumpy about any caretaking, but he accepts Iris’ help. Her easy persuading is understood and appreciated.

We’re so happy to see Iris rewarded with the people she meets. She deserves to find true friends and love.

Season’s Greetings

Hogwarts is snowy and cold, but only now do the Christmas decorations go up in the castle and Hogsmeade. Although the UK has no Thanksgiving that marks the beginning of the season, they’ve sensed the appropriate time to bring out the Yuletide festivities!

I learn the fabulous Transformation spell from Professor Weasley. (I can turn enemies into an exploding barrel that I can throw at other enemies. So cool.) Strangely, at this mid-year evaluation, she says the exact same thing to me as she does to another me who has completed all the side missions. I’m excelling!

Finally I can find Amit, a fellow Ravenclaw, in the Astronomy Tower. Amit, bless his heart, is more wizard than warrior. He’s self-taught in the goblin language, Gobbledegook, which is why he’ll be accompanying me. Lodgok has found a goblin mine for me to explore, and there will be some papers and schematics that need translating.

And here comes some backstory: an ancestor of Ranrok’s, Bragbor, left journals that explained how he built magical repositories for a certain group of witches and wizards. (Yes, it was for our Keepers.) Armed with this information, Ranrok seeks any property connected with their names (such as Rookwood Castle). Perhaps this mine has plans that Amit can read. Lodgok will not join us; he can’t be recognized and have his presence reported to Ranrok.

The mine is a fun environment of steam power and accio-pull mechanics. We find a schematic for an enormous drill, helped by Amit’s translations. Although Amit fought well, he hopes to never have another adventure again.

After Amit leaves, Lodgok and I confer. Ranrok hates wizard-kind. At first Lodgok did, too. But then, when he was searching Rookwood Castle for the repository, he met a witch doing research. Without hesitation, she smiled at him and invited him to join her. She showed him a strange goblin metal canister. It was Miriam, Fig’s wife. Her kindness changed Lodgok. When he heard she had been killed (by either Ranrok or one of his minions), Lodgok was sad and wanted no more to do with Ranrok’s mission. However, not all of Bragbor’s journals have yet been found. Somewhere is a gigantic repository, one that will need the enormous drill.

FELIX HAPPER, NINE

The fabulous Burt Lancaster, nearing the end of his career, plays the corporate mogul in charge of Knox Oil and Gas. Happer is incredibly eccentric; he’s obsessed with discovering and naming a comet. In Scotland Mac is to call him long distance about changes in the constellation Virgo. Lancaster brings instant gravitas to a kooky character. Casting him is excellent.

Happer is impulsive. When Mac, drunk, calls to explain the colors in the aurora borealis to him, Happer skips the pond to see for himself. He’s also wealthy and privileged, talking to Heads of State. In some ways, Happer is dotty. I prefer to see him, though, as an elderly, successful man who can do whatever he likes at this stage. He’s proven himself many times over during his career.

However, these offbeat qualities make him the best negotiator with Ben, the shack-living bum who owns the beach. Happer is excited about the sky, and Ben, who lives under the northern sky every night, is a wonderful resource. The solution they reach suits Happer’s interests, but it will also please the Knox shareholders.

Whoo, boy, the choices for his Enneagram are many. His whimsy could indicate a Seven. His charm and success could indicate a Three. His easy manner with Ben could indicate a Nine.

Lancaster was such a physical man. Remember, his career began as an acrobat. Because of this, I want to choose Nine. In “Field of Dreams” he played an elderly doctor, but we also believed that he was a remarkable baseball player in his youth. Lancaster’s real life personality touched every character he portrayed. Happer can be logically described as a Nine, but I’m picking it because . . . I gotta. It’s freakin’ Burt Lancaster.

GORDON URQUHART, THREE

Gordon is the local man. Like everyone in the village, he wears many hats: hotelier, bartender, and accountant. He represents the community, negotiating the purchase deal with Mac. He’s competent and a natural leader.

Gordon is a Three. He must be. He’s good at everything he does and everyone like and trusts him. When Mac, drunk, says to him, “I’d make a good Gordon, Gordon,” it’s an admission that Gordon is already the best version of himself.

One thing I like about Gordon’s Threeness: he’s great for the village. His genius is capped by his circumstances. Mac, coming from a more ruthless community, outnegotiates him. We know from the early Knox board meeting that the town and surrounding beach is worth $600 million and that they can go no higher than $60 million in payout. Gordon feels very bold to ask for $6 million, and Mac, stonefaced as always, says he’ll consider that price.

Bonus points if you recognize Gordon’s young Denis Lawson as fighter pilot Wedge from the OG “Star Wars”.

OLDSEN, SIX

The Scottish representative of Knox Oil and Gas, Oldsen works with Mac to secure the deal. Here is Peter Capaldi (of Dr. Who fame) in his first film role, portraying an extremely awkward young man. He runs like Woody from “Toy Story”, lol.

I suspect that Oldsen is a Head Type, considering his physical and social clumsiness. He has a genuine honesty, though, that makes him endearing. (Unlike Mac, he would not make a reliable negotiator.)

Even though both men dress in business suits, which doesn’t leave much room for odd pattern or style choices, Oldsen seems like a guy who has a few strange pieces in his closet at home. I’m going with a Six for him. He has a dogged loyalty to Mac and a persistent (but not stalker) interest in Marina. When Happer mistakes him for Mac, Oldsen doesn’t care. He just wants to do the job. This is a Trooper.

MAC, FIVE

The movie “Local Hero” never gives Mac a first name, although we know his full last name is MacIntyre. He’s sent to Scotland to finalize a land purchase from a small coastal village for a Texas oil company. If you have never seen this strange, charming film from 1983, I highly recommend you try it. It’s become a Thanksgiving staple for our family for the silliest of reasons: Mac and friends deliver a meal of whiskey and beef sandwiches to a beach shack. Something about this parade of elegance across the sand speaks of food and tradition. It’s a tentative connection, I grant you, but we count it.

Mac is reluctant to leave Houston in order to secure a deal. He’s a “Telex man” (which is meaningless to us nowadays). In Scotland he wears his suits and watch, all business. His character arc changes over time, though, and he comes to love the village. It becomes his true home and Houston becomes alien.

So, we have a protagonist who’s organized and focused. As a dealmaker, he plays it very close to the vest. He never gloats, but he’s arranging a purchase price much lower than the company expected. He’s no glad-hander, and he’s not particularly good with people.

We’re looking at a Head Type.

Peter Riegert, in an early role in his career, doesn’t fit the physical dimensions of a tall Five, but I think this is what he’s playing. Although the Scotland experience makes him more fun-loving, Mac doesn’t seem like a Seven. He’s too serious, too buttoned-up at the beginning. He could be a Six, but he seems too cold at first, too distant from other people. Because he’s reserved and slow to relax, I prefer him as a Five.

Rookwood’s Trial

Remember a while ago when Natty said she wanted to fight back against Harlow? She’s found his poacher’s lair and asks me to help her get proof for the constable.

We sneak in. When we’re halfway up the castle, we see a disturbing scene. Highwing has been captured by Harlow’s poachers.

Natty sends me to rescue the hippogriff while she continues to look for Harlow’s incriminating letter.

At the top of the tower I find Highwing and another hippogriff chained to the floor. Natty arrives and breaks the shackles. I climb onto Highwing, but Natty hesitates. She hasn’t bowed to the other hippogriff and it resists her.

In come the poachers. The other hippogriff takes off. Natty runs to jump on its back, but she isn’t fast enough. Highwing spreads her wings and grabs Natty with her talons as she flies.

Poachers shoot curses at us, including Avada Kedavra.

Highwing drops Natty onto the other hippogriff’s back, and we fly away.

(The flight mechanics are the same as for the broom. It’s delightful. Fan service off the charts.)

Story Enneagram of Season One of “Moon Knight”

As a pre-Halloween treat I looked over my review of the MCU’s 2022 release of Moon Knight. I realized I never gave an overview of the season’s Enneagram. I’m a completion freak, so obviously I need to do that. Also, I thought the review was pretty chaotic. I began by liking the show, became more disgruntled as I wrote the review, and liked it all even less when I read back over what I posted three years ago. I really want to look at the whole thing again and see if I now hate it. Heh.

Alrighty, then. Let’s make it a Halloween post. If all else fails, I can still recommend the soundtrack scored by Hesham Nazih.

ONE

Introduce Steven and his sleep ritual. Although he seems to know more about Egyptology than his boss at the museum, he works in the snack shop.

TWO

Steven wakes in an Alpine meadow and faces Arthur’s judging ritual. He’s chased, he swaps bodies with Mark (although we only see Steven’s perspective), and he’s demeaned by Khonshu’s voice, unidentified at this time.

He finds the scarab in Mark’s coat pocket.

Steven notices more inconsistencies: the goldfish is wrong, and he misses his steak date, which devastates him. The hidden phone leads him to discover Layla.

THREE

In the museum, Arthur confronts Steven. Your scales won’t settle, he says, because you’re more than one person. He wants the scarab.

When Arthur’s beast attacks, Steven willingly turns control of the body over to Mark. The Moon Knight costume is revealed.

The Cursed Girl

Sebastian has asked me to visit his sister with him to cheer her up. She’s been cursed, and it appears to be incurable. She’s left Hogwarts to live in the village of Feldcroft with their uncle.

Throughout my time knowing Sebastian he’s been looking for a cure, and he’s very determined to get his sister back to the way she used to be.

The uncle is strict and abrupt. Anne is sick and that’s the end of it. (He’s an unpleasant, angry fellow.) He has no patience for Sebastian’s curiosity and determination.

Sebastian takes me to the nearby, ruined estate where Anne was cursed. We fight through Ranrok’s Loyalists, and then look for clues. The home has been abandoned for years, although rumor says a Hogwarts professor once lived here.

Now I recognize the view from the yard. This was Isidora’s house when she was a child. It’s the scene I saw in Rackham’s memory. On the other side of the village is Rookwood castle.