The five major character structures are presented here with their accompanying positive and negative energy patterns

1. Major
Character
Structures
and Their
Associated
Energy
Patterns
Anne E. Bachop, PhD
TheHealingWave.org

2. Body Follows Mind

3. Energy Follows Awareness

4. Working Together
Barbara Brennan
Wilhelm Reich
John Pierrakos
Alexander Lowan
Jim Cox

5. The Five
Character
Structure
s
Our
experiences,
psychological
make-up and
habitual
patterns often
reflect our
bodily structure
and character.

6. Schizoid Character Structure:
The Gift of Universal Connection

7. Schizoid
• Trauma often
occurring during the
birthing process—pre-
verbal.
• The world is not a
safe place to be.
• The defense
developed is simply to
withdraw into
someplace “away”.
• This characterology
has “no right to exist”.
• To exist means to die.
• Mask: “I’ll reject you
before you reject me.”
© Hands of Light, Barbara Brennan p. 111

8. • Body is thin, weak, and
elongated with right or left
imbalances or twisting.
• Uncoordinated with weak
joints.
• Cold hands and feet.
• Energy is frozen at the Core.
• Higher chakras have more
energy, but fragile
boundaries.
• Often communication is in
absolutes and
depersonalized.
• Characterized as flaky or
absent-minded.
• Inner, unconscious rage from
experiencing the world as
hostile and cold.

9. • Highly creative and intuitive.
• Deep sense of the purpose
of life—very spiritual, but
lack of individuation.
• Since wounding is pre-
verbal, creating a soothing,
trusting environment is
important.
• Don’t connect with
bioplasmic streamers, but
with harmonic induction.
• Remain calm and bring your
own energy down.
• Ask permission before
touching, and gently touch
their lower back.

10. ALL ABOUT YOU!
 What is YOUR reaction to the Schizoid
defense?
 Describe how and when you display the
Schizoid defense.
 What can you do to bring yourself out of a
Schizoid defense?

11. Healing
response
I am safe.
I am here.
Imagine being held in a warm,
loving embrace.

12. Oral Character Structure:
The Gift of Nurturance

13. Oral
• Trauma often occurring
during the oral stage of
growth, feeling
abandoned.
• Afraid to ask for what is
really needed—sure you
won’t get it.
• The defense is to take
on more than they can
handle and then to
collapse in order to get.
• “If I ask, it’s not love.”
• Spiteful passivity and/or
greedy aggression.
• Mask: “I don’t need
© Hands of Light, Barbara Brennan p. 111

14. • Body is undeveloped with
long, thin, flaccid muscles.
• Cold, depressed chest and
shallow breathing.
• Vacuum cleaner eyes.
• Energy is undercharged and
deflated.
• Demands to get energy and
support from others.
• Often bitter, and never feel
like they gets enough.
• Communication is soft,
demanding, and indirect.
• Characterized as co-
dependent or addictive
personality.

15. • Highly intelligent and caring.
• Often has a good command
of language and humor.
• Since wounding is centered
on needs, it is important to
have strong boundaries and
avoid their manipulation.
• Stand at their side, rather
than in front, and screen
yourself.
• Offer encouragement and
energetic support without
touching them.
• Hold strong limits, such as
time, but don’t get frustrated.

16. ALL ABOUT YOU!
 What is YOUR reaction to the Oral
defense?
 Describe how and when you display the
Oral defense.
 What can you do to bring yourself out of a
Oral defense?

17. Healing
response
I am
enough.
I am
fulfilled.
Imagine loving yourself and being
able to stand on your own two
feet.

18. Psychopathic Character
Structure:
The Gift of Courage

19. Psychopat
h
• Trauma often occurring
in early childhood from
manipulation by
opposite sex parent.
• “If I surrender I will die.”
• Their defense is to be
demanding and have
the power.
• This characterology
has a need to
dominate and control.
• Main wound is
betrayal.
• Mask: “I am right; you
are wrong.”
© Hands of Light, Barbara Brennan p. 111

20. • Upper half of body seems
overinflated with a lack of
flow to lower half.
• Pelvis is undercharged and
cold.
• Tension in shoulders and
base of skull and eyes.
• Energy is hyperactive then
collapses.
• Functions primarily through
mental and will energy.
• Will often use hook and
grasp.
• To win is good; to lose is
bad.
• Has a hard time trusting
anyone; afraid of betrayal.

21. • Powerful leader and warrior.
• Has high ideals, inspiring,
and capable of multi-tasking.
• When they find true
surrender, helping others
and bringing them to their
truth will be their focus.
• Be in a “no contest”
relationship with them.
• Don’t agree with their
argument, but support, listen
and ground.
• No streamers, no eye
contact, but soft harmonic
induction.

22. ALL ABOUT YOU!
 What is YOUR reaction to the
Psychopathic defense?
 Describe how and when you display the
Psychopathic defense.
 What can you do to bring yourself out of a
Psychopathic defense?

23. Healing
response
I surrender.
I am a
perfectly
imperfect
human
being.
Imagine yourself being loved for
who you are, and not for what you
do or don’t do.

24. Masochistic Character Structure:
The Gift
of Loyalty

25. Masochist
• Trauma often
occurring about the
age of two.
• Mother is dominating
and controlling.
• The defense
developed is to hold
in feelings and seem
to submit.
• This characterology
feels invaded and
resentful.
• “If I get angry, I’ll be
humiliated. If I don’t,
I’ll be humiliated.”
© Hands of Light, Barbara Brennan p. 111

26. • Body is heavy and
compacted, with energy
leaks.
• Tense and tight with inability
to lose weight.
• Energy is hypoactive, but
boiling inside and choked in
throat area. Boundaries
never developed.
• Often suffers, whines and
complains on the outside
while feeling superior
inside.
• Holds back true feelings,
and will provoke you so will
have an excuse to explode.
• Lack of autonomy leading
to feeling more controlled.

27. • Intellect and emotion are
integrated. Balanced energy
functions.
• Big heart, supportive, playful,
compassionate, and a
natural negotiator.
• Highly creative and intricate.
• Give them a lot of room and
safety to express
themselves.
• Don’t invade them with
streamers or let them invade
you—cap over 3rd Chakra.
• Remain passive and honor
their core essence—stand
as equals.

28. ALL ABOUT YOU!
 What is YOUR reaction to the Masochistic
defense?
 Describe how and when you display the
Masochistic defense.
 What can you do to bring yourself out of a
Masochistic defense?

29. Healing
response
I am free.
I am Me.
Imagine giving yourself
permission to express all of
your feelings.

30. Rigid Character Structure:
The Gift
of Elegance

31. Rigid
• Trauma experienced
as rejection by
opposite sex parent.
• To compensate, they
must control all
feelings.
• The defense
developed is to
become more perfect
and controlling.
• This characterology
acts appropriately
rather than
authentically.
• Manipulative to get © Hands of Light, Barbara Brennan p. 111

32. • Body is rigid and tense, but
harmoniously proportioned.
• Hyperactive energy and
disconnected Core.
• Will always be in competition
or seductive.
• Prideful as an excuse to
avoid letting go and looking
foolish.
• Ambitious and demanding.
• Complete focus on keeping
their outer world appearance
perfect.
• In denying the real self, they
are also denying their
feelings, making it
impossible to truly commit.

33. • Capable of leading and
inspiring others.
• They can take many things
on and do them well.
• Since they have strong
boundaries, you can stand
close with streamers.
• Feel your own Core
Essence, and fill your field
with it. Then feel their
Essence.
• Put your hand on their upper
chest and ask them to feel
the difference between yours
and their Essence.

34. ALL ABOUT YOU!
 What is YOUR reaction to the Rigid
defense?
 Describe how and when you display the
Rigid defense.
 What can you do to bring yourself out of a
Rigid defense?

35. Healing
response
I am real.
I am light.
Imagine expressing your feelings
on the outside and being
authentic.

36. Experience and Defensive
Aspects
© Light Emerging, Barbara Brennan p. 206

37. Relationships, Needs and
Time
© Light Emerging, Barbara Brennan p. 206

38. Character Structure and Life
Task
• Each character structure is a model of a
transformation system gone awry.
• First we block the energy.
• It becomes clogged and slowed down within our
energy systems.
• We do that by living according to our negative
beliefs.
• When we release our blocks, we do our personal
task.
• By clearing away your personal blocks, you pave
the way to accomplish your deepest longing.
• What is it that you most long to do with your life?

39. Find Your Character Structure
• What body type does your body look like?
• Proportionately list each character structure that
makes up your personality/body self.
(eg. 50% Schizoid, 20% Oral, 15% Psychopathic,
5% Masochistic, 10% Rigid.)
• What are your personality traits associated with
each structure?
• What are your physical and energy traits?
• How do you relate with other people with your
structure?

40. What is your
personal
task?
What is your
world task?
“The real act of discovery consists not in
finding new lands, but in seeing with new
eyes.” -Marcel Proust.