Personality and Iris Patterns:
Photo of the 4 Main Iris Types
In The Rayid Model of Iris Interpretation, there are 4 constitutional iris patterns: 2 primary and 2 secondary. The two primary structures are “Jewel” and “Flower”. Everyone has one of these two patterns as their dominant iris structure. The primary iris pattern is modified by the secondary pattern: either “Stream” or “Shaker”. Personality traits and characteristics are different for each of these structures. In addition to the influence of Stream or Shaker, personality is modified by birth order position and other factors.
Below is an overview of the 4 constitutional Rayid Iris structures. For another example of these, see our Photo of the 4 Iris Types.
The Jewel Type
The presence of brown or dark-colored freckle-like dots or flecks in the iris indicates a thinking-oriented, analytical person. These color spots, which can range from yellow to gold to brown, are referred to as jewels, and this mentally-oriented personality is referred to as a Jewel. Mental-types direct their perceptions and feelings through internal thought and analysis. Every person thinks, and every person analyzes, but for Jewels these are recognizably their dominant personality characteristics.
Brown or gold dots in an iris also indicate the person has a tendency to take in information visually. This is the Jewel’s primary mode of learning. Jewels like to watch, read and observe. They take information in through their eyes, process it, categorize it, name it, think of it, and then explain it verbally. They are usually precise, verbal communicators. In other words, Jewels respond well to visual impression, while being adept at verbal expression. The Jewel temperament is perceptive and inquisitive. Introverted (inner-directed) Jewels can be quite withdrawn, while the extroverted (outer-directed) Jewel is more focused on external details. With a one-pointed intense nature, the Jewel mind can enter the minute corners of human imagination, or spend hours examining the colors of a butterfly’s wing. They love detail.
Jewels tend to control themselves, situations and other people. They like to tell people what to do. They generally show less emotion and use pointed gestures. Analysis and feeling are superficially mutually exclusive: Jewels are overtly very analytical and their feelings, which are actually as deep as anyone’s, are hidden away rather than being on display. At times, their self-control and mental capabilities can give them the appearance of being aloof or self-righteous. Jewels seek freedom and resent being controlled in any way. Some Jewels even refuse to wear seat-belts, because they are repelled by the feeling of constriction. They tend to find their freedom in abstract thinking. They abhor systems and organized structure for similar reasons (unless they themselves have created them), and have a tendency to uproot structures. They usually have a great need to be right, to interrupt, and to have the final word.
Often intense, these deliberate, quietly driven people enjoy setting and attaining goals. Although they can sometimes be slow to accept new ideas, they often end up leading the way once they have thoroughly analyzed the possibilities. Their excellent speaking abilities endow them with traits of persuasion and inspiration. Future oriented, with well-defined views, attention to detail, and a commanding presence, they excel as leaders, critics, teachers and scientists. Jewels are overtly quite interesting and active, and find it easier to relate to other people (often on a superficial level) than do Flowers. When balanced, the mental types can contribute great clarity and wisdom to a social or work situation.
When they are very balanced, Jewels are clear without the need for analysis. When a Jewel is out of balance, their thoughts become scattered and they become insatiably analytical and questioning. Their attention to detail can prove stifling to the realization of their highest potential.
Learning to flow with situations and to trust other people, enables Jewels to better express their feelings and helps them to attain their long-term goals. Jewels who have gone far right mentally, can regain balance by returning to the heart.
Needing release or someone to listen, Jewels attract emotional-types for long-term relationships. But, although they may desperately want to have a relationship with someone who is feeling-oriented, the Flowers they attract are inevitably slower in expression. Jewels can be verbally manipulative or interruptive, creating tension in a partnership. They do this by interrupting their partner with words or sounds, gestures or postures, or by finishing their partner’s sentences.
Jewels are usually closer to their mother in childhood, or to an older sister, and tend to have greater issues or difficulties with their father, a brother, or males. There are, of course, exceptions to this.
Jewels have a fear of criticism, of losing control (or freedom), and of being controlled by others. This stems partly from being uncomfortable with their own vulnerability. They are attracted to intimacy, but they also fear it. Falling in love, for example, requires letting go of control. This is a frightening experience for a Jewel. They are attracted to the unknown, but are afraid of actually experiencing it. Jewels tend to go looking for the experience of opening and allowing, but can stay closed to the experience, or distant from it, while trying to have it.
Jewels tend to cling to things and ideas. In a positive expression, they are good collectors, classifiers, and organizers. When out of balance, they often have difficulty letting go of old feelings, attitudes, and habits. The acquisitiveness of a Jewel includes a tendency to take on responsibilities.
While everyone has either Jewel or Flower as their primary iris structure, very few people have a pure jewel structure. Most Jewels have a combination pattern (i.e., shaker-jewel or stream-jewel pattern).
Summary of Jewel Characteristics
| Iris Type: | Jewel |
| Iris traits: | Brown freckle-like dots or flecks |
| Personality: | Thinking, analytical, verbal, slow to change |
| Essence/Unique gift: | Clear, knowing |
| Gestures/Postures: | Controlled, pointed |
| Perspective: | “I” (1st person) |
| Gifts/Skills: | Leadership, attention to detail, clarity |
| Lessons: | Trust others, delegate, integrate, flow, allow, let go |
| Learning (subconscious): | Visual, and by association with emotions |
| Communication (conscious): | Verbal, using sounds and words |
| Family relationships: | Often closer to mother/sister in childhood, problems with father/brother |
| Mate/partner relationships: | Flower (feeling-type) |
| Activities/Disposition: | Star Trek fans, future-oriented |
| Energy pattern/Direction: | Build energy, direct it forward |
| Physical characteristics: | Sharper bone structure in face, cold hands, warm body |
| Interruptive pattern: | Verbal over-analysis, jittery hands/feet, abrupt body movements |
| Sleep: | Primarily on left side, with partner on their right |
| Fears: | Being controlled, letting go, criticism, intimacy, the unknown |
| Adaptation: | Emotional, spacey, forgetful |
| Stress imbalance: | Anxious, frustrated, avoiding, loss of confidence |
| Transformational Pathway | |
| Positive expression: | Control, focus, analyze, plan |
| If blocked, they are: | Opinionated, interruptive, avoiding |
| If they learn to: | Allow, flow, open |
| They experience: | Deep feeling & silence |
| Achieving the desired state of: | Knowing truth |
The Flower Type
Distinctly curved or rounded openings in the fibers of the iris (like petals of a flower), indicate a feeling-oriented personality. These openings, which look as if the light colored iris fibers have round holes within them, are called flowers, and we refer to the feeling-type of personality as a Flower. Feeling-oriented, they experience life through the sensitivities of the heart, with automatic feeling responses to events. Feelings will be more deeply experienced and expressed, when the rounded openings in the iris fibers are larger in size or greater in number.
Feeling-types are auditory, meaning they take things in mostly through sound. They are fond of listening to music and learn most quickly when given specific auditory instructions. They are also very sensitive to sounds: volume, tone/intonation, etc. Flowers communicate with imagery, emotions and gestures. They are generally animated and expressive, with rounded movements of their hands when speaking or expressing themselves. Introverted (inner-directed) Flowers can be very soft and timid in social situations. When extroverted, Flowers can be showy, demonstrative people – who use their bodies to actively display their emotions. Sometimes a Flower may act flirtatious in one moment, and then, quickly change and move on to something else. Change is the hallmark of a Flower personality.
Flexible, spontaneous and changeable, Flowers flow easily with most things. Flowers are just as strong as Jewels, but express their strength in less direct ways. Exuding warmth and grace, when balanced, Flowers can generate enthusiasm in others simply by their presence. Many enjoy being on display or center stage, with an audience applauding and appreciating them. Overflowing with creative ideas, Flowers excel as artists, entertainers, musicians, inventors and engineers. Quick to embrace new concepts, they add vitality to any project, but often become distracted before seeing it through to completion. Living in the moment, a Flower’s interest and enthusiasm often does not last. Their passion for experiencing life creates a tendency to over-commit and exhaust themselves.
Flowers like to be organized, but have difficulty sticking with any system for long. They tend to try out a new system for a while, believing it will improve their lives, and then lose interest and go on to something else.
At a deep level, the innate gift of a Flower is silent peace, expansiveness and a feeling of agelessness. When in balance, they are like a cool, quiet mountain lake. When imbalanced, that mountain lake gets disturbed, becoming reactive and muddy. When out of balance, Flowers can easily become upset, emotionally directing anger outward and blaming others for their misfortune. When they blame themselves, the feeling can be so strong that they get depressed. Flowers are often distracted in their minds, though unaware of it. When they focus on being in their body, Flowers can experience great joy. When expressing their true inner nature, Flowers are poised and open, and contribute quiet calm to social situations.
Flowers need to learn to trust themselves and their own abilities, to accept responsibility for events, and to take responsibility for the consequences of their words, behaviors and actions. In order to fulfill their desires and to succeed, Flowers must learn to focus their energies.
Needing focus, feeling-types (Flowers) are naturally attracted to mental-types (Jewels) for long term relationships. This particular combination of opposite personalities produces relationships that can be spectacular to watch.
Flowers usually feel closer to their father in childhood, or to an older brother. They often have greater issues or difficulties with their mother, a a sister, or females. For most Flowers, there is a characteristic pattern of feeling separation and abandonment. Naturally, there are exceptions.
The biggest fear for a Flower is being abandoned or alone. They are also highly sensitive to being controlled. This may manifest as a fear of drowning or suffocation. Flowers can have difficulty feeling complete and have a profound sense of aloneness at times. This can lead to displays of emotionally manipulative behavior.
Flowers tend to have physical problems with their back and neck, and enjoy having their neck, back and shoulders rubbed. Flowers also tend to burn themselves out and need regular periods of rest, in order to overcome their self-induced states of exhaustion and depletion. When Flowers do take time to be still, a kaleidoscope of inner feelings can fill their mind, and they once again bubble forth with a newly discovered wave of enthusiasm. A denial of feeling in Flowers can create a physical hardening of the body, with associated tension, headaches and migraines.
Very few people have a pure Flower iris pattern. Like Jewels, most Flowers have a combination pattern (stream-flower or shaker-flower).
Summary of Flower Characteristics
| Iris Type: | Flower |
| Iris traits: | Curved or rounded openings, like flower petals |
| Personality: | Emotional, feeling, expressive, changeable |
| Essence/Unique gift: | Spatial, peaceful |
| Gestures/Postures: | Spontaneous, animated |
| Perspective: | “You” (2nd person) |
| Gifts/Skills: | Joy, vision, sociability |
| Lessons: | Trust self, self-control, poise, focus and direct |
| Learning (subconscious): | Auditory |
| Communication (conscious): | Visual, using images and gestures |
| Family relationships: | Often closer to father/brother. More likely to have problems with mother/sister |
| Mate/partner relationships: | Jewel (mental-type) |
| Activities/Disposition: | Music-lovers, romantic |
| Energy pattern/Direction: | Release energy, around |
| Physical characteristics: | Rounder face, warm moist hands, cold body |
| Interruptive pattern: | Develop a blank stare, interrupt by dispersal of energy |
| Sleep: | Usually on their right side, with partner on their left |
| Fears: | Abandonment, separation, being controlled, suffocation |
| Adaptation: | Detailed, controlling |
| Stress imbalance: | Angry, depressed, blaming |
| Transformational Pathway | |
| Positive expression: | Open, soothing, quiet |
| If blocked, they tend to be: | Angry, depressed, blaming |
| If they learn to: | Accept, clarify, be self-responsible |
| They experience: | Certainty, joy |
| Achieving a state of: | Quiet Inner Peace |
The Stream Type
This iris type in the Rayid Model is called the kinesthetic type. Metaphorically, it is referred to as a Stream. The iris of a person with a Stream personality has a uniform fiber structure that radiates out from the pupil, with only subtle variations or streaks of color. At first glance, a Stream iris appears to have the fewest features of all the iris structures and can be the most difficult iris pattern to interpret.
Streams have a way of holding the world together. By nature, they are intuitive, grounded and amiable. Being a physical/tactile person, they perceive and integrate life through the sensory experience of their body, through touch. Streams learn best when given the opportunity to experience lessons through movement or by doing. They also learn easily from teachers who alternate between verbal and visual instructions. Streams communicate by posture, touch, and with delicately controlled gestures.
People with this iris type are physically and intuitively sensitive. Automatically receptive to others and their environment, their body acts as a receptacle for all that happens around them. Imagine Streams as having thousands of cat-like whiskers extending outward in all directions. The slightest change in vibration is immediately felt. Streams are like walking radar, always being “touched” by things and people around them. Although they have a heightened sensitivity, Streams tend to control subtle physical reactions through stillness. Stream sensitivity is both a gift and a challenge.
Innately empathic, Streams tend to nurture and balance others, mediating and harmonizing the extremes in families, communities, and society. Subtle sensitivity gives Streams the capability to communicate easily with both Flowers and Jewels. Slow to change, Streams often like to do things in group process or by way of committee decision. They are true visionary implementers, making things happen, getting the job done. Endowed with abundant physical energy and social skills, Streams are naturally skilled in athletics, dance, health care, social work, hands-on therapies, and public service.
People with a Stream structure are like living pipelines of natural vitality, with the energy of life pulsing in and out of them. This makes Streams some of the most attractive people. Their uninhibited transfer of energy fosters mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing in those around them.
This kinesthetic-type can provide a sense of belonging, a sense of nurturing, a sense of motherhood. Their presence often evokes the feeling of being gently held or soothed. When a Stream feels that s/he belongs, others around them experience a sense of relaxation. If a person with a Stream structure becomes fearful or reactive, their attentions can become overprotective or stifling, instead of comfortably soothing and containing. Their strong sense of connection with others can produce confusion about their own identity, self-worth or purpose in life. When excessively sensitive, Streams can easily end up feeling overwhelmed. When Streams are balanced, they bring integrity, stability and harmony to relationships and social situations.
By accepting the perfection in life and in oneself, Streams learn to be who they are, without taking on the burdens of others. Practicing perfect stillness (i.e., through relaxation or meditation techniques), heightens the kinesthetic sensitivity of a Stream, and allows the energy stored within to be released. Channeling this energy in productive ways, allows Streams to better realize their potential.
Needing and benefiting from expansiveness, Streams are attracted to Shakers for long-term relationships. The stabilizing influence of a Stream helps to balance the radical nature a Shaker. The orientation to movement and change in a Shaker, positively influences a Stream, whose natural tendency is to resist change.
Very few people have a pure Stream iris structure. Most Streams have a combination pattern (i.e., Stream-Jewel or Stream-Flower).
Stream eyes can initially be more difficult to interpret than other structures. Soft patches of color, dense concentrations of fiber, or markedly raised fibers are indicative of a Stream-Jewel. A noticeable absence of fiber in a particular area, like an open petal, indicates a Stream-Flower pattern.
Summary of Stream Characteristics
| Iris type: | Stream |
| Iris traits: | Straight lines or streaks of color |
| Personality: | Amiable, intuitive, sensitive, grounded |
| Essence/Unique gift: | Stillness, connectedness, mediator |
| Gestures/Postures: | Subtle |
| Perspective: | “We” (3rd person) |
| Gifts/Skills: | Balance and stability, empathy, support, integration |
| Lessons: | Trust, release, find purpose |
| Learning (subconscious): | Experiential, by doing |
| Communication (conscious): | By touch and posture |
| Family relationships: | Depends on primary structure (i.e., Jewel or Flower) |
| Mate/partner relationships: | Shaker (movement-type) |
| Activities/Disposition: | Physically active, attentively concerned |
| Energy pattern/Direction: | Connecting and containing, directed downward (grounding) |
| Sleep: | Depends on primary structure |
| Fear: | Change, initiation, mistakes, hurting others or being hurt |
| Adaptation: | Ungrounded |
| Stress imbalance: | Acquiescent, stymied, helpless |
| Transformational Pathway | |
| Positive expression: | Support, serve, balance |
| If blocked, you are: | Indecisive |
| If you learn to: | Initiate, act, move, give |
| You experience: | Nurturing, unification |
| Achieving a state of: | Belonging, Deep Stillness |
The Shaker Type
Eyes that have both dot-like (freckle-like) pigments and rounded openings in the irises, indicate an extremist or movement-oriented (Shaker) type of personality. This is true whether there are jewel and flower markings in both irises, or jewel markings in one iris with flower markings in the other.
Simultaneously embodying the forces of both attraction and repulsion, Shakers are highly motivated, dynamic and expressive. These radical, action-oriented people have difficulty sitting still, and frequently venture beyond the limits of conventional thought and norms. They possess a bulldog-like tenacity that drives them to press on against all odds. Pioneering types, typically at the forefront of change and innovation, Shakers challenge life with abandon and zeal. Acting as the conscience of society, they often stand alone, sometimes attracting ridicule from their peers.
Shakers have a combination iris pattern, meaning either Shaker-Jewel or Shaker-Flower. If there are more jewel markings present, the iris pattern is Shaker-Jewel. This individual will have amplified personality characteristics of a Jewel. If there are more flower markings present, the pattern is a Shaker-Flower. This person will have amplified personality characteristics of a Flower.
With elements of both the Jewel and the Flower in their makeup, Shakers unify mental and emotional personality characteristics. They make decisions faster than a Jewel and stay with their decision longer than a Flower. Shakers learn best physically, while in motion (through the movement of their bodies), or when being touched. They have a strong intuitive sense. Shakers communicate primarily by movement and gesture. They usually have a strong affinity for nature and the outdoors, where the physical connection with their environment increases their intuitive intake.
Shakers can be the embodiment of ecstasy, joy and thankfulness, bringing feelings of exhilaration and excitement to any project they are involved in. People are initially attracted to Shakers because of their energy and conviction. However, they can be difficult to relate to over time because they are always in motion and frequently change their focus. Adventurous and often devoted to a cause, Shakers excel as inventors, motivators and explorers.
As children, Shakers often prove to be quite a handful for parents to raise. Their extreme nature can make them difficult to teach or direct. They dislike confinement and resent any form of systematic control. Shakers prefer to be physically active, which helps to develop their bodies. If they develop a sense of concern for family and the community at large and learn to channel their energy, Shakers have the potential to create new and lasting changes in the world.
Shakers know where they are going or, at least, they think they know where they are going. They can be inspiring leaders and motivators, raising one’s consciousness about a cause or bringing a sense of purpose to a project. Results-oriented, they are also prone to impatience. They don’t understand anything less than total commitment and are irritated by half-hearted commitment.
Shakers are the ones who say, “Enough planning, let’s go and get it done!” Driven to achieve, yet sometimes ungrounded, Shakers can experience cycles of great success and failure that exhaust their physical strength. They push themselves to the limit, and often beyond, typically with complete disregard for their own health and well-being. When they are ungrounded, Shakers can bring the whole group down through their recklessness. They benefit greatly from learning how to plan and being a team player. Their task in society is to expand the limits of humanity’s self-imposed barriers and to pierce through the shield of traditional values. Shakers are the tip of the spear.
When they get overly excited, Shakers easily become scattered. This is when their intense energy can turn back on itself. They can become self-destructive, with a tendency to addiction. Their enthusiasm and desire to change the world can become obsessive, to the point of using blame to motivate others. Shakers rarely take a neutral stance on anything. They can be unfair or downright rude to anyone who disagrees with them. When unbalanced, their leadership style can be authoritarian, tyrannical or dictatorial, instead of inspiring and charismatic.
When they can allow themselves to be still, to feel the integrity of who they are, Shakers can bring the experience of awakened joy and thankfulness to a group. Learning moderation and consistency enables a Shaker to manifest change with stability.
Needing equilibrium in their lives, Shakers are most attracted to kinesthetic (Stream) types for long-term relationships. Idealistic about romance, Shakers nonetheless place their life goals uppermost on their list of priorities. They want their partners to be supportive of those goals. Their perfectionism and demanding nature can make Shakers quite challenging as long-term partners. There is much for a Shaker to gain from the stillness and groundedness that a Stream partner can bring to their life.
Summary of Shaker Characteristics:
| Iris Type: | Shaker |
| Iris traits: | Both dot-like/freckle-like pigments and rounded openings |
| Personality: | Driven, progressive, in motion, unpredictable, extreme |
| Essence/Unique gift: | Vitality, joy |
| Gestures/Postures: | Dynamic |
| Perspective: | “They” (4th person) |
| Gifts/Skills: | Motivation, originality, zeal, achievement |
| Lessons: | Consistency, moderation, stability, trust |
| Learning(subconscious): | Through body experience/motion/intuitive feeling |
| Communication (conscious): | Alternating or unified (visual and verbal), and by gesture |
| Family relationships: | Depends on primary structure (Jewel or Flower) |
| Mate/partner relationships: | Stream (kinesthetic-type) |
| Activities/Disposition: | Travel and/or fighting for causes, enthusiastic, impatient |
| Energy pattern/Direction: | Moves energy, up and out |
| Sleep: | Depends on primary structure |
| Fears: | Failure, being controlled, intimacy |
| Adaptation: | Inactive |
| Stress imbalance: | Autocratic |
| Transformational Pathway | |
| Positive expression: | Driven, motivated |
| If blocked, they are: | Reckless, isolated |
| If they learn to: | Plan, join, connect |
| They experience: | Change, sense of purpose |
| Achieving a state of: | Conscience aliveness |