The Claim: the Enneagram is a personality typing system.
The Truth: the Enneagram is a tool for personal transformation, weaving together spiritual insight and personality psychology.
MORE THAN A PERSONALITY TYPING SYSTEM
The enneagram is most commonly known as a personality typing system highlighting 9 unique personalities born of our unconscious motivations that drive our life and behavior.
But the enneagram is more than just a “personality typing system.”
In essence, the Enneagram is a form of sacred psychology, blending spirituality and psychology, offering an integrated path for personal transformation. As a 9-pointed symbol, it maps the dynamic nature of human consciousness, weaving and integrating mind, heart, body, and soul.
More holistic than a mere personality system (systems that, more often than not “put people in boxes”) it is a tool mapping the transformation of human consciousness.
TWO SELVES: EGO AND ESSENCE
Foundational to Enneagram teaching is that we have two selves, a lower and a higher. The lower, Ego-I is the small, false self that lives only from the level of the Psychological Self. The ego is addicted to it’s own thinking patterns, always seeing through its own mental and emotional filters.
Ego is the inner-I that needs to be perfect, always right, powerful, adored by others, and have everything under control.
But each person has a deeper I— the true or “essential self” that lives in greater interior freedom, separate from the confines of the personality. Essence is our ultimate nature which, when free from the debris of mind and emotion, has the natural capacity to perceive Truth, Beauty, Love, Compassion, and Justice. Contact with our essential self is cultivated in practices like contemplative prayer and meditation.
Essence is the inner-I that is free from the ego’s need to always be right, perfect, powerful, adored by others, and in control.
A TOOL FOR PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION
As a tool for transformation, the Enneagram highlights how our ego has stepped in and overshadowed our True Self. If we live only on the level of personality, we view the world not as-it-is but as our psychological filter says it is.
Many use the Enneagram as a way of waking up and becoming free of our unconscious, psychological mental patterns.
Different than many personality systems, the Enneagram takes us a layer deeper than how we behave, to that of our core, instinctual motivations, highlighting not what we do but why we do what we do.
It recognizes that people may exhibit the same behaviors for varying reasons—we are unique beings with unique motivations, beyond how we act in the world.
INNER WORK AND THE ENNEAGRAM
The Enneagram’s power is in its ability to help you see your ego-in-action.
By knowing your Enneagram type, you know what thinking and emotional patterns to watch for. You will be able to better notice internal impulses. You will know what patterns to look out for before you start spinning out on an emotional rollercoaster.
Ultimately, it will help you keep your ego in check, allowing you to live from a more centered self.
But the Enneagram does not deny the ego. In fact, the Enneagram affirms the ego as a necessary tool for both everyday life and the spiritual journey. It’s only when the ego is in total control that your wellbeing is overly attached to your personality’s needs and desires.
As many have said: the ego is a great servant but a terrible master.
Working with the Enneagram will teach you how to get your personality working for YOU rather than you for your personality.
ENNEAGRAM BASICS
If you are brand new to the Enneagram, it’s helpful to familiarize yourself with both the symbol itself as well as some insider-lingo
The Basics:
• You have only one dominant Enneagram Type. You are not 50% one Type and 50% another
• You have wings (congratulations, you can fly!)
◦ Wings are the two numbers on either side of your dominant type.
◦ Example: If you are a 2, you would be either a “2 wing 1” or a “2 wing 3,” based on whether you identify more with the energy of type 1 or type 3
• You are integrally connected to four other Types on the Enneagram
◦ Example: Type 2 has lines connecting to Type 1 and Type 4.
◦ Type 2 is also connected to its wings, the numbers on either side of it, 1 and 3.
When I tried to go to Contemplative Enneagram Groups (2x), I landed at Samcart which was about the last place I would be interested in. What gives?
Hello there, David! I’m so sorry on two fronts: 1) all apologies for the Contemplative Enneagram Groups described above are not active at the moment; sorry you were directed to Samcart, you are correct, that’s not at all what you were interested in.
2) this Blog, written by our founder Keith Kristich was connected to Contemplative Enneagram Groups that were active at the time of the Blog’s publication and I am sorry that we having “dropped the ball” by not monitoring this missed your comment until just now. That does not reflect our value of connecting with you and showing your comment the care and follow up it deserves.
All apologies, David.
What’s next:
Having joined the team at CTB just earlier this year and being the lead now in all things Enneagram related, I’m happy to let you know that heading into 2025 there are once again going to be multiple Enneagram offerings on the horizon. As far as I can tell at this point this might very well include a new iteration and attempt at offering Contemplative Enneagram Groups as Beta lab type support groups, so to speak.
stay tuned by subscribing to our newsletter (link to follow) if you haven’t already done so that is!
thank you for reaching out and again so sorry for the lag in response from our end.
Logan Jones
Enneagram Lead at Closer Than Breath
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