The enneagram

The Enneagram is a dynamic tool that describes nine archetypal ways of seeing the world. Each type is represented by a numbered point on a circle. The types describe distinct strategies for navigating the world and have unique thinking patterns, emotional habits, defenses, and areas of focused attention. The image itself serves as a map, with the neighboring points influencing the central type. The lines also show a connection each type can access during times of stress or security.

One of the unique aspects of the Enneagram is the importance of inner motivations as the way to discern type rather than external behaviors. Two people might behave in similar ways but for very different, even contradictory reasons. The motivational insight is key to discerning type, getting beneath the veneer of behavior, and actually working with our type habits and patterns. And that’s really the thing, the Enneagram is meant to be used, not just learned (though I think it’s hard to learn it without beginning to use it). We’re meant to take it out into the wild of our lives and see where it can turn the lights on so we can observe what’s habitually happening inside of us, and maybe learn some ways that help to loosen those habits.

I work in the Narrative Tradition which highlights three areas of engagement with the Enneagram; Psychological, Spiritual, and Somatic. The Narrative Tradition also emphasizes hearing from each type in their own words to learn how they see the world. Training with these emphasis has been such a gift to my own journey of wholeness and as I’ve worked with others using the Enneagram.

Jump over to the Narrative Enneagram to learn more about how they teach and work with the Enneagram.