Tapestry of Wisdom: Enneagram, a curated collection
I have uncannily vivid memories of the day I first crossed paths with the enneagram, and the subsequent days, as it began to settle within me. I often say the enneagram came to me in a season when I was ready to take a look at the parts of me that I’d been afraid to look at. It was a tool that pointed to some tender spots within me that I didn’t have language for in a compassionate way.
The enneagram is FASCINATING. It’s an ancient spiritual tool that was taught through oral tradition for many, many years. It’s now commonly utilized as a personality typing system, often passed around in memes and social media posts. (While I understand how this can be problematic, being exposed to it casually led to deep soul exploration in my own life, and it can be fun, as long as we’re not weaponizing it.) It’s taught in corporate settings by coaches. It’s used by therapists and church groups. There is no shortage of information about the enneagram available to all of us…podcasts, books, articles, videos.
I am a quick study when it comes to absorbing information. I can take in content with ease, and I love to share it. I think this helps the learning settle even more deeply in me. I talked about the enneagram constantly, for years, to any of my friends and family who would listen.
But, I hesitate to act as an authority or “teach” the enneagram. (I’m only 6 years into my exploration.)
A clear recollection I have from that first week of enneagram memories is hearing an enneagram teacher say that when her spiritual director introduced her to the tool, he said she was not allowed to teach it for 10 years! There is wisdom in this caution. As the information settles into us, it ripens into deeper awareness and understanding of the dynamic system. The tool can’t be applied indiscriminately to others.
It feels important to include a quote here that has informed my strongest conviction as a spiritual director. Rev. Eugene Peterson said, “Each soul is unique: no wisdom can simply be applied without discerning the particulars of this life, this situation.”
I facilitated a class when my teenager attended a curiosity-based middle & high school, which helped me realize I am comfortable journeying with others in co-discovery.
The enneagram is a primitive map, of sorts, that can support us in the slow, steady work of transformation.
In this series of posts, I have gathered a handful of my favorite resources on the enneagram. They come from varied folks, each with their own wisdom and point of view. My invitation is to follow the threads of wisdom and listen to what has resonance with your soul.
Abi Robins is an enneagram (and yoga!) teacher, who brings an embodied perspective to this spiritual tool. I discovered Abi when I was preparing to facilitate a class, and looking for diverse voices that would provide depth and unique insight. Abi brings a queer, non-binary lens to their work. They also recently wrote a book: “The Conscious Enneagram: How to Move from Typology to Transformation.”
Suzanne Stabile is affectionately known as “The Enneagram Godmother.” Suzanne is the teacher who most markedly accompanied me through enneagram landscape through her books, podcast episodes, and workshops. Beyond teaching the basics of the system, I’ve found her podcasts on orientation to time and repressed centers to be incredibly fruitful in my own exploration.
“The Wisdom of the Enneagram: The Complete Guide to Psychological and Spiritual Growth for the Nine Personality Types,” by Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson, is a comprehensive reference book that I return to often. These authors also founded The Enneagram Institute, and developed an enneagram-type test (RHETI), available for purchase on their website for $12.
Dr. Beatrice Chestnut has also shaped my understanding of the enneagram, both the system as a whole, but most particularly the 27 subtypes. She has been a guest on several podcasts, and these are the ones I’ve most enjoyed: Personality Hacker Podcast, Episode 399, Personality Hacker Podcast (Part 1 of 2 on the Enneagram of Leadership), Episode 192.
Ryan O’Neal (Sleeping at Last) composed and produced a song for each enneagram type. He also has a podcast episode for each song, where explains his creative process for each song. These episodes also feature a dialogue with Chris Heuertz, who has authored two books on the enneagram. I love the lyrics videos for the various numbers. I’ll post links for each number. One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine