Welcome to the enneagram

“Understanding in the soul is like green vigour of the branches, and the leaves of the trees.”  Hildegard of Bingen

WELCOME TO THE ENNEAGRAM… the focus on my Sabbatical the Methodist Church generously gave me. Thank you to all who covered my absence and thank you for your support of them too.

The image above is one of many different interpretations of the Enneagram. The one word in each space can be envisaged in different ways, yet the Circle is that typical symbol of ‘perpetual motion’ for it charts the ever-changing scenery of the human psyche. The nine points remain within the circle of life, and these pointers enable us to move around our own minds and enable some understanding of others.

This is an ancient symbol. Pythagoras used it; it is found in much of what we now call India and Pakistan, also from 600BC. It has religious roots and has found its way into Christian spirituality markedly since the 1960s.

The premise is that our past has shaped our present and, from this past, we find ourselves located within our ego, in one of these spaces more predominately than anywhere else. The arrows point to other spaces we migrate into when we are stressed or overjoyed, and we will also have traits in our neighbouring number.

I attended the initial Intensive Course in April, (which was very intensive!) and learnt a great deal about all of these spaces. The second part of the course was much more chilled and looked at the spiritual dimension to Enneagram. The third part looks at sub-types and goes into more depth. This takes place in November.

A brief tour:

There are 3 Centres of Intelligence. Spaces 8, 9 and 1 are ones where our default mode of dealing with situations in front of us is gut instinct. In 2, 3 and 4 it is an emotional response,  5, 6 and 7 a thinking response. 8, 9, and 1 can be described as we ‘feel it’ in our body; 2, 3 and 4 in our heart; and 5, 6 and 7 in our brain.

Spaces 8, 9 and 1 have been used to describe the life of St. Peter who seemed to react on gut instinct. Spaces 2, 3 and 4 have been used to describe the reactions we find of Mary Magdalene, who shows powerful emotion, and 5, 6, 7 of Thomas and his doubts and need for proof. Hopefully you can see how you can be drawn into the story of Enneagram and how it can help us to make sense of ourselves, others and the world in general. This is a skimming of a surface that can, metaphorically, move mountains.

I came across Enneagram 10 years and have wanted to dive down deeper since this life transforming revelation. Initially part of a group in Bristol, COVID scuppered much and it has been joyful to return.

The Enneagram helped me understand myself a lot more. Bearing in mind I was a Psychiatric Nurse where we are taught a lot of self-reflection and knowing oneself, the Enneagram has made a profound mark on me and awareness of others and self, particularly in my ministry.  The space that I inhibit makes perfect sense now, was a complete surprise at the time, and the psychotherapeutic methodology undertaken by Enneagram has brought much understanding. Still a long way to go! One of the Course Leaders is a Psychotherapist and likes Enneagram as it ‘often is a shortcut’ for many on their journey of self-discovery. Certainly, my discovery was based in childhood trauma.

Once I have completed part 3 of the course, I hope to invite any interested to come to ‘taster sessions’. I am no expert, and never will be, but, hopefully, can introduce this potentially life transforming psychological and spiritual companion into your midst and point you in the right direction if you wish to go deeper.

Gordon