Introduction to the Enneagram: 9 Ways to Move from Trance to Dance

Instructor: Scott McRae

“I’ve learned that every mortal will taste death.

But only some will taste life.”

Rumi

Course OverviewPart One:

v The roots of the Enneagram

Part Two:

v The trunk of the Enneagram

Part Three:

v The blossoming of the Enneagram

Part One

The Roots

Exploring the background and theory behind the Enneagram

Part Two

The Trunk

Exploring the 9 Types of the Enneagram

Part Three

Exploring how each type grows and evolves

Exploring the growth the Enneagram invites us into

Part One

The Roots

Exploring the background and theory behind the Enneagram

Background of the Enneagramv Symbol found in rocks and bricks dating back 6000 years: Iran & Iraq

v Homer’s Odyssey: 9 mythic lands populated by the 9 types (in order)

v Parallels in Dante’s Comedy: 9 aspects of hell, purgatory and heaven

v 8 of the Enneagram Passions listed by 4th Century Christian monk (missing Type 6’s fear)

v Likely rooted in Egyptian spirituality and shaped by the Sufi’s & Hebrew Kabballa

Background of the Enneagramv Russian George Gurdjieff (1870-1949): Afghanistan;

Brought an early version from East to West – the task is to wake from our slumber

v Oscar Ichazo, Chile;Developed it as a program of psychological and spiritual development in the 50’s & 60’s.

v Claudio Naranjo studied with Ichazo’s; Brought it to California in the early 70’s: Initially confidential.

v Fr. Robert OchsBrought it to Jesuit study groups.

v Has been passed along through oral tradition. First entered print in the 1980’s – Helen Palmer first published type descriptions.

The Awareness Continuum V

Width of Awareness

Fear-based ego expressions: Controlling, complying, protective

Positive ego expressions: Curious, opening up, accepting, allowing

Inspired and expansive awareness: Authentic, loving, generative, hope-filled

Egocentric

Reactive

Creative

Inspired

Levels of Development

Set Point

Spiritual, heightened state of consciousness, inter-connections

Our Two-Tiered Consciousness

Ego-based, separate-self identity

Egocentric

Reactive

Creative

Inspired

Reactiveinstincts

Sub-conscious beliefs

Values, conscious beliefs

Inspiration, intuition

What Drives our Behavior

Evolving Emotions and Energies

Higher Energy with Higher Reward

Costly Energy Demand

Shame

Anger

Grief

Guilt

Courage

Acceptance

Empathy

Enthusiasm

Joy

Peace

Love

Compassion

Apathy

Fear

Radiant Energy and Flow

Shift from reactive to creative

Reflection Questions

1. When is your ego most threatened or at stake?

2. How does your reactivity primarily get expressed?

The Downward Ascent

Hazrat Inayat Khan“One's true being is hidden behind many veils. The

deeper features are distorted by the games of ego. . . . But the core is immaculate--the hidden

treasure. The only way to see into the depths is to reverse the distortions--purify oneself by the power

of authenticity.”

Childhood Wound

The Ego’s Descent

Basic Need and Core Fear

Childhood WoundEgo Development

Passion and Fixation

Defense Mechanism

Thomas Keating

“Three Programs for Happiness”

v The need for affection and esteemv The need for security and survivalv The need for power and control

Programming Becomes Personality

Our Ego and Social Self

The Ego Needs to Drive

Anais Nin

“We don’t see things as they are, we see things as we are.”

Big Persona: Small SELF

Social Self

Ego/Persona

EssentialSELF

Signs of Ego-Dominance and SELF-Depletionv Easily reactive or defensive toward othersv Satisfy needs thru excess: food, alcohol, coffee, TV, etc.v Highly critical of self and/or othersv Perpetually feel inadequate or superiorv Easily fall into unhealthy habits & routinesv Overly present inauthentic roles or a false selfv Unrealistic expectations of self and/or othersv Meaning and purpose are externally motivated

The Evolutionary Journey: The Downward Ascent

Basic Need and Core Fear

Childhood WoundEgo Development

Passion and Fixation

Defense Mechanism

Surrender Gifts and Growth Challenge

PresenceObservation

Essential Self: Virtue and Divine Quality

We all have an Essential and Vast Self

Signs of Essence and a Nurtured SELFv Able to balance hunger and satisfactionv Aware of personal needs and how to meet themv Accepting of personal faults and limitationsv Able to observe thinking, feeling and sensations in the here and nowv Able to be accepting and appreciative of self and othersv Aware of personal gifts and how to use them for the greater goodv Meaning and purpose are internally definedv Feel connected to and guided by a higher Source and/or Power

Expanding our Essential SelvesSocial Self

Ego/Persona

Highest SELF,Essence

The Parable of the Acorn

Cynthia Bourgeault:

The Wisdom Way of Knowing

Reflection Questions

1. When do you know you are under the control of your ego?

2. How do you know when your essential self is present?

The Enneagram Model

Understanding how types work

The Types are like Nationalities

Types and Cultural PrivilegeBeing a part of privileged cultures has advantages when it comes to typing: v Ease of moving through the world

v Fall into assumed biases

v Supported by cultural “tailwinds”

v Few distortions

v Main examples: While, male, heterosexual

Types and Non-Dominant Cultures

One’s type, self-perception and perception by others gets skewed:

v Subject to suspicions and biases

v See the stereotype not the person

v Confronted by cultural “headwinds”

The Non-Dominant CulturesExamples:

v Non-white races/skin colors

v LGBTQIA Identified

v Differently-abled

v Non-partnered or non-married

Common Overlay factors

Ginger Lapid Bow-gda

v Genderv Race & nationalityv Socio-economicv Family of originv Religion v Mental & physical illnesses & disabilitiesvStation in lifev Workv Appearance

These skew one’s perception of type and how people appear and behave

Family and Culture Overlays: Ginger Lapid-BogdaOverlays skew one’s perceptions of type, and how they appear and behave. v Gender stereotypes: Type 8 for males, Type 2 for females

v Growing up in a perfectionistic household: Type 1 overlay

v Raising or teaching children: Type 2 overlay

v Persistent marginalization: Type 5 or 8 overlays

v Countries often have an overlay: Type 3 in USA

Accurate Typing and the Downward AscentThe Descent:

How we stay protected and reinforce our ego.

The Ascent: How we seek growth and move toward our

essential self.

“Isn’t That Interesting?!”

Befriending all of Ourselves

Being Awake to our Wholeness

Presence

Virtues

Growth edge

Gifts

Holy ideaDefense mechanism

Fixation

Childhood wound

Passions

Basic need and core

fear

A Map to Wholeness

Befriending Others and our Planet