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The Enneagram is a very old typology that describes nine different characters.

“ . . . knowing our type helps us become more conscious self-observers, and self-observation is

necessary if we are to become free of our unthinking mechanical reactions.” [This is what I

mentioned when we discussed contemplative prayer: getting to a point beyond the framework

created by ego.] “. . . If we learn to observe ourselves, we create the possibility of consciously

choosing our behavior, and thereby of living more effectively. To do this, we must learn how

not to identify with our personality—and this is where the Enneagram can be extremely

valuable. Paradoxically, we need to see our personality in operation before we can learn how

not to identify with it.

“. . . If we observe ourselves carefully, . . . we find that our attention is constantly

possessed by ever-changing fears and desires, fantasies and associations, that lead nowhere

while keeping us out of touch with our deeper self. Ironically, we build our identity out of these

chaotic and unconscious impulses—embracing them as our self, and defending them with our

life.”1

From Richard Rohr: “The Enneagram, I would suggest, is a parabolic form of teaching.

It subverts our subconscious and truly “mythical” worldview so that God can get in. That was

the precise function of most of Jesus’ parables.”

ORIGINS:

1 Don Richard Riso, Enneagram Transformations. New York : Houghton Mifflin 1993. pp. 3-4

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I have no clue what to think about its origins. It seems to have emerged into the

modern world in the 1970s in the San Francisco Bay Area. It was given an academic home by

David Daniels at Stanford University’s psychology department.

My working understanding of the Enneagram is that there are nine fundamental

motivations, and that each of us has adopted one of those, believing at a subconscious level

that it was necessary for our survival. When we recognize that the adaptation does not save us

but entraps us, we become more free: As Jesus said, those who can trust God’s goodness

2 Ebert, Andreas, and Rohr, Richard, The Enneagram: A Christian Perspective. New York: Crossroad Publishing, 2016

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enough to let go of their “lives” (the selves we have constructed) will gain Life, and those who

try to hold onto their “lives” with a death grip will in fact not live fully (Matthew 16:25. I may

have paraphrased a little bit.)

On our Zoom call I’ll share an abridgement of a teaching session by Richard Rohr,

introducing the Enneagram. There’s no quick-and-dirty way to find your Enneagram number; I

find the online “tests” too crude to be useful. If you’re interested in learning more, we can set

up a series of regular Zoom meetings to listen to the rest of Rohr’s Enneagram retreat and stop

the audio whenever we want to talk about it (roughly 4 hours). I am linking to short

descriptions of each type from David Daniels and Virginia Price, The Essential Enneagram: The

Definitive Personality Test and Self-Discovery Guide. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2000.

If you can read through those descriptions and begin to think about which type you might be, it

will give us more to discuss on Wednesday.

1: needs to be good 2: needs to be needed 3. needs to be successful 4. needs to be special 5. needs to possess/know 6. needs to be safe 7. needs to feel good/avoid pain 8. needs to be invulnerable 9. needs to avoid conflict