Study the Enneagram along with me
In this next post in my series corresponding to my master’s degree course, “Prisms of the Soul”, I’m learning about the origins and background of the Enneagram. Our main text for this section of the course is:
Although it’s unclear exactly what the origin and history of the Enneagram is, it seems to be an ancient concept that may date back to esoteric teachings such as the Jewish Tree of Life (Kabbalah), esoteric Christian and Sufi teachings. Generally, Gurdjieff is given credit for bringing the symbol and concept in its current form to the modern western world in the early 1900s. However, Gurdjieff’s teaching of the Enneagram did not, apparently, include an application for understanding personality types. He focused his teachings on the Enneagram as a living symbol, used for understanding natural processes. Movement is implicit in the diagram. It seems to be akin to the Tarot.
When spiritual teachers such as Ichazo took the concept into a new realm beginning around 1950, they created various systems of describing and using the nine-pointed figure inscribed in a circle as personality types. Since then, it has been in use in the business arena as well as in spiritual development.
My initial reaction is that the system may be better suited for understanding natural processes than for personality typing. When I ponder the symbol it seems to be missing parts. I have a feeling that it would be more complete if it contained 12 types rather than 9. Perhaps this is a bias from working with astrology and the idea that 12 is the number of wholeness (e.g., the 12 disciples, the 12 months of the year, etc.)
I am intrigued by the mathematical relationships and the esoteric symbolism inherent in the Enneagram. It’s interesting to learn that the system has reportedly been scientifically validated according to some of the material I came across, although I’m not sure quite how that is possible since there seem to be many different systems of defining and interpreting the types.
I’m excited to learn my Enneagram type and to compare and contrast this information with other temperament type inventories I’ve taken (e.g., MBTI) and with astrology.
