1) Is the Enneagram a religion?

So far, we have no convincing evidence that the Enneagram originated within any particular religious tradition, although some believe it had its origins in the Middle East. One of the selling points of the Enneagram, so to speak, as a symbol, map, and vehicle for the integration of psychology and spirituality, as well as the development and stabilizing of higher states of consciousness, is that it can be usefully combined with long-established and widely-known traditions, including Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Sufism and Buddhism. As far as we know, the symbol has always been associated with the natural desire to grow into our full potential as human beings, to become a whole and complete man or woman, as the Sufis say. Religious dogma and doctrine are not necessary for this to occur. The knowledge and wisdom that can be found in the symbol can become a stand-alone practice, or integrated into one’s current spiritual path.

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2) Where then did the Enneagram come from?

The truth is we just don’t know. As of now, we have no archaeological evidence for the sacred symbol, as we would expect if it were known and used by the Egyptians, Chaldeans, Sufis, or ancient Indians, for example, or the later Greco-Roman mystery schools. Some Enneagram teachers think that it originally was ‘revealed’ from on high, perhaps by a great Master of Wisdom. There is some useful speculative information in Ouspensky’s In Search of the Miraculous, where he quotes Gurdjieff‘s opinions on the topic. If one continues to be interested in its origins there are several good articles online, published by respected teachers such as Russ Hudson. What’s important for the beginning student to know is that there is no evidence that the ancient world used the symbol as we do now--to map the differentiation of the 9 Enneatypes and their interrelationships, and to integrate our modern psychological self with our Spiritual or True Nature.

 

3) Do I need any special preparation to begin studying the Enneagram?

 

No, a relatively open mind, loving heart and relaxed body are all that is required. People are attracted to Enneagram studies when they are ready and willing to take a hard look at themselves, warts and all. Many come to the system in midlife, somewhere between 35 and 55 yrs. of age, when old patterns are becoming frustrating, and our fixations of the mind and passions of the heart are crying for transformation. In addition, we find people who have been on their spiritual paths for longer periods of time, and are beginning to wonder why they are not experiencing more embodied and permanent realization. In other words, why they have been finding it difficult to actually live the spiritual teachings that they have been diligently studying and practicing, with or without a spiritual teacher. Knowledge of the Enneagram and our own Type is especially useful as a way to avoid what is known as “spiritual bypassing.” In other words, using spiritual philosophies, values and practices to avoid doing necessary psychological and behavioral work on self.   

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4) Is it better to be one Type than another?

Although the diagram is usually depicted in the vertical position, with Point 9 up at the top and Points 4 and 5 down at the bottom, with a gap in between, there is actually no numerical hierarchy of values and functions. It might help the student to visualize the diagram horizontally, and then imagine King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table (or a table that includes women too!), where everybody has their unique place and function in the realm. The world needs leaders, healers and educators. The world needs visionaries, artists, realists, troubleshooters, caretakers, and more. Likewise, it seems that the world needs all nine Types in order to function smoothly, effectively and, holographically. We all have all 9 Types inside our own psyche all the time, and one goal is to have access to all 9 ways of being and becoming. Each Type has its own set of related Spiritual or Essential Qualities, as well as its own ‘problem set’ of challenges and difficulties. As Type 1 Suzuki Roshi once quipped: “Everything [and everyone] is perfect, but there is a lot of room for improvement!” 

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5) Is it possible to change Type?

Just as it is not easy to change our eye color or body type, most people in the Enneagram community believe that our dominant Type does not change throughout our lifetime. Empirical and anecdotal research demonstrate convincingly that people are either born with a Type in place or are strongly predisposed to developing into a specific Type by the time they have separated and individuated from the mother-figure at about two to three years of age. Evidence of Type often wanes a bit between ages six or seven until puberty. Then… Type emerges more strongly and obviously during adolescence, and become easier to see and understand. With some self-reflection and memory prompts, many Enneagram students realize that they were little versions of their Type even when they were children (just ask their parents, friends and teachers!). It is a well-known phenomenon that beginners would often rather see themselves as an evolved exemplar of a Type they are not, than an average or less evolved exemplar of the Type they actually are. However, instead of wanting to be another Type, our work is to become more evolved and conscious versions of our own Type. 

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6) Do I change my Type lifetime after lifetime?

The Enneagram is a complex, multi-layered symbol and system of psychological growth and spiritual development. But it does not have anything to say, at least not explicitly, about the phenomenon of reincarnation. There are individuals and groups that believe that the soul returns to Earth many times in order to learn lessons and evolve, and that during the course of spiritual evolution humans must eventually experience living in and through all nine Types, perhaps multiple times. That would explain why older souls seem to more easily understand all nine major ways of being and becoming.  However, all of this is hard to prove, and it is possible to work with the Enneagram without any metaphysical speculations.

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7) Did my Type arise more from nature or nurture or both?

Our Type develops over many years, and from many sources. Some Enneagram teachers believe that we are born with our Type already in place, ready to be activated as we grow physically, psychologically and later spiritually. A.H. Almaas and others in the Diamond Approach hold this view. Who or what chose our Type for us? Or did we choose our own Type before we were born? These are hard questions to answer. It may be that we are indeed born with a Type in place (sort of like psychic DNA), and a temperament, which interact with our early “family holding environment.” Later, we spend time with our friends and school groups. Our interactions with the world, especially with repetition, condition how well we embody and live our Type’s gifts. For example, the Unabomber terrorist Ted Kaczynski was probably a Type 5. But so was Robert Redford. If one has a spiritual outlook there may be another factor at play, which is spiritual destiny, or karma. Perhaps it is the case that the person in question requires a certain Type structure in a given lifetime to learn certain lessons, and to accomplish important tasks. For example, many famous comedians are born as 6s or 7s. A large number of leaders are born as 8s. So there is a mysterious factor at work, one hard to prove or quantify…     

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8) How do I know that I have typed myself correctly?

People mistype themselves all the time. It is easy to do. The Type that we actually are is the one that is the most explanatory and useful in terms of helping us understand and transform our patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviors. We can be helped to recognize our correct Type by perceptive and knowledgeable others, but at the end of the day we have to recognize and validate our own Type in order for it to really hit home and affect our daily reality in any sort of deep and long-lasting way. Usually, one way or another, there is a major "aha" experience.  The typing process often leads to feelings of both elation and sadness, because we see more clearly how we operate, and what is generating both useful and maladaptive behaviors. As a general rule of thumb, if a person initially has only positive thoughts and feelings about their own Type, then they are probably off track, or highly defended from the shadow sides of their personality. 

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9) Should I learn about the other eight Types?

Yes, absolutely. Most students begin by finding and learning about their own place on the symbol. However, later it is appropriate and exciting to study and understand the Basic Propositions, psychodynamics, interrelationships, Passions and Virtues, Fixations and Holy Ideas, Essential Qualities, subtypes and more, of the remaining eight Types. We can find these other Types in our intimate and familial relationships, circles of friends and co-workers, celebrities and politicians, and the general public. Knowledge of our own Type bias can aid us in understanding and accounting for differing points of view, communicating more effectively and compassionately, and ultimately healing the divisions between people and nations that contribute to conditions of fear, anger and sorrow. Attending workshops, retreats and presentations (rather than only reading books and articles and watching video clips) is a very good way to become exposed to and learn from various Type exemplars (“educated self-observers”), students and teachers who are willing to publicly share their personal experiences and perspectives. 
 

10) How does one use knowledge of the Enneagram to grow psychologically and spiritually?

Great question! First, one learns about the system as a whole and one’s place on the symbol. However it eventually happens, recognition and validation of one’s dominant Type seems to be crucial because it opens the door to the other eight Types. But that’s just the beginning. In the early 1900s the Greek-Armenian spiritual teacher Gurdjieff talked about the need for self-work, self-observation, and self-remembering, and this is still the case in the 21st century. First, we learn about our own Type structure. Then we engage in attention training practices, both general and Type-specific, otherwise known as cultivating the art of self-observation coupled with knowledge of Type. The goal is to observe, moment to moment, our habits of mind, heart and body. We can learn to reduce our own “personal reactivity” and can respond more appropriately to internal and external situations, rather than simply “going on automatic,” as Helen Palmer teaches. Later, self-observation can be supplemented with ongoing conscious work on self by having a teacher suggest practices and exercises custom tailored to the needs of the student. This can be done in an Inner Work School, or on one’s own if one is sufficiently motivated and resourced. At some point, we learn to relax back through our dominant structure and integrate the point behind us, our Heart or Security Point. This leads to further psychological healing and growth, and spiritual development. Meditation becomes important too, because with it we can gain direct access to our Soul or True Nature.