The below blog entries all focus on the Enneagram types and/or the concept of typing (ourselves and others). Since some of them also include other tags, the same articles might show up in other collections, too.
The perceived but non-existent sameness AND inequality of the centres — how we got it backwards
When it comes to the centres and type, there are some paradoxical misconceptions floating about in the Enneagram world. Ironically, out of the two major ones, one is about a perceived but non-existent inequality, and the other, paradoxically, about a perceived but non-existent sameness. The imaginary inequality in centre access The first misunderstanding is that, courtesy of which Enneagram type we belong to, we operate only…
About the need for “refined typing”: the relationship between type-identification, self-awareness, and inner work
“I find the Enneagram constricting and limiting, encouraging you to work with just one type. We do have all nine types within us; the really great teachers all say that.” Yes. And do you know what? They all, also, teach that one of them is going to be “your type”; if it weren’t, the Enneagram of Personality Types would be completely useless. But here is where…
“Threes typically compare”; “No, it’s Fours that do that” — zooming out to understand type descriptions
A friend of mine recently asked me about two of her teachers both using “comparing” as a typical trait when describing type — but with one of them, it was used to describe the Four, and with the other, the Three. And as my friend said, obviously, we all compare ourselves with others. But what, then, does it mean to connect it to these types? Well.…
Unseen treasures and forgotten keys — thoughts about lame uses for the Enneagram
The way lots of people treat the Enneagram today feels to me like the equivalent of returning to a grocery store over and over, in order to develop your skills in naming and identifying every last article in there and knowing exactly where to find each one. Sure, you can to that — but it’s not what the grocery store is for, and you will eventually…
Continue Reading Unseen treasures and forgotten keys — thoughts about lame uses for the Enneagram
Surface or Core — real understanding, or just trait-spotting?
Sometimes, people say that they have to “access their Nine” (when perhaps they mean “chill”) or “awaken their One” (when perhaps they mean getting organised or doing whatever they do more meticulously). But we can all chill, and we can all be thorough. So when is it actually relevant to discuss “accessing” other types within, and when is it just short-code for bunches of traits? One…
Continue Reading Surface or Core — real understanding, or just trait-spotting?
My type story — finding the right type after being summarily (and wrongly) defaulted into the wrong one
I’m not a great fan of typing services. Offering to work with a client, following up conclusions, looking at deeper personality structures and exploring together, yes, sure. That is working from “you” into “type” — not the other way around. In the process, you get to know both yourself and the Enneagram model better. If you don’t probe deeply enough into either to actually find your…
Luring the ego into the business of truth — welcome to Self-Definition 101
The Enneagram seems to be growing exponentially in popularity, which is cool. But, let’s face it — this increased interest is not primarily because hordes of people are seeking out inner work teachers for deep transformational development. Rather, it’s because the surface appeal and applications of the model are getting more airspace. Which, in itself, is obviously fine — only, a lot of its finer points…
Continue Reading Luring the ego into the business of truth — welcome to Self-Definition 101
A bunch of characteristics or an energetic climate — some thoughts on traits, behaviours and type descriptions
“Focus on the motivations, not traits and behaviours.” ”Anyone can do that, the important thing is WHY.” Sound familiar? Any self-respecting Enneagrammer at least tries to keep this in mind, and some of us frequently remind others of these things. So why, then, are type descriptions still packed to the hilt with descriptions of traits and behaviours? If you’ve read my blog, it’s probably not news…
Ecstatic merging or self-effacing diffusion? Insights on what’s what in type Nine
There is much talk of merging in connection with type Nines — and about emotional intimacy in connection with merging. Some of this points to various truths; other parts are just confusing and misleading. Here, I attempt to offer some clarity on the matter. Let’s first get clear on what we mean by merging. According to Collins English Thesaurus, it has three basic nuances: combine (blend,…
Continue Reading Ecstatic merging or self-effacing diffusion? Insights on what’s what in type Nine
Is “positive outlook” actually a way of bypassing painful or negative aspects of life?
In Enneagram circles, we sometimes hear about “positive outlook” as a part of some types’ makeup. The term originally comes from Don Riso’s description of the Harmonic groups, that say something about each type’s coping strategies and habitual patterns of reaction; their go-to response, as it were. I wrote about the positive outlook — what it means and doesn’t really mean — the other day in…
Horizontal vs vertical — the topographic Enneagram map
Often, I see questions in Enneagram groups like, “Which type is most likely to cheat on you?” ”Who is likely to take the high ground/make it in marketing/get divorced/react to XXX”? It seems that many people who are familiar with the Enneagram are yet not familiar with the levels of development. The idea of these levels comes from Don Riso, who was the first one to…
Continue Reading Horizontal vs vertical — the topographic Enneagram map
Finding your type — the forgotten art of letting things take their time
Let’s say you’re a freshly appointed Chief of Operations at a company that you haven’t previously worked at. If you’re at all sensible about it, you don’t start your first week by imposing a new regimen. Instead, you want to get to know the company, its processes, and its staff. Only then can you decide whether you want to make changes and if so, how. It’s…
Continue Reading Finding your type — the forgotten art of letting things take their time
“Rainbow typing” — a note on Enneatourism
Sometimes, the introductory level of Enneagram knowledge is as far as it goes. Ones are rigid perfectionists, Threes workaholics who’ll sell out for success, Sixes anxious scaredy cats, Eights steamrollers with inch-thick skin — and so on and so forth. That, however, gets old quite quickly (and is not very useful for deepening personal growth). But then, in reaction to this, something interesting happens. We are…