The Enneagram System

[Michael Chui]

So, I haven't seen anything interesting in the forums on the Enneagram system and I'm wondering whether or not people have opinions on it.

I see it, currently, as "good" which basically means that I'm listening. However, there doesn't seem to be much to listen to; the Wikipedia article told me nothing and I'm not willing to believe the website about itself.

I've been using this website as my reference:
Enneagram Institute: Enneagram Testing & Training

Anyone have experience with this? Vouch for, disagree with, think it's hogwash, believe in it, know about any scientific backing, etc.?

[Mags]

I worked for a consulting company for a year who used to use the Enneagram for self-development workshops, so I got quite familiar with it. I haven't really used it since then though.

I found it incredibly useful back then, as it helped me to understand some behaviour patterns that I used to interact with others. One of these behaviour pattens was quite destructive at the time in my relationship with my boyfriend, and I was able to change that. He and I later got married and are now coming up to our 6th wedding anniversary, so I'd say that the Enneagram certainly made a positive difference in my life!

I do feel though that I've since moved on from the Enneagram in my own development and in my understandings of self/mind/consciousness etc. The Enneagram, like other methods of personality typing, works on the level of behaviour and the egoic mind. It can make you aware of what's happening at that level, and it can help you to make that particular level more effective. But... it doesn't really go deeper into your core/higher self. So, I'd say it is useful as a starting point, or if you want to be more aware of how you interact with the world, but if you're looking to go beyond this, then more metaphysical/spiritual texts are necessary.

I also used to get quite frustrated back then at how so many people used to get excited that the Enneagram was a way of moving beyond personality systems that categorise people, and then fall right back into labelling people according to Enneagram type and not allowing people to move beyond that. After a year at the consulting company, during which I actually grew and changed a lot (partly because of the Enneagram, but also because I've always read extensively and applied that to my life), I was still just a Four... I was a Four to start with, and was always going to be a Four in their heads!

[Michael Chui]

Thanks. A couple questions.

Originally Posted by Mags

I found it incredibly useful back then, as it helped me to understand some behaviour patterns that I used to interact with others. One of these behaviour pattens was quite destructive at the time in my relationship with my boyfriend, and I was able to change that. He and I later got married and are now coming up to our 6th wedding anniversary, so I'd say that the Enneagram certainly made a positive difference in my life!

There is some chatter on the website (like every other damned personality sorter) on relationships, compatibility, and dynamics. Did you find this relevant or useful as well, or did you not come across this aspect?

Originally Posted by Mags

The Enneagram, like other methods of personality typing, works on the level of behaviour and the egoic mind.

That's an interesting assertion. I've never heard this. It might be worth exploring in a thread devoted to the topic.

Originally Posted by Mags

After a year at the consulting company, during which I actually grew and changed a lot (partly because of the Enneagram, but also because I've always read extensively and applied that to my life), I was still just a Four... I was a Four to start with, and was always going to be a Four in their heads!

Would the Enneagram system still say you're a Four? Would you agree with it? If you're not a Four, what are you now?

[Mags]

Originally Posted by Michael Chui

There is some chatter on the website (like every other damned personality sorter) on relationships, compatibility, and dynamics. Did you find this relevant or useful as well, or did you not come across this aspect?

Yes, I did come across this, as part of the work that we did was also helping people to see how different Enneagram types interacted. Our work was mainly focused on the workplace, but the information was transferable to personal relationships. Even when we did company-sponsored workshops for new managers, they would often find the information useful for their family lives as well.

For me specifically, it did help in my relationship - I went through the types with him, and we figured out which one matched. It was a fun way to open up a conversation about how we interacted, and it did help us resolve some stuff.

Would the Enneagram system still say you're a Four? Would you agree with it? If you're not a Four, what are you now?

I'm not sure what the system would say now - it would probably be interesting to do one of the tests to see how it would categorise me, if it can!

As to what I am now... well, I am . By that, I mean that I feel like I operate now at a level beyond ego (well, most of the time... I still have some of those days...!). I'm not attached to my ego and its stories any more, although I can still use it in a conscious manner to operate in the physical world. In other words, relating that to the Enneagram specifically, I can use certain behaviours (that would be categorised as an Ennea 4) when the situation calls for them and they would be effective. But similarly, I can now utilise behaviours from any of the 9 types as and when they would be useful to me.

The Enneagram is useful to help people become aware of how they're reacting to the world. Their reactions are usually unconscious and a system like the Enneagram can help them become more aware, and to become a healthy version of their Ennea type. But, it still assumes that one remains in type, rather than being able to detach from type completely. That's what I meant in my previous post about how it operates on the level of ego... personality characteristics may be a blend of nature and nurture, but as such they're very attached to the physical, or the level of the ego, and don't really go beyond that to anything deeper.

[Michael Chui]

Hm, would you agree with their "Levels of Development" model, then?

Enneagram Levels of Development: Presentation at IEA Conference '04

[oberlee]

I like this site: Energy and the Enneagram

Although, I find it much more helpful to do this with someone else. It's so easy to see different sides of yourself, but someone else can be more objective.

[Acting Like Godot]

If you're a Four, you're always a Four.

It's just that the Enneagram uses a more fluid classification than, say, Myer-Briggs. In Myer-Briggs, you could be an ESTP, but after a few years, find yourself morphing into a close cousin of ESTP - for example, you could be an ISTP or ESTJ.

In the Enneagram, a Four is a Four, but could have "wings". See website for details. Also, there is the concept of Levels of Development; there are highly advanced Fours (representing the best that a Four person could grow & develop into) and the very low levels (representing the worst that a Four person could be).

[Michael Chui]

Originally Posted by oberlee

I like this site: Energy and the Enneagram

Although, I find it much more helpful to do this with someone else. It's so easy to see different sides of yourself, but someone else can be more objective.

That's a good idea, thanks. The website seems a little lightweight without saying much beyond connecting it to chakras and meridians, but it was interesting to see the results of another test.