Know Yourself: Enneagram
Session • Introduction • Activation
“To suggest that knowing God plays an important role in Christian spirituality will not surprise anyone. To suggest that knowing self plays an equally important role may, however, set off warning bells for some. Perhaps it is just the sort of thing you might expect from a psychologist. Yet an understanding of the interdependence of knowing self and God has held a lasting and respected place in Christian theology. Thomas à Kempis argued that a humble self-knowledge is a surer way to God than a search after deep learning, and Augustine’s prayer was “Grant, Lord, that I may know myself that I may know thee.” Christian spirituality involves a transformation of the self that occurs only when God and self are both deeply known.”
— David Benner
An Overview Of The Enneagram
The enneagram is a tool that identifies nine personality types. Below is a basic summary of the nine personality types. You can read more by visiting The Enneagram Institute. You may want to pay to take a test on their site, or for further reading you could check out The Enneagram: A Christian Perspective by Richard Rohr and Andreas Ebert.
1 The Reformer / Perfectionist
The Rational, Idealistic Type: Principled, Purposeful, Self-Controlled, and Perfectionistic
2 The Helper / Giver
The Caring, Interpersonal Type: Demonstrative, Generous, People-Pleasing, and Possessive
3 The Achiever / Performer
The Success-Oriented, Pragmatic Type: Adaptive, Excelling, Driven, and Image-Conscious
4 The Individualist / Romantic
The Sensitive, Withdrawn Type: Expressive, Dramatic, Self-Absorbed, and Temperamental
5 The Investigator / Observer
The Intense, Cerebral Type: Perceptive, Innovative, Secretive, and Isolated
6 The Loyalist / Loyal Skeptic
The Committed, Security-Oriented Type: Engaging, Responsible, Anxious, and Suspicious
7 The Enthusiast / Epicure
The Busy, Fun-Loving Type: Spontaneous, Versatile, Distractible, and Scattered
8 The Challenger / Protector
The Powerful, Dominating Type: Self-Confident, Decisive, Willful, and Confrontational
9 The Peacemaker / Mediator
The Easygoing, Self-Effacing Type: Receptive, Reassuring, Agreeable, and Complacent
“Self-clarity is not a parlor game. It is not a self-help gig. Instead it is a journey into our hearts to see what motives are at work in our relationships.” — Plass & Coffield
Remember that knowing your Enneatype is simply the first step. Information alone doesn’t lead to transformation. All of us are invited on a journey towards greater health and wholeness. This begins with being attentive to when we are reacting in ‘unhealth’ and inviting God to help us to live from our true self in and through Christ. Many have also found it helpful to use the Myers Briggs Type Indicator Personality Inventory as an additional resource in exploring their personality profile.
Additional Resources:
- Sleeping at Last’s Atlas album is written with a song per Enneagram type
- The Road Back to You podcast
- The Enneagram: A Christian Perspective by Richard Rohr and Andreas Ebert
- The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron
- The Sacred Enneagram by Christopher L Heuertz