Introduction to the Enneagram: 9 Ways to Move from Trance to Dance · 2020. 9. 26. · 9 Ways to...
Transcript of Introduction to the Enneagram: 9 Ways to Move from Trance to Dance · 2020. 9. 26. · 9 Ways to...
Introduction to the Enneagram: 9 Ways to Move from Trance to Dance
Instructor: Scott McRae
“I’ve learned that every mortal will taste death.
But only some will taste life.”
Rumi
Course OverviewPart One:
v The roots of the Enneagram
Part Two:
v The trunk of the Enneagram
Part Three:
v The blossoming of the Enneagram
Part One
The Roots
Exploring the background and theory behind the Enneagram
Part Two
The Trunk
Exploring the 9 Types of the Enneagram
Part Three
Exploring how each type grows and evolves
Exploring the growth the Enneagram invites us into
Part One
The Roots
Exploring the background and theory behind the Enneagram
Background of the Enneagramv Symbol found in rocks and bricks dating back 6000 years: Iran & Iraq
v Homer’s Odyssey: 9 mythic lands populated by the 9 types (in order)
v Parallels in Dante’s Comedy: 9 aspects of hell, purgatory and heaven
v 8 of the Enneagram Passions listed by 4th Century Christian monk (missing Type 6’s fear)
v Likely rooted in Egyptian spirituality and shaped by the Sufi’s & Hebrew Kabballa
Background of the Enneagramv Russian George Gurdjieff (1870-1949): Afghanistan;
Brought an early version from East to West – the task is to wake from our slumber
v Oscar Ichazo, Chile;Developed it as a program of psychological and spiritual development in the 50’s & 60’s.
v Claudio Naranjo studied with Ichazo’s; Brought it to California in the early 70’s: Initially confidential.
v Fr. Robert OchsBrought it to Jesuit study groups.
v Has been passed along through oral tradition. First entered print in the 1980’s – Helen Palmer first published type descriptions.
The Awareness Continuum V
Width of Awareness
Fear-based ego expressions: Controlling, complying, protective
Positive ego expressions: Curious, opening up, accepting, allowing
Inspired and expansive awareness: Authentic, loving, generative, hope-filled
Egocentric
Reactive
Creative
Inspired
Levels of Development
Set Point
Spiritual, heightened state of consciousness, inter-connections
Our Two-Tiered Consciousness
Ego-based, separate-self identity
Egocentric
Reactive
Creative
Inspired
Reactiveinstincts
Sub-conscious beliefs
Values, conscious beliefs
Inspiration, intuition
What Drives our Behavior
Evolving Emotions and Energies
Higher Energy with Higher Reward
Costly Energy Demand
Shame
Anger
Grief
Guilt
Courage
Acceptance
Empathy
Enthusiasm
Joy
Peace
Love
Compassion
Apathy
Fear
Radiant Energy and Flow
Shift from reactive to creative
Reflection Questions
1. When is your ego most threatened or at stake?
2. How does your reactivity primarily get expressed?
The Downward Ascent
Hazrat Inayat Khan“One's true being is hidden behind many veils. The
deeper features are distorted by the games of ego. . . . But the core is immaculate--the hidden
treasure. The only way to see into the depths is to reverse the distortions--purify oneself by the power
of authenticity.”
Childhood Wound
The Ego’s Descent
Basic Need and Core Fear
Childhood WoundEgo Development
Passion and Fixation
Defense Mechanism
Thomas Keating
“Three Programs for Happiness”
v The need for affection and esteemv The need for security and survivalv The need for power and control
Programming Becomes Personality
Our Ego and Social Self
The Ego Needs to Drive
Anais Nin
“We don’t see things as they are, we see things as we are.”
Big Persona: Small SELF
Social Self
Ego/Persona
EssentialSELF
Signs of Ego-Dominance and SELF-Depletionv Easily reactive or defensive toward othersv Satisfy needs thru excess: food, alcohol, coffee, TV, etc.v Highly critical of self and/or othersv Perpetually feel inadequate or superiorv Easily fall into unhealthy habits & routinesv Overly present inauthentic roles or a false selfv Unrealistic expectations of self and/or othersv Meaning and purpose are externally motivated
The Evolutionary Journey: The Downward Ascent
Basic Need and Core Fear
Childhood WoundEgo Development
Passion and Fixation
Defense Mechanism
Surrender Gifts and Growth Challenge
PresenceObservation
Essential Self: Virtue and Divine Quality
We all have an Essential and Vast Self
Signs of Essence and a Nurtured SELFv Able to balance hunger and satisfactionv Aware of personal needs and how to meet themv Accepting of personal faults and limitationsv Able to observe thinking, feeling and sensations in the here and nowv Able to be accepting and appreciative of self and othersv Aware of personal gifts and how to use them for the greater goodv Meaning and purpose are internally definedv Feel connected to and guided by a higher Source and/or Power
Expanding our Essential SelvesSocial Self
Ego/Persona
Highest SELF,Essence
The Parable of the Acorn
Cynthia Bourgeault:
The Wisdom Way of Knowing
Reflection Questions
1. When do you know you are under the control of your ego?
2. How do you know when your essential self is present?
The Enneagram Model
Understanding how types work
The Types are like Nationalities
Types and Cultural PrivilegeBeing a part of privileged cultures has advantages when it comes to typing: v Ease of moving through the world
v Fall into assumed biases
v Supported by cultural “tailwinds”
v Few distortions
v Main examples: While, male, heterosexual
Types and Non-Dominant Cultures
One’s type, self-perception and perception by others gets skewed:
v Subject to suspicions and biases
v See the stereotype not the person
v Confronted by cultural “headwinds”
The Non-Dominant CulturesExamples:
v Non-white races/skin colors
v LGBTQIA Identified
v Differently-abled
v Non-partnered or non-married
Common Overlay factors
Ginger Lapid Bow-gda
v Genderv Race & nationalityv Socio-economicv Family of originv Religion v Mental & physical illnesses & disabilitiesvStation in lifev Workv Appearance
These skew one’s perception of type and how people appear and behave
Family and Culture Overlays: Ginger Lapid-BogdaOverlays skew one’s perceptions of type, and how they appear and behave. v Gender stereotypes: Type 8 for males, Type 2 for females
v Growing up in a perfectionistic household: Type 1 overlay
v Raising or teaching children: Type 2 overlay
v Persistent marginalization: Type 5 or 8 overlays
v Countries often have an overlay: Type 3 in USA
Accurate Typing and the Downward AscentThe Descent:
How we stay protected and reinforce our ego.
The Ascent: How we seek growth and move toward our
essential self.
“Isn’t That Interesting?!”
Befriending all of Ourselves
Being Awake to our Wholeness
Presence
Virtues
Growth edge
Gifts
Holy ideaDefense mechanism
Fixation
Childhood wound
Passions
Basic need and core
fear
A Map to Wholeness
Befriending Others and our Planet