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Introducing the nine Enneagram types
Welcome to our online tour of the nine Enneagram types. This is a great place to start if you are new to the Enneagram or want an overview of each Enneagram type. Our teachings in the Narrative Tradition show
representatives of the types speaking for themselves. The speakers’
poignant statements and levels of disclosure reflect their self-awareness
and ability to reveal important aspects of themselves.
The Enneagram is a system of personality development based on how
we think, feel and act. It allows us to gain greater knowledge of
our inner world, to build our capabilities for self-observation,
and to understand what’s going on inside us so that we can
transform our behavior in the outer world.
Although you might think that you continually observe yourself,
the Enneagram requires a particular understanding of self-awareness.
Working with the Enneagram involves a more careful, conscious, deliberate
and ongoing effort at observing one’s thoughts, feelings and
actions, in much the same way that mindfulness practices aim to
increase one’s conscious awareness of the present moment.
By learning how the Enneagram describes your personality type and
consciously observing where you put your attention and energy, you
can gain deeper insight into your automatic, habitual modes of thinking,
feeling and behaving.
The video clips of the types speaking for themselves are brief excerpts
from outstanding DVD and video collections by Dr. David Daniels
and Helen Palmer.
Click here for definitions
of terms you will find on the tour pages.
Take the tour
We suggest that you begin with Type One, the
Perfectionist, and move around the Enneagram circle. You may proceed
in any order you choose, however, by clicking on the type below.
Top of page
Definitions used in describing each type
The “lost” essential quality
is the original quality or fundamental principle of essential or
“divine” being that went into the background during
early childhood and profoundly influenced our development.
The compensating belief is the thought pattern
that we substituted for the lost essential quality.
The attention/coping strategy is what we used to
survive in an environment that did not or could not meet our need
for the experience of the essential quality.
The trap is what we mistakenly believe will bring
security and satisfaction.
The driving energy is the force that fuels our
type-based world-view.
The avoidance is the ultimate state that each of
us dreads.
The strengths are the benefits or positive attributes
resulting from our attention/coping strategy.
The paradox is when our strategy produces the opposite
result of what we really want.
The path of development is what each of us must
do to overcome the pitfalls and maximize the gifts of our particular
personality type.
The ultimate task is reclaiming the original, essential
quality of “divine being” that went into the background
during early childhood development.
Tour the types: 1 2
3 4
5 6
7 8
9
Listen to David Daniels interview the nine types on
VoiceAmerica Internet radio
Buy a DVD
 
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