Riso-Hudson Certified Enneagram Teaching
Film, literature and stories passed down via oral traditions are rife with examples of the reluctant hero. The fact that we love these tales about ordinary people called to do extraordinary things that they don’t feel they’re qualified to tackle highlights the appeal of this archetype. Perhaps it’s because we all hope there’s some unlikely hero hidden within us who will rise to the occasion as soon as we’re called upon to do so.
Among spiritual seekers, there’s an idea that many see as a good reason for not using the Enneagram in their practice. That is that we each have a “story,” or narrative, that continuously tells us who we are, what the world is and how we should be in it. The Enneagram of personality is often seen as adding to this story, giving us more content to support our opinions, pre-conceived notions and limiting beliefs about ourselves and others. However, the Enneagram gives us a wealth of insight and without it, an awful lot of our egoic behavior would potentially remain invisible because it is the nature of Ego to be hidden so it can masquerade as our true nature.
Many spiritual teachers say there are two paths to awakening: the spontaneous awakening and the awakening that happens as a result of intense suffering. They also say that while the path of suffering isn’t necessary, that’s the one most people end up taking.
One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious. —C. G. Jung Take a look at your community of friends. What types do you tend to choose? What types do you tend to
Continued from What Your Social Circle Reveals about You. May I carry my light to the darkness. May I have courage to see what I’ve hidden. May I be open to hearing the unthinkable. May I remember to be kind.
I learned a term from a friend the other day: catalytic cycle (props, Alisha!). In chemistry, it applies to a process where a catalyst launches a reaction, then the product interacts with the catalyst, which in turn launches a new
How can the Enneagram help us deal with the most difficult people in our lives? It happens that I am currently in this situation and I have a few realizations about it to share—if only to remind myself of them