9's Are Wild--Part II

What is in a number? According to the Enneagram (from the Greek meaning 9-sided figure), we can learn a lot from a number. We can learn more about our personality, how we interact with others, what our root sins and weaknesses are, what our primary defense mechanism is, and what our particular gifts are. We can learn from the enneagram some clues about our maturity level...where we have grown and where we still need to grow. It can tell us where redemption has begun to take hold in our lives and the areas that we need to continue to beseech the Spirit for sculpting.

The enneagram is somewhat similar to other personality tests/paradigms. Maybe you are familiar with the Myers Briggs approach (are you an ESFJ?). There are a myriad of options. In many ways, the ennegram is similar to these other approaches. It is, I believe, distinct in some ways. For instance, the Myers Briggs has the advantage of being rooted in tons of research. Even though it is a relatively 'young' tool, its research base helps it be somewhat effective and useful. The enneagram has history on its side. It has some of its earliest beginnings in the 4th century and has been used for spiritual direction a signficant amount in the Catholic Church. Descriptions of its history can be found in The Enneagram: A Christian Perspective by Richard Rohr and Andreas Ebert.

Here's the first thing you should know. There are 9 numbers...1-9...and everyone gets a number. There is no zero, i.e. there are NO LOSERS!

I am a 9. Christine (we think) is a 1. We discovered this past weekend that our friends Dave and Edie are a 5 and a 2, respectively. My buddy Micah is an 8, while John is a 7. Right now, that means aboslutely nothing to most of you. I think it would be too overwhelming for me to write a summary of each. SO, I think I'll detail why I think I am a 9--and what that means for me at this point in life. Maybe I can get those of you that are other numbers to write up a profile of why you are your number...then I could post those descriptions. Over the course of a few weeks, we could learn a bit about how the enneagram works and maybe some of you will be inspired to discover yourself anew through this tool.

Resources to consider:
The Enneagram: A Christian Perspective Rohr and Ebert
Understanding the Enneagram Riso
www.enneagraminstitute.com Here you can take a sample test to get you started...and read reviews about each type. This sample test in combination with one of the books is a great start.

So, the question that remains...Are 9's really wild? Answers forthcoming...