What do I mean by that?
The Enneagram provides impartial self-awareness of the unconscious patterns that run our lives and how we identify with those patterns. Like a mirror, it objectively reflects the habitual behaviors, thoughts, and feelings we project onto our world and others with surprising detail and accuracy.
Conversely, the Enneagram’s purpose is not to “type” everyone around us, nor is it getting attached to the name or number we think best describes us (or another), for example, proudly announcing, “I’m an Individualist” or “I’m a type 7.”
In other words, the Enneagram personality descriptions shine a light on our personality patterns so we can move them out of the way and discover who is behind them.
The Wizard of Oz is a suitable Enneagram metaphor; there’s the outer structure that everyone sees, fears, and interacts with—The Great and Powerful OZ—and there’s the man behind the curtain hoping to remain hidden—Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkle Emmanuel Ambroise Diggs.
Oscar created Oz as his outward identity, feared face, and voice while keeping his authentic self—his essence—safe behind the external facade, the curtain. Oz, the image became what Oscar could not. Ultimately, however, the image dissolved, leaving Oscar in the company of his genuine self.
So, to wrap up this brief conversation, the Enneagram gives us invaluable clues about ourselves and our true nature if we dare to look inside. In contrast, it is not putting others under a microscope and assigning an identity based on what we see or experience.
More to come!
Holly Margl is the award-winning author of Witnessing Grief; Inviting Trauma and Loss to Our Coaching Conversations, An Enneagram Perspective, coach, coach mentor, and trainer specializing in grief, trauma, and the Enneagram.
