The Instinctual Drives And The Enneagram

The Enneagram is a profound tool for self-observation and inner work. While there are plenty of resources on the topic, most Enneagram literature is largely limited to entry-level descriptions of the Nine Types. The Instinctual Drives and the Enneagram focuses on a crucial but misunderstood facet of the Enneagram Typology--our "animal" Instinctual Drives and how they are related to our spiritual nature.While nearly every school of thought on the Enneagram acknowledges the importance and role of the Instinctual Drives, there's a deep lack of understanding what they actually are, the role they play in personality, and most importantly, their implications for inner work. This book achieves, for the first time, a coherent theory of the instinctual drives based in biology, evolution, and developmental psychology, and it paves the way toward a more accurate view of inner work that directly addresses our animal nature. In so doing, it turns our current understanding of the Enneagram on its head by showing that the personality does not exist in parallel with our instinctual drives, but in reaction to them. In other words, instinct comes first - and one's Enneagram type is nothing more or less than a strategy to fulfill instinctual needs. This clarified orientation has important implications for our spiritual development, self-remembrance, and the transformation of our personhood into a conduit of Essence.

It would be impossible for most of us to spend a day without coming into direct or indirect contact with dozens of people family, friends, people in the street, at the office, on television, in our fantasies and fears. Our relationships with others are the most changeable, infuriating, pleasurable and mystifying elements in our lives. Personality types, based on the ancient system of the Enneagram, will help you to enjoy more satisfying and fulfilling relationships in all areas of your life by introducing you to the nine basic personality types inherent in human nature. This knowledge will help you better understand how others think and why they behave as they do, as well as increasing your awareness of your own individual personality. Written by the leading world authority on the Enneagram, it offers a framework for understanding ourselves and those around us, as well as a wealth of practical insights for anyone interested in psychology, counselling, teaching, social work, journalism and personal management.

The Enneagram—a universal symbol of human purpose and possibility—is an excellent tool for doing the hardest part of consciousness work: realizing, owning, and accepting your strengths and weaknesses. In this comprehensive handbook, Beatrice Chestnut, PhD, traces the development of the personality as it relates to the nine types of the Enneagram, the three different subtype forms each type can take, and the path each of us can take toward liberation. With her guidance, readers will learn to observe themselves, face their fears and disowned Shadow aspects, and work to manifest their highest potential.

A groundbreaking exploration of the spiritual dimension of working with the enneagram by one of its earliest students and teachers in America. Here is one of the first books to explore in an authentic and comprehensive way the original spiritual dimension of the enneagram. Among the most knowledgeable teachers of the enneagram in America, Sandra Maitri shows how the enneagram not only reveals our personalities, but illuminates a basic essence within each of us. She shows how traversing the inner territory particular to our ennea-type can bring us profound fulfillment and meaning, as well as authentic spiritual development.

In this book, you learn to discern between thoughts, emotions and instinctive impulses. Often, we get them confused, which can create misunderstandings, frustration and inner or outer conflicts. But the problems only occur because we have not learned to meet and process these different signals for what they are. The book was originally written to fill a void in the Enneagram literature, but it is useful whether we know about the personality types or not. With clear explanations, descriptive examples and practical exercises, the reader is given a first-hand experience of the inner resources discussed and is guided step by step on the path to a life with greater presence, awareness and freedom. "Cicci Lyckow Bäckman has been a dedicated student of the Enneagram for many years, but in this beautiful and accessible book, she steps into teaching the true heart and soul of the Enneagram work. There are many places now where we can read descriptions of the nine types, but Cicci goes beyond this by inviting us into the core teachings for developing ourselves through our Enneagram type.The aptly named Aspects of you reveals to us the inner drives and mechanics behind each of the nine types through an exploration of the Centers of Intelligence. She describes the sense and function of the Centers but also offers advice on how to better express them and balance our lives through them. You can tell from her friendly and steady guidance that Cicci has really lived these teachings, and so she conveys them with a freshness and intimacy rare in writings on this subject. I am truly grateful to see her bringing this marvelous book into the Enneagram conversation, and highly recommend it to anyone seeking to engage in real inner work." -Russ Hudson, author of "The Enneagram: Nine Gateways to Presence", and co-author of "The Wisdom of the Enneagram"

Offering a unique perspective on the Enneagram, Essential Wholeness describes the how human beings grow and evolve from biological, psychological, cultural, mythological and spiritual perspectives. It reveals the underlying patterns that inform these diverse disciplines and provides therapists, coaches and self-helpers an effective guide for therapeutic change and spiritual awakening. Advance Praise for Essential Wholeness Both profound and practical, this book integrates cutting edge neuroscience, esoteric wisdom, a heartfelt appreciation of the natural world, and powerfully effective psychological methods. It's genuinely brilliant. Rick Hanson, Ph.D., author of Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom Eric Lyleson has written a beautiful and helpful book on living life as a journey of awakening. I highly recommend it! Stephen Gilligan, Ph.D. author of The Courage to Love Essential Wholeness provides a blueprint for understanding and working with the complexity of human nature and behavior. It is an inspiring and valuable resource for therapists and anyone interested in the dynamics of personal transformation. Peter Chown, Psychologist. Consultant, NSW Centre for Advancement of Adolescent Health; Specialist Consultant, Adolescent Health, World Health Organization Eric somehow manages to distil a lifetime of experience, spiritual practice, and psychological learning into a very accessible, comprehensive model of human psychology and behavior. Not since Ken Wilber have I read such a concise and useful synthesis of psychology, spirituality, and ecology. I find it incredibly useful in my work as a therapist and as a guide on my own spiritual journey. Richard Chambers, PhD, Clinical Psychologist Co- author of Mindful Learning