Engaging the Energies of the Centers: Spiritual Direction and the Enneagram

The Enneagram offers each person a unique experience, which is part of what makes it such a powerful tool for self-awareness, growth, and transformation. For those who engage with it deeply, it becomes far more than a system of types—it becomes a map for understanding the energies that drive us and a guide for meaningful spiritual work.

As a Spiritual Director, I often accompany individuals as they encounter the deeply ingrained patterns that shape their lives. These moments—when someone begins to recognize and break free from the automatic behaviors tied to their Enneagram type—are both powerful and tender. However, this process can initially feel scattered. Many people bring bits and pieces of what they’ve already learned about the Enneagram through memes, online tests, or surface-level interpretations. My goal is to help clients move beyond simply identifying their type and instead begin their journey by engaging the energetic patterns that drive their experience.

In my Somatic Enneagram work and training with Marion Gilbert, I have come to understand the Enneagram as a wisdom tool that invites us into deeper awareness of our way of being. This approach focuses on the dynamic energies of the three intelligence centers—Head, Heart, and Body—and the universal emotions that arise within them: fear, shame, and anger. While these emotions are often mentioned in Enneagram teachings, their embodied experience is not always explored.

Through prayer, contemplation, and study, I’ve been exploring how to use the Enneagram more effectively in spiritual direction. One of the sources I’ve encountered is The Enneagram and Prayer by Metz and Burchill (Dimension Books, 1987), which bridges the Enneagram’s wisdom with contemplative formation. This article series builds on those insights, expanding the conversation about how fear, anger, and shame manifest in our lives and how we can engage these energies as pathways toward deeper spiritual transformation.

The Energetic Expressions of the Three Centers

Each intelligence center holds its own relationship with energy, and it is through these relationships that we begin to uncover deeper truths about ourselves:

• The Head Center (5, 6, 7): This center carries inside energy. For individuals in this center, the internal world is a safe and familiar space. The experience of fear arises when they are invited to engage outwardly, to step beyond the safety of their thoughts into action and the unknown.

• The Heart Center (2, 3, 4): This center carries outside energy. The focus is external, attuned to the emotions, expectations and energies of others. However, this outward orientation can create a sense of inner emptiness or lack. Shame arises here, as individuals may feel they lack an authentic internal grounding and instead rely on external validation.

• The Body Center (8, 9, 1): The Body Center is unique in its ability to engage with both inner and outer spaces simultaneously. Anger emerges when there is a disruption in their sense of balance, autonomy, or connection to their instincts.

Moving from Energy to Transformation

To integrate this work into spiritual direction, we begin with an exploration of these energies—fear, shame, and anger—not simply as reactive emotions, but as pathways to transformation. By bringing compassionate attention to how these energies move within us, we create space for embodied curiosity. From there, the work expands into intentional spiritual practices that ground us in presence and connection.

In this article series, we will start with the Body Center—those who lead with Types 8, 9, and 1. The Body Center’s relationship with anger offers an opportunity to explore how this energy shapes both our inner and outer worlds. By learning to engage with this energy intentionally, we can transform reactive patterns into a deeper alignment with our true self, creating the conditions for healing, growth, and spiritual transformation.

This is where our journey begins: with the Body Center, where energy is grounded, present, and ready to move.

When Big Energy Meets Overwhelming Circumstances: A Story of an Enneagram 8

He teared up.

I’m always a bit apprehensive when I meet with a new client who identifies as an Enneagram Type 8. Eights tend to bring a powerful presence into any space, and that energy fills even the smallest room—or, in some cases, a computer screen during a virtual session.

In our first session, I often ask clients to “tell me what they want to tell me.” It’s an open invitation, designed to let them start where they feel ready, especially when they’re not sure where to begin. On this particular day, as my new client shared about several life circumstances that led him to seek inner work, one thing quickly became apparent: he was facing something he couldn’t control.

He described demands from every corner of his life—family, work, community responsibilities, and, most significantly, his own high expectations. These pressures were piling up, creating a familiar and ominous sense of overwhelm. He spoke about how, in the past, similar circumstances had led to bad outcomes, and he could feel that happening again. The strategies and approaches that typically served him well no longer seemed sufficient. The sheer number of tasks before him felt like an unruly force he couldn’t contain. This feeling of being out of control was unfamiliar—and deeply unsettling.

The Friction of the Body Center

For Eights, and for the other body types in the Enneagram (Ones and Nines), this kind of challenge often creates a profound inner friction. Body types instinctively sense a dynamic relationship between their inner energy—their vision of how the world should be—and the external reality they encounter. Sometimes, the world pushes back, resisting their energy.

This friction is at the root of the body center’s energetic anger. It’s the tension between who they want to be and what life seems to allow them to be. For Eights, this tension can feel like an opponent they’re constantly wrestling, a fight to assert their inner strength and vision in the face of external resistance.

When the Armor Breaks

As we began to explore his situation further, I gently guided him to inquire into what was present for him about the expectations he was facing. At first, what showed up was a sense of unbearable weight—an image of carrying more than he could handle. And then, his big energy softened. Tears welled up in his eyes.

In that moment, something profound happened. The armor that Eights often wear, their instinctual drive to stand strong no matter what, cracked just enough to let something else through: vulnerability. This wasn’t weakness; it was the courage to face the truth of his inner experience, to name the overwhelm and acknowledge that his usual ways of being couldn’t resolve this situation.

Moving Forward

For a Type 8, this moment of surrender isn’t about giving up—it’s about transformation. It’s a chance to step into a new way of engaging with life, one that doesn’t rely solely on strength and control. By allowing himself to feel the weight and the tears, my client took the first step toward creating space for something new: a deeper connection to his true self and a path forward that integrates both his inner power and his capacity for vulnerability.

This is the gift of somatic work with body types. When the tension between inner and outer worlds feels unbearable, the body has wisdom to share. It’s in the tears, the weight, and even the anger that we find the keys to healing and growth. And for an Eight, sometimes the bravest thing they can do is let that energy soften—just enough to see what lies beneath.

The Body Types: Navigating the Inside and Outside

The Enneagram’s Body Center types (8, 9, and 1) offer a unique lens for understanding how individuals engage with internal and external energies. Unlike the Head and Heart Centers, Body types are rooted in an instinctual, relational comfort with life force energy. This rising energy, often linked to an inner truth, intuition or conviction, creates a dynamic interplay between the internal and external worlds.

For Body types, the “inside” represents their deeply held beliefs about how the world should be. For the 8, this is a vision of a more just world; for the 9, a more peaceful world; and for the 1, a more correct or perfect world. These internal drives shape their daily experiences and life decisions. Enneagram teachers may use various terms to describe this energy, but it consistently reflects a striving toward “more”—more justice, more harmony, more perfection—based on their inner energy.

Navigating External Reality

When Body types encounter the realities of the outside world—whether through individuals, groups, or systems—they instinctively read the energy of their environment and form a response. This response often aligns with the “fight” instinct within the Body Center, but what they fight for varies:

• 8s fight for dominance, ensuring they maintain control over their environment.

• 9s fight for comfort, seeking to avoid disruption or conflict.

• 1s fight for righteousness, striving to align external reality with their internal ideals of what is “right.”

This inner drive to reconcile their internal world with external realities can give rise to anger, the emotional signature of the Body Center. When the external world obstructs their pursuit of justice, peace, or correctness, the resulting friction between inside and outside creates a reaction – anger. 

The Struggle for Integrity

In a conversation with a friend who identifies as a 9, she described her experience as a struggle to discern “integrity” in her surroundings. For her, fully engaging with a person or system requires sensing its alignment or congruence with her inner values. When this integrity is absent, it creates deep discomfort, as she cannot change the system to align with her internal sense of harmony. This struggle has been a recurring pattern in her life, a quiet but persistent tension between her internal longing and the external world’s incongruence.

While the pace of response may differ—8’s and 1’s often react more quickly than 9’s—all Body types ultimately face a decision: whether to remain in an environment where their inner drives cannot find external alignment or to seek a new space where their inner and outer worlds feel more congruent. For many, the resolution comes in the form of seeking a more aligned external situation or to do the internal work that allows for imperfect environments.

The Body Center’s interplay between inside and outside energies offers profound insights. It reveals the deep connection between our instinctual drives and our spiritual longings for alignment, justice, and peace. For those on a spiritual path, understanding these dynamics invites compassion for oneself and others, as we navigate the sometimes painful, always transformative work of bridging our inner world with the realities of the outer world.

Invitation to Reflection

As you explore the dynamics of the Body Center, I invite you to take a moment of quiet reflection:

• What resonated with you about how you relate to the outside world?

• How does it feel internally when you must push against a person or system?

• Where in your life do you already experience a sense of belonging, where your inner and outer worlds feel aligned?

These reflections can offer a deeper understanding of how energy moves within you and how your instinctual responses shape your experience of the world. May this awareness open pathways for compassion, transformation, and spiritual connection.

In the next article, we will turn to the Heart Center, exploring its external energy and the experience of engaging with the world while feeling the undercurrents of shame.

Originally posted on the Enneagram Monthly

Introducing The Somatic Enneagram Podcast

Friday, July 26, 2024 is the official launch of The Somatic Enneagram Podcast with Marion Gilbert. Along with Marion, co-hosts Aaron Manes and Caryn Berley invite you on a transformative journey of self-discovery and healing. Each of the podcast conversations explores the deep connections between the Enneagram and somatic work, highlighting the power of embodied integration.

You are invited into these enlightening discussions as we talk about the origins and applications of the Somatic Enneagram. Discover how this incisive practice can lead to greater self-awareness, personal growth and radical inclusion.

Discovering Your Inner Compass With Aaron Manes

Have you ever felt a deep-seated longing for something more? A desire to connect with your authentic self and find deeper meaning in life? In this blog post, Mystic Mag delves into the world of spiritual direction with Aaron Manes. Learn about his journey to becoming a spiritual director, the transformative power of Somatic Enneagram, and what to expect from his sessions.

When did you first know that being a Spiritual Director was your calling and how did it come about?

For most of my adult life people have been telling me about their personal stories. I would find myself in line at a grocery store or in a barber chair listening to someone pour their heart out to me. I didn’t realize until later in life that this was a part of my calling. Honestly I would be mystified as to why this was happening. I first heard the term “Spiritual Director” almost ten years ago and began working toward becoming one shortly after that. It wasn’t until I was in training that my calling became clear. Owning my own spiritual story and being a part of other people’s stories is part of my calling of spiritual healing. I try to bring that energy into all of the spaces I am in.

What services do you offer?

I typically meet with people one-on-one and occasionally offer group work. Spiritual Direction happens in person or over zoom. I have recently added Somatic Enneagram inquiry sessions as well. These are also one-on-one.

Could you tell us more about Somatic Enneagram?

I am a faculty member with Marion Gilbert’s Somatic Enneagram School. The Gilbert Method of the Somatic Enneagram is a presence practice that invites inquiry, connection, and communication with your intuitive, emotional, and logical ways of being in the world. The method interacts with the Enneagram teachings on defense mechanisms, awareness practices, and habits of attention for each type. By waking up to the discernment of ego and essence, we can learn who we are in our deepest places. Engaging with all three centers of ourselves allows us to ease our type patterns which enables us to engage with the world in more open and curious way. By easing type, we can be in the world differently. We can  learn to agree with the essence or divine energies in our lives. This all happens in one-on-one sessions which I facilitate.

What does it mean to be a Spiritual Director?

The best metaphor for being a Spiritual Director that I have heard is like being a midwife. It is similar in the context of my role as a Somatic Enneagram facilitator as well. There is something larger at play – in the 12 Step world they refer to it as the “God of your choosing.” My role is to be a vessel for your God to connect and communicate with you. This can be religion specific or it can be more about personal wellness. As a director, companion, facilitator and healer it is my role to hold space for you to do the work you need to do in your own life – to hear from God or to open up to a greater personal divinity.

What can a person expect from your sessions?

Space. The main thing I tell my clients is that it is my role to create an intentional space for you to do your work. Together we laugh, cry, struggle, celebrate, grieve, imagine and work through what is happening in your life. An intentional space for you to be all of who you are – this is what I hope it is like to work with me. 

What do you love most about your profession?

Let me start with what I don’t like. I don’t like that typically I am the only one who gets to see someone have a breakthrough or do work that is incredibly healing. I want more people to be able to see that. So what do I love? I love that people are finding a way to be more whole and gaining agency with God by doing this somatic and spiritual work.

Which Design Style You Should Try, Based on Your Enneagram?

In This Article:

• Understand how to utilize interior design to mirror your personality.

• Comprehend how your Enneagram aids in crafting spaces that resonate with your inner self.

• Match Enneagram types with design styles to create environments that cater to our unique needs and nurture our well-being.

Understanding the Enneagram

The Enneagram is a system that sorts people into nine personality types based on their core motivations and fears. It helps us understand ourselves and others better by showing how we perceive and react to the world. Unlike other personality tests, it recognizes that we can show traits from different types depending on the situation.

Understanding the Enneagram helps us grasp how personality influences our preferences and behaviors, even in design. By aligning interior design choices with our Enneagram types, we create spaces that reflect our authentic selves. Let's explore expert opinions on what each type needs for spaces to feel like home and what design concept correlates with those needs.

Type 1: The Reformer

Recommended design style: Scandinavian

"Type Ones are hard-working, responsible, and are always focused on doing the right thing," Stacy Erdman, Enneagram marketing and business consultant for Enneagram Entrepreneur states. She goes on to say, "Type Ones believe in duty before rest, and since they always have something to work on that needs improvement, they have a hard time letting themselves relax or have fun."

Due to this restless nature, and natural appreciation for order, type One should surround themselves with spaces that are easy to keep organized and reflect minimalism, like the Scandinavian style.

Scandinavian interior design follows a minimalistic approach, featuring sleek and modern decor with ample natural light. This design style also seamlessly combines style with functionality, making organization a breeze. Laurel Roberts-Meese, clinical director for Laurel Therapy Collective, explains the importance of such features in a type One space. "Type Ones should prioritize cleanliness and ample lighting. Consider apartments and design styles that are easy to maintain and feature tons of natural light to foster a sense of order and clarity in their living space."

Type 2: The Helper

Recommended design style: Comfy cottage

Melinda Olsen, LMFT, with Inviterra Counseling, offers a look into type Two by explaining, "[Enneagram Twos] are emotionally driven, relationship-oriented people pleasers who deeply believe they know what others need while knowing very little about their own needs." She recommends these types counteract this innate behavior by curating a space for themselves: "A Two on a growth path should focus on creating spaces that are meant only for themselves, designed around their personal hobbies, passions, and needs. Spaces that reflect personal charm while remaining comforting and cozy are perfect for the nurturing type Two which is why we recommend the cottage design style."

Cottage design is cozy, cheerful, and encourages personal style. Nostalgia is a word often associated with cottage design due to the encouragement for decorating with trinkets and other meaningful pieces. Sarah Wallace, founder and CEO of Enneagram MBA explains why coziness and comfort are so important to twos. "Twos are relationship-oriented, their "lens" focuses on other people, their needs, and how the two can be more connected by helping meet the needs of others, " Wallace explains. "At home, their focus will be creating comfortable spaces to come together in, and they tend to have pictures of friends and family throughout the entire house. Even at the office, Two's care less about functionality and more about creating a space that is warm and inviting where people feel comfortable coming in to."

Tim Branch, owner of TimBranch.com explains the importance of a design style where mementos and personality are embraced. "Type Twos thrive when they feel loved and accepted by others — and a lot of what they do, they do for the people they care about," Branch explains. "So in their working and living spaces you’ll often see knick-knacks that hold special memories, as well as pictures of loved ones."

Type 3: The Achiever

Recommended design style: Contemporary

"Enneagram type Three individuals are defined by their ambition, adaptability, and a deep desire to succeed."Explains Kenda Nixon, owner of Nomad Nixon. "They are often driven by the need for external validation and can struggle with feeling like they are never doing enough."

The complex nature of a type 3 means needing a decor style that fits their internal need for satisfaction and external need for positive impressions, which is best captured in contemporary style.

Contemporary style is one of high-end finishings, pops of color through art pieces and current trends, all while blending modernism with minimalism. Lifestyle blogger Bailey T. Hurley explains why she leans into this decorated minimalism type when it comes to her own home: "Just like my enneagram type (type Three), I want my home to look neat and put-together on the outside (though I may have children's toys and extra shoes stuffed away in a drawer) while also appealing to all who enter."

She goes on to explain that, "Enneagram Threes may feel comfortable keeping their more colorful selves hidden, but a true resident will know the beauty of their home comes from the specific design choices they made, in hopes of leaving a lasting impression." This sleek and simple yet impressionable style, is sure to please type Threes.

Type 4: The Individualist

Recommended design style: Bohemian

"Fours are introverted, sensitive, and tuned-in to their feelings, which can sometimes be tumultuous," Emma Pearson, owner of Enneagram Teaching, explains. "So often they want their home to be a haven to retreat from the world."

Pearson adds that [type Fours] are very "touched by beauty and aesthetics and their interior style will reflect that." The bohemian design style combines comfort with beauty and aesthetics seamlessly, making it a perfect style for a type Four.

Bohemian, also referred to as boho, is a style known for embracing artistic expressions. These spaces often mix patterns, colors, and textures to curate a comforting space with beautiful decor pieces. The emotional and unique nature of this Enneagram type will naturally fall into the organized chaos of a boho-styled space. Writer and coach, Kyra Craig, explains in sharing that, "the Enneagram Fours will have vibrant spaces that will feel more like a sensory experience in a museum or art gallery."

Type 5: The Investigator

Recommended design style: Industrial

Colton Simmons, Founder of You've Got a Type, explains the meaning behind the naming of Type 5. "Enneagram type Fives are nicknamed "The Investigator" because they crave a deep understanding of the way things work," Simmons says."'Things' is a very important word there because fives are typically far more interested in theories, objects, artifacts, symbols, and/or systems, rather than people."

While this may make this type appear introverted, it really just emphasizes the importance of simplicity in their spaces. Simmons also shared that, "Whichever it is, the Five will only bring things into their space that have a particular purpose for their work or symbolic significance in their life." With this emphasis on intentionality considered, industrialism is our preferred recommendation for a type Five.

Industrial design, especially in the eyes of a type Five, is well explained by Imari with AlwaysUttori.com: "The no-frills efficiency of the industrial style, which emphasizes the natural beauty of raw materials and exposed interiors, is exemplary of the Five’s love of practicality and simplicity," Imari explains. While it may seem easier to stick to a simpler design style, like minimalism, Imari says that "Type Five has a strong sense of curiosity and creativity, so sticking to the sometimes-sterile minimalist style can be a bit boring."

Type 6: The Loyalist

Recommended design style: Traditional

"Sixes are loyal to systems, beliefs, and people, but also are known for questioning the status quo. Their desire is to find support and security, and they can be challenged by self-doubt and anxious feelings," explains Helena Cachere, of Helena Cachere Coaching.

This type is complex, between balancing a deep need for security and naturally occurring anxiety with one's surroundings. To curate a consistent and safe environment for a type Six, we recommend the traditional design style.

Traditional design is exactly what it sounds like, a timeless approach to a space with nods to 18th and 19th-century design through natural materials, antique pieces, and muted colors. This design style is characterized as being classic and harmonious without being too fancy or full of frills, which is perfect for a Six. Cachere delves into the importance of a simplistic space due to the anxiety a Six feels. She explains that "it will be important to design a space that is truly supportive and not anxiety-provoking, so self-knowledge is key here." The classic and safe approach to design, through traditional interiors is a perfect place to start for a Six looking to curate a stable space.

Type 7: The Enthusiast

Recommended design style: Maximalist

"Enneagram type Seven, known as "The Enthusiast" or "The Adventurer," seeks joy, pleasure, and adventure," details Emily Bruno of The Connection Coach. "Stress arises from perceived limitations, and their fear of missing out (FOMO) is prominent."

Bruno continues, "So in their living spaces, they will thrive with vibrant, eclectic design choices that mirror their optimistic and energetic personalities." A design style that matches the energy of this type is no other than the eclectic and bright style of maximalism.

"More is more" is the key phrase of maximalism, a design style where mismatched colors and containing textures are warmly welcomed. The beloved chaos serves well for those who don't want to limit themselves to the confines of other design styles.

Chelsie Engle, of Elite Enneagram Coaching, explains how diversity and variation are perfect for this type in saying, "Type Sevens enjoy vibrant, flexible spaces that encourage adventure and spontaneity. Open, airy layouts with colorful decor and space for hobbies or gatherings can cater to their love of variety and excitement."

Type 8: The Challenger

Recommended design style: Mid-century modern

"Enneagram-type Eights are decisive and bold." states Jennifer Stanley of Live Well by Jen, "They will likely want their work environment to be less personal and more equipped for the job that needs to be accomplished. Their home environment, however, needs to be a safe space where they can relax and be vulnerable with their people." For the type Eight personality, characterized by assertiveness and confidence, the mid-century modern revival design style offers a fitting reflection of their boldness and innovation.

Mid-century modern embraces clean lines, organic shapes, and bold colors on top of sleek furnishings from the mid-20th century. This blend of old and new reimagines spaces, creating focal points and conversation starters.

With a nod to the timeless appeal of mid-century aesthetics, these interiors capture the essence of type Eight, creating environments that radiate confidence and power. Enneagram coach Lee Milligan further explains how a type Eight would mesh with this style, "Enneagram-type eights will value living spaces that reflect their sense of strength and authority. They often create spaces that feel secure and protected, with a focus on privacy and personal boundaries." Stanley goes on to note that, "whatever space an Enneagram Eight is decorating, they will be sure it is exactly what they want and are not afraid to go against what is trending."

Type 9: The Peacemaker

Recommended design style: Coastal

"The Enneagram Nine, known as peacemakers or mediators have a driving force to get along with everyone, blend in and avoid conflict at all costs," shares Cassie Jean Egerdahl, Owner of Cassie Jean Blog. "In search of inner tranquility, Enneagram Nines strive to create a home that is a calm environment and a safe haven from the conflict outside."

As arguably the calmest of the types, type Nine requires a naturally calm environment that serves as a retreat to regulate any feelings and emotions. The serene coastal design style is one that utilizes light and airy colors, with nods to the chill vibe of the coast through decor pieces and natural materials.

"For an Enneagram Nine, the space you call home could be a real opportunity to promote your deepest self," Aaron Manes, spiritual director and Enneagram teacher, notes. "Because Nines tend to merge with others, home can be a place where you can put on display the things you love the most."

Your home, your personality, your style

By understanding the core motivations and tendencies of each Enneagram type, we can tailor design styles to create spaces that feel authentic and harmonious. Whether you're drawn to the simplicity of Scandinavian design or the extravagance of maximalism, there's a design style inspired by your Enneagram type waiting to be explored. Ultimately, the goal is to create spaces that not only look beautiful but also nurture our souls and reflect who we truly are.

Originally posted on ApartmentGuide.com

Book Review: "God Is A Black Woman"

When COVID hit in 2020 I took on a couple of specific reading projects. We were all at home so I decided to pick a few topics and dive deep into them. One of the areas I was interested in was the Divine Feminine. I read a number of books during that time including “The Dance Of The Dissident Daughter” by Sue Monk Kidd and then I also read “The Way Of The Rose” by Clark Strand and Perdita Finn.

So when a friend texted me and said that if I liked Sue Monk Kidd’s story that I should check out “God Is A Black Woman” by Christina Cleveland. I did. This book mostly reads like a life journal and follows Christina’s story of growing up black in a white world and discovering that her ideas of God were extremely limited. She finds comfort in the discovery of the Black Madonnas.

This journal story-telling style reminded me so much of Sue Monk Kidd’s book. I enjoyed her conversation about the Black Madonnas because I had read “The Rose” book which explores the images of the Holy Mother in way more detail. Unique to Christina’s story is how she goes on a pilgrimage and interacts with these beautiful representations of grace and mercy. Her own story seems reflected in the faces of the Black Madonnas she encounters. She went through a lot of life moments in this book and it is beautiful how her faith grows in unexpected ways.

If you are an audible person, she reads the book there which I always prefer.

Enneagram Typing The Succession Characters

The Roy Family - The Succession Cast

I took a deep dive into Logan Roy (read here) but what about the rest of the family? It is always fun to try to type characters from television or movies. I always have to remember that (1) these aren’t actual people and (2) we cannot truly know someone else’s type (even in real life). Why? Because unlike other personality tests the Enneagram is based more on motivation than on outcomes of personality. Each type carries and energy that a person developed early on and has been living with in all of their years.

But lets take a shot at the Roy family of Succession…

Logan Roy  - 8 - Definitely an aggressive, body type and shows us his protection energies with his kids and at times other people. 

Connor Roy - 9 - Connor is the true oddball of the family. He is striving for harmony but also at times is self-centered and is really obsessed with his 4 girlfriend Willa. He wants out but he also wants in. The juggling between the in and out often leaves him in odd places. 

Siobahn “Shiv” Roy - 3 - Shiv is an aggressive personality in her own right but while she is a rival to Logan we can see her being more image conscious and wanting for things to always look right even if they aren’t. She is an issues consultant for politicians and spends a lot of time making sure things look better than they are. When confronted with speaking for the company after a scandal, her issue is with how it looks, not what has happened. 

Romulus “Roman” Roy - 7 - Roman wants things to be good all the time. He is aroused by the exciting and seems to be chasing the next big thing all the time. This is essential seven energy. It isn’t to say he isn’t thoughtful but sometimes he avoids thoughtfulness to just try something new. It is way more fun than getting stuck. 

Kendall Roy - 5 - This is a tough one for me but I think it is essential to the show. I believe the main premise of the show is Kendall and Logan’s struggles with each other. Kendall at times is very protective of his kids, the company, the family trust, etc… but his dad breaks him. When it happens we find him retreating to a rooftop or a quiet room to reset. I believe that Kendall is a five trying to keep up in an eight world and this leaves him exhausted. He turns to drugs to keep up and when everything fails him he becomes out of place and loses his way. This all feels very five energy. 

Now some quick hit typing…
Marcia - 2
Geri - 6
Willa - 4
Tom - 7
Greg - 1

Keep Reading: Who Are Today’s Modern Spiritual Teachers Of The Enneagram?

Logan's World: Succession, The Enneagram & Transformation

Fr. Richard Rohr says, “If we don’t transform our pain, then we will transmit it.”  After watching and rewatching HBO’s hit show Succession, I think this quote must be posted up somewhere in the writers room. These writers have created a show that has no truly likable characters, only people who are tripping over themselves to put someone else down. They are ruthless. They will destroy their siblings, their kids, their family, their spouses - all for power and money. They are not in the business of transformation, only the business of themselves - which in turn is also killing their souls. 

Succession is centered around a billionaire media mogul, Logan Roy, and his adult children. It’s all about who will take over the company. In each season we watch Connor (the eldest/half-sibling), Kendall, Siobahn (“Shiv”) and Roman along with the other C-suite members do Logan’s bidding all in the name of more money and power and ultimately a chance at the big chair. 

Here’s the thing that this show captures more than anything else: the center of this world is Logan Roy - an enneagram 8 whose orbit is huge.  Because of his success, Logan’s truth is the only truth that matters. The way he wants it is the way he gets it. We are reminded of this over and over again from boardrooms to helicopter rides to yachts. The characters of Succession trust in him because “he always wins;” truly, father knows best.

When Control Becomes A Problem

More than any other energy on the circle of the enneagram, the 8 is highly concerned with control. This control is often misunderstood as bossiness, aggression or a need to be in charge all the time. In reality it is a protection technique that young 8s learned early on. It is as if they were told that their innocence would not be safe out in the world, so they create layers and layers of protection over their most vulnerable parts. In order to be safe, they often push other people to operate the way they want them to - control. 

From an energy perspective, however, they are not trying to be the boss for boss’ sake, but rather because of their early split from “holy truth.” The 8 is redefining truth for themselves and is often found imposing that truth on others. Each enneagram type is tied to a holy loss so I am not just picking on 8s here. Much of this work has been brought to life by Sandra Maitri in her great book “The Enneagram of Passions and Virtues.” These holy losses drive a passion, which leads to a fixation and this is often where we find the type structure fully expressed. For an 8, their loss is expressed as a loss of holy truth. Their ego is a projection of their truth and they begin operating as the strength, the leader, the justice-maker - anything that reinforces their role as protector for their lives and others they deem worthy. 

The ego of an unhealthy enneagram 8 is not in the transformation business, they are in the transmission business. For Logan, his most emotional moments are when he is arguing with one of his kids. When they don’t trust him he really escalates with anger because from his point of view he is doing his best to protect them even if they aren’t receiving it that way.

The Harmony Triad and Control

The enneagram recognizes several triads amongst the types. There are head (5,6,7), heart (2,3,4) and gut/intuition (8,9,1) people. Most people know this way of understanding themselves. Additionally, there are two other key triad groupings: The Hornevian groups or triads may be familiar as well - aggressive/assertive (8,7,3), withdrawing (4,5,9) and dependent (1,2,6). 

But there’s a third way to group the types that is important here: The Harmony Groups. Originally developed from Dr. David Daniels’ teachings. These groups are broken into the Frustrated Idealists (1,4,7), the Pragmatists (3,6,9) and the Relators/Rejection (2,5,8) groups. Each of these groups finds a footing in head, heart and body (imagine a three-legged stool sitting on a circle with one leg in each grouping. A common factor for the relator group is control. 

While this control looks very different for each of these numbers, they all work to be in control of their situations through various techniques - some might call it coping. It also influences how they move in the world. It has been said that everyone needs the voices of the relator group in their lives. They need someone to care for them (2), someone to be an objective voice (5) and someone to tell them what to do (8) in an unvarnished way. The challenge for each of these three numbers is to embrace the blessing of all of the types and to live in balance. An 8 needs to embrace the open-heartedness of the 2, while the 2 needs to use the rationality of the 5 to keep themselves grounded, and on and on. 

How Does An Enneagram 8 Do Transformation?

The language of the twelve step programs is likely the truest way of transformation we know today. We all believe we have power. Our experiences, egos and the corresponding somatic responses lock us into patterns. The twelve steps teach us that we are powerless and there is something larger than us which can help us re-locate and overcome. The steps also offer us a chance to engage with a higher power or “the holy.” If we know our type’s holy loss, then we can also know our type’s virtue and use this as a guide back to the holy. In Succession, we don’t see Logan aspiring to be transformed. 

The biggest spiritual growth challenge for an eight is vulnerability. Due to what is likely a pre-speech realization as a child that being vulnerable was risky, little 8s shut that down and become the protector of themselves, leaving them with under-exercised hearts. They become risk-averse, or as Logan would say - “we need to find a position of strength.” 

In season three there is a moment of honest conversation between Logan and Kendall. Kendall wants to do the right thing and believes that by telling the truth (there’s that holy idea again) that the family can once again become a force for good in the world. And that is when we get to hear Logan’s honest take on the world: 

“Life is not knights on horseback. It is a number on a piece of paper. It is a fight for a knife in the mud.” 

Logan is always willing to get in the mud and fight for his life and the life of those he means to protect. Is it honorable? Is it deplorable? Has it made him successful? Do the ends justify the means? Even at his weakest moments, when his body is failing him, Logan is still fighting to win at all costs. 

For an 8 to see an ego deconstruction they must address vulnerability in their life. We haven’t yet seen Logan do this. And in the world that is dominated by an aggression-driven person, no one around him is motivated to make any change because he will just kill them off. In fact, he takes pleasure in it. 

Making A Spiritual Change

Our brains and bodies don’t like change. We aren’t predisposed to make changes, especially when we feel protected. From a spiritual growth perspective, change comes when we know that our ego is not serving us well. When we wake up to this idea we begin discovering invitations. The end of our physical capability is the beginning of our spiritual invitation. It is us recognizing our higher power and gaining access to it. To do something that is supernatural we must move beyond what our natural self is able to do. 

There isn’t a logical reason for Logan to wake up. But there is a spiritual reason. Logan’s world is solidly planted in his 8 energy, but opening up to his 2 and 5 energies could bring spiritual balance into his world and allow him to truly connect with people. It will take vulnerability and he will be afraid, just like he should have been allowed to be as a child. To return to his essence, who he was before that ego took over, will help him find a new connection to his true self. This is the spiritual work of transformation.

READ NEXT: Enneagram Typing The Roy Family

More Reading: Who Are Today’s Modern Spiritual Teachers Of The Enneagram?

Ted Lasso And The Enneagram

What Are The Enneagram Types Of Each Ted Lasso Character?

Ted Lasso Characters By Enneagram Type.

Ted Lasso is the feel good show of right now. If you are watching it, you are loving it. Each character brings so much to the table. In an ensemble cast, like this one, I am always amazed at how good each character presents. I am pretty much always in awe of television writers and creators. In Ted Lasso, each character is so well written that they present deeply. They are consistent with the character stories even in short story developments that occur through the show. As an enneagram project this was a fun one and even more fun to discuss on social media.

What elements did I use for typing characters? The enneagram is so common that so many people know about it enough to do some typing. Often this means we recognize behaviors and put that into type. This works well mostly but the enneagram as a personality tool is truly derived from behavior. The most revealing elements of the enneagram - and the parts that help us transform who we are - come from the opportunity to observe our motivations. 

In our origin moments (typically pre-speech) your centers are set and our numbers come from our centers. So there are head, heart and gut/intuition numbers. Each of these numbers share a loss of a holy idea which creates a new egoic passion and fixation. All of this occurs without us even knowing it. So how am I typing the characters? I am primarily looking for their passions and fixations that inspire their behaviors.

Body Center

Type 8: Roy - The fan favorite is kind but he is not nice. We see him protecting Phoebe, his teammates and watch him only do what he wants to do. The 8’s loss of Holy Truth inspires lust and vengeance but they are found at their best protecting innocence.

Type 9: Sam - Like all 9’s, Sam is being himself at all times. However he does lose site of his own compass when he blends in with everyone else. We see him take on “right action” when he has to stand up against the sponsor he was just promoting. The 9’s loss of Holy Love inspires their indolence (avoidance) but it is in taking that right action that they find their best selves again.

Type 1: Jaime - Isn’t it frustrating when someone is the best at everything they do? It is almost like deep down they have something driving them to get everything right - to be perfect. The loss of Holy Perfection drives the ego into anger and resentment and yet it is through the virtue of serenity that we find one’s returning to their best selves.

Heart Center

Type 2: Nate - People love their 2 friends. We love them so much because they take care of us. But like their other relator triad numbers of 8 & 5’s, 2’s are also controlling and we can see all of this in Nate. Their loss of Holy Will leads them to pride and seeking flattery. Engaging with humility brings them home.

Type 3: Rebecca - I love how we get to see all of the good sides of Rebecca. She always does the right things. She wears the right things, gives gifts at Christmas to the less fortunate. Because of their loss of Holy Law, they find deceit and vanity. To be at their best, their attachment to truth (veracity) will guide them to their honest self.

Type 4: Keeley - Maybe the most connective character on the show is Keeley. She is closely connected to so many story lines where she is encouraging other people to be themselves and that is because she is being herself all the time. A 4 is rooted in an inner compass. Their loss of Holy Origin demands their uniqueness and thus they struggle with envy and melancholy. Equanimity or calmness is their guide home.

Head Center

Type 5: Dr. Sharon - The season 2 addition of Dr. Sharon Fieldstone brings our second 5 to the show (Coach Beard is also a 5). The good doctor is often found observing, keeping quiet and having deep discussions with others. She wants to present mastery in her profession and doesn’t want to many people to see her any differently.  The loss of Holy Omniscience drives the five into avarice (collecting) and stinginess. They need to develop a non-attachment guide to be their best self.

Type 6: Higgins - My wife dislikes the term “loyalist” as the title of the six but what is beautiful about it is that a six is loyal to the whole. Higgins is the most loyal Greyhound on the show and he wants everyone to be cared for. We see that in how we moves offices for Dr. Fieldstone and makes sure the players have somewhere to go during the holidays. The six loss is one of Holy Faith specifically in that they feel everyone deserves everything equally and they are driven to fear and cowardice because of this. But it is courage that will be their guide and we see that courage emerging in Higgins.

Type 7: Danny - We aren’t gaining a well rounded picture of a seven in Danny (at least not into season 2 when this was created). However in the yips episode is where we most see the upbeat seven being confronted with a difficult moment. Danny is up and busy and chasing the next thing, the next goal, the next  experience because futbol is life-giving to him. The seven’s loss of the Holy Plan guides the ego to gluttony and planning for their next thing often causing them to miss the moment they are in. Sobriety or a slower pace is their guide to a life of presence.

But What About Ted?

Ted is an advocate in everyone’s lives to be better - To Believe - Be A Goldfish - Be Curious. Thinkers think. Feelers feel. And gut or intuition people do. Ted is a doer but he is the most being energy on the enneagram circle and therefore I believe him to be a 9 with a pretty present 1 wing. Ted is just being and sometimes that gets him in trouble. When he slows down some anxiety catches him. The best part about Ted is that he believes other people have the right to be as well if they would just believe.

Keep Reading: Who Are Today’s Modern Spiritual Teachers Of The Enneagram?

Better Questions = Getting Unstuck

The process of deconstruction and reconstruction can have a lot of up’s and down’s. Sometimes in the midst of it, we may just feel stuck. So what do we do when we feel stuck? How do we know if our truest voice is speaking or if it is a voice from our past? I asked Therapist and Spiritual Coach Amanda Waldron to jump into this conversation to help us find new ways and better questions to continue down a healthy reconstruction path. This conversation swerves around and we touch on everything from the somatic enneagram, purity culture, getting unstuck and what kind of people we need during different seasons of our lives. Learn more about Amanda on her website www.heyamandawaldron.com or follow her on instagram.

What Do We Do With Doubt?

A big part of the deconstruction journey begins with doubt. A doubt may be small when it creeps in but real deconstruction happens when you just cannot ignore it any more. In this episode I am talking to Brian Aadland - who is the pastor of Revolution Church in Minneapolis as well as the host of the The Sacred Collective podcast. Brian recently gave a talk about doubt and what scripture has to say about it so I wanted to have him on to hear some of his own story and how he is working to bring purpose to doubt.

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What Is Spiritual Direction?

In each one of these podcasts I introduce myself as “Spiritual Director Aaron Manes.” But what is a spiritual director? Sure, you can google it, you can look up the big spiritual direction entity that is Spiritual Directors International (www.sdicompanions.org) and find a definition, but I thought it would be a good opportunity to have my friends and fellow Spiritual Director’s Kim Verriere and Emily Turner on to talk about this with me. Kim and Emily have both been on the podcast before so you can listen back to find out their typologies and a little more about each of them. If you would like to know more about what happens during spiritual direction, what sorts of things are discussed and how working with a trained listener affects your life, then this podcast is for you. 

Read the full transcript below:

Church Is Complicated

Church - for so many people right now, it is complicated. I recently did a talk for a spiritual ministry here in Dallas and it was about this idea of America becoming less religious and more spiritual. One of the best metaphors I know is from author Robert Putnam. He says that interest in bowling is at an all time high and yet interest in bowling leagues is at an all time low.

You see, people want to bowl but they don’t want to do it formally. The church trend trackers are seeing similar trends when it come to going to church. What has become apparent for a lot of people I know is that they discovered they didn’t need to go sit in a sanctuary to have church, to have community. Their faith community they realized were the people that care about them and those who they care about.

In this first edition of "It's Complicated," there isn't a guest. Just me talking about the reality of church-going and living a more spiritual life. The truth of the spiritual or reconstructing life is that often what irks us, is just an invitation in disguise. 

Read the full transcript below…

Deconstruction, Reconstruction and Seminary

By the time someone has gone through the deconstructing process, they often find themselves in a new place - even a whole new person. Many people talk about feeling more open-hearted, more connected, more of a lot of things. And it is from that place that they take on new things. In this episode, I am talking with my friend Lindsay O’Connor who is a great follow on social media for all her book wisdom. (Instagram: @LindsayLOConnor) but she is also an enneagram knower and is on a journey doing racial reconciliation. All of this work found her with a desire to go to seminary and that is something I wanted to talk to her more about.

Read the full transcript below

We Must First Belong

Deconstruction & Reconstruction are an invitation to never stop believing. In this conversation with Rev. Jared Houze, we discover that part of the process is that before we can believe, we must first belong. Knowing that we belong to community gives us a place to believe from. This insight came from a real curious question related to what he would like for his kids -- being that he grew up baptist and is now an Episcopal priest. Come listen into this call to also hear some real wisdom in the work of reconciliation and how the church is uniquely positioned to bring people together. 

Rev. Jared Houze is the senior minister at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Abilene, Texas. 

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Read The Full Transcript:

Justice, Songs & The Bible

When you are tasked to write songs that reflect your life and at the same time have those songs call people to justice - remembering that peacemaking without justice isn't unity - how do you do that? Paul Zach (Singer/Songwriter, The Porter's Gate) is doing just that. Our conversation today is one of how to engage honestly with what is happening in our world today and draw creativity from it. We also talk about how to pick up the Bible again after growing up with it being a weapon of shame and fear. If we can read the book differently, we can hope to see ourselves better.

About The Guest:

Paul Zach (www.paulzachmusic.com) is a lead songwriter for The Porter's Gate - an ecumenical group founded to help worship leaders respond theologically to the pressing questions of our times through the writing of new worship songs and the creation of new liturgical resources. Paul also has a new album out called "Hymns" which is streaming on Spotify and Apple Music.

A Prayer For Hope

God of Hope

We come to you on this day,

A day we set aside to rest and to experience worship together.

We have hope today as we hear the news of a vaccine.

We are grateful for the doctors and scientists who continue to work on our behalf.

It has been hard to be hopeful.

We continue to experience loss and grief and anxiety.

For those today who are struggling and lack for hope -

Lord, Hear our Prayers.

God our Mother,

We come to you on this day.

In a season where justice and mercy feel distant,

We open our hands and our hearts.

We give you the breath in our lungs.

We ask for your Spirit, your life-giving power,

That we may be healers of relationships;

That we may bind up the wounds of our neighbors

and heal the broken hearted.

For there are many who need us -

Lord, hear our prayers.

God, it can be scary to work outside our comfort zones.

It can be troubling to hear you call us into new places.

Give us the faith to know that you are with us,

That you are for us,

And that you are ahead of us.

As we look and listen for you in our lives,

May we see you and may we hear you -

Lord hear our prayers.

We come to you know now from our living room televisions, our smart devices, computers and in this sanctuary. We pray now the prayer that Jesus taught us to pray saying…

Our father, who art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us of our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

Lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power

and the glory forever and ever.

Amen.

You Need To Grieve

In the last few years the people of America have been asked to "move on" through some pretty traumatic happenings. We have moved on from kids and people being caged and families separated. We watched George Floyd get murdered on our screens. We have watched people charged with high crimes get favorable treatment and no justice was served. Breonna Taylor and so many others didn't get justice and we are told to "move on." We have had to sit by while our friends, families and neighbors get extremely sick and nearly 400,000 people have died from COVID.

The reality of "moving on" is extremely damaging to our souls. If we do not slow down, reflect or process we will not heal. I am thankful that today we have the opportunity to grieve the loss of so many of our siblings here in America today.

May we grieve together. When the tears begin, do not try to stop them... cry it out. If you are hurting and angry, sit down today and write it out. Find a journal or open up a google doc and just write it all down. It doesn't have to make sense. If you need to pray today, spend 10 minutes on a silent walk just breathing and then share your grief with your higher power.

You need to grieve today. Your soul needs it. Don't just move on.

A Different Kingdom

When Jesus' followers saw what was going to happen, they said, "Lord, should we strike with our swords?" And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, "No more of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him.

The Christ calls us into a different kingdom. He calls it several names but this Kingdom didn’t come to conquer with swords but with love.

Why Everything Is Spiritual

Henri Nouwen, one of my favorite authors, often includes spiritual exercises in his books. In one of his spiritual exercises, he invites us to spend 30 minutes in a guided meditative prayer. For the first 10 minutes you breathe and repeat “Jesus is God’s Beloved.” For the next 10 minutes you repeat “I am God’s Beloved,” and for the last 10 minutes you say “Everyone is God’s Beloved.” Think about that. For 20 minutes we are invited to say that not only are we God’s beloved, so is everyone else. It is here that we are able to identify with Jesus who, before his ministry begins, is called beloved by God. 

Jesus didn’t have to do anything other than be alive, wading out into dirty water. Can you see it? Jesus walking  into a muddy river toward a crazy man named John who has cricket parts in his beard. This guy has to smell horrible but Jesus presses on. In the midst of this scene, Jesus is girded by a voice that tells him he is beloved. He is God’s child.

In his book “Everything Is Spiritual,” Rob Bell tells us about his grandparents, his college years, the ups and downs of ministry and how he and his wife ended up in California after pastoring a mega-church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In the midst of these stories he is reflecting, listening, and looking for the divine moments, no matter how small they may be. That is the work of spirituality. 

Richard Rohr is quoted as saying, “God comes to us disguised as our life.” So often we go to church or some other spiritual event and hope to experience God there. But the reality is that our lives are already holy. We are God’s beloved. That is the gospel. Bell tells us that even at the cellular level you can find connection to something infinite.

So today, reflect on your own story. Breathe in the fact that the universe has expanded to create and include you. You, your family, your neighbors, your community - they are all beloved. They are all spiritual. You don’t have to go somewhere holy to find God. God is there, disguised as your life.

Dreams, Mystical Experiences and Listening For The Holy Spirit

What if our dreams are God's prayers for us and to us? Dreams and other mystical experiences can sometimes be like scratch off tickets in that we may not be best served to scratch one too hard. Sometimes the Holy Spirit is speaking to us over time and through multiple occurrences and what is revealed is the leading of God in our lives. This episode's guest is Emily Turner, a spiritual director, a writer and a mystic. I wanted to have Emily on because she is tuned into listening and hearing from God in different ways. Sometimes listening to the ways that other people hear God speak in their lives, gives us a new perspective.