The Harmony of the Beatitudes and the Enneagram
The Art of Learning to Live Perfectly Imperfect Lives
The Harmony of the Beatitudes and the Enneagram: A Pathway to Contemplative Living in Christ
Introduction
The Beatitudes, as presented by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, are a profound spiritual manifesto providing a roadmap for living a life rooted in humility, mercy, purity, and peace. Similarly, the Enneagram, an ancient personality typology, offers deep insights into our inherent nature, motivations, and how we can grow spiritually. When these two systems are integrated, they create a robust framework for contemplative living, guiding us toward a deeper understanding of ourselves and our relationship with Christ.
By journeying through the Enneagram, I discovered a profound understanding of myself, my sin nature, my faith, and the essence of Jesus - all these contradictions rolled up into me. This tool revealed the contours of my reality, and then, I surrendered to the teachings of Jesus in the Beatitudes. They unveiled a cadence of truth, a freedom to be who God created me to be, a divine rhythm that I could embrace, guiding me to live within the prophetic harmonies God wove into the fabric of the absolute truths—physical, moral, and spiritual.
The Beatitudes: A Divine Blueprint
The Beatitudes are eight blessings that encapsulate the essence of Jesus' teachings, calling us to live in a way that reflects God's kingdom on earth. Each Beatitude begins with "Blessed are..." and highlights qualities that align us with God's will:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
These blessings call us to embody virtues that transcend our natural inclinations and align us more closely with Christ's example. The Beatitudes often turn social norms and cultural values up-side-down.
The Enneagram: A Path to Self-Awareness
The Enneagram categorizes human personality into nine types, each with its own distinct characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses. The types are:
The Reformer: Principled, purposeful, self-controlled, and perfectionistic.
The Helper: Generous, demonstrative, people-pleasing, and possessive.
The Achiever: Adaptable, excelling, driven, and image-conscious.
The Individualist: Expressive, dramatic, self-absorbed, and temperamental.
The Investigator: Perceptive, innovative, secretive, and isolated.
The Loyalist: Engaging, responsible, anxious, and suspicious.
The Enthusiast: Spontaneous, versatile, acquisitive, and scattered.
The Challenger: Self-confident, decisive, willful, and confrontational.
The Peacemaker: Receptive, reassuring, complacent, and resigned.
The Enneagram helps us understand our core fears, desires, and habitual patterns, offering a path to personal growth and spiritual transformation.
Your Enneagram Type
Typing with the Enneagram involves understanding one's core type and how it interacts with adjacent types, known as wings. There are multiple test you can take on the internet to identify your type - and wings. Many of these test are free. Overall, they’re all good, but I’ve found the RHETI to be the most accurate and consistent - it’s about $20. As an Enneagram coach that’s the first test I always recommend.
Once you get your enneagram results back, there’s all kinds of analysis to be done. Here’s one analysis my Enneagram coach gave me. While I don’t always live up to these ideas of myself, I think it describes how God created me to be:
My Enneagrams’s Coach’s Analysis of Me
Steve identifies as a 7-8 with a 9 and 5 wing. He has taken multiple test to validate his results.
Being a 7, Steve is naturally enthusiastic, adventurous, and curious, seeking new experiences and ideas. This core type is characterized by a zest for life and a desire to avoid pain and boredom, always looking for the next exciting opportunity. He shoots himself in the foot as a 7 when he allows gluttony in many forms to take root as do all primary 7s do.
The core weakness of the 7, or "passion," is gluttony. This doesn't necessarily mean physical overindulgence but rather a tendency to overconsume experiences, ideas, and activities to fill an inner void. This gluttony can manifest as a constant need for stimulation, leading Sevens to jump from one activity to another without fully engaging in or appreciating the present moment. It can also result in difficulty committing to long-term projects or relationships, as the fear of missing out on other possibilities drives them to seek the next thrilling experience perpetually. This behavior can prevent true contentment and fulfillment, leaving Sevens feeling scattered and restless.
Most Enneagram core types lean in one direction. Steve leans heavily toward the 8.
The influence of the 8 type adds a layer of assertiveness and a strong sense of justice. Steve likely embodies a confident, decisive presence, often taking charge and standing up for what he believes is right. This combination of 7 and 8 brings a dynamic blend of adventurous spirit and leadership qualities.
With a 9 wing, Steve has a grounding influence, bringing a desire for peace and harmony into his personality. This aspect helps balance his energetic and assertive nature with a more serene and accommodating demeanor, valuing connections and seeking to maintain a tranquil environment.
The 5 wing introduces a thirst for knowledge and a tendency toward introspection. Steve is likely to have a deep intellectual curiosity, enjoying the process of understanding complex concepts and seeking wisdom. This wing adds depth to his character, balancing his extroverted tendencies with moments of reflection and thoughtful analysis.
Overall, Steve's Enneagram typing as a 7-8 with 9 and 5 wings paints a picture of a vibrant, assertive, and curious individual who values adventure and understanding, with a strong sense of justice and a desire for peace. He must remain constantly aware of his passionate nature, which can either lead to fulfillment or, conversely, to self-sabotage.
Note: This is my reality and how I know myself. The Beatitudes and meditation have been the grounding forces, giving the newfound understanding of myself discovered through the Enneagram more purpose and meaning. They have fulfilled me in ways I hadn't previously realized.
Integrating the Beatitudes and the Enneagram
By integrating the Beatitudes with the Enneagram, we can see how each personality type can embody the virtues described in the Beatitudes, transforming our lives into a more Christ-centered, contemplative existence. This is an example of how each type might relate to the individual Beatitudes. (This is only an example)
Type 1 - The Reformer:
Beatitude: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."
Integration: Reformers strive for perfection and moral rectitude. Embracing this Beatitude helps them channel their desire for justice into a compassionate quest for righteousness, balancing their critical nature with grace.
Type 2 - The Helper:
Beatitude: "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."
Integration: Helpers are naturally caring and generous. By embodying mercy, they can serve others without expecting anything in return, aligning their actions with Christ's selfless love.
Type 3 - The Achiever:
Beatitude: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."
Integration: Achievers seek validation through success. By cultivating purity of heart, they can focus on inner integrity rather than external accolades, finding true fulfillment in their relationship with God.
Type 4 - The Individualist:
Beatitude: "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."
Integration: Individualists often feel misunderstood and long for deeper meaning. Embracing their capacity for mourning allows them to experience divine comfort and transform their suffering into creative expression.
Type 5 - The Investigator:
Beatitude: "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."
Integration: Investigators value knowledge and independence. By practicing meekness, they learn to trust in God's provision and share their insights with humility and generosity.
Type 6 - The Loyalist:
Beatitude: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."
Integration: Loyalists seek security and support. By becoming peacemakers, they can channel their loyalty into fostering harmony and trust within their communities, reflecting God's peace.
Type 7 - The Enthusiast:
Beatitude: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Integration: Enthusiasts crave new experiences and avoid pain. Embracing spiritual poverty helps them find contentment in simplicity and develop a deeper reliance on God's provision.
Type 8 - The Challenger:
Beatitude: "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Integration: Challengers are assertive and protective. By standing up for righteousness, they can channel their strength into advocating for justice and compassion, embodying Christ's courageous love.
Type 9 - The Peacemaker:
Beatitude: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."
Integration: Peacemakers seek harmony and avoid conflict. By embracing their role as peacemakers, they can foster reconciliation and unity, reflecting the heart of God's kingdom.
Contemplative Living through the Beatitudes and the Enneagram
Living contemplatively means cultivating an awareness of God's presence in every moment and aligning our actions with His will. By integrating the Beatitudes and the Enneagram, we can:
Deepen Self-Awareness: Understand our core motivations and how they align or conflict with the virtues of the Beatitudes.
Cultivate Virtue: Use the insights from the Enneagram to practice the virtues highlighted in the Beatitudes intentionally.
Transform Relationships: Apply the principles of both systems to foster empathy, compassion, and harmony in our interactions with others.
Embrace Divine Guidance: We must recognize our dependence on God's grace to embody the virtues of the Beatitudes, transforming our lives into a reflection of Christ's love.
Final Thoughts
Integrating the Beatitudes and the Enneagram offers a transformative path to contemplative living in Christ. By understanding our unique personality types and aligning our lives with the virtues of the Beatitudes, we can grow spiritually, foster deeper relationships, and live in greater harmony with God's will. This journey invites us to embrace our imperfections and rely on God's grace, allowing His divine artistry to shape the canvas of our lives into a masterpiece of love and compassion.