The Enneagram
is an ancient and powerful study of human personality, showing how each of us develops into one of nine basic personality types, based on the perspective adopted in childhood. The core of each type is a habitual
preoccupation about life. These habits are so strong that they give us a distorted view of life.

 While we may identify with some of the other types, and indeed have some traits from each type, there is one primary pattern that drives our motivations and reactions to what we experience. These motives and reactions are what cause the pain and disconnection in relationship to our ourselves and others.

Early on in life we tried to protect ourselves from feeling pain, fear and insecurity, and developed one of nine different patterns of behavior. When we recognize these patterns we start to see how predictable our reactions are, and how we limit ourselves with these habitual beliefs or perceptions.

Knowing our key preoccupations gives us knowledge into our motivations and intentions. With this knowledge and awareness we are better able to liberate ourselves.

The Enneagram is far more than just a description of our personality; it has the components of a deep and powerful relationship to our spirituality. Learning the deep wisdom of the Enneagram can accelerate our personal growth toward living a fuller life.

For further study and exploration, go to Barbara's new site dedicated to the exploration of personal-growth using the Enneagram.

Within each point is a Subtype, which is our core wounding. This core point, is the most problematic area of our lives, and it determines our instinctual self, or what is known as Subtype.

The Subtype is where we were most wounded in early life, and this becomes our primary concern, and most often, is where many difficulties arise in relationships.

Later in life, the wound evolves into our strategy as a way to deal with the fixation of our pattern. The needs or strategies of a person who is motivated by the Subtype of Self-Preservation (the Right to Exist), Sexual (the Right to be Loved) or a Social (the Right to Belong), all play out quite differently.

The Self-Pres Subtype is driven by the ongoing search for survival and well-being. The Sexual Subtype is driven by the ongoing search for intimacy and connection with one other. The Social Subtype is driven by the ongoing search for family and community. We experience the affect of all Subtypes in varying degrees, but one Subtype is the primary influence in our lives.

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