The Complete Enneagram: 27 Paths to Greater Self-Knowledge Paperback – July 31, 2013

This book provides some very helpful points of view on the enneagram. The discussion is well-organized around the nine basic types and the esoteric structure of the enneagram, itself. These types are considered as arising out of archetypal patterns of responses children might have to their environments, especially with respect to making adaptations for survival that are irreversible and carry into adult life. These adaptations have a shadow side of human characteristics that cannot be adequately incorporated in the survival strategies. Dr. Chestnut discusses all of this remarkably clearly. It is relatively complicated by the dynamics of the enneagram. She is very interested in discussing how we can grow as human beings, given our natural, often adaptive, survival strategies. Each enneagram type has three subtypes (hence a total of 27 subtypes) based on whether our mode of adaptation focuses on a more solitary orientation to life, a more social orientation, or an intimate intersubjective orientation. All of this is discussed in a way that clearly shows how the 27 subtypes can help us to understand human behavior. The book represents a considerable achievement, and is especially to be recommended if you have some knowledge, already, of the enneagram. I would have liked to have seen a fuller treatment, especially of the wings, but the author has done an excellent job with what she does consider. There is an even more complex side to the enneagram, and this relates to comparing the types in pairs, such as comparing type 5 and type 6. The author gives a presentation of these 36 comparisons in an appendix. This is extremely helpful for roughly identifying your type, if you do not already know it.

So my Enneagram journey has had a lot of twists and turns. I first learned about the Enneagram in February 2020. The first book I read was The Road Back to You. I was convinced that I was a 5w5. But then about a month ago, I posted in an Enneagram Facebook Group and someone said they thought I was actually a Type 6. That seemed to resonate with me too. So then I didn’t know if I was 5w6 or a 6w5. I decided that I was a 6 with a super strong 5 wing. But there was a lot about 6 that just didn’t resonate with me. To confuse things even more, I have been diagnosed with OCD. Most of my compulsions worst case scenario, what ifs, second guessing yourself, rumination, researching, are also 6 traits. I didn’t know if I had OCD because I was a 6 or if I was exhibiting 6 traits because I have OCD. Then a couple days ago, I had a thought. You need to look more into type 4. I was still struggling to determine if I was a 4 or a 6. As I dug more into Type 4, I realized that I was most likely exhibiting 6 traits because I have OCD not the other way around. I actually purchased this book in July 2021, but had never read it. In fact, I had forgotten all about it. I decided to focus on the three numbers that I most resonated with 5 and 6 which are both in the head triad and 4 which is in the heart triad. I was able to eliminate 5 as my core type pretty quickly. I didn’t resonate with any of the 5 subtypes or profiles. I do have some 5 traits, but I knew it wasn’t my core type. 6 was a bit more tricky. While I did resonate with some of the 6 traits, the core fears and motivations didn’t really resonate with me. Again. I could eliminate it as my core type. I recently listened to a podcast with tips on how to find your type. There was one tip that really stuck out “Finding your type isn’t going to be all sunshine and rainbows. It’s going to make you squirm. If it doesn’t make you very uncomfortable, it’s not your type” As soon as I started reading about Type 4, it resonated with me far beyond what 5 or 6 ever did. The more I read, the more uncomfortable I got. So much so, that I wanted to quit reading. This book goes DEEP into each type. As soon as I read the description of the Social 4, I knew that was me. One of the reasons I thought I was a 5 is because I felt very disconnected from my emotions. I realized that the reason why I felt so disconnected from my emotions is because I was actively suppressing them. I am also an HSP. After reading through the chapter on 4, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that was my type. The odd thing is that Ennegram tests always came up as either Type 5 or Type 6.The only critique I have about this book is that the author doesn’t discuss wings at all.But if you want to confirm your type or if you are having difficulty figuring out your Enneagram type, get this book. It is by far the best book on the Enneagram. Highly recommend for both beginners and people who are more advanced.

Beatrice Chestnut writes in her book's introduction that in writing this book she hopes to present and "translate a profound wisdom tradition and higlight the timeless truth it reveals, while integrating the valuable information it has to offer with modern insights into what helps us grow and create positive change. (pages 12 & 13)As to how to actually go about improving our lives using this timeless truth, she writes on page 34:By first remembering to observe the things we do;then inquiring more deeply into why and how we do the things we do;and ... actively working against our old habits and toward our higher aspects,we initiate an ongoing learning process focused on knowing ourselves betterto the point where we can make more conscious choices more regularly.Chestnut seems to be suggesting that authentic transformation consists of remembering, inquiring, working, learning, and choosing.And, these five suggestions can't help but be remind me of Bernard Lonergan's "trancendental precepts" which are "habits that give direction to the psyche," page 54 of Enneatypes, Method & Spirit, by Lonergan scholar Tad Dunne. (Lonergan was a Canadian philosopher and theologan who Wikipedia refers to as one of the most important thinkers of the 20th century.)It seems that Chestnut is very much writing in the Western Wisdom Tradition as is Aquinas scholar Bernard Lonergan's whose five suggestions for authentically living parallel Chestnut's suggestions regarding individual transformation which she indicates are approached by "dis-identifying from (one's) personality." (Chestnut, page 34)Tad Dunne, who sees great affinity in the writings of Bernard Lonergan and Claudio Naranjo, has a chapter written for teenagers in his book Enneatypes, Method & Spirit wherein he presents Lonergan's precepts with a brief suggestion as to what each precept is suggesting:1. Be attentive--That is, pay attention to what people say.2. Be intelligent--That is, ask yourself why and how.3. Be reasonable--That is, don't settle for good stories or fanciful dreams.4. Be resposible--That is, do what you believe is right.5. Be in love--That is, stay connected to the people who love you and to the people whom you love.Taken together, Tad Dunne and Beatrice Chestnut (who cites Dante and Homer regarding each enneatype) have both written books that compliment one another. Both books clearly support the notion that the Enneagram grew out of what Gurdjieff scholar Cynthia Bourgeault writes of in her book entitled--The Wisdom Way of Knowing, Reclaiming an Ancient Tradition to Awaken the Heart.