Uncovering Patterns of Thought, Feeling, and Behavior with Enneagram

1. ARE YOU INTERESTED IN UNDERCOVERING AND UNDERSTAND THE PATTERNS OF THOUGHT, FEELING AND BEHAVIOR THAT OFTEN KEEP YOU STUCK? WANT TO IMPROVE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOURSELF AND OTHERS? THEN READ ON.

2. Around THE ENNEAGRAM OF VICES AND VIRTUES can be seen:The “seven deadly sins” (anger at 1, pride at 2, envy at 4, greed at 5, gluttony at 7, lust at 8, sloth at 9); Plus 2 (vanity at 3 & fear at 6) As well as the 9 fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.” (Love at 2; Joy at 7; Peace at 9; Patience at 1; Kindness at 3; Generosity at 5; Faithfulness at 6; Gentleness at 4; Self Control at 8) ENNEAGRAM THEORY suggests that, though our heart is tempted by all 9 vices and we are capable of all 9 virtues, our life’s struggle / angst / restlessness (Martin Luther’s “Anfectung”) is due to the fact that our thought, emotional as well as behavioral patterns reveal that we tend to get stuck within the polarities of one combo over the other eight. Presented by Personalityportfolios.com

3. “Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves. 8 They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 He said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” – Genesis 3:7-10 • We begin with Adam & Eve in the garden (What we had and what we lost). • There are specific concrete ways that we hide from God. • The spiritual journey entails GOD waking us up to them so that, becoming aware of them, we might make the journey back to who we’ve always been in God’s eyes. INTRODUCING THE ENNEAGRAM OF VICES AND VIRTUES • Ennea = 9; gram = points • Enneagram: a circle inscribed by nine points • Enneagon: a nine-sided figure “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13 And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.” – 1 Corinthians 13:12-13 Presented by Personalityportfolios.com

4. YET AT THE CORE OF EACH OF US IS SOMETHING THAT WAS GOOD THAT HAS BECOME DISTORTED. THE ENNEAGRAM OF VICES & VIRTUES MAPS OUT THAT “SOMETHING” AND POINTS THE WAY HOME. • “But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 They were greatly astounded and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals IT IS IMPOSSIBLE, but not for God; for God all things are possible.”- Mark 10:24-27 • REPENTANCE = dying to sin….laying aside the weight….coming home. It is God’s bringing us through the eye of the needle. • HOLY SPIRIT as “dynamis” which means “power” or “strength” • “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.” – 2 Corinthians 3:17-20 • Martin Luther’s Small Catechism: The Third Article: Sanctification“I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.”What does this mean?Answer: I believe that by my own reason or strength I CANNOTbelieve in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him. But the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, and sanctified and preserved me in true faith, just as he calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth and preserves it in union with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church he daily and abundantly forgives all my sins, and the sins of all believers, and on the last day he will raise me and all the dead and will grant eternal life to me and to all who believe in Christ. This is most certainly true.” Presented by Personalityportfolios.com

5. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith…” – Hebrews 12:1-2a “But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ 20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.” – Luke 15:17-20 • SIN = as what “clings” to us (our idealizations) and what carries us away from home. Away from our senses. Away from what we know in our head, heart and gut. • THE LESSON OF WIZARD OF OZ • What was the Scare Crow in search of? • Brain (Head) • What was the Tinman in search of? • Heart • What was the Lion in search of? • Courage (Gut/Body) • What was Dorthy in search of? • Home • What did they learn? • That they already had what they were searching for and that Dorthy was already home. Presented by Personalityportfolios.com

6. “For there is no distinction, 23 since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24 they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; 26 it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus.” – Romans 3:22b-26 • SIN = as missing the mark – (hamartia) bent arrow –originally it was on target, but it is now off course. Too much energy into it can carry it off course. • If you push the value of goodness too far then that ideal becomes the notion (i.e. idealization) of perfection begins to “cling” too closely…that it has to be this way or that way to be perfect and irritation rears its ugly head. But is anything ever really as it “should”, “ought” to be or “needs” to be? • REPENTANCE = turing around. The serenity prayer is a u-turn for the perfection and a cure for the irritation or frustration that clings so closely to us. • God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Amen. Presented by Personalityportfolios.com

7. “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8 he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross.” Philippians 2:5-8 Presented by Personalityportfolios.com

8. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. 3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. 6 We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; 7 ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; 8the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness. 9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10 love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18 If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” Romans 12:2-18

9. Personality PortfoliosNine spiritual gifts you have within you! This presentation is based on my own studies, my work with Jerry Wagner & the books: Nine Lenses on the World: the Enneagram Perspective by Jerry Wagner and The Enneagram: A Christian Perspective  by Father Richard Rohr & Lutheran Pastor Andreas Ebert. http://www.personalityportfolios.com