The History of the Enneagram

Thanks to Art of Growth, for core material.

The Enneagram is a framework for understanding personality and is a dynamic tool for personal, relational, and communal growth. With roots in ancient traditions, including Judaism, Christianity and Islam, the concept of nine personality types has grown over time, revealing new insights about human motivations, thoughts, feelings and behaviors.

The modern Enneagram system was developed and advanced by philosophers George Gurdjieff and Oscar Ichazo and by psychiatrist Claudio Naranjo. The Enneagram continues to evolve through the research and practice of many practitioners worldwide, providing new insights and applications.

The Enneagram helps us to see both our strengths and our blind spots — how the same qualities can help us shine in one context but hold us back in another. By learning about why we think and act the way we do, we are empowered to live into the best versions of ourselves.