In The Thick Of IT
Stress and the Enneagram
This newsletter focuses most often on tarot, but some of you know I integrate tarot with the enneagram when I read cards, so the two are interconnected for me. Below I’ll talk about the centers of intelligence in the enneagram model.
December is a time for year ahead tarot readings and full moon tarot readings and tarot circles and winter solstice events. It is a time when I need to make sure my eye is on both of my book stores, as traffic is up noticeably for the holidays. There is the expectation on all sides of the family that there will be gifts and good food, decorations and cheer.
And…STRESS. If you don’t get a little stressed during the holidays then hats off to you. I will give myself some credit. I am much less anxious than I used to be around this time of year. I realized that I don’t have to be everything to everybody, that a late gift is not the end of the world, that the tree will get set up by someone else if I let them, and on and on. A good thing.
Centers of Intelligence
The enneagram diagram is divided into three sections, which denote the three intelligence centers of the nine types:
8,91 Gut or Body types
2.3.4 Feeling or Heart types
5,6,7 Thinking or Head types
I show you this diagram primarily to point back to this being a stressful time for a lot of us and the enneagram clearly shows us where we go when we let anxiety get the better of us.
I am an 8 and when I get stressed out or anxious I move from my body into my head at type 5. I isolate, I make lists, I shut down. I deny my vulnerability and get into a “just do it” state of mind, which usually involves me being rude and steamrolling whoever is in my way. It’s not a great look. But being aware of what can happen to me is half the battle. I go to point 2 when I am feeling healthy and more aware, the heart center. I am able to admit my weaknesses or vulnerabilities, ask for help, show love and actually ENJOY this time of year. What a concept!
I invite you, if you know your type, to consider where you go in stress and in health, and try to be aware of your buttons when they are pushed. Take some time to reflect and regroup. We can enjoy this time of year if we allow ourselves to—don’t get in your own way.
If you don’t know your type, there are a variety of ways to come to it: tests, typing interviews, books and more. Feel free to contact me with questions.
Book Recommendation
I highly recommend The Enneagram Guide to Waking Up as a simple yet rich introduction to the Enneagram. There are tons of other resources but if I had to choose one it would be this.
Chestnut and Paes also have a great podcast, Enneagram 2.0.
We will have our second monthly Tarot Circle this Sunday at noon PST. It’s not too late to become a paid subscriber and enjoy this community we are building.
I’ve always landed on 4 in other tests but it never felt quite right. The two felt really cringy to me in many ways , which I think is probably a good measure of accuracy :oD
I wanted to thank you for the links that you provided for the enneagram survey in last weeks newsletter. It's the first time I have done the survey and been given a type that made sense, both in good and uncomfortable ways.