Enneagram for Idiots

Latest Episodes:

Self-Preservation 2 - Episode 47 Nov 04, 2019

Show notes

*Skip to around the 30-minute mark for mostly self-pres 2 content

After we spend 15 minutes talking about public transit, we dive into the self-preservation 2 - aka the cutesy, childlike type. In this episode we talk about

- Countertypes

- Russ Hudson and A.H Almaas’ descriptions of the levels of health in the instincts and how instincts mature as we grow

- How this instinctual variant moves both towards and away from others and is more self-protective and cerebral than other 2s

- Why the self-preservation 2 positions themselves in a child-like role and how that relates to the protection of their self-image and pride

- Sorry not sorry to Christians, we explore what it would look like if Jesus Christ was a self-preservation 2 for the last 20+ minutes of the episode

Questions

Does this 'cutesy' behaviour carry over into the bedroom? Do you have a lot of romantic partners or did you at any point? How do you DRESS? How do self-pres 2’s in your life dress?

Resources: The Diamond Approach: A Path to Inner Discovery, The Facets of Unity: The Enneagram of Holy Ideas, Essence Emerging meetup (the simpler descriptions of instinct levels of health), Beatrice Chestnut (general descriptions of self-preservation 2 and path from pride to humility) Russ Hudson (levels of health in the instincts), Spiritual Dimension of the Enneagram.

*See enneagramforidiots.com for links and intro/outro song

Self-Preservation 8 - Episode 46 Sep 26, 2019

Show notes

Intro/Outro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0pVXEBA3PU&list=RD--YiHE-06Rw&index=22 (pilgrim)

Today we’re talking about Self-Preservation dominant 8s aka NOT Marissa but Donald Trump. Also known by Enneagram resources as the "Survivalist". In this episode we cover:

How Marissa isn’t self-preservation dominant and Tara’s mind is blown, then we explore how the social (Maris) and sexual (Tara) instincts show up in our lives
What a self-preservation dominant 8 may look like and behave
How this type may be more angry and confrontational than the other instinctual variants of the 8
Famous 8w7 examples (Donald Trump / Gene Simmons) and famous 8w9 examples (Liam Neeson / Morgan Freeman / Susan Sarandon)
What it may be like to work with a self-pres 8
How self-pres 8s might challenge people to be equals more than the other instinctual variants of the 8
The unhealthy and average range of a self-pres dominant 8

Also sorry 5s, the audio got cut in the beginning so a portion of your recap from the previous episode just wasn’t meant to be covered. Love you.

Questions

If you’re a self-pres 8 what is crying like for you? Or if you know a self-pres 8, do they cry often/rarely/ever? What’s that like?
Self-pres 8s: do you call in sick?
How does this instinctual variant soften themselves?

Resources: Self-reported people talking on Reddit, Wisdom of the Enneagram, Some quotables from Beatrice Chestnut and Russ Hudson, Enneagram Institute message boards, Excerpts from Claudio Naranjo, Spiritual Dimension of the Enneagram, our brains and lives

Self-Preservation 5 - Episode 45 Aug 31, 2019

Show notes

Intro/Outro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--YiHE-06Rw (flowers in narnia)

We kick off this episode with a discussion about speakers not getting paid at the International Enneagram Conference and then dive into what it's like to be a self-preservation 5. We talk about:

Hermit life, being the most detached variant out of the three and how that may show up
What it might feel like for a self-pres 5 to owe anything to somebody
The self-pres 5 being “very good at boundaries”
How the passion of avarice shows up in the 5
a 5s active thinking voice
Themes of separation, detachment, non-attachment
Self-pres 5s apparently being thinner out of all the variants - is that true? Email us and let us know enneagramforidiots@gmail.com
What do you focus on the most out of these things? How do you find yourself focusing on these things: food, housing, health, physical comfort, money, your body?

Also a couple of additional notes:

A correction: Karen Horney influenced the coping style triads of the Enneagram (moving against 3-7-8, moving towards 1-2-6 and moving away from others/the world 4-5-9) but according to many resources, did not relate these concepts to the Enneagram herself. Claudio Naranjo apparently was one of the first teachers to use some of her theories in the Enneagram and many other authors did as well, connecting Horney’s theories and the 9 types together.
The last 5 minutes of the podcast was cut off so we’ll do the wrap up on the next episode (new equipment and training is expensive, and right now we’re trying to work with what we’ve got here).

Resources: Enneagram Central, Self-reported people talkin’ on Reddit, Wisdom of the Enneagram, Some quotables from Beatrice Chestnut and Russ Hudson, Enneagram Institute message boards, Karen Horney: Our Inner Conflicts: A Constructive Theory Of Neurosis, our brains

Introduction To The Instincts: A NEW Series - Episode 44 Aug 06, 2019

Show notes

Intro / Outro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVLBaNQjQro

Today we’re starting a brand new series on the INSTINCTS. Ahhhhh this is going to be SO EXCITING.

In this episode, we kick it off with an introduction the instincts. We cover:

what the instincts are (i.e. biological survival drives)
language around describing instincts (variants and drives vs. using the word ‘subtype’)
a breakdown of each instinct (self-preservation, sexual and social)
why sexual does not mean one-on-one relationships
what instinct stackings are or ‘sequences’
how being neurotic or ‘unhealthy’ shows up in instinct land
8s and mob bosses - is Tony Soprano a sexual 8?

Resources and additional learning:

Personality Types: Using the Enneagram for Self-Discovery (there’s a small section on instincts at the end), The Shift Network audio download on instincts with Russ Hudson, https://beatricechestnut.com/blog/

The Holy Trinity: Type 3 + 6 and Type 6 + 9 - Episode 43 Jul 04, 2019

Show notes

Intro/Outro: J Roes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfWAxIk4xDw

Today we’re wrapping up our compatibility series with the holy trinity - types 3 + 6 and types 6 + 9. Skip to 9:55 minutes to start the episode.

In this episode we talk about:

What it’s like to be with a 3, 6 and 9
We analyze a relationship thread on Reddit between a 6 + 9 that has gone from monogamous to polyamorous and are now sleeping in separate beds
A Redditor says he’s heard 9s are cheaters
Marissa shares intimacy tips from the internet
Vulnerability in 3, 4 and 8 relationships

Enneagram study on compatibility: https://www.9types.com/writeup/enneagram_relationships.php

Resources for today’s episode: Helen Palmer’s The Enneagram in Love and Work: Understanding Your Intimate and Business Relationships (most titles of our relationship series are based on Helen Palmer’s titles of the couplings), Enneagram Institute, REDDIT, Drdaviddaniels.com

Enneagram conflict resolution styles: http://www.fitzel.ca/enneagram/conflict.html

The Giver-Observer Couple, Type 2 + Type 5 - Episode 42 Jun 04, 2019

Show notes

Today we’re continuing our compatibility series with type 5 and 2 aka Albert Einstein and Dolly Parton. If you want to start where we actually talk about the Enneagram, fast forward to 19 minutes in. In this episode we talk about:

What it’s like to live with 5s and 2s and be in relationships with them
What attracts these two to each other
Some people on the internet talking about their 5 and 2 relationship experience
Challenging areas for the coupling and possible ways to catch each other in stress and work well together
Avarice and rejection

Note: we apologize if the mic sounds are imbalanced between us, we’re looking into updating our mics over the next month so that our voices sound more equal

Enneagram study on compatibility: https://www.9types.com/writeup/enneagram_relationships.php

Enneagram conflict resolution styles: http://www.fitzel.ca/enneagram/conflict.html

Intro/Outro: J Roes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN2TVpsIo34

The Epicure-Boss Couple, Type 7 + Type 8 - Episode 41 May 21, 2019

Show notes

Intro/Outro: Bounce Back Remix by the Google Translate Lady (Background Hero)

Today we’re continuing our compatibility series with type 8 and 7 aka Cardi B and Offset, Sharon and Ozzy, Olivia Pope and Fitz (fight us if you disagree on that typing). The couple that’s arguing, doing something amazing or never talking.

In this episode we talk about:

What it’s like to live with 7s and 8s
What attracts 8s and 7s to each other
How wings might influence a relationship
What happens when they meet at 5
We ponder how and why this couple has sex
The addictive aspects of 8s and 7s
What to acknowledge about yourself in these relationships
Another rant on the Kardashians for good measure

The study we refer to in the episode (we don’t actually have this resource in past relationship show notes): https://www.9types.com/writeup/enneagram_relationships.php

Resources for today’s episode: Helen Palmer’s The Enneagram in Love and Work: Understanding Your Intimate and Business Relationships, Enneagram Institute, REDDIT, Drdaviddaniels.com

Enneagram conflict resolution styles: http://www.fitzel.ca/enneagram/conflict.html

The Romantic-Mediator Couple, Type 4 + Type 9 - Episode 40 Apr 21, 2019

Show notes

If you’re joining us for the first time, this podcast is an explorative conversation about the Enneagram, pop culture examples and it is unstructured. Sometimes it includes conversations that aren’t about the Enneagram. We learn as you learn, we’re not presenting information as experts.

We start this episode by going on a rant about Kourtney Kardashian and Poosh. Fast forward to the 20-minute mark if you’re looking to skip the intro.

In this episode we talk about:

How 9s (can when fixated) merge themselves with other people’s lives
We explore how 9s and 4s work together
The tragic mind cycle of a 4
Uncomfortable relationship conversations and Enneagram conflict styles
Celebrity examples of 9 and 4’s (we couldn’t find any we made them up)
We honestly ended this episode having more questions about how this couple works together because we don’t have a lot of examples, email us if you’re in a 9 + 4 couple and tell us your secrets, we'd love to know 👀

Resources for today’s episode: Helen Palmer’s The Enneagram in Love and Work: Understanding Your Intimate and Business Relationships, Enneagram Institute

Intro/Outro Background Hero Media https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ5OGVNy1Lidem0BwozhUuw

The Helper-Boss Couple, Type 2 + Type 8 - Episode 39 Apr 01, 2019

Show notes

Today we start a new series on relationships! We’re going to explore how some types work together in romantic relationships. Also as a side note, if two people are self-aware it doesn't matter WHAT their type is. Moving on...

In this episode we talk about:

What an 8 in love and a 2 in love look like
What it’s like to live with an 8 and a 2
Maris’ shares her experience as an 8w9 married to a 2w3 and also shares a personal life experience she’s gone through recently
A few reality TV examples of 8s + 2s together

Resources: Helen Palmer’s The Enneagram in Love and Work: Understanding Your Intimate and Business Relationships, The Enneagram Institute Relationship Type Combinations

Today’s disclaimer: we are sorry if you hear chewing, we attempted to be sneaky and get away with a few treats on this episode and the mic caught some of it. Never AGAIN

Mistyping Part 2 - Episode 38 Mar 18, 2019

Show notes

In part 2 of mistyping we covered:

Why watching and listening to people who are the same type as you can help you solidify your type
- Resources for this include Conscious TV Enneagram panel discussions and every reality show you can find really
We read a bunch of emails from 9s who share their stories of mistyping and then finally discovering they are a 9
Tara shares some 4 experiences
If anyone would like to do a putter off with Maris she’s available
Marissa ruins all of our future Ariana Grande listening experiences
What type is Wonder Woman??
Mistyping 9 vs. 4
Mistyping 6 vs 4
Mistyping 5 vs 1
Some notes on type 5 vs 6 and 5 vs 4

Resources

Look up any number misidentification on the Enneagram Institute here: https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/36-type-misidentifications
The Enneagram of Passions and Virtues: https://www.amazon.ca/Enneagram-Passions-Virtues-Finding-Home/dp/1585427233

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