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"The Nine Faces of the Soul"
A two-day workshop
looking at how to use the Enneagram to develop contemplative practice.
Friday March 23rd and
Saturday March 24th
in Norwich
Presented by
Gordon Melvin
What is the Enneagram?
The Enneagram is thought to be the oldest human development model in existence – its roots go back five thousand years.
Like all timeless wisdom, the Enneagram transcends its ancient origins and is forever contemporary in its incredible accuracy and practical application.
The Enneagram typology consists of nine different world views through which we see the world. There are nine sets of ‘blueprints’ that make up personality and ego – our reactive defensive patterns.
Equally the Enneagram represents a map of nine distinct qualities of the soul. These are the ‘higher’ transpersonal gifts and aspirations we are born to realise, and in turn offer to the world, called the ‘Holy Idea’ or the ‘Holy Virtue’.
The tension between our ego types and the gifts of the soul is essential to our transformation into the unique gifts of the nine different souls. The Enneagram is a psychological model depicting our mechanical behaviour that largely runs our lives - its medicine is a spiritual practice.
How can it be used for contemplative practice?
The context of the two day event will be studying and working with the Enneagram in the context of contemplation and meditation throughout. The most important thing in this study is 'practising presence' through inner attention. This will involve simple meditative body practices enabling attention, so as to 'connect' with the inner observer. The underlying premise being that we can't study the ego with the ego itself. In other words we need to be able to stand back and observe more impartially with no judgement as judgement comes from the type itself.
What will happen at the Workshop?
Gordon will be giving us an overview of all the nine different types, with a broad understanding of the implications of each type, enabling us to see our lives though this typology. He will do this in an atmosphere of ‘contemplative sense enquiry’. Activities will include a walking meditation, working on one’s own, in pairs, and in groups.The weekend will be divided into intensive exploration of the nine types through the three Centres or brains:the body (types 8,9,1) the heart, (types 2,3,4) the head (types 5,6,7) There will be a ‘typing’ exercise, and periods of meditation and contemplation.We are also planning to have follow up sessions after the weekend.
Gordon Melvin
Gordon originally trained as an artist and was ordained an Anglican priest in 1988.
He worked form many years as a senior chaplain in the NHS and then left in 2004 to teach the Enneagram.
He now runs Enneagram classes in several different countries - always in the context of spiritual practice and meditation.
He is passionate about his work, and is a wonderful speaker who will be able to guide us through to a meaningful understanding of the Enneagram and our place in it.
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Nicholas Vesey, 05/01/2012 |
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