Beyond the Enneagram

August 15, 2022
In this distinctive volume, Vancil (Self to Lose, Self to Find), a life coach and enneagram workshop leader, offers a God-centric take on the enneagram personality classification system. Vancil shows readers how to use the enneagram to “enjoy a more centered and free life with God and to live more fully as the person you were created to be.” Vancil modifies the standard enneagram by adding three concentric circles that represent “self-protective strategies,” one’s authentic self, and the divine, so that as one sheds coping mechanisms and embraces one’s “true self,” one moves closer to God at the enneagram’s center. The four stages of the “enneagram journey” toward God involve recognizing oneself among the enneagram’s nine personality types, reflecting on one’s behavioral patterns, and confessing shortcomings to God so that God can lead one to redemption. Citing Paul’s assertion that Jesus doesn’t recognize identity labels, Vancil urges readers to ditch “nametags” (“Presbyterian,” “athlete,” “liberal,” and even one’s enneagram type) and embrace their “true essence” as their final step toward God. The synthesis of the enneagram and modern Christian teachings is inspired, though some might find the author’s modified enneagram needlessly complicated. Still, this earnest program will appeal to Christian pop psychology enthusiasts.