The Sacred Enneagram: Finding Your Unique Path to Spiritual Growth

by Christopher L. Heuertz, Richard Rohr (Foreword)

For all the ways we live unawakened lives, the enneagram is here to help.

The Sacred Enneagram is a trustworthy, richly insightful guide to finding yourself in the enneagram s 9-type profiles, and applying this practical wisdom for a life transformed. Far more than a personality test, author Chris Heuertz writes, the enneagram is a sacred map to the soul. Lies about who we think we are keep us trapped in loops of self-defeat. But the enneagram offers a bright path to cutting through the internal clutter and finding our way back to God and to our true identity as God created us.

Chris Heuertz life was forever changed after he learned about the enneagram 15 years ago. Today, he leads enneagram workshops all over the world. Join Chris as he shows you how this ancient tool can help you awaken to the gifts God has given you, find freedom from your personal patterns of sin and fear, and grow in acceptance of your identity as you grow with God.

In conversational style with compelling stories, The Sacred Enneagram will show you


How to understand the 'why' behind your type, beyond caricatures and stereotypes How to align your type with prayer postures How to identify and find freedom from self-destructive patterns How to grow in spiritual discernment How to face your past wounds and step toward healing How to awaken your unique gifts to serve today s broken world Chris s own journey with the enneagram is an accessible introduction and exploration of how the enneagram can change your life, because to the extent that we are transformed, the world will be transformed.

"

Genres: Nonfiction, Spirituality, Psychology, Self Help, Christian, Faith, Religion

272 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 5, 2017

About the author

Christopher L. Heuertz is an activist, author, visionary and public speaker, who has traveled with his wife, Phileena, through nearly seventy countries working with the most vulnerable of the world’s poor. Chris has led the Word Made Flesh community as the International Executive Director since 1996. He and Phileena reside in Omaha, Nebraska.

Reviews

[Nicholas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goodness. What a frustrating read. I am glad that I read this once, but I hope that I never have to read it again. There are some real gems in here, for all types, but it is so poorly written and even worsely (the bad writing is contagious!) organized. I cannot believe that someone edited this book. Reading the acknowledgements, it looks like a lot of people were involved in proofing copy. They should all give their checks back for the days they worked on this book. Ugh. You want specifics? Okay. Any section giving context to the enneagram or the history of the enneagram was basically just pulled quotes from other sources, to the point that he has to use multiple names for the same idea. This is an example of poor organization. Some explanations of the enneagram seemed to be just lifted from other sources. Parroting is not flattering. If you can't integrate the knowledge you have into a coherent and CONCISE story, then maybe don't write a book. I can only assume that earlier versions were worse and this was the best a whole team of editors could do. I don't know.

Here's free advice for the second edition. Simplify the history lesson. Introduce the concepts (enneagram specifics, contemplative spiritual theory) you want to discuss and how they work together. Explain in separate chapters how these concepts work for each type and what the practice of contemplative practice looks like for each type.

Why is that so hard?

Instead, I'm wading through all of this chaff to find the kernels of truth that will, granted, be edifying. I'm literally taking notes on the disparate gems for my type and condensing to a single page of notes that I can reference, because, again, I will never ever read this book again.

End rant.

I release my resentment about spending time slogging through what could have been so much better and accept this book as it is.

I am a type 1.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read The Road Back to You and listened to the podcast. I'm a fan of Typology and have read several other books on the Enneagram. As a result, I have a deeper understanding of myself and have gotten better at the dubious art of typing other people. This book connected the dots for me, in terms of spiritual formation. Heuertz discusses the types, intelligence centers and the harmony/dominant affect groups to reveal a unique path into the life of prayer in the contemplative tradition. For example, Heuertz says that as an Ennegram 7, I am called to rest in silence.

Here is how it works: contemplative spirituality advocates silence, solitude, and stillness. These three postures map on the Enneagram's intelligence centers (Mind, Heart and Body). The mind/thinking types (5,6,7) are each called towards silence. My harmony type/dominant affect is that of a frustrated idealist (along with 1s and 4s). These types, are called particularly to a prayer posture of rest.

I learned a lot from this book about how the Enneagram works. I had a superficial understanding about types, wings and arrows but Heuertz made sense of some things for me. And he makes some good inferences on how to approach prayer. This is useful personally and also for guiding other people.

[Cindy Rollins · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I am not completely ready to dismiss the Enneagram, this book almost convinced me to. The longer I read the more I hated this book. I started with an open mind and found the first part of the book interesting. About halfway through it was all down hill. Honestly, it just began to sound like a bunch of self-absorbed mumbo-jumbo parading as spiritual growth. I know, I know that is harsh but really, I could hardly make myself read the last chapter. As to my number? Is there a number for the person who thinks every number sounds like them?

[Kaitlyn Pindak · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I am a person who was wary of the enneagram and then dove in when it was becoming popular and I am backing away again. It helped me... and mostly it didn’t help me... (the further I am from looking to it as a tool, the more I feel that way... but I do love joking about it!)

It can be helpful to better understanding yourself and others, but should not be used as the means by which we define ourselves and others because it can be restrictive to say, “I’m a.... and that’s why I....” and flippantly gives excuse to things that should change and/or diminishes to a mentality “I am this way, therefore I do these things.” Also, it puts so much emphasis on self-contemplation, which can feed selfishness and unhealthy introspection. So much focus on self rather than focus on the Lord. So much focus on “how can I?” rather than “wow, I am weak, Lord. Help me.” The grayness can become grayer when we don’t call sin sin regardless of things that could have led us there. And how do we know if it is sin versus extra-biblical rules? By studying the Word, the Bible.

“Lean NOT on your own understanding... in ALL your ways acknowledge the Lord, and He will direct your paths.” There’s a lot of wading through and redefining through the lenses scripture that I skimmed a lot of the mystic parts.
I’m not the craziest fan of the enneagram. People often look to it as THE tool and definer (at least more these past 5 years... we’ll see where people are in 10 years).
Will it follow us into eternity? No, but the Bible will :)

You may think I’m being too intense about this, but as someone who dove in and had to back away because I already tend towards self-introspection? That’s fine :) read the Bible, it will help you most.

Read/reviewed 5/13/19
-edited review 3/3/21

[Jaquelle Ferris · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love the Enneagram but disagreed with most of this book. While I thought his overviews of each type were helpful, I was confused and disturbed by his spiritual advice.

[Brent · Rating 2 out of 5]

Isolated bits of useful information surrounded by long swaths of unclear, self-indulgent prose.

[Sarah Esmae Wolfe]

If you are interested in the Enneagram, read The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery, not this book.

[Bri McKoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is hands down the best book I have read on the Enneagram (and I've read a lot of them). Heuertz gets to the heart of the enneagram, which isn't just discovering our number, it's using the enneagram to move towards our True Self. Maybe one of my favorite lines in the book, "The enneagram is not a tool for self-absorption but instead a map for self-liberation." Discovering our number is literally just the beginning. He gives practical tools for how to move to health and illuminates aspects of each number I had never grasped before. I've basically dogeared the whole book and this will now become the book I use for reference. I am so grateful for Heuertz's thoughtful and wise approach to writing this book.

[Taylor Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book on the Enneagram put there. Instead of pouring over type stereotypes for pages and pages (which only feeds our egotistical tendencies), he illuminates and simplifies how the Enneagram is a tool that helps everyone in a similar way. His chart for how we are all our true self, but somewhere along the way we experienced trauma and developed different ways of coping, was a big light bulb for me. Those coping mechanisms became habitual patterns that most of the time we’re not even aware of. I love that he says the Enneagram is a collection of nine mirrors that we can find ourselves in, and hold up to see the self-inflicted traps where we function.

The most helpful part of this book is when he stops focusing on type and says “Where do we go from here?” He provides a simple and beautiful plan for each type to help balance out and deconstruct the hang ups of our type. After reading this book, I actually had a tangible practice for reconnecting with my true self, breaking down this outer image that I’ve associated with for too long, and have felt true inner peace at long last.

Thank you, Chris. So grateful for your work!

[bookswithmaddi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was definitely interesting but also really frustrating. It wasn’t exactly what I was looking for or really what it was marketed as. While the majority of it was about the enneagram other parts were like a memoir of the authors life who (no offense) I didn’t have an interest in learning about. The organization was a mess and it was difficult to understand at a decent amount of points. I’d really like to keep learning about the enneagram so I might invest in this authors workbook since I think that could be a better way to get his ideas across, or I might just try a different author.

Also be warned this is specifically Christian focused. I didn’t expect it to be such a major part of this book but it really was. I found that at many points it felt like he wasn’t talking about the benefits of the enneagram but just advertising Christianity.

[Rachel L. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I almost dropped this one. Hard to follow; wasn’t clearly laid out. Some of it was helpful, some weirded me out a little. I much preferred The Road Back to You.

[Alyssa Foll · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m discovering that learning about one’s true self through the enneagram is not for the faint of heart and reading “The Sacred Enneagram” is no exception.
I loved this book, though. Chalk full of insights, Christopher Heueretz unpacks each type and examines triads. I especially loved how he integrated Henri Nouwen’s work and contemplative spirituality as well.
Highly recommended for using the enneagram as a spiritual discipline and a way in which to come to know one’s true self before the One who knows is better than we know ourselves.

[Yolanda Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rich. Thorough. Helpful. Practical.

[Luke Hillier · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Enneagram is the the midst of quite a moment right now, and I've felt a combination of elated excitement that more and more people are getting on board as well as a bit of overwhelmed apathy in light of the onslaught of new books, podcasts, and so on. For that reason, I slept on this new contribution to the sphere and it took a whole year of hearing different folks not just rave about it, but recognize that it was offering new and unique insights to finally pique my interest. Having spent the past few days pretty engrossed in it, I'm happy to join the choir and share that this is definitely the most dynamic resource I've seen on the Enneagram and one that I'll heartily recommend myself. It's especially exciting for folks like me who are already in pretty deep, as it offers quite a few insights that are either rarely explored or being developed for the first time here.

As I mentioned, I've spent what some may consider an embarrassing amount of time diving into the Enneagram, so what I really loved about this book was how unique it was compared to what's already out there. The Harmonic Triads, a centerpiece of the ideas here, were brand new to me, and of course so were the Contemplative Practices that accompanied each cluster since he is introducing them here. Even beyond those, I was impressed by the ways he drew extensively from well-developed insights from within and beyond the Enneagram to provide scaffolding to his own thoughts and was particularly struck by how centrally he engaged with the Intelligence Centers (head, heart, body) which I hadn't really paid too much mind to before.

What I most appreciated was Heurtz's clear intention of going beyond the general 101 of each type, and I think he accomplished his goal of presenting a roadmap beyond that introductory stage with unique, thoughtful, and nuanced invitations to deepen and transcend one's knowledge of the system as a tool for self-liberation and spiritual growth/homecoming. While I would mostly agree that it isn't necessarily the ideal starting point for the Enneagram, there are so many other resources aiming to be exactly that and I think there's just as much need now for ones like this that are aiming at next steps and more engaging implementation and integration of the tool.

As Heurtz would say, I'm "dominant in Type One," so the review isn't complete without a little bit of nitpicking and criticism. As with all Enneagram materials, your mileage will vary a bit and there were some portions that I had to roll my eyes at or overlook while savoring the majority of it. I found the book to be excellently structured, either focusing on each type at a time or more commonly one of the triads at a time. With that said, there seemed to be a consistent trend of him just "losing steam" and whichever types or triad he covers last in each section is noticeably shorter, explored with less detail and nuance than those before. Of course, that isn't a significant detraction, and all of the new insights explored here more than make up for it. I really love the invitations he came up with tailored to each type, and while I originally expected them to be totally unique to each one, I appreciate the cohesiveness lent to his endeavor by systematizing the invitations by the three triad types. As a whole, this is a phenomenal resource that I'll definitely be encouraging folks to check out.

[Jonathan Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read the Road Back to You, listened to several podcast episodes on the Enneagram, and attended a 1 and a half hour seminar on the Enneagram from an expert in my christian non-profit organization (that’s actually how I had the “aha moment” for my type after having unwittingly mistyped myself from a test for a year with superficial understanding and impact).

This book could be for beginners since it’s pretty comprehensive, but it’s also very in depth which makes it especially helpful for people who are pretty familiar with the Enneagram and their type but want to know where to go from here. This is a great next step for actually *how* to grow and find freedom and healing in it. Heuertz accomplishes this in the latter chapters by connecting the dots between the ways we uniquely “get lost” in our types and how to “find our way home” to God and our true selves through particular contemplative prayer practices, with different postures (silence, solitude, or stillness) and intentions (rest, consent, or engagement) based on each of the 9 types. He also describes how Examen, centering prayer, and welcoming prayer (which relates to body tension and emotions) are a means to find our way back home to God and our selves.

I listened to it on audiobook which was helpful for getting through it quicker, but I’ll probably pick up a print version and go back through some of the sections to fully wrap my mind around the terminology and concepts. This book perfectly pairs with the EnneaApp has a way to better understand the terminology and the Enneagram in all its nuances, because Heuertz introduces a lot of “insider” language and different definitions for common words like “passion” and “fixation” and “childhood wound” in terms of the Enneagram.

In addition to all these deeper, spiritual discipline applications, you will probably have an even better and deeper understanding of the Enneagram types for yourself and for others even if it’s not your first book on it.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am fairly new to the Enneagram and I picked this up hoping for a deeper understanding of how the Enneagram could line up with my faith. While there was plenty of background and context around the foundation of the Enneagram, I was hoping for more practical integration and applications (not just a couple of chapters at the end). I appreciated the charts and explanation of each type.

I struggled to connect with the author's voice throughout the book. There was a lot of self-awareness and contemplative language that was unfamiliar to me which didn't allow me to connect with the actual content.

[Louise Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was my introduction to the enneagram. I hadn't been very curious about the enneagram until I listened to Christopher Heuertz being interviewed by Brene Brown on her Unlocking Us podcast. I think there might be better books for the complete novice, but I enjoyed the author's weaving of memoir, history and practical use.

[Jillian Vincent · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was deep and confusing at times, but I found a chapter on solitude and silence really helpful. I think there are probably more down to earth enneagram books out there that I would be interested in reading!

[Kiel · Rating 2 out of 5]

In actuality, I got about 80% of the way through this book on audio before giving it up. Although some of the information on enneagram types was helpful, I felt that there was too much unbiblical “spiritualism” for my tastes and decided it wasn’t beneficial for me to finish.

[Kris · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read on the Enneagram, and perhaps it wasn't the best choice. Heuertz uses lots of language like "coming home to your true self" and finding "truth within your sacred soul." For most of the chapters he flits around between the different types, saying things like "a two would act like this," and in the next sentence will say, "but a seven would do this." Because he keeps moving around the numbers, I couldn't keep it all organized in my head. In other chapters he praises Christian meditation, which is fine and all, but there's only very surface-level connections to the Enneagram types. He expects his readers to accept there's vast differences between "stillness" and "solitude" ...um, sure?

Unfortunately, I don't think I'm walking away from this book with a much better understanding of the Enneagram types than I had before. I should probably have read The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery instead.

[Molly · Rating 1 out of 5]

I abandoned this book once I read about the author. He has a history of inappropriate relationships and advances with students of his work. It read like a sleezy patriarchic pontification after that. Bletch.
I switched over and read The Road Back to You instead.

[Sydni · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is mad crazy. If you want to worship the Enneagram, this is the book for you. Otherwise, pick something else.

[Sarah Ronk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slow read because I read it on my kindle app but for sure my favorite enneagram book. Highly recommend. I will reread.

[Leia Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a long time to finish this book because I had to pause between the many revelations to live with it. Highly recommend to...everyone.

[Jeannette Noel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmmm

This is an overly serious and dramatic view of the enneagram. I suffered through the over-spiritualized and bloated mysticism and would suggest other books for learning about the enneagram. This book is not without value, but your eyes might get stuck in a permanent eyeroll.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gleaned some good nuggets from this enneagram book, but I would not recommend it for someone who's brand new to enneagram. I recommend starting with more of a primer before diving into this one. Some of my greatest takeaways were related to contemplative practices, which has lead me to wanting to read some of his recommended resources about that area more so than me learning a lot more about my number specifically. I did find as the book went on that it was incredibly repetitive and seemed like Heuertz was using his thesaurus too much, so I skimmed a bit.

[Faith Neece · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can not recommend this book enough! Very helpful descriptions not only of what the enneagram is but why it is and how it helps us on our spiritual journey. Many investigations into the Enneagram stop with the type descriptions. But it isn’t enough. We need to allow a space for this tool to transform us. This book really breaks down how each of us can find our way home. If you are at all interested in the Enneagram, you need this book.

[Emma Ripley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a differing structure to most Enneagram books, the chapter's are topic based instead of isolating each number. It is a good place to start with the Enneagram, but not many surprises if you are have already done a lot of Enneagram digging.

[Nathan Shuherk · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book takes a tool for understanding yourself and others and turns it into a cult of religious fanaticism.

[Kenny Kidd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recently re-read this because:

1). A friend of mine graduated, was getting loosely into the Enneagram because of some of our chats, and this was my first proper exposure to the whole theory and it became really formative for me for a while!
2). I was feeling a little lost, a little stuck, a little depressed, and wanted to go through this again to see if anything more would stick or help get me through a rather difficult time, as the Enneagram as a system has done for me before.

It was a comfort to read, and offered some insights that I had forgotten when I read it, like, six years ago now, and I’d heartily recommend it to anyone who kinda sorta knows what the Enneagram is about but hasn’t had a deep dive into the theory yet. I especially appreciate that the focus of this work is, ultimately, the path to growth that the Enneagram is intended to lead you on; personality theories have a tendency to become kinda rigid and box someone in, but there’s an emphasis in this on how to use your knowledge of the Enneagram, and your dominant type within it, to overcome your instinctual hangups and unhealthy tendencies and grow, heal, free yourself from Your Type, which is the ultimate goal of the Enneagram as a system. Big fan of this, although Chris Huertz’ prose is sometimes a bit hyper-spiritual/unnecessarily floral for my liking 🤷‍♂️