Enneagram historical origins remain mysterious
The Enneagram historical origins, the Enneagram symbol, and the Enneagram of Personality emerged into the modern Western World’s consciousness and public eye somewhere between the 1960s and the 1980s. Much of the Enneagram’s early history is still debated, and somewhat shrouded in mystery. (See a partial or highlighted timeline of Potential Enneagram Historical Origins at the end of this article.)
However, in the decades since the 1970s, many people have studied this system, written books and developed online tests to uncover a person’s individual type on the Enneagram (pronounced “any-a-gram”) system. But the Enneagram itself, as a symbol pointing to a much richer and cosmically robust dataset, may have been around much longer than that.
Suffice it to say that Enneagram symbols and writings have been found around the globe for hundreds, if not thousands of years, with a cultural span that might include influences from Christian, Sufi, Byzantine, Muslim, and who knows what other faith systems or schools of thoughts, because the Enneagram is still shrouded in mystery.
Online articles about the Enneagram historical origins
To unveil some of the mystery, read Enneagram speaker and teacher Jerome Wagner’s article “The History of the Enneagram”. Or read an Enneagram Monthly article about the G. I. Gjurdjieff Enneagram influences entitled “Pythagoras, Gurdjieff and the Enneagram”. Or read a Sufi article presenting the Enneagram from a Sufi perspective. Or do further research yourself.
Another Enneagram Monthly article “Subtypes Revisited” by Gloria Davenport, PhD, focuses on the constructs of Enneagram subtypes, but also some historical timelines as well as differences and similarities between the different Enneagram schools of thought.
Plenty has been written about the Enneagram and is freely available on the internet for those interested in doing the researching, all the while, being open to the dissonant views that may cause more chaos as those differing views emerge. Holding all of that, in a very sweet way, is the Enneagram, pointing the way to union, in whatever form an individual might need it, in this moment or that moment.
A beautiful thing about the Enneagram:
Timelessness is part of the Enneagram’s charm. The Enneagram is ever new and surprising with its layered nuances of insight upon insight, only revealed over time….wherever you go, there you are, and so also is the Enneagram!
One of the many beautiful things about the Enneagram is its timelessness. Whenever the Enneagram actually came into existence may never be known, precisely. What can be known is that the Enneagram is quite relevant today in our modern society’s ongoing search for peace and bliss. Timelessness is part of the Enneagram’s charm.
The Enneagram is ever new and surprising with its layered nuances of insight upon insight, only revealed over time. And you will need or not need the Enneagram filter of insights at different stages of your life; places in your career; aspects of your tick-tock work-a-day existence; in love life settings….wherever you go, there you are, and so also is the Enneagram!
Modern day Enneagram historical origins
Essentially, the modern day Enneagram knowledge stems largely from two Russian advocates and teachers, who were both born in the late 1800s: G.I. Gurdjieff (George Ivanovich, also of Greek and Armenian descent) and his student P.D. Ouspensky (Peter D.). Both Gurdjieff and Ouspensky wrote and lectured on what might today be recognized as Enneagram-oriented topics. The family tree of that heritage is likely full of many, many branches that are far too numerous to include here.
Bolivian philosopher Oscar Ichazo is another central figure in the spread of modern day knowledge about the Enneagram. In the 1950s-1960s, Ichazo founded his Arica School to promote the study of personal enlightenment, which included the Enneagram symbol. Ichazo has also had many, many students. Claudio Naranjo, a Gestalt Therapists and enneagram teacher in his own right, also knew and learned from Ichazo.
Other familiar Enneagram teachers and authors that fall out from there are also far too numerous to name in their entirety, but a short list might include: Helen Palmer, David Daniels, A.H. Almaas, Kathleen Speeth, Russ Hudson, Don Riso, Sandra Maitre, Richard Rohr, Ginger Lapid-Bogda, Peter O’Hanrahan, and Deborah Ooten, among so many, many more.
Curious about this mysterious Enneagram symbol?
There is plenty to read or participate in to help you learn more about the Enneagram. The following series of articles will give you a broad base understanding about the Enneagram, its history, the nine basic Enneatypes and the three Centers of Intelligence. If you are interest in more information, contact us directly using our Grounded Relating contact form. Otherwise, please enjoy the following articles:
- Enneagram historical origins remain cloaked (this article)
- Universal Enneagram symbol explains life
- What is an Enneagram of Personality symbol?
- Three Centers of Intelligence mapped by Enneagram
- Core Enneatypes and Enneagram variations
- Enneatypes: nine archetypes of the Enneagram
- Suggested books, websites and other Enneagram resources
The leg bone is connected to the hip bone
It is said: “We Are All One.” Perhaps the shrouded, mysterious, and convoluted history of the Enneagram adds credence to that statement? The older roots of the Enneagram historical orgins remain shrouded in the mysteries of Ancient Persia, Europe, and Asia. A more modern day explosion of Enneagram information has occurred, and continues to grow throughout the North and South Americas, as well as around the globe.
The data sourced within the chart below was created by reading many of the online articles cited in this article, as well as other printed resources and trainings or conferences personally attended over the last 20 years. This chart neither proves nor disproves anything; it is merely a gathering in one place of many data sets, to discern their relevance in a relative or relational way. A YES-AND! attitude, as well as open-ended curiosity will save the day
Please enjoy the following table Potential Enneagram Historical Origins, which provides a short overview of the main events thought to contribute, or argued against contributing, to the world’s current knowledge of the Enneagram. The following partial timeline was created as a visual to help sort the Enneagram symbol’s history into somewhat more of a linear timeline. The timeline below does not cover every possible resource, but will give a general overview of potential influences on the Enneagram system.
Despite the fog or mist around the actual roots of the Enneagram, the rich and nuanced data stored within the symbol continues to exist, and still provides much to the people fortunate enough to study its symbology in earnest.
