Culture teaches us from a young age that we should not judge people. But we go on doing it anyway, we can’t help it. The same energy that we spend judging people can easily be funneled into observing and interacting with them. Observing ourselves and others in relating can be profound entertainment and can accelerate our ability to accept others just the way they are, and thus accept ourselves as well.

There are many systems created to assist us in the process of observing people. A very useful one is the Enneagram. While the Enneagram isn’t meant to pigeon hole or label anyone it is a time-tested system that is not the least bit prejudicial. It allows you to learn and relate to people via a very useful set of ecological, hierarchical parameters.

The Enneagram has its origins in ancient times and has been fleshed out over thousands of years. In its current incarnation it is a set of nine basic distinctions and interactions between these nine. The game of self discovery through the Enneagram is to discover the number which most closely identifies you and to study the qualities of that number to get to know yourself better. Indentifying your number will enhance clarity by revealing thought patterns and behavioral inclinations involved with each number. Relationship is another great place to play with the Enneagram as you discover the way two numbers dance together.

No Enneagram number is any better than any other. Numbers are not predictive. The complexity of each human being is infinitely more variable than any system used to measure it. It is for this reason that we suggest that you use the Enneagram more for fun than for identifying “the truth.”

Taking an Enneagram test is an easy way to make an initial assessment of your number. Reading about each number can also be fun and educational. Some people fit into a number perfectly, while others are not nearly as obvious. If you would like to take a free test, click here.

Please have fun with the Enneagram. Use it freely on yourself and to better understand others. Drop into the wonder and mystery of the Enneagram, you will be glad you did.