The Enneagram: A Contemplative Tool for Understanding Self & Others with Leslie Hershberger & John Dupuy

In this entertaining and illuminating video conversation, Enneagram expert Leslie Hershberger offers new insights into applying the wisdom of the Enneagram to everyday life. We have nine patterns of attention, she explains. Nine habitual ways of thinking and nine ways of contracting against life. Leslie is passionate about using the Enneagram as a psychospiritual tool and has created 9 type-tailored meditations to help each type overcome their particular obstacles and navigate life most effectively. Leslie also introduces her 3-centers approach, based on the commonalities of head types, heart types, and body types, which provides a unique depth to our understanding of the Enneagram. Together with iAwake’s CEO, John Dupuy, who has been working with the Enneagram personally and professionally for decades, Leslie shows us why the Enneagram is so important, not only for understanding personality, but in providing us with a rare tool for deep, transpersonal, spiritual practice.

“What is my obstacle between me and spiritual presence? What is my obstacle between me and relating to you?”

Topics & Time Stamps

• Introducing webinar co-hosts Leslie Hershberger & John Dupuy (0:00)
• Looking at the contemplative nature of the Enneagram: a psychospiritual integration (04:13)
• What is your habitual pattern of thinking? (7:00)
• Type 6: self-doubt, skepticism, loyalty (10:43)
• Recognizing our patterns & why it’s useful to know your partner’s type (14:04)
• 3 centered knowing: head types (5, 6, 7) and fear (17:50)
• Heart center types (2, 3, 4) and connection with others (23:01)
• Body types (8, 9, 1) and emotional anger (33:38)
• Why is the Enneagram so important? (40:44)
• Don’t stop at your personality! The work is your practice (42:12)
• Is it possible to be two different types? (45:23)
• The Enneagram focuses on patterns of energy (51:06)
• The transpersonal aspect: I am not my body, not my feelings, not my thoughts (52:29)
• What is Leslie’s recommended typing website? (54:16)
• The narrative tradition of the Enneagram (55:52)
• Enneagram resources (0:57:26)
• Special webinar offer for iAwake’s Enneagram Meditations (1:03:27)

Resources & References

• iAwake’s Enneagram Meditations by Leslie Hershberger with Leigh Spusta
• Leslie Hershberger’s website: https://lesliehershberger.com/
• Helen Palmer, founder of the Narrative Enneagram and bestselling author
• Deep Transformation’s A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series
• Thomas Merton, The Wisdom of the Desert
• Integrated Enneagram Solution’s test, iEQ9
• The Narrative Enneagram’s Typing Test
• Helen Palmer’s Enneagram panels on the Integral Life website
• David Daniels, The Essential Enneagram
• Leslie’s YouTube channel

Teacher, theologian, spiritual guide, and master facilitator, Leslie Hershberger is the founder of The Three-Centered Enneagram, and offers both corporate and contemplative workshops, retreats, and keynotes throughout the U.S. and in Europe. She designed the online course The Foundations of the Enneagram: The Centers Approach, which is both a deep and a practical way of developing embodied emotional and social intelligence. Leslie integrates the Enneagram, three-centered contemplative practice, and Integral Theory in her work.

John Dupuy is CEO of iAwake Technologies, co-host of the Deep Transformation: Self-Society-Spirit podcast, and founder of Integral Recovery^®. His book, Integral Recovery: A Revolutionary Approach to the Treatment of Alcoholism and Addiction, won the 2013 USA Best Book Award. John travels internationally to teach and inspire on the subjects of Integral Recovery, Integral Transformative Practice, and the use of brainwave entrainment technology to deepen one's meditation practice and in the treatment of addiction, depression, and PTSD.

This blog was created by Heidi Mitchell, John Dupuy's longtime assistant and project manager/editor of the Deep Transformation: Self-Society-Spirit podcast. John introduced Heidi to Integral practice and sound tech-enhanced meditation in 2007. Heidi is also a freelance editor of nonfiction books, blogs, and websites. She can be reached at www.heidimitchelleditor.com.