Enneagram Type 4 and Spiritual Practices Spiritual practices enrich our lives in many ways. A practice can add rhythm and structure to your day. A daily discipline grounds you mentally, and continually gives you benefits from that initial place of centering. When you combine the enneagram with a daily spiritual practice, the growth and benefits sky-rocket! Today, we are focusing on enneagram type 4 and spiritual practices that will best fit this type. It is my experience that type fours are quite familiar and comfortable with spiritual practices. More than other types, enneagram type four enjoys exploring a variety of spiritual practices. “Going deep,” is sort of type four’s specialty, so they naturally thrive in the area of spirituality. Nothing is too strange, taboo, or far fetched, for these hearty feelers. I love and appreciate the openness of fours. Their attitude makes it possible for growth, and deep diving on many levels. In fact they are so good at searching through their own feelings and exploring their own soul, that the spiritual practice I am going to recommend is quite the opposite. The Spiritual Practice for Enneagram Type Four If you’ve been following the series, you know that we all have practices that come easy to us. We call these down-river practices. They are natural and comfortable, but don’t necessarily make us grow tremendously. Practices that are uncomfortable and challenging, we call up-river practices. We want to focus on these up-river practices because they force us to grow the most. Each type has a certain practice that will help them develop into a higher, healthier version of themselves. Check out previous posts in the series here: Enneagram Type One and Spiritual Practices Enneagram Type Two and Spiritual Practices Feasting as a Spiritual Practice The practice I am recommending for type four, is feasting. How is feasting a spiritual practice? Feasting is about celebrating. Usually the focus is on a certain individual, cause, or for a certain purpose. Feasting develops three things: 1. Hospitality 2. Generosity 3.Community Why is Feasting a good spiritual practice for fours? Fours have access to hospitality, generosity, and community building, but it is often hidden. They spend a lot of time dwelling on their own feelings, as well as past occurrences. Fours are naturally inward focused, as well as past focused. So then, the practice of feasting brings type four to the present, as well as pulls them out of their inner world. It allows them to bless others in a new and creative way, using their skills of relating, and deepening relationships through connection. Furthermore, type four has a beautiful ability to sit with. Meaning, no matter what someone is going through, a type four can listen and not be scared off by big feelings. This comes in handy at a gathering, and becomes a blessing when the four allows it to be. How to Practice Feasting… Plan it. The first step of feasting, is deciding who or what you are celebrating. This isn’t just a pot luck, feasting is all about meaning, honor, and being present. Who do you want to honor? What meaning to you want to bring to this gathering? How can you make sure you and your guests stay present to yourselves and those around you? Decide What Matters To You. What colors will evoke the meaning you are trying to initiate? Will there be music playing to add to the mood? Add special lighting, or light candles. What food will you make, and how will you present it? How will you serve the drinks to make people feel welcome, and feel honored? Conversation. To really celebrate, words need to be spoken, and honor needs to be given where honor is due. How will you incorporate this into your feasting time? Depending on your purpose, you can also add conversation cards, or a game to help people stay on track or in the moment. The key is in the connection, and the combination of hospitality, generosity, and community being developed. Practice. Add feasting to your weekly or monthly calendar. To make it stick, you need repetition. This will become something you really look forward to. You will begin to look for people and things to celebrate! Thanks for reading! I hope you found these ideas about feasting helpful! You might also like: How to Create a Space For Your Spiritual Practice Enneagram Type 4 and Fictional Characters Want to learn more about the enneagram and all 9 types? Check out the packet below including an overview of each type! Grab the 9 Types Overview Packet using the button below: 9 Types Overview Packet!
Enneagram Type 3 and Spiritual Practices Hello there! I am really enjoying studying the enneagram and spiritual practices together! I hope you are too, and that you are getting new ideas and beginning to think differently about how certain practices can impact your life! Today, we are going to talk about the enneagram type 3 and spiritual practices that will help this type grow the most. Looking at spiritual practices through the lens of the enneagram, sheds new light on how we choose our spiritual practices. If you are already engaged in a daily practice, I applaud you! However, you might notice that the practice you’ve selected for yourself is one that really fits… it comes easy to you, and you enjoy this time. If you’ve been following this series, you know this is what we call a down-river practice. In addition to this practice, it is extremely helpful to add an up-river practice to your day. This is what we will be focusing on here. Up-river practices take you out of your comfort zone, and allow you to stretch and grow in the most powerful ways. Enneagram Type 3 and Spiritual Practices Practices for Type 3 Confession Threes are busy. They are getting things done ALL THE TIME! They can get lost in the chase of winning the task they are in. This fast-paced life has its pit-falls just like every type. What makes a type 3 great, is also their biggest struggle. Since threes are motivated by success and winning, they sometimes cut corners, and let the goal of winning get in the way of being true to themselves and others. The key here, is to slow down, reflect, and use the spiritual practice of confession. A trusted friend or family member can be the source of this practice, allowing type three to also grow in the area of depending on others. Confession is done best with someone else there to support, listen, and sometimes offer advice or forgiveness. It is very challenging for type three to “turn off their showmanship.” They are used to being the center of attention and showing up in a way that presents them in the best light. Enneagram Type 3 and Spiritual Practices In a sense, Confession is going to do just the opposite. Confession is showing your mistakes and downfalls, the things that might bring along shame and regret. Threes tend to shy away from sharing in this vulnerable way. However, this is exactly why this practice is so healing and powerful for a type three. Being real and authentic about life, messy mistakes and all will move type three leaps and bounds upriver! Journaling If sharing with a friend is not an option, the next best thing is journaling. The key here, is to be real. Just like in confession, falsifying facts is only going to cause more pain and trouble. The practice is nearly the same. It requires: slowing down, being honest about where in your life you have not been authentic, and real self-reflection. In addition, naming feelings in a journal is a great practice for threes. Feelings are hard to grasp, and threes often set them aside to get things done. This doesn’t mean they don’t have feelings, only that their feelings are repressed and need processing. A journal is a great space to name and process feelings. It also takes out the possibility for shame, which threes tend to avoid. If you are a type 3, I hope you will give honest confession a try whether it is to a person or a journal. This will be so healing and meaningful for you! If you know a type three, let them know that you can be a trusted friend with whom they can open up to. You could be the person that they come to with their heavy truths and realities. Thanks for reading! I hope these words inspire your life, and bring you closer to wholeness. You may also like: Behind the Scenes of Enneagram Type 3 Enneagram Type 3 and Fictional Characters Have you been wanting to share the enneagram with a group? An easy way to do it, is by using the “Who are you Enneagram Self Discovery Packet!” Including: An overview of the 9 types A quiz to find your type A section describing what motivates each type Identifying wings Becoming our best selves- a section describing how understanding when we are healthy, average, or unhealthy versions of ourselves can help us become our best selves! This is a perfect packet for groups! Grab the packet using the button below: Who Are You? An Enneagram Self-Discovery Packet –
How do you create a space for your Spiritual Practice? As we are going through this series all about the enneagram and spiritual practices, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to talk about creating a physical space for this. How do you create a space for your spiritual practice? And what are the benefits of having a space that is dedicated to your practice? Let’s talk about the top 3 reasons for creating your space. Why? Why is it important to have a dedicated space for your spiritual practice? Of course, you can take your practice wherever you go, but there is something special about creating this space for yourself. It is a way to honor a decision you made. 1.Consistency The first benefit a physical spaces gives to you, is encouraging consistency. Knowing you have a physical place to go, is going to make you much more likely to show up there. Seeing your pillow on the floor, or your small area set up with candles just waiting for you, will both remind you and entice you to begin your practice. The physicality of having a real space keeps you more accountable. The more you show up for yourself and your practice in this space, the more you’ll want to show up. This creates a consistency in your practice and in your life. 2.Ritual The very nature of having a practice is in itself a ritual. The repeated pattern of doing something, anything, can be considered a ritual. It is when we add meaning to our rituals that our lives begin to open up in new ways. Creating a space you love, adds so much to your ritual. It allows for all your senses to be involved: the scent of a candle, or sight of it’s flame, the soft pillow beneath you, the smooth stones in your hands, the sight of something beautiful… These all add meaning to your ritual, which in turn transforms your ritual into something more. You might begin to long for this place. The rhythm of your ritual brings the gifts of grounding, self-worth, and honor to you and your practice. Ritual, also gives you a place to come back to, and a place to begin from. This is a beautiful circle of practice. 3.Connection Thirdly, having a space for your practice is going to make you feel more connected. Connected to what? Well, that depends on what it is you are practicing. Many times in spiritual practice, it is ourselves we are re-connecting with. It gives us a chance to sync the mind, body and spirit. Often we get stuck, working without one of these and forgetting that we need all three to function best. The body is always in real time. It can’t be anywhere else. The body feels things now, needs things now, and functions completely in the present. Our minds however, might tend to wander to the future, or past, but when we can align these, the spirit sings! This is why having a place to experience such deep connection is so important. And the more you practice, the more aligned you will become with your mind, body and spirit. This is something to get excited about! Where? You might be thinking, I don’t have the space anywhere to dedicate to a spiritual practice. You don’t need a lot of space. The important thing, is that you have chosen the space, and that you will use it. It could be a corner in a room that isn’t being used. Another idea, would be using part of your closet, if its large enough. In the photos I’m sharing today, you will see my own space. I’ve taken a stool that I absolutely love, and placed it in the corner near my closet. You could use a chair, or whatever you have, maybe a small table. This works for me because its in a location that is both private, and next to the closet where I need to access everyday. What To Include in Your Space… This is highly personal. I wanted to include things that make me feel inspired, comfortable, and positive. My big cushy pillow, is perfect for sitting on as long as I need. I added a tray to my lovely stool, to keep all my things in order. This allows me to incorporate other elements as well. Art and words inspire me, so I have a few small pieces to focus my time. My stress ball helps me occupy my hands while I’m thinking, meditating, or praying. (I read somewhere that just looking at a plant can lower your blood pressure, so hence the plant)! I love candles! There is something in the ritual of lighting a candle that makes any moment feel special, and honored. The light, the warmth, the scent, it all adds to the experience of making this space feel sacred and set apart. Essential oils are also a passion of mine, so I add my favorites in a diffuser, if I’m feeling it. How do you create a space for your spiritual practice? I really like my space to feel cozy, so as you can see… I have lots of pillows, quilts, and more pillows! A pen and paper are also kept handy, in case my meditation time inspired something I need to write down. And I have a board to post lots of words of encouragement, inspiration, and people I might want to think about or honor that day. I hope this has given you some helpful ideas on how to set up your very own spiritual practice space, and many positive reasons on why you should create one soon! Make it your own! Yours will look completely different from mine, I’m sure, but I hope you feel inspired to enjoy this space all to yourself and continue your spiritual practice with new found vigor! Blessings! Live your life inspired! You might also like: The Enneagram and Spiritual Practices (Type 1) The Enneagram and Spiritual Practices (Type 2) Want to learn about the enneagram types? Check out the all inclusive packet below. Who Are You: A Self-Discovery Enneagram Packet! It is fantastic for beginners and includes details for each type, explaining motivations, strengths, weaknesses, stress, and how to treat each type. I want the self discovery packet!
The Enneagram and Spiritual Practices Type Two Hey there, friends and lovers of the enneagram! Last week, we introduced the idea of using the enneagram and spiritual practices together. Both are great tools to add to our over all wellness, but using the enneagram to specifically choose a spiritual practice is completely fascinating to me. This gives us the most opportunity for growth in our awareness, in our own number, and in our lives. Today, we are going to be focusing on enneagram type two. To check out last week’s introductory post as well as spiritual practices for type one, click the button below: The Enneagram and Spiritual Practices Intro (plus type one) Let’s review… What is a Spiritual Practice? A spiritual practice is something you do regularly and intentionally to experience the Divine and grow in awareness and expansiveness. There are multiple ways to do this, maybe even endless ideas of practices. Spiritual practices help connect us to the path we want to be on, and help us become who we want to be. Furthermore, a practice keeps us connected to our goals even when our heart is not in it. The structure of the practice allows for the ups and downs of life, while being that stable thing we can come back to. It works like a muscle, or a habit. The more you do it at the same time and in the same way, it’s going to get stronger and become second nature to you. Goals and Beginnings You might be wondering, how do I start a spiritual practice if I’ve never had one before? It is important not to overwhelm yourself by trying to do too much too fast. The best way to begin, is with a small achievable goal. Set aside just 5-10 minutes to focus on your practice at the same time every day. By setting aside the time and sticking to it, you will really begin to see a change in your life. And you will look forward to this special time in your day, that you have made just for your practice. For example, if you wanted to add a meditation practice into you day, don’t start out with a goal of twenty minutes. This might be your long-term goal, but on your first day of meditation, this is too steep a mountain to climb! Begin with two minutes for a week long period. When that feels satisfying and doable, add more minutes. In a few months you may reach you goal of a twenty minute meditation practice. Enneagram Type 2 and Spiritual Practices The hardest part for enneagram type 2, might just be setting aside that time for themselves everyday. Setting boundaries and taking care of themselves is a constant struggle for twos, but one they can win with some intentional effort. Twos need to know that they deserve the time to grow in the ways they desire, and that this is not self-ish. Actually, spending time positively working on themselves in a spiritual practice is the opposite of selfish. The effects of this practice will not only improve their lives, but it will allow them to be the best they can be for the people around them. Which is what twos love best, taking care of others. Twos- remember that you are worth this time! You deserve self care, and you deserve a space of spiritual practice that is just for you! Upriver and Downriver Practices I am for all spiritual practices because they add so much depth to your day, and essentially your life. However, as we are combining our enneagram numbers with the most ideal practices, we are thinking about what practices will allow for the most growth for each number. Downriver practices- your downriver practices are going to come naturally to you. These are things you are so inclined to do that is feels like floating downriver on a sunny day. Upriver practices- These are things you are not good at. It will take a great amount of effort for you to try these practices, but these will also produce the most growth and awareness for you on your journey. These will feel like paddling upriver through some rapids! Practices for Type 2 The number one spiritual practice that I recommend for type twos, is centering prayer. What is centering prayer? Centering prayer, is a specific kind of prayer that is silent. The goal is, in the silence to experience God’s presence, and to prepare yourself to receive the gift of God knowing you completely, and loving you just as you are. It is an experience so deep and meaningful, beyond thinking, but being in the presence of God, the very breath of life. The enneagram and spiritual practices Why is this a needed spiritual practice for type two? Type twos struggle with knowing that they are loved for who they are. Deep inside them, their wounded message is that they must earn love and acceptance from others by serving and doing things for them. This is the opposite of grace and the message of the Divine. There is nothing you need to do. Twos need to know that they can show up exactly as they are, sit in silence and feel the Presence as unconditional full, and radiant love. This practice over time will greatly grow their capacity for self love, which in turn, moves into real relationship and love of others. This practice develops the relationship with the Divine, the discipline of having intentional boundaries, and encourages the idea that being present is all that is needed. This upriver practice challenges the type two’s desire to move and act. Twos are thinking repressed, meaning they function primarily through the doing and feeling centers of intelligence. Slowing down to sit in a space where nothing is expected of them, where they can empty out negativity, judgement, and poor thinking, is incredibly healing. I hope you look into trying this upriver practice if you are a type two. And if you know a type two, encourage them to give it a try. Continue with your downriver practices as well, those are your strengths and add so much to the lives of those around you as well. Blessings. Thanks for reading. Live inspired! If you would like more information on enneagram type two, check out the complete overview on sale right now! Type 2 Overview! I WANT THIS! You might also like: Enneagram Type 2 and Fictional Characters 5 words each enneagram type needs to hear most
