Karen A. Webb - Principles of the Enneagram

Karen Webbs comprehensive but highly readable introductory work brings the Enneagram to life. Making excellent use of the self-observations of self-aware people, Webb leads readers straight into the wonders of this amazing system for understanding human personality. It is particularly useful for those who want to better understand their relationships with others. This book is a great introduction to those who are approaching the Enneagram as relative beginners.

Terry Saracino, MA, MBA, President of Enneagram Studies in the Narrative Tradition

Whatever its origins, the Enneagram has become an invaluable tool, in many walks of life, for growing emotional intelligence, enhancing self-awareness and social competence, and personal development. Karen Webb draws on a lifetime of study and practice to provide a comprehensive guide both for those who are new to the Enneagram and those who wish to go on exploring its value for understanding themselves and the many relationships which shape their lives. As only the true expert can, she brings to a complex subject the gift of clarity without in any way being simplistic. In accessible language she analyses and describes the nine different personality types in a way which is engaging and illuminating in equal measure.

Rt Revd Dr Michael Langrish, Bishop of Exeter

Principles of the Enneagram by Karen A. Webb is one of the most comprehensive and well-written books on the Enneagram. The language is simple, lucid and well expressed, and the book will satisfy all kinds of readers, from those who want a deeper understanding of the whole system to those who are interested in the related topics. The result of more than two decades work, this book is timely, practical and constructive, and will help readers acquire a greater understanding of themselves and how they interact with others.

Dr Satishchandra Kumar, Associate Professor, Department of Applied Psychology and Counselling, University of Mumbai, India

Still the only introduction youll ever need and the best around. We gave copies to most of our clients, and well certainly let them know the revised version should be added to their shelves.

Peter Neall, Neall Scott Partnership

PRINCIPLES OF THE ENNEAGRAM

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PRINCIPLES OF

THE
ENNEAGRAM

2nd Edition

Karen A. Webb

FOREWORD BY HELEN PALMER

LONDON AND PHILADELPHIA

This edition published in 2013

by Singing Dragon

an imprint of Jessica Kingsley Publishers

116 Pentonville Road

London N1 9JB, UK

and

400 Market Street, Suite 400

Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA

www.singingdragon.com

First edition published in 1996 by Thorsons, an imprint of HarperCollins

Copyright Karen A. Webb 1996, 2013

Foreword copyright Helen Palmer 1996, 2013

The moral right of the author has been asserted.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form (including photocopying or storing it in any medium by electronic means and whether or not transiently or incidentally to some other use of this publication) without the written permission of the copyright owner except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 or under the terms of a licence issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd, Saffron House, 610 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS. Applications for the copyright owners written permission to reproduce any part of this publication should be addressed to the publisher.

Warning: The doing of an unauthorised act in relation to a copyright work may result in both a civil claim for damages and criminal prosecution.

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Webb, Karen, 1951

Principles of the enneagram / Karen A. Webb.

p. cm.

Revised Edition--Pref.

ISBN 978-1-84819-123-5 (alk. paper)

1. Enneagram. 2. Typology (Psychology)--Religious aspects. I. Title.

BF698.35.E54W43 2013

155.26--dc23

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN 978 1 84819 123 5

eISBN 978 0 85701 099 5

Foreword

I am delighted to support the revised edition of Karen Webbs Principles of the Enneagram , a book that remains in steady demand. Hers is a wise and popular introduction that especially pleases those of us who teach in the Narrative method of reporting our self-observations to others.

The whole point of discovering your Enneagram type is to strengthen self-observation. We must learn to mentally step back and witness our own mind at work. Only inner observation can help us to uncover type, because my type is who I think I am.

For many, self-observation is still a latent ability, but it can quickly become dependable by watching our habit of mind. Only I can witness the nuances of my own thinking, and only I can recognise when my passions arise.

Its the search and discovery mission that strengthens us spiritually, because we cannot move forward into the territory described as Essence without a reliable inner observer as a guide.

Karen Webb clearly describes the take-off point for the inward journey. We have to start somewhere in the quest to discover the Essence that lies beyond the limitations of type, and what better vantage point than a concise description of what can be called the Enneagram Ego-Essence equation?

Ms Webb gives us a clear encapsulation of the recurring habits that animate and limit different types of people. More than that, she has had the patience and good sense to listen to the ways in which different types of people describe this dilemma rather than imposing her own views on them.

It was with pleasure that in 1996 I welcomed her book to the emerging library of the Narrative Tradition, in which each of us describes the dilemma of seeing through our personality to the common Essence shared by all beings. It is with pleasure that I welcome this new edition.

Helen Palmer

Author of The Enneagram (1991) and other works

Berkeley, California, 2012

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

My gratitude and love always to Helen Palmer, whom I believe to be the foremost Enneagram teacher alive, and her co-teacher, David Daniels MD. Their Enneagram Professional Training Programs in the Narrative Tradition are so profound and inspiring that I keep going back, decades after graduating.

Deep thanks also to the hundreds of people (thousands, by the time of this new edition) who have allowed me to hear their stories, and heard mine with compassion. They have never withheld, placing wisdom, empathy and the shared humour of our human condition higher than maintaining face. In particular (in numerical order!): Jon Neall, Andy Kirkwood, Kate Nuttall, Ralph Rolls, Jeremy Walters, Steve Jorgensen, Patricia Miller, Nousheh Rahbari-Hodgson, Craig Orrock, Verena Tschudin, Lucinda Neall, Peter Neall, Simon Webb, Stephen Moorby, James Kirk, John Rees and the late Toby Falk, for their input to their chapters.

Finally, thanks to Simon for his patience and many ways of supporting me, and Peter for his lovingly constructive criticism.