Discover the Enneagram origin and how the Enneagram symbol from ancient wisdom evolved into a modern typology system with 9 personality types in the 20th century.
The Enneagram is an intricate and dynamic system of 9 interconnected personality types, each with their own motivations, fears, and patterns of behavior. As of today, the precise details regarding the history and origin of the Enneagram remain shrouded in mystery. All existing evidence points to an ancient and complex history of the Enneagram symbol that could date back more than 2,000 years.
However, the modern development of the Enneagram system with 09 personality types, as it appears today, was the contribution of several contemporary authors, like George Gurdjieff, Oscar Ichazo, and Claudio Naranjo. To clearly understand the Enneagram origin and history, it’s crucial to distinguish between the Enneagram symbol and nine types of personality.
First and foremost, it’s worth emphasizing that the appearance of the Enneagram symbol dates back thousands of years, though its exact origins and details of "who created the Enneagram" and "where did Enneagram come from or originate" seem to have been lost to history.
The Enneagram symbol is believed to have originated in Babylon around 2500 B.C
. but there is limited direct evidence to support this claim, according to the “The Wisdom of the Enneagram: The Complete Guide to Psychological and Spiritual Growth for the Nine Personality Types” book by Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson.
Scholars have linked the symbol to different religions and time periods, such as Jewish Kabbalah, Christian mysticism, or Islamic Sufism. Still, there are significant disagreements over where it originated, except that it came from ancient wisdom traditions.
In addition, many of the abstract concepts associated with the Enneagram, along with its geometry and mathematical basis, indicate that it may have its deep roots in classical Greek thought
. The word “Enneagram” itself comes from Greek: ennea (ἐννέα), meaning “nine”, and gramma (γράμμα), meaning "something written" or "drawing".
Therefore, "Enneagram" refers to a nine-pointed figure or a drawing of nine. The theories underlying the Enneagram diagram or figure can be traced back to the ideas of Pythagoras, Plato, and certain Neoplatonic philosophers.
In any case, it is evidently a part of the Western tradition that influenced major religions such as Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, as well as Hermetic and Gnostic philosophy.
The Enneagram's geometric figure's significance
In short, originating from ancient wisdom traditions tracing back millennia, the geometric figure of the Enneagram was once shrouded in ancient mysticism.
However, thanks to the invaluable contributions of contemporary authors, the symbol was not only brought back to the modern world but also integrated with psychological insights to become a complete Enneagram system of nine interconnected personality types.
Today, the Enneagram continues to evolve with various interpretations and applications in psychology, spirituality, business, and personal development.
Read on to learn how Enneagram has been popularized again and refined into a dynamic system and an effective tool for self-discovery and personal growth as we know it now.
The modern Enneagram has been shaped by a blend of ancient traditions and contemporary psychology. Although ancient wisdom laid the foundation, it was not until the 20th century that the Enneagram began to evolve into its current form and gained widespread popularity as a tool for understanding personality types, motivations, and interpersonal dynamics.
The following are three of the most important contemporary authors and their contributions to the evolution of the Enneagram system as we know and use today:
While the deep root of the Enneagram is still a matter of debate, it was George Ivanovich Gurdjieff, a Greek-Armenian philosopher & spiritual teacher, who reintroduced the Enneagram to the Western world in the early 1900s as a symbol to illustrate different cosmic patterns and processes that can be found in nature, music, and the daily rhythms of human life.
Gurdjieff, however, viewed and used the Enneagram figure differently from its today’s form. It’s employed for several uses, including the Gurdjieff movements or a series of sacred dances, but not a tool for personality typing as we know it nowadays.
Building upon Gurdjieff's foundation, Oscar Ichazo, a Bolivian-born philosopher and spiritual teacher, further developed the modern Enneagram system with 09 personality types, emphasizing its application for psychological and spiritual growth.
In the 1950s, he began to associate specific personality types with the Enneagram, thus laying the foundation for its use in psychological profiling.
Ichazo's work was pivotal in transforming the Enneagram from a mystical symbol into a practical framework for self-understanding. He established the Arica School in 1968, where he taught the theories of Protoanalysis and concepts of ego-fixations of his own.
Within Protoanalysis, Oscar Ichazo described nine distinct ways through which an individual's ego can become fixated within the psyche during early life—a framework he termed the Enneagram of Fixations.
Claudio Najanro, a Chilean psychiatrist and author, further developed the Enneagram based on the teachings of Oscar Ichazo. In 1970, he studied with Ichazo and learned about the Enneagram.
He was attracted by the innovative approach of Ichazo and expanded the system by integrating it with other psychological theories and systems he was familiar with.
Naranjo's influence was significant in refining Enneagram's nine personality types, making the system more accessible and applicable to the modern context. He, in addition to other psychologists and authors, such as Helen Palmer and David Daniels, expanded the Enneagram's reach into various domains, including business, therapy, and personal growth workshops.
In addition, through Naranjo's tireless efforts and the work of other influential figures like Don Riso and Russ Hudson, the Enneagram found fertile ground in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, particularly within personal growth circles.
In the 21st century, the Enneagram has experienced a surge in popularity, becoming a widely recognized tool for self-discovery and personal, professional development. Especially, the system has continued to evolve to adapt and resonate with diverse audiences in the modern world.
The previous decades have seen many notable writings and teachings of significant authors and experts that have expanded the Enneagram’s reach and application. Their works highly focus on the psychological facets of the Enneagram as a way to understand people’s minds and behaviors rather than its religious aspects.
Renowned authors like Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson have advanced Enneagram's psychological framework through their groundbreaking work. They’re also the founders of The Enneagram Institute, offering comprehensive resources, workshops, and courses focused on the various distinctive characteristics of the Enneagram and how they relate to human behavior.
The book "The Wisdom of the Enneagram" is also their great work, providing a detailed exploration of each personality type's psychological dynamics and growth paths.
PhD. Beatrice Chestnut—the author behind the famous book “The Complete Enneagram: 27 Paths to Greater Self-Knowledge," Ian Cron and Suzanne Stabile—authors of “The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery," and many other researchers and experts, have also played vital roles in the development and evolution of Enneagram in the modern world, bringing it into mainstream consciousness.
However, please note that the Enneagram isn’t without controversy. There are ongoing debates regarding its origins, interpretations, reliability, and other aspects.
Still, the benefits and applications of the test are obvious, making it a great tool for self-awareness and personal development.
Anyway, the Enneagram in the 21st century is not just a symbol or a personality assessment; it's helpful for those seeking to navigate the complexities of the human experience with ancient and modern wisdom.
Enneagram and the Enneagram Test have gained popularity and growing influence on a global scale.
In recent years, its viral spread has been seen on various social media platforms, such as X (Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, etc.
Across different continents and cultures, the Enneagram has broken through language barriers to provide individuals with profound insights into their personalities and those of others. That could lead to stronger connections and greater compassion among individuals.
Fans of the test around the globe appreciate its ability to delve beyond the surface level compared to some other personality tests.
Its results provide an in-depth analysis of the individual's driving forces and areas of vulnerability, giving them deeper self-awareness and helpful guidance toward personal growth and transformation.
Also, practical applications of Enneagram in the modern world can also be seen in various areas of life, from personal growth to career development, relationship counseling, leadership training, and more.
Discover more about yourself by taking our free Enneagram test today! This 100-question test does not take much time to complete, while provided results can give valuable insights into your personality, motivations, strengths, weaknesses, and behavior patterns that you may have never been aware of.
Don't wait to unlock a deeper understanding of yourself that can transform your personal growth. With profound insights into your personality type, you'll navigate life with greater confidence and clarity. Take the test today—it's the first step towards a better version of yourself and a more fulfilling life.
The Enneagram is recognized globally as a valuable tool for personal insight and transformation. Though the Enneagram origin has remained unclear, its development and evolution as of today owe much to the ancient wisdom and the pioneering work of Gurdjieff, Ichazo, Naranjo, and other contemporary authors, who each contributed unique perspectives and insights that enriched the system.
On our website, you can read more useful articles, one of which is Understanding the 27 Subtypes: A Deeper Look into Your Enneagram Type.
