Mirror for the Soul: A Christian Guide to the Enneagram

by Alice Fryling

Overview

"Who in the world am I?" The Enneagram is like a mirror, reflecting dimensions of ourselves that are sometimes hard to see. In this helpful guide, spiritual director and Enneagram teacher Alice Fryling offers an introduction to each number of the Enneagram and their respective triads. More than just helping us discern our number, this book relates the Enneagram to our spiritual journey, as a way to identify our gifts as well as our blind spots.  With Scripture meditations and questions for reflection and discussion, Mirror for the Soul offers a new perspective on our unique temperament so that we might know and extend God's grace more fully. Knowledge of the Enneagram leads us into more authentic self-awareness, richer relationships, and deeper places in the soul where we can worship God in truth and grace.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780830846320
Publisher:	InterVarsity Press
Publication date:	07/14/2017
Pages:	180
Sales rank:	537,689
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Alice Fryling is a spiritual director and the author of nine books, including Seeking God Together: An Introduction to Group Spiritual Direction. She has been giving Enneagram workshops for fifteen years, teaching participants how to use the Enneagram to know God and themselves more deeply. She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren.

Table of Contents

Introduction: The Puzzle of Ourselves
1. What Is the Enneagram, and Where Did It Come From?
2. The True Self and the False Self
3. The Triads of the Enneagram
4. The Heart Triad: 2, 3, 4
5. The Head Triad: 5, 6, 7
6. The Gut Triad: 8, 9, 1
7. Looking for Your Home Space
8. Understanding Wings and the Arrows
9. Biblical Truths Reflected in the Enneagram
10. Addicted to Ourselves
11. The Enneagram and Transformation
12. Continuing the Journey
Epilogue: Answering Alice
Acknowledgments
Appendix 1: Using the Enneagram in Spiritual Direction
Appendix 2: Additional Resources
Notes

What People are Saying About This

Adele Calhoun

"For many years, Alice has been a trustworthy guide for those who seek to love God and neighbor. Mirror for the Soul offers practical ways to engage with the Spirit for transformation through the tool of the Enneagram. We can't change what we aren't aware of. Mirror for the Soul can be both eye opening and healing. If you are hungry to grow in loving God and loving your neighbor as yourself, I commend this book to you. Its wisdom can reveal your default settings, hidden agendas, and besetting temptations, as well as the shimmering beauty of your soul. Breathe deep, lean hard; God's love holds."

Deb Hirsch

"The Enneagram has both informed and matured my spiritual walk for more than twenty years now, and I am thrilled to see more Christians embracing its ancient wisdom. Whether you are new to the Enneagram or already a devotee, you will love Mirror for the Soul. It's as inspiring as it is insightful. Alice Fryling is a gifted guide. Take the journey with her, dig deep into its truth, and allow it to enhance your life. I loved this book and heartily recommend it."

Alan Fadling

"This is the Enneagram book I've been looking for. It's written from a depth of experience, a depth in Scripture, and with an eye for the formational possibilities of this ancient wisdom. Fryling serves as a seasoned spiritual director, guiding the reader into the rich growth in spiritual formation that the Enneagram offers."

Jerome Wagner

"The Enneagram points out where we are in need of grace; Christianity and Scripture point us in the direction where grace can be found. Alice Fryling's book is at the crossroads where the Enneagram and Christianity meet. Fryling brings understanding and transformation together in a very readable and practical way."

Leighton Ford

"For many years, the Enneagram has helped many to understand their tendencies, strengths, and weaknesses. Now Alice Fryling has provided a very helpful guide for its use. I especially like the way she begins with an understandable explanation of the Enneagram and also matches personality types with Scripture meditations. I commend Mirror for the Soul to individuals seeking to understand how God has shaped them and to spiritual guides for their ministry with others."

Ruth Haley Barton

"This will be a most helpful resource for all who are seeking deeper levels of transformation through the narrow gate of self-knowledge and self-examination. Having worked with the Enneagram as a tool for transformation for many years, I love everything about this book—the concise descriptions of the history and theory of the Enneagram, the penetrating commentary on the spaces themselves, and the wise and gentle encouragement for how you can move from the bondage of the false self to the freedom of living as your true self in Christ. The personal meditations, discussion questions, and guidance for utilizing the Enneagram in spiritual direction make this enormously beneficial for personal and ministry use."

Richard Rohr

"Alice Fryling's valuable insights from the Enneagram and Scripture invite us to experience God's grace more deeply through greater self-awareness and spiritual companionship. This book is a rich and unique contribution to Enneagram literature and to personal transformation."

Jan Johnson

"I've been waiting for this book! When I began studying the Enneagram ten years ago, Alice Fryling's insights set some key themes of my understanding of this enormously helpful tool in moving toward transformation to Christlikeness. Thank you!"

Editorial Reviews

"For many years, the Enneagram has helped many to understand their tendencies, strengths, and weaknesses. Now Alice Fryling has provided a very helpful guide for its use. I especially like the way she begins with an understandable explanation of the Enneagram and also matches personality types with Scripture meditations. I commend Mirror for the Soul to individuals seeking to understand how God has shaped them and to spiritual guides for their ministry with others."

Leighton Ford

"The Enneagram points out where we are in need of grace; Christianity and Scripture point us in the direction where grace can be found. Alice Fryling's book is at the crossroads where the Enneagram and Christianity meet. Fryling brings understanding and transformation together in a very readable and practical way."

Jerome Wagner

"I've been waiting for this book! When I began studying the Enneagram ten years ago, Alice Fryling's insights set some key themes of my understanding of this enormously helpful tool in moving toward transformation to Christlikeness. Thank you!"

Jan Johnson

"This will be a most helpful resource for all who are seeking deeper levels of transformation through the narrow gate of self-knowledge and self-examination. Having worked with the Enneagram as a tool for transformation for many years, I love everything about this book—the concise descriptions of the history and theory of the Enneagram, the penetrating commentary on the spaces themselves, and the wise and gentle encouragement for how you can move from the bondage of the false self to the freedom of living as your true self in Christ. The personal meditations, discussion questions, and guidance for utilizing the Enneagram in spiritual direction make this enormously beneficial for personal and ministry use."

Ruth Haley Barton

"Alice Fryling's valuable insights from the Enneagram and Scripture invite us to experience God's grace more deeply through greater self-awareness and spiritual companionship. This book is a rich and unique contribution to Enneagram literature and to personal transformation."

Richard Rohr

"The Enneagram has both informed and matured my spiritual walk for more than twenty years now, and I am thrilled to see more Christians embracing its ancient wisdom. Whether you are new to the Enneagram or already a devotee, you will love Mirror for the Soul. It's as inspiring as it is insightful. Alice Fryling is a gifted guide. Take the journey with her, dig deep into its truth, and allow it to enhance your life. I loved this book and heartily recommend it."

Deb Hirsch

"For many years, Alice has been a trustworthy guide for those who seek to love God and neighbor. Mirror for the Soul offers practical ways to engage with the Spirit for transformation through the tool of the Enneagram. We can't change what we aren't aware of. Mirror for the Soul can be both eye opening and healing. If you are hungry to grow in loving God and loving your neighbor as yourself, I commend this book to you. Its wisdom can reveal your default settings, hidden agendas, and besetting temptations, as well as the shimmering beauty of your soul. Breathe deep, lean hard; God's love holds."

Adele Calhoun

"This is the Enneagram book I've been looking for. It's written from a depth of experience, a depth in Scripture, and with an eye for the formational possibilities of this ancient wisdom. Fryling serves as a seasoned spiritual director, guiding the reader into the rich growth in spiritual formation that the Enneagram offers."

Alan Fadling