April 20-22 // 2018
“The Enneagram is a dynamic system for self-knowledge and spiritual transformation. It is a wonderful tool that can help us see and let go of the false self—which masks the image of God within us—and allow us to live from our True Self—the unique manifestation of Love that God intends us to be.”
-Richard Rohr
Are you ready for a weekend of Enneagram exploration as we walk shoulder to shoulder on the Journey of Illumination? With the five Illuman touchstones as our guide, we will use the deep wisdom of the Enneagram to move past the basics of the Enneagram type and learn how to improve our relationships with others and become more in touch with our True Self. Gathering together, we will Center ourselves each morning in Contemplative Sits and Meditation exercises, Connect in fellowship through deep sharing, Release that which no longer serves us in small groups and Council Circles, and learn new aspects about our Enneagram type in order to be of Service of ourselves and the World.
The retreat will provide numerous opportunities for exploration- whether you are new to the Enneagram or have been using it as a tool in your spiritual practice for years since foundational information will be shared for each type to set the stage for deeper conversations. All that is required for participation is a willingness to be present in your body, have a curious mind and bring an open heart. We would recommend each participant taking an online test and reading the descriptions of each type before coming if they do not already know their type. A basic free version can be found here. Or you can pay $12 for a more robust online test here.
Special Note from Retreat Leader Brad Pickel:
Please note that finding your type is part of the exploration of the Enneagram so please do not feel concerned if you aren’t sure which is your dominant type based on the online tests.
Retreat Focus
1 // To offer a retreat for men to see how their individual preferences and biases color all aspects of their life with a focus on spirituality and relationships.
2 // To further participants understanding of the Enneagram in general and as a spiritual tool, their Enneagram type, and how other Enneagram types show up in them through an interactive investigation of each type
Quotes on the Enneagram
Brad Pickel (Retreat’s Wisdom Elder) quotes:
“The Enneagram is an invaluable tool to shine a light on the parts of our soul that are most neglected.”
“The two most important pieces of my spiritual journey have been my Men’s Rites of Passage and my ongoing study of the Enneagram.”
“Once we move past the cocktail hour discussion of ‘which type are you’ we can start to answer the harder question of ‘what does this mean for me.”
“The Enneagram is not just another personality typing system describing who we are, but with presence, it can help us answer the deeper question of why and offer tools for our spiritual journey.”
“Like peeling an onion, the Enneagram can serve as a sharp blade to cut through the layers of self- protection that separate us from our true self.”
Don Riso and Russ Hudson quotes:
“The Enneagram is a profound and comprehensive system for understanding yourself and other people in your life with new depth and clarity. Because understanding yourself and others is so important, this knowledge has the power to change your life.”
“The Enneagram is useful because it indicates with startling clarity certain constellations of meaning about something that is essentially beyond definition: the mystery that we are.”
CAC Quote:
“The Enneagram is a powerful tool for self-discovery and spiritual transformation. But it shouldn’t be your only tool. The Enneagram is most helpful when used in conjunction with other practices like study, meditation, spiritual direction, and life in community with others.”
Richard Rohr Quote:
“The Enneagram is a dynamic system for self-knowledge and spiritual transformation. It is a wonderful tool that can help us see and let go of the false self—which masks the image of God within us—and allow us to live from our True Self—the unique manifestation of Love that God intends us to be.”
Other Quote:
“For a long time we are asleep to the significance of self-observation and it’s real goal, which is inner separation. But if everything inside in the psychic world of yourself, to which you have direct access, is for ever turning and turning and you take it all as yourself, you have not begun the journey to find yourself, which you lost.” – Maurice Nicoll
What Will I Learn?
Why would I want to come to this retreat?
To advance my understanding of the Enneagram and see how my biases impact how I experience the world and my connection to others. To learn tools to more clearly recognize when I am not present to myself and others. To develop my spiritual gifts in service to myself and others. To connect in an interactive exploration of the Enneagram with others on a spiritual journey.
What can I do to prepare for the retreat?
Pre-Retreat Suggestions
Take the RHETI test on the Enneagram Institute website. This will give you rankings on what your type might be. Then you will want to read the different descriptions and see which ones of the higher rankings “fit” you best. You can also read the other descriptions for the other types to give yourself a better understanding of the different types.
If you are having trouble seeing which one fits you better, one shortcut is to look at some of the more negative attributes of the types and think back to when you were younger before you spent time with shadow work and soul work. It’s a humbling experience, but it might also show you how grateful you feel, “thank God I don’t do that anymore.”
As for other things to read, there are many other free resources on the Enneagram Institute website. It might get a little overwhelming, and even more confusing, if you dive in too deep before the retreat as the system was originally taught as an oral tradition and most of us agree that is still the best way.
Book Possibilities:
- A good starter book is “Personality Types, Using the Enneagram for Self Discovery” by Riso and Hudson.
- Books by Richard Rohr can be found at the CAC Website.
- “The Enneagram as a Tool for Your Spiritual Journey” by Hudson and Rohr // Conference Recording on MP3
- “Enneagram: The Discernment of Spirits” by Rohr, CD
If you would like to talk to Brad Pickel our Retreat Leader ahead of time you may also arrange to do so via email.
The retreat leader:
Brad Pickel has been studying the Enneagram for over a decade and is a passionate communicator of its wisdom in both group settings and in one-on-one coaching sessions. Since initially being introduced to the Enneagram through Fr. Richard Rohr’s teachings, he pursued training through the Enneagram Institute,led by Don Riso and Russ Hudson, two of the most respected teachers and prolific writers on the Enneagram. He has completed the Enneagram Institute training program and attended additional workshops focusing on the Essential Qualities and Higher Aspects of each type that highlights the spiritual components of the Enneagram. In addition, he has searched out teachings from other Enneagram teachers to further investigate what lies beneath the question of “what number are you?”
While finding value in the Enneagram as a personality typing system, Brad’s interest is in the deeper knowledge offered through understanding the Levels of Development of each type, the interplay between instinctual drives and Enneagram type, the relationship dynamics between types, and the spiritual gifts of each type highlighted by this unique tool. Brad also serves as Administrator for Illuman.
