the enneagram books I've read so far I've liked this one the best, It seemed like it gave more actionable information, Some of the other books have talked about how once you figure out your you use that information to grow upon but this was the first time I felt I was given some options for doing that.
I have read all kinds of writings about the enneagram since being first introduced to it as a concept in.
I know some people are cynical about it or question even that Christians should engage with it, I get there can be reservations especially with how the enneagram is used by some, Also, of course like any model, it has its limitations and it is not God!!!, I have found it though to be very helpful for better understanding of myself and others, how people interact and for reflecting deeper about God and us as people.
'Mirror for the Soul' was a refreshing, helpful and challenging read over the past few days, It is written from a clearly Christian world point of view, making reference to the Bible, So if someone is not a Christian, it might be a struggle reading it of course,
Partly, I was engaging with it for me personally, partly for our church context we have been talking and exploring about this topic at leadership level, Alice Fryling's book was timely to read.
It deepened my understanding, gave fresh insights and gave provocative light bulb moments for my life and who I am and how I can respond to this in my walking out seeking to follow Christ.
There are lots of helpful examples from real life to stop it all sounding theoretical and very useful reflection question sections to help readers 'earth' it into their lives.
Having read the book through and also made some notes, now I need to reflect more in follow up.
Plus I want to go back into the book and take time over coming days to respond more to the discussion questions and Bible
meditations.
A very solid introduction to the Enneagram,
I am rating it a tad low because I found it less helpful then more thorough books I've read e.
g. sitelinkThe Wisdom of the Enneagram, but perhaps it should get a star for brevity in comparison,also for the chapter on the Enneagram and Transformation Chapter, very practical and helpful spiritual disciplines to pair with Enneagram understanding.
Recommended for someone looking to get a quick introduction to the Enneagram chsor looking for some ideas to use the Enneagram for spiritual formation/direction chsMirror for the Soul is a fair introduction to the Enneagram from a Christian perspective.
It covers the basics and walks you into the details gradually so that it's not overwhelming, It even provides a few insights I hadn't seen before,
At times, I felt like Fryling was a little too effusive about the value of the Enneagram, perhaps overpromising in some cases.
It sometimes felt like she was presenting it as a cureall, Also, her description of the diagram and concepts' history was really very anemic and kind of whitewashes some things, which also felt like an issue.
As an introduction, it's an okay book, It doesn't go deep or provide a lot of information, but it's a starting place, and the Christian perspective is a plus.
Folks already familiar with the Enneagram, however, could skip it and not miss much, I wasnt able to dive in as deeply as I wanted because I had a library copy, but this was a wonderful Christian Enneagram perspective.
Rather than starting out by letting you type yourself, Alice Frylings leads the reader through the history of the Enneagram and thoughtful descriptions of each type.
Along the way, she frequently references how the Enneagram corresponds with Scripture and Christianity, There are even small Bible studies included at the end of each chapter to learn more,
I absolutely loved Alices language for the Enneagram and her acknowledgement of how many spaces other than our “home” we can slide into and act like both positively and negatively.
At some point, I plan to add this to my personal library and spend more time soaking it up.
This book, and the enneagram concept, will probably prove to be a life changer for me, It already feels that way, This is the only enneagram book I will read, I have reservations about the enneagram in general but this book presents the best sides of it, My reservations have to do with our modern mania to "find ourselves" and I worry that this tool can feed that.
On the positive side, the enneagram is rooted in Evagrius' eight logismoi and the Western tradition of the seven deadly sins.
So, whereas the MeyersBriggs does not have any place for the role of sin in our lives, the enneagram recognizes what sin does to distort our personalities.
So, while I would no entirely endorse the enneagram without relational and ecclesial wisdom, this is probably the best book out there.
As a Christian who has been studying the Enneagram for a number of years, I am always looking for books I can recommend to fellow Christians who wish to learn more about this work.
In Mirror for the Soul, I found a book that has a lot to recommend for a group of people learning to use the Enneagram as a tool to grow their faith, provided that they enter into the study with a solid knowledge of the Enneagram from other sources.
The author does not provide enough detail about the Enneagram to build a sufficiently strong foundation for Christian growth using this tool.
I appreciate that she attempts to expand understanding of the centers of intelligence, one of the more valuable aspects of the Enneagram when it comes to growth of any kind, especially Christian growth, but she uses the centers of intelligence as a way of simplifying the Enneagram rather than expanding our understanding of it.
I wish that she had targeted an audience already familiar with the Enneagram and seeking to go deeper by targeting a more beginner audience, she doesn't provide enough substance to do much.
That said, I read this book alone, and I would love to do it with others to see if the opportunity to engage in the discussion questions offers an added dimension to this work.
I found her use of the Bible to be especially engaging, And I also appreciated her perspectives on using the Enneagram in spiritual direction,
Mirror for the Soul
A Christian Guide to the Enneagram
by Alice Fryling
InterVarsity Press
IVP Books
Christian , Religion amp Spirituality
Pub DateAug
I am reviewing a copy of the Mirror for the Soul through Intervarsity Press and Netgalley:
Alice Fryling has written a book that serves as a guide of the Ennegram for Christians.
The Enneagram is an ancient tool that helps us puzzle out who we are, The Enneagram is a set of numbers, lines and arrows that serve to help undestand who you are.
The Christian Roots of the Enneagram are believed to go back to the desert Mother and Father's of the fourth century.
They then break down this into nine perspectives on life, The people in the one space are gifted with goodness, they do things very well, The people in the twos are gifted in love, The people in the three space are gifted to be effective, the people in the four space reflect the creativity of God, those in the five places are gifted in the window, the people in the six space are faithful, those in the seventh are gifted with joy, those in the eight space are often leaders, and in the ninth space the gift is peace.
Honestly before reading this book I knew nothing of the Enneagram let alone its context to Christianity and honestly something does not feel right about using mere numbers to describes one self and certainly one's faith, but Alice Fryling's book was well written, her arguments and facts clear and concise.
I do like the fact that Alice Fryling addresses letting go of your false self and becoming more self aware.
Although I do not agree with using numbers to describe your faith, I feel that Alice Fryling has written a book that does make it easier to understand, so I give this book five out of five.
Happy Reading!.
Attain Mirror For The Soul: A Christian Guide To The Enneagram Conceived By Alice Fryling Conveyed As Booklet
Alice Fryling