The Enneagram Explorer’s Toolkit: Three of the Best Books on the Enneagram and Spirituality

When I wrote The Sacred Enneagram, I was trying to answer a question that many of us wrestle with: “Now that I know my type, what do I do with that knowledge, especially when it comes to nurturing and nourishing my spirituality?”

Back then, the Enneagram was still on the fringes, particularly in Christian spaces. More than half of the publishers who rejected my book proposal said things like, “No one around here has heard of the Enneagram,” or “Isn’t that rooted in the occult?” One publisher even rewrote my proposal, insisting I create one prayer practice for each of the nine types, as if that were the magic formula.

Thankfully, times have changed. The Enneagram has found its way into mainstream conversations, and I’ve kept my pulse on the growing resources in this space. While there are many new titles worth exploring (stay tuned for a future “Toolkit” post on some of my favorite new books), it still seems the classics continue to set the standard.

Here are my three favorite books on how the Enneagram can support your spiritual well-being:

1. The Enneagram: A Christian Perspective by Richard Rohr and Andreas Ebert

This book explores the Enneagram as a tool for spiritual growth, integrating Christian theology with self-awareness to uncover divine love and transformation. While some theories in the book have evolved over time, there’s no doubt it remains a lasting classic. Father Richard was my first Enneagram teacher, and I’ll forever be indebted to him, not just for his words, but for the example he embodies. Over the years, I’ve watched him grow, change his mind on big things, and demonstrate the fruit of ongoing transformation through his faithfulness.

2. The Spiritual Dimensions of the Enneagram: Nine Faces of the Soul by Sandra Maitri

Sandra Maitri delves into the Enneagram’s spiritual roots, focusing on self-realization and the journey toward essence. She blends psychology with mystical traditions in a way that’s both profound and accessible. Sandra is someone I consider a teacher and guide, and simply being in her presence has been life-changing. This book is one I’ve read multiple times, and each reading brings new insights.

3. The Buddhist Enneagram: Nine Paths to Warriorship by Susan Piver

This book combines Buddhist principles with the Enneagram, offering a path to courage, compassion, and wisdom through self-discovery and mindful awareness. Coming from a tradition outside my own upbringing, I found this approach fresh and disarming. It’s a powerful way to confront and dismantle my own biases.

And now, a bonus recommendation, because one of the best Enneagram books on spirituality isn’t explicitly about the Enneagram at all. Primary Speech: A Psychology of Prayer by Barry and Ann Ulanov examines prayer as a fundamental human expression, exploring its psychological and spiritual dimensions to deepen connection with the divine and the self.

Here’s why (not a popular opinion YET…) I consider this an Enneagram book: Back in the early 1970s, when Claudio Naranjo was developing the Enneagram types, he had his students sign a “contract of reserve,” committing not to teach or talk about the Enneagram until he gave them permission. One of his students, part of the Jesuit community at Loyola University in Chicago, broke that pledge, sending his notes on the Enneagram back to his community. Naranjo was furious, saying the teachings had “hit the streets too early.”

But once the cat was out of the bag, the Enneagram quietly and quickly spread through the Jesuits, making its way to Richard Rohr’s spiritual director (who taught him the tradition), Don Riso (part of the Jesuit community in Toronto which he would eventually leave to help start the Enneagram Institute and co-author The Wisdom of the Enneagram), and likely Barry Ulanov, who taught at Fordham University, a Jesuit school in New York (and I assume came across the teaching through his Jesuit colleges there).

The fingerprints of the Enneagram are woven throughout Primary Speech. Just look at the chapter titles:

· Chapter 1: Primary Speech

· Chapter 2: Prayer and Desire

· Chapter 3: Prayer and Projection

· Chapter 4: Fantasy and Prayer

· Chapter 5: Living with Fantasy

· Chapter 6: Fear and Prayer

· Chapter 7: Prayer and Aggression

· Chapter 8: Sexuality and Prayer

· Chapter 9: Prayer for Others

These themes outlined in the chapters clearly follow the Types in order and resonate deeply with the Enneagram’s focus on uncovering our true selves and connecting with the divine. It’s a book that invites us to explore the sacred intersection of psychology, spirituality, and prayer, and it’s one I highly recommend.

So, whether you’re new to the Enneagram or a seasoned explorer, these books offer timeless wisdom to support your spiritual journey. Dive in, and let them guide you toward deeper self-awareness, transformation, and connection.