The Enneagram and Kabbalah: Reading Your Soul
The Kabbalah is ages old; the Enneagram, though it has its roots in the Middle Ages, has gained prominence as a New Age phenomenon. This book purports to show the link between the two and to provide background on the Enneagram, which is a personality-typing process based on personal Enneagram numbers, one through nine. Addison says in his introduction that learning his number was "transformative" for him, yet the book's problem centers on that very issue. Rather brief initial descriptions of the traits of all nine numbers are given, but the information is simply too sketchy for readers to decide what numbers they may be. As each number connects with each point on the Tree of Life, further examination of a number's traits is supplied, but even this may not be enough for someone to decide which number is his or hers. This book will be of most use to those already familiar with both Kabbalah and the Enneagram (and who know their numbers). For this audience, Addison makes a real contribution by offering analysis, meditative techniques, a biblical figure with which to identify, and ways to begin or renew Jewish observance by connecting traditions with the aspects of a particular number. Recommended where interest in the Enneagram is growing.Ilene Cooper--This text refers to an alternatePaperbackedition.