The Enneagram Goes to the Movies! Using Film to Understand the 9 Character Types

The Enneagram Goes to the Movies!
Using Film to Understand the 9 Character Types

--with Carl Marsak, M.A. and Sara Clerk, Co-Host

Saturday, December 21st, 4 - 6:00 pm MST
Movie #9 for Type 1: Saving Mr. Banks, with Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks, Colin Farrell and Paul Giamatti (2013, 125 min.).

Please note, this is the last in our first series of The Enneagram Goes to the Movies. If there is sufficient interest we will start another series sometime in 2025.

“The idea that we each possess an essential nature that is qualitatively different from our acquired personality is basic to sacred psychology.”

--Helen Palmer

"You can never awaken using the same system that put you to sleep in the first place."

--Gurdjieff

The premise of this monthly Meetup Group is that because the 9 Enneagram Types are often more visible in cinema than in real life, through film study we can learn about them quickly, easily and enjoyably (instead of just reading books and articles, and attending classes and workshops). Well-created movie characters with strong and consistent traits, attitudes, beliefs, values and behaviors, acting and interacting under conditions of both stress and relaxation, present the audience with examples of positive and/or negative character development. They can teach us how we can use knowledge and practice of the Enneagram in our own lives to foster and stabilize psychological growth and spiritual transformation.

For those who are new, the Enneagram is an ancient and sacred nine-pointed symbol that describes nine distinct personality types. Study and practice of this profound, powerful and integrated system helps one to: 1) Identify and transform mental, emotional and physical habits that create suffering both self and others; 2) Integrate psychological and spiritual life; 3) Increase both self-knowledge and compassionate understanding of others.

This 2 hr. group usually usually meets the third Sat. of every month for nine months. Everyone takes responsibility for finding and watching the "movie of the month." This time we will be studying, for Type 1: Saving Mr. Banks, with Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks. This heartfelt movie is based on the true story of Pamela Travers, the author of Mary Poppins, and how her book became a hit movie for Walt Disney in 1964 (with Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, of course). Thompson plays a great SP1, which is what she probably is in real life, so this is another case of Enneatype casting. She is quite believable...

We will use our time together to have a guided meditation, short teachings with some screen shares and video clips, Q & A, and a group discussion about both the lead character in the movie (including topics such as "Enneatype casting," and arcs of positive and negative development. If there is time we will explore the motivations and behaviors of other characters in the film who have recognizable Types.

Participants will be expected to find and watch the movies on their own in the weeks leading up to the group meeting, most likely on television or Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu and other streaming platforms. Or perhaps you already own the movie on DVD (I know, what's a DVD?). The movies are always fairly easily available. Some movies may not cost you anything, and for some you may have to pay a small amount.

Who should attend this event? Anyone, of any age, who is genuinely interested in exploring how film characters can demonstrate psychological growth and spiritual development is welcome to join us. Please pass on this link to interested friends, family members and co-workers. Meetup members are welcome to invite up to two guests.

This group is appropriate for beginners and more advanced students. It is designed to be more relaxed and lighter in tone and content than my Enneagram Monthly Study Group (people are free to sign up for both!).

Please note: all participants will be asked to have their video on at all times, except for short and necessary personal breaks. This is to prevent security concerns such as Zoom Bombing. Thank you!

Recommended books include: The Enneagram Movie and Video Guide: How to See Personality Styles in the Movies, 2nd Edition, by Tom Condon. The Wisdom of the Enneagram: The Complete Guide to Psychological and Spiritual Growth for The Nine Types, by Don Riso and Russ Hudson; The Enneagram in Love and Work, by Helen Palmer; The Essential Enneagram, by David Daniels, M.D.; Personality Types: Using the Enneagram for Self-Discovery, by Don Riso, with Russ Hudson; The Complete Enneagram, by Beatrice Chestnut.

Carl has been teaching the Enneagram since 1997, leading numerous workshops, presentations and classes around the world, including in the U.S., Canada, Britain, Iceland and India. He has presented at six International Enneagram Association Conferences, and for the Canadian Enneagram Association. One of his great loves is to teach for Lifelong Learning Institutes. He is also available for Enneagram Typing and Subtyping Interviews, Individual Mentoring Sessions, and for speaking events and training workshops.

For more information about Carl and the Enneagram please visit his website: enneagramsantafe.com. To learn about The Narrative Tradition of the Enneagram, go to: narrativeenneagram.org. For the International Enneagram Association (IEA) see: internationalenneagram.org.