The Enneagram Personality System

Why the Enneagram? I love the Enneagram as a personality model because I find it can offer deep insight that naturally supports personal growth. With the Enneagram, the types are less about how somone looks on the surface, more about what beliefs, fears, and priorities underlie those behaviors. For instance, one person might be extroverted because they are working hard to gain approval from others, while another person might be engaged in trying to maximize their fun.
The Enneagram is more of a personal passion than a professional endeavor for me. I'm sharing it here on my website because it's been such a wonderful tool for me, and I wanted to compile my favorite sources so others can benefit. Perhaps in the future I will add a section about my own journey with it.
No type is better than others, they are just different, like different flavors of food! I have dear friendships with people of every type.

How to get started? Take a test? Yes, of course there are free online tests. I'll point you to a couple good free ones below (don't bother paying for a test). Or just to consider the descriptions of each of the types and note which ones resonate with you. There's even a basic Enneagram podcast with one episode for  each type, a nice introduction!
Each source describes the types slightly differently, so take your most likely types and compare between a few sources. Discuss it with your closest people and get feedback about what aspects seem true to them.
Once you feel like you've found your type, view your life through that lens for a month or so. Reflect on how it fits or doesn't fit you.
Also consider who you were as an older child or younger teen; this can reveal who we were before we grew to balance our natural tendencies! Usually the Type stays the same throughout our lives, though we can develop many skills and positive habits to become healthy and happy.

Free tests:
Quick test includes your "instinct" (see below).
Longer test, choose the free "snapshot," no need to pay for the upgraded version.
Hint: When taking a test, jot down any questions that really speak to you.

Wings: The adjacent numbers are that type's "wings."
If you rank high on two adjacent numbers (ex. 2 and 3), one is probably your type and the other would be your "wing." We all have both wings, but sometimes one wing is stronger or more obvious so we might say that someone is a "2 wing 3" or 2w3.
Look up both of the wing combinations and compare (2w3 vs. 3w2).
It's considered healthy to have both wings present - two wings helps you fly steady.
Try to notice and enhance your weaker wing too!

Subtypes (aka Instincts):
Each type has three subtypes. There's a test just for subtypes/intincts!

Look up your Type/Subtype combo to learn more. Scroll down and click the colorful squares for each type. This site shows the "countertype" clearly, which is one subtype that can look very different from the stereotype for that number!
Another Subtype/Instrict resource to compare, as sometimes a different author's description will capture someone's personality better than others.

Going deeper:
EnneaThought Daily emails with good insights on your type
The Art of Growth Podcast
Beatrice Chestnut Videos
Tom LaHue Videos

Be kind! Our personality patterns, emotions, and habits are deeply personal. Please be gentle with yourself and with others as well!