The Enneagram as Guide in Grief and Loss

“We live, embrace, and put to rest our dearest things, including how we see ourselves, so we can resurrect our lives anew.” - Mark Nepo

So much of life is about saying goodbye. Whether loss is related to health, dashed dreams, work, beliefs, or relationships, our personality style moves into patterns that decrease anxiety at the moment, yet do not allow our grieving to flow through us. Instead, we often deflect, go numb, or stay in the story of our grief rather than feeling into it.

During this workshop, participants will explore how their Enneagram type works with loss in ways that may be life-denying and life-giving. For example, for type Eight, the coping strategy of being strong, the core avoidance of vulnerability, and the defense mechanism of denial work together to create a barrier to moving through grief.

Knowing how our personality structure limits us allows us to navigate the journey deeper into our hearts better to feel our emotions. As we deepen our self-awareness, compassion for self and others flows from and through the healing of emotional pain.

Participants will learn:

• the types’ complexities that serve as barriers to healthy grieving
• the inner resources of the types in times of loss
• healthy strategies for leaning into and moving through loss

Dyads, type group discussions, and experiential exercises will facilitate our learning. 

This workshop is open to all who already know their Enneagram type. It is offered by three highly experienced teachers certified in The Narrative Tradition: Sandra Smith, Erlina Edwards, and Cyndi Gueswel.

Sandra Smith, MDiv, is a Certified Narrative Enneagram teacher and an International Enneagram Association (IEA) Accredited Professional. For over 23 years, Sandra has taught the Enneagram as a personal, professional, and spiritual development tool. Sandra weaves her business, theology, and nonprofit management background to create a unique perspective in her public workshops, staff development, and team-building work—all offered through her company AlchemyWorks. Sandra also companions individuals in spiritual direction. She supports her deepening and growth by participating in the Diamond Approach work. Her love for the Earth and commitment to equity and inclusion shape her teaching. Her forthcoming book, The Enneagram Map to Your Deeper Self: Living Beyond Your Type will be released by Hampton Roads Publishing on September 1, 2024.

Erlina Edwards has a strong background in both business and spirituality. She is a former senior VP of HR, and now her work spans both worlds. Her commitment to developing human potential serves as her core driver. Erlina is certified through the Narrative Tradition and the IEA. She currently serves as Co-Executive Director for the Narrative Enneagram. She is a licensed interfaith minister, accredited Spiritual Director, and IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Anti-Racist) consultant. Erlina lives in Tucson, Arizona.

Cyndi Gueswel has been helping leaders, leadership teams, and organizations achieve ambitious goals for decades, using the Enneagram as a cornerstone tool. Her clients are changemakers—visionaries, or leaders in organizational and civic work oriented toward the greater good. In addition to being certified through The Narrative Enneagram, she is accredited with Integrative Enneagram. Cyndi believes how we tell our stories shapes our lives. Her passionate spaces include work with education, libraries, women, and venture-funded companies doing breakthrough work. Cyndi hails from Colorado, where her muses include wilderness, poetry, music, and yoga.

Event Venue

Online