Abstract: The origins of the Enneagram are a constant point of fascination and discussion. Uncovering the source of this remarkable oracle provides for both a deeper personal understanding and the means by which to interpret the enneagram system with legitimate authority. In the last few decades, Evagrius of Pontus has emerged as a seminal figure within mystical Christianity and mystical Islam. His influence upon the psychology and mysticism of Eastern and Oriental Christianity is immense. Much of his writing had been considered lost in antiquity, but in some remarkable recent discoveries in the libraries of Mt. Athos new light has been shone upon the Evagrian Corpus. Among the recovered writings is a letter to the monk Eulogios that describes a psychological system of nine passions and their corresponding virtues dating back to the fourth century CE. Their arrangement and description provide remarkable and groundbreaking new insights into the Enneagram. This article explores the new discoveries from Mt. Athos, and for the first time it reveals the nine passions of Evagrius of Pontus. The article then compares the Evagrian system with the modern Enneagram with a view to interpreting the Enneagram in a new and contemporary way.
2008
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The Enneagram of Evagrius of Pontus (PDF)
