Although recently used as a
personality system, the enneagram is actually an ancient example of
sacred geometry. The enneagram is a nine-poined star. Not in the same fashion as a
pentagram or the
Star of David wherein all the points are connected uniformly, but in a
special pattern to reflect
special things.
Originally brought to the attention of the
western world by
P. D. Ouspensky while he was detailing the teachings of
G. I. Gurdjieff in his book
In Search of the Miraculous, the enneagram is said to contain a huge measure of
universal truth.
Most easily described as a
graphical representation of the union of
The Law of Three and
The Law of Seven(though perhaps not like people
commonly understand them) the enneagram is commonly associated with
esoteric spiritual teachings such as
Sufism and
The Fourth Way.
I suppose it is a personality system too, but that's like saying an
orange is known primarily for having
counties named after it.