This is an enneagram. I used to think that this was some sort of Satanic pentogram so never took any interest in it. Students and colleagues mentioned them but my mind was turned off and nothing ever registered. Anyone who began to talk about it would only prompt me to inwardly say, "Oh, that" and I'd shut my mind.

Last week one of my students who happens to be a Protestant chaplain in a psychiatric hospital, gave a classroom presentation about how he uses the enneagram in his work. This time I listened and learned something.

The enneagram comes from the time of Pythagoras. It was believed that Sufis used the principles of the diagram to tell people cryptically what kind of idiot they were--something that most of us don't need help with! But there is historical evidence that this symbol was used in South America and was passed along to Claudio Naranjo, who was instrumental in making it popular in recent years. It does in fact, come from mystical components of Judiasm, Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, and Islam. Christians have recognized the seven deadly sins in seven of the points, and have added two more. These seven deadly sins correspond in some way to the strengths and weaknesses associated with personality characteristics. If you have ever taken the Myers-Briggs Temperament Inventory (MBTI), you will quickly see that the findings of this instrument help describe your personal tendencies.

You can read more about the enneagram here. But you might also wish to take a simple, free test here. It's rather fun and interesting. I have taken the test twice and have had minor changes with each result. The test site recommends that you take the test several times and take an average of your results, or see if they change over time.

What do you come out as?

I am Helpful (86%)

Calm (74%)

Perfectionistic (62%)

If you want to know what this means, take the test yourself!