The mind has neural pathways that sort for familiar patterns from past experiences to make sense of current experiences. If we are out of touch with our bodies, unconscious of past traumas and adaptive patterning, current reality becomes a filtered experience and we are unable to perceive the environment as it is. Many of us are very removed from the intelligence of our body, since our culture primarily values mental intelligence and, to a lesser degree, emotional intelligence. The Enneagram in the Narrative Tradition is actively integrating somatics with psychological and spiritual wisdom.

 All psychological and spiritual experiences take place in and are perceived by the body. Our ability to make choices to respond beyond our survival strategies is wholly dependent on our ability to be aware of the felt sense of emotions and beliefs held in our body based on past experience. Otherwise, we may gain conceptual understanding – a great first step – but we won’t be able to access automatic patterns held in neural pathways in our brain and body. Without the capacity to be conscious of the felt sense, to feel the feelings and beliefs in our bodies, we stay on automatic. When we are more consciously embodied, we have the capacity to make new choices that will build new neural pathways and allow us to participate in the grand unfolding of the evolution of consciousness.

Our ability to be conscious has evolved over time from the automatic, unconscious survival strategies (fight/flight/freeze, seeking nurture) of our reptilian and mammalian brains. The adaptive patterns necessary for survival are an aspect of how we learn and evolve. These patterns are the foundation of our type structure and have a life-giving function. However, if we seek to integrate our separate physical existence with the spiritual awareness of the Oneness of all things, we can learn to include and move beyond being solely motivated by these automatic strategies. This way we can begin to see reality as it actually is, rather than through our familiar filters of perception. With the expertise of the Enneagram, we can develop greater freedom in how we respond, so new neural pathways will develop that support novel behaviors rather than the brilliant but limiting reactions of our type patterns.