Enneagram and the Court Cards

[David100351]

Quite a bit has been written, here and elsewhere, about aligning the Jungian/Myers-Briggs personality types to the difficult-to-remember- and wildly divergent meanings given to many of the court cards.

A problem I have with the Myers Briggs system is that I find it difficult to come to a quick assessment of someone's myers-briggs type without a quiz (and I am classified as INFJ so if I find it difficult most would find it impossible). And of course informing the querent about the figures they might expect to appear in their inner and outer lives is also difficult.

The enneagram is much more accessible: the nine personality types are very recognisable, and even share some recognisable physical characteristics like habitual ways of dressing, body language, etc which make identifying and describing types much easier for me (an e6)!

There would be two main disadvantages IMO to such a system:
Firstly, you would want a multiple of nine cards to be used. However I figure that, allowing for active and passive (M and F) versions of each type, you could use 18 enneagram cards to replace the current 16 court cards and give a really workable system, without increaing the choice too much. I would also consider using greater and lesser degrees of development of each type, which would add a further 18 cards - too much of a handful for some- but one could follow the King/Queen/Prince/Princess idea through that way.

Secondly, and more serious, there is no numerological basis, or elemental basis, for integrating the cards as court cards. However, if we divorced the court card section from the suits completely, then we would end up with another series of numbered cards like the Major Arcana, but as a sort of Middle Arcana. Then, we could keep the numerologically valid enneagram system and even align it to the tree of life Sephiroth (where 1 and 10 would represent personality distortions of Malkuth).

Basically the court card meanings have always driven me mad, and I've been trying to find a straightforward way to sort it out in my head. Also, I find the enneagram a great system for encouraging self-development and empathy in my clients and myself, and would wish to publicise it as much as possible.

I guess I'll end up junking the court cards of my current favourite mystic tarot and substituting cards along these lines, and see how it goes. Or does anyone have a better idea? - it shouldn't be hard!

[Disa]

I haven't retained much of the info I have read on enneagrams, but I do recall when I was studying them (a few years ago) it did remind me a bit of trying to sort out the courts. You may be on to something, and I think if you have a wide enough knowledge of them to apply it to the courts and that works for you then by all means do it.

The court cards are hard to learn. Many people have trouble with it. I think the info in the Druidcraft book helped me the most. Also, if you can look at the characteristics of the court cards and apply them to someone you know in your every day life, that might help, as well.

I'll be interested to see what you come up with in the court card/enneagram connection. I always found it fascinating and meant to go back to studying them a little more, but just have really not had the time. It's such a complex system and I have too many other things I'm trying to learn. Good luck with it.

[David100351]

Originally Posted by Disa

I'll be interested to see what you come up with in the court card/enneagram connection.

Thanks, Disa.

I haven't got much further than Tom Cruise being (and playing) an e3, and Steven Segal as an e8. Abbie from NCIS would be an e2, and Tim/Newbie an e5. There are quite a few ideas on the enneagramcentral website, but I'm looking perhaps for some more lasting imagery.

These aren't really enneagram/court card connections, though. Work in progress.

[Alta]

Like Disa, I spent quite a while with these but it was a number of years ago now. I sort of recall that you were not a completely one value or another, that you had a main number and then one or two 'wing' numbers. I may have gotten that confused.

It might work if you use the Crowley Thoth system for the courts. You might be able to work out both the enneagram number and a 'wing' for each court. Worth trying.

[David100351]

Originally Posted by Alta

It might work if you use the Crowley Thoth system for the courts. You might be able to work out both the enneagram number and a 'wing' for each court. Worth trying.

Hi Alta,
yes, and I've had a go at doing that with the Mythic as well. However, I kind of agree with the person who said that Crowley's family were a bit dysfunctional.

There are holes in the existing descriptions of the courts, IMO. Someone of my wife's personality type might operate without the Tarot warning of her presence!

That being said, the main difficulty with adapting the courts is that there are enneagram types that would be left out. If wings were used, then you would need 27 cards. However I think that it would be enough to indicate the pure type on the cards, and perhaps indicate either more or less evolved/mature, or active passive, or both.

[rwcarter]

Originally Posted by David100351

If wings were used, then you would need 27 cards. However I think that it would be enough to indicate the pure type on the cards, and perhaps indicate either more or less evolved/mature, or active passive, or both.

Art Rosengarten's Tarot of the Nine Paths has 27 Majors. Don't know if they correspond to Enneagrams though.

[David100351]

Originally Posted by rwcarter

Art Rosengarten's Tarot of the Nine Paths has 27 Majors. Don't know if they correspond to Enneagrams though.

No they don't. However, thank you fro drawing my attention to this deck. Apart from the advantages of having a 27 card deck as opposed to a 78, he has an interesting approach based on sound spiritual principles.

[David100351]

I have actually come to some kind of an answer based on what is already provided in the Tarot. Like all interesting solutions, I am wondering why it wasn't self-evident earlier.

Of course, asking for sets of cards numbered from one to nine to match with the enneagram type is completely unnecessary, when one remembers that there are four, and arguably five, sets of numbered cards in the Tarot deck already. Those positions in a spread that apply to other people, relationships, can be illuminated by considering the numerical card chosen in that place, if it occurs.

Further detail about the person might be hinted at by the suit. An enneagram type 3 personality is an Achiever/Performer.
So, 3 of cups would be an out and out performer, requiring lots of appreciation. 3 of swords might be someone who needs to be applauded for achievement at exams, or science. 3 of discs could hint at someone who needs to be appreciated as a successful athlete or moneymaker, and 3 of wands could be someone who needs praise for inventions, patents, original ideas. The shadow side of the 3 is also given by the enneagram: an easy liar who can take credit for other's work; shortcut's taken which require others to clear up later after the 3 has moved on; the debts run up to present the patina/persona of success.

The tens will reduce to 1, as per standard numerology rules.

This way one can use the court cards as well! I don't think it is useful to use the majors as part of the typing system: the standard images don't fit, for one thing, and which numbers would you use? - The Hebrew with the Fool is Aleph, which counts as One, but is numbered zero in most systems (and rarely if ever 1).

So this idea adds an extra layer of detail where numerical cards occur in positions that suggest a person might be represented. The enneagram is an easy system of personality typing which any psychologically minded person can get to grips with in a weekend, and use to real benefit in relationships with family, friends, and in business. And with oneself!

Comments eagerly awaited.

[rwcarter]

I've seen a French book on eBay that links the Enneagram to tarot, but of course now that I'm looking for it, I can't find it.

I understand how one might associate the pips with the 9 personality types based on the actual number with the suit providing extra focus. But I'm not understanding how one would associate the courts to the Enneagrams.

[David100351]

Originally Posted by rwcarter

I've seen a French book on eBay that links the Enneagram to tarot, but of course now that I'm looking for it, I can't find it.

if it's the same one I bought that attempts to link the enneagram points to the Sephiroth of the Kaballah while completely ignoring the numerological correspondences on which both systems are based, then I'm glad you didn't waste your time and money like I did.

Originally Posted by rwcarter

I understand how one might associate the pips with the 9 personality types based on the actual number with the suit providing extra focus. But I'm not understanding how one would associate the courts to the Enneagrams.

Just so. Me neither. I think the solution I have come up with, which is use the pip counts of the numerical cards, and also keep the court carts for when Crowley's dysfunctional family want to turn up 8) , is the best solution.

Unless one of you out there knows different.....