Holy Ideas
Introduction
The Holy Ideas and Virtues
Frequently Asked Questions
Comments & Pictures
Bios of Facilitators
Sample Study Questions
Music and Poetry by Type
Links
Frequently Asked Questions


1. What commitment are we asking for?
Each person must commit to participating in an on-line study group and the in-person retreat. During the study phase, participants will be arranged in circles of nine, with one person of each Enneagram type per circle. Each participant will also be part of a point group of three people of the same Enneagram type. Participants will be asked questions to help them focus on various aspects of the Holy Ideas and Virtues in their lives. At least once every three weeks, they will articulate their answers and share their experiences through e-mail with their circle and point group members. During the retreat, participants will engage in narratives in which they will discuss these experiences with the whole group.

2. How will the e-mails work?
Participants will simply share their experiences and observations. They will read other participants' e-mail postings but will not analyze, critique, or provide feedback. They may, however, exchange insights.

3. What topics will we discuss in the e-mails and during the retreat?
The first set of questions in the e-mail process is described in the Sample Study Questions section of this web-site.

4. Can someone participate in the e-mails without participating in the retreat?
No. We are looking for full participation.

5. Can someone participate in the retreat without participating in the e-mails?
No. We are looking for full participation. However, participants in past retreats who have already completed the study process may attend the retreat.

6. How will the e-mails prepare us for the narratives at the retreat?
We learn a great deal from being present with our Holy Ideas and observing ourselves. The study process will stimulate each of us to new insights we will share during the retreat.

7. Is there recommended reading?
Three books that might be helpful are: Facets of Unity by A.H. Almaas, The Spiritual Dimension of the Enneagram by Sandra Maitri, and The Enneagram of Passions and Virtues: Finding the Way Home by Sandra Maitri. These can be obtained at Field's Bookstore in San Francisco (415.673.2027) or through Amazon.com.

8. Will this process follow A. H. Almaas' Diamond Heart approach to the Holy Ideas?
No. The recommended books are the most comprehensive we know on the subject. Our approach will be to observe the Holy Ideas in our lives and discuss what we notice. We will do this on-line and then during the retreat. Our hope is to develop a new body of knowledge and a new understanding of the Holy Ideas as they apply to us. There is no expert in our group. We are all students.

9. What happens if someone is out of the country and can't e-mail for a while?
People will work this out with their circle and point group. For example, they'll send an e-mail update before they leave and check in again upon return. We are all busy and on the go, and this will be a common issue.

10. I would like to be in the same circle with another person who is participating in this process. Can this be arranged?
We will try to accommodate such requests.

11. What if, despite a good-faith commitment, someone gets into the work and finds it to be absolutely not helpful at this time? In other words, what if someone wants to withdraw mid-way?
This is something that the circle of nine would look at. Why isn't the work helpful? What could make it more meaningful? If someone has to drop out early in the process, we will try to fill the spot with another person of the same type so that the circle will have the complete perspective.

12. What if we don't get enough participants or the appropriate mix of participants to form circles of nine and point groups?
We'll keep trying until we get the participation we need. The last time we organized this Holy Ideas study process and retreat, participants who signed up helped us find the people we needed. Our intention is to create three circles of nine.

13. I assume providing e-mail responses to questions will be sandwiched between work and other life activities. It's all "food for self observation" so I expect everyone will have the same considerations - right?
Yes.

14. Will the exchanges with other participants be confidential? Will responses ever be published? Will the retreat be videotaped?
Nothing exchanged in the e-mails will be published. Participants will commit to confidentiality, as in all narrative-tradition experiences. The retreat will not be videotaped.