Evolution

One interesting thing to consider about the Enneagram, or any system that maps our internal structures is that by reading about such structures, you immediately start to work on them in yourself. This is part of evolution, because not only do we evolve on a physical level, we also evolve on every other level you can think of. If I am trying to learn a tricky chi gung movement I have to develop my physical awareness, going deeper into my body so I can relax and connect with the natural flow of internal energy- and then practice the move until I can do it - in other words I change. On a physical level we respond to the physical and ona psychological level it is the same. So when I look at a map of psychological development, I start to work on it. Sometimes this is unconscious response, other times it is very conscious and we have an 'aha' moment of understanding. This takes the effort out of growing and developing because we are going to grow and develop whatever happens. Of course, we can fight it or go with it.

I love those 'aha' moments but they are transitory and perhaps not that important- just like all the Zen proverbs that almost dismiss enlightenment when they say something along the lines of, "before I was enlightened I made tea (chopped wood, carried water etc.), after I was enlightened I I made tea (chopped wood, carried water etc.)." In other words, yes I had a 'moment' (or longer) when I was in a different state but I still had to go back to my life and live that.

Which brings me to the latest Ken Wilber book that I am reading on 'Integral Meditation'. I like Ken Wilber, but he is not everyones cup of tea. This is where the other Enneagram 5s get excited because it is a great description of psychological development (he calls this 'Growing Up) and accessing different states of consciousness ('Waking Up'). It is so clear how he describes it and I love it! It does not mean I dont have lots to learn in both areas but it orients me towards my development in both these spectrums. The Taoist have a great question: 'Are you moving towards life or towards death'. So we are all dying but our natural evolution leads us towards being more alive, more aware, more connected, more everything! Now that's my cup of tea, and meditation (and chi gung) are 2 practices that help me. 
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