Last June, in 2022, I experienced a deep shift of 'waking up' while part of a retreat in California. The Enneagram immersion retreat was led by two well-known Enneagram master teachers, authors and thought leaders, Beatrice Chestnut and Uranio Paes. I experienced deep ah has. Felt a 'waking up' in many ways and areas of my life.

What does that mean, 'waking up'?

Waking up means many things, including becoming more conscious of the inner self, of blocked and hidden patterns. Not everyone wants to wake up and that's ok.

It takes hard work.
It's not a pill for being happy.
It does mean being and feeling more alive, feeling life force.

Waking up often means working with unresolved trauma that's from a direct experience, that's passed along genetically, culturally or socially or that's passed through a family system. I've all of those, as do most humans.

I've been learning about trauma and trauma healing with different teachers and programs over the last four years. And with an Enneagram lens as well. Last week I was in an SE (Somatic Experiencing) practitioner training, based on Peter Levine's work on 'Waking up the Tiger'. That's another incredibly powerful tool, SE, for healing, growth and empowering. The body knows and holds so much information, intelligence, trauma and wisdom. Most of it is held unconsciously in the body.

Next week I'm returning to California for another powerful Enneagram and Inner Work Retreat with Bea and Uranio. I'm excited, and a bit nervous!

This next Enneagram retreat is an Enneagram ‘Psychological Retreat’ on Inner Work. I figure it will be fascinating (my type Five energy loves this learning!) and that my body, heart and head will get nudges, opening and awakenings. Stay tuned for shares and takeaways!

Here's the blog I wrote on last year's retreat, with 8 of my big take aways on Inner Work.

What you choose today impacts your tomorrow. And science shows that choice follows attention. And where your attention goes, your energy goes.

So what’s your energy, attention on now?

Cultivate your inner knowing, self-knowledge to help you navigate, manage and empower your energy, attention and choices. Choose and live more wisely.

The Enneagram Systems is a power tool for this. It's a go-to power tool in my developmental toolbox. This is from direct personal experience, and working with hundreds of people. The Enneagram is a wayfinding map, life changer for me. And my clients.

You are a unique blend of Enneagram Types, energies, instincts and experiences. You’re not just one Type. It's believed we have a dominant Enneagram Type that’s innate, meaning that it’s there at birth. Finding your home base, dominant Enneagram Type is key self-awareness booster. Each Enneagram Type has keys to it. It’s drivers, patterns and growth keys for moving forward, getting unstuck.

Want to find your dominant Enneagram Type? Here’s some suggestions for that…

Hold lightly, question as you journey. Find an experienced and knowledgeable Enneagram guide, coach, mentor.
Don’t just accept results of an Enneagram Report Assessment. Question for resonance. Many tests mistype easily. Has happened to me. I’m certified in the 3 most valid Enneagram Assessments, and tell clients hold lightly.
Enneagram assessments are tools, none 100% valid. Some are good and more valid. Some are not good.

It’s a discovery journey with huge payoffs for you, your life. Good luck!

I’m a growth and Enneagram resource. If desired, connect for a free Discovery Call with me.

Stay connected, sign up for my occasional shares on resources, programs and blogs.

Misty sunrise at BOI’s Hound Dog Hill. By Susan Walters Minker

In Spring of 2021 I could hardly walk, and was in constant pain in my back and legs. Moving and lifting hurt. A loss often opens up new awareness, of things taken for granted. I'd taken for granted walking, moving without pain. That ever happen to you, you take something for granted and then lose it?

Apparently the last straw for my spine, when it said 'enough', was after I'd spent several days moving heavy birch logs. It was during a stressful time. We'd just moved into a new home, and I was pivoting our retreat center business and navigating a team restructure. Life and work stressors were in full bloom. MRI tests showed I had a herniated disc, a shock of new information and helpful. By then I'd spent 2 months getting PT treatments that were actually creating more pain.

I asked my docs, "Can I heal, get my mobility and spine health back?". Their response was, "Don't know. Herniated discs can improve, and normally don't fully heal". Not what I wanted to hear.

So I created a healing plan to regenerate my spine, back and body. I knew from past experience it would need to be a whole body healing if it was to stick... body, heart, head and spirit. And I knew I needed support. So I built a support team of healers, teachers, guides and resources. It worked. I healed well, with time. I'm so grateful.

Along the way, I realized that these are the same steps I've done the last 20 years to cultivate, create, make a decision and/ or grow. My process at a high deck view. Whether for my self development, life, work, purpose discovery, relationships, creative juice, manifesting... and on.

My 4 healing/ cultivating/ growing/ creating steps are:

Build Body Intelligence, Wisdom (pilates, yoga, somatics (body-mind centering) +)
Do the Inner Work - (Awareness & presence, Enneagram, energy management, spiritual journeying +)
Connect with Nature - (nature pauses, plants, stones, wildlife, gardening, mother earth +)
Practice Breath work & Meditation - (cellular regeneration, stress reduction, +)

Woven together, these are alchemy magic. Each key/ step has many options of practices, modalities, maps, wisdoms, healing energy catalysts, indigenous knowledge, etc.

For example, in my work with a coaching client we discovered that salsa dance was more impactful to awaken her body than practices such as yoga. She needed the fire of salsa. For me, pilates, qigong and yoga are key body awareness practices. I find different practices serve different needs.. such as weight lifting is a health and energy booster.

Especially key in my spine healing was pilates. I'd done pilates before, and I searched for a pilates somatics healing master. I found a gem, pilates trainer Megan Bascom. She helped me heal and functionally wake-up certain body-brain connections. And, we laugh a lot as she's witty as heck. I knew from my coaching work that pilates can be an impactful body intelligence practice. For me it was a healing practice too. The pilates and the laughter!

There's magic in weaving these 4 steps together. Which is why I created a workshop on Enneagram and Body Wisdoms (she's studied the Enneagram with me too). It’s Sept. 17, 1-4:30 and co-facilitated by me and Megan. It’s Enneagram, Energy + Body Wisdoms// Map, Move + Mine Your Self. We’ll be nestled in nature and at Bend of Ivy Lodge’s Pavilion. See Below for more info.

Find your medicines, fuels and practices. That's what I've done and help my clients with. Your body wisdom will guide you, as you tune up your inner knowing.

Be the change you'd like to see, right! And put your own oxygen mask on first.
If I can be of service, you'd like to explore something or have a question, let's connectto talk!

With love,
Susan

Retreat workshop Invite. Register Here:

Enneagram, Energy + Body Wisdoms// Map, Move + Mine Your Self.

Join us to explore, engage, map and move!

Workshop: Enneagram, Energy + Body Wisdoms// Map, Move + Mine Your Self
Co-Facilitators: Susan Walters Minker & Megan Bascom
Sunday, Sept. 17, 1 - 4:30pm
At Bend of Ivy Lodge, the Pavilion
A small group experience.

Waking up + The Enneagram. Key, Find your Dominant Type.

4 Keys -> Cultivate, Heal, Grow + Create

Book Now

30 Minute Discovery Call (Free)