What Color is Your Enneagram?

Adult coloring books are all the rage – and why shouldn’t they be? I have fond memories of a 64-color box of Crayolas and pages filled with drawings of Raggedy Ann, just waiting for my creative interpretation. Green sky? Why not!

So, I think it’s a stroke of genius that well-known Enneagram trainer and author Ginger Lapid-Bogda has come out with The Enneagram Coloring Book. Designed by Caren Stumpf, the book provides a basic overview of the nine types, each with a representative drawing that seeks to capture the essence of that Enneagram personality. One’s coloring page is full of straight lines and symmetry, Five’s has compartmentalized boxes and Eight’s contains symbols of strength and conflict.

It’s a short book, so there’s no room for in-depth teaching of the types. But that’s not what it’s for. The book’s subtitle expresses its point well: “A whole new way to understand the Enneagram.” I wouldn’t give this to someone who hadn’t read at least one book about the Enneagram, but otherwise it’s an interesting way to interact with the symbol and its types. In fact, the introduction recommends using the book “to intuitively learn more about the Enneagram emotionally, mentally and kinesthetically.”

I get that, because I had quite a reaction when I turned to the page for Type Six. Lapid-Bogda and Stumpf did a good job of choosing a different font for each type, and the font for the Six really struck me. It’s shaky, like a trembling child. That, along with the symbols of fear and uncertainty on the coloring page, rang true with me based on my interactions with dear Sixes in my life. I almost cried. Over a coloring book!

I’ve also never paid much attention to the shapes within the Enneagram, so this book gives me some new ways to look at and think about the circles and triangles within the symbol itself. There’s another symbol called a hexad, and even it is made up of triangles. This points to the inherent symmetry of the symbol, which appeals to me because as a Seven, I like order.

What I also especially like is that after a brief introduction of each type, there is another run-through of the personalities, each with its own pitch-perfect quote from one of my favorite poets and mystics, Rumi. As someone with a poetry degree (yes, that’s really a thing!), I truly appreciate this touch.

For my Christian readers, don’t be put off that this section speaks of “higher consciousness.” All this means is that you are becoming more aware of your true self and less enslaved by your false self (personality). You have gone up to a higher level of understanding, which has the twin benefits of helping you know God better and giving you an increased ability to actually live out your destiny.

My only beef, and it’s a minor one, is that the pages are smaller than I expected (8 ½ x 8 in.), which makes the drawings essentially too small for crayons. Colored pencils—and perhaps pens—will have to do – but then, maybe that’s what grown-ups use anyway?

I also had been thinking that the designs I’ve seen in other adult coloring books, unified mandala-like patterns, would be used to convey the energy of each type. That’s probably a tall order, though – and I’m not a visual artist. So, Ginger and Caren, maybe there’s the idea for a sequel!

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