Russ Hudson – Intergrating Your Instincts Through the Enneagram

In this module, you’ll start to recognize in yourself and others the three instinctual drives — and how they manifest in beliefs and behaviors.

In a sense, almost all coaching is about balancing our instinctual drives more skillfully. The instincts are also more important than type in determining the success or failure of our personal relationships. They help us zero in on the “non-negotiables” that we may not initially recognize as our deepest needs in relationships, including our biological needs.

You’ll discover:

• How each instinct is a beautiful expression of nature’s intelligence, as well as fuel for your spiritual development
• The different aspects of the Belly Center, which are keys to living fully
• How each instinct gives clues about our primary needs in relationships
• The ways Enneagram type mixes with and sometimes distorts our instinctual drives
• How each of us unconsciously prioritizes the instincts, creating imbalances in our lives
• Practices for neglected instincts
• How balancing the instincts “quickens” spiritual breakthroughs
• The “zones” of each instinct, and when there are 3 instincts operating in us
• More energy and willingness to break free of personality patterns
• How to recognize the true power of balancing your instincts — for not only personal but collective transformation

The Self-preservation instinct is an enormous driver in your day-to-day behaviors. You wil discover different ways this instinct shows up in modern life, and develop tools to recognize the ways it manifests to your benefit or detriment in your work, habits, and relationships.

You’ll discover:

• Self-preservation is the fundamental driver behind all of the instincts
• How our Sexual and Social instincts are variations of the Self-preservation instinct
• How we successfully or unsuccessfully manage our personal energy and resources, and how this influences development
• The crucial distinction between comfort and development — and practices for enrolling the parts of ourselves that fear change
• The Zone of Health and Wellbeing (authentic self-care)
• The Zone of Practical Wisdom (finances, maintenance, etc.)
• The Zone of Domesticity (cultivating a home)
• How to honor your Self-preservation instinct in your relationships

In this experiential module, Russ will guide you to look at your relationship with the Self-preservation instinct. You’ll bring more balance to this part of your life through meditation and practices. A deeper awareness of the energy of this instinct will help you identify the unique aspects of your inner work with the Self-preservation instinct.

In this module, you’ll learn about the Sexual (or attraction) instinct. You’ll start to recognize your capacities and challenges around following your passions and creative impulses.

You’ll distinguish this vital energy from heart-based qualities such as intimacy and affection — and begin to note the different ways this instinct shows up in your work, habits, and relationships, including where this instinct is working well for you and where it’s subject to distortions.

You’ll discover:

• How this energy is found in many human activities and goes far beyond just the sexual act — and how it’s part of the energy that gets us out of our ruts and routines
• How it’s distinct from intimacy or love, but is highly relevant in intimate relationships
• How it’s truly a vital and necessary instinct and not a heart matter
• How it’s central to excitement and creative impulses, and how it brings passion and energy to our activities
• Why it’s such an important topic due to its “shadowy” status in many societies… how do we talk about it honestly?
• The Zone of Arousal — being energized, “turned on,” passion
• The Zone of Attracting — being attracted, charisma, and magnetism
• The Zone of Fusion — and merging/focusing energy and attention
• How the Sexual instinct plays out in our relationships
• What happens when we neglect this instinct?

In the long run, assigning your dominant instinct will not be as helpful as discovering how you navigate each of these three drives.

In this experiential module, you’ll explore your relationship with the Sexual instinct, and bring compassion and awareness to the ways you may have been shamed or wounded around this vital life force. You’ll develop a felt sense of the Sexual instinct — and begin to cultivate and balance this creative drive. This energy is particularly important for advanced stages of meditation and spiritual development.

In this module, you’ll learn about the Social instinct — the basis for human relationship and connection. You’ll discover how this instinct shows up in modern life in ways that are integral to your capacity for connection, communication, and cooperation — and you’ll develop tools for seeing the particular ways it manifests in your own work, habits, and relationships. You’ll come to recognize where this instinct is working well for you, and where it’s subject to distortions. You’ll learn tools and practices for cultivating your social intelligence.

You’ll discover:

• How the Social instinct is not just about “socializing,” but the basis of all human society
• How this instinct evolved originally as a need to protect others, particularly in the role of parenting
• How this instinct is fundamentally about our awareness of the other: your survival is my survival; we need each other
• How this instinct is the basis of altruism, but can also be the basis of exclusion and hostility to other groups
• The Zone of Reading Others — interpreting feelings and body language
• The Zone of Building and Maintaining Our Connections
• The Zone of Participation and Contribution; and how a life can wither when we feel that our contributions don’t matter
• How the Social instinct plays out in our relationships — and why we must honor it

In this class, you’ll explore the experiential, energetic aspects of the instincts. In some ways, the Social instinct is quite easy to notice once you know what you’re looking for. But it’s also more subtle as an inner experience and requires a sensitive focus. Russ will guide you to explore the sense of being well-grounded in yourself as you relate to others — seeing beyond your programming and historic psychological patterns to find your most real and authentic connection in the moment. You’ll expand your sense of the Social instinct and explore your meaningful participation in the world.

The instincts (or subtypes) are one of the most talked-about elements of the Enneagram work these days, but also one of the areas of heated controversy. In fact, while there are differences in presentations from major teachers in the field, there are also many areas of overlap and agreement.

In Modules 8 and 9, Russ and his esteemed colleagues will take you to the frontlines of instinct studies. You’ll join Russ in conversation with noted Enneagram Teachers Beatrice Chestnut, Mario Sikora, Katherine Chernick Fauvre, and John Luckovich. In separate one-on-one chats, each teacher will share their unique perspective on the instincts and how they help people work with them.

You’ll discover:

• The latest teachings on the subtypes and instincts — how they differ and overlap
• A way to integrate these different perspectives on the instincts into your spiritual path
• Deeper insights into the ways your subtype plays out through your instincts and personality pattern
• An evolutionary context for viewing and working with the instincts to heal and rebalance destructive energies in the collective

This module continues the 2-part series of scintillating dialogues around the latest teachings on the instincts and subtypes. Immerse yourself in these diverse perspectives, which will enrich your inner work with the instincts.

You’ve recognized the instincts both as a beautiful expression of human nature — and the primary way you can squander your vital energy and become fearfully preoccupied with matters that are counterproductive at best and destructive at worst.

In this final class with Russ, you’ll see how difficult it is to make meaningful changes when you’re operating in ways that feel necessary for your survival — even when they are endangering it. And as you consider the bigger picture, you may see how these instinctual imbalances are collectively endangering our very civilization.

Your inner work with the instincts is globally significant.

Without it, deeply ingrained instinctual biases will keep pulling each of us back to our old habits.

As we work through the challenges associated with the instinctual drives, we free up energy and a greater willingness to break free from egoic patterns. We become present to do what life asks of us — and take our place in a larger journey of collective transformation.

You’ll discover:

• An appreciation of your growing awareness of your primal drives — and how they influence your health, emotions, spiritual life, and relationships
• The global significance of your work with the instincts
• More energy and willingness to break free of personality patterns
• Recognize the true power of balancing your instincts — for not only personal but collective transformation