Dani Cooper is a Certified Enneagram Teacher, Coach, and your biggest cheerleader on the road to self-discovery.

She helps individuals, couples, and teams identify the patterns keeping them stuck — and grow beyond them into who they were always meant to be. She’s the author of The Enneagram for Christian Couples (2022), and her life’s work is simple: helping people know themselves, love themselves, and live more freely.

IG: @deepwatersenneagram

website: deepwatersenneagram.com

This week in The Reading Room, we continue our journey through Brené Brown’s Atlas of the Heart by exploring "comparison."

Join our Tuesday night discussion : HERE

As we elevate other topics in ths text, it seems good to sit on this experience for a moment. Drawing from Brown’s research, we examine how comparison shapes our relationships, self-worth, emotional life, and even our sense of the future.

Join us Saturday, June 13th to discuss 369s! : HERE

This episode goes some places!

In this month's Second Saturday gathering, we explored the Enneagram's Affect Groups (sometimes called Harmony Groups), drawing on the work of David Daniels.

The conversation focused on the 2-5-8 triad, often called the Relationists or Rejection Group.

Together we explored questions such as:

• What does it mean to "expect rejection" in relationships?
• How do Twos, Fives, and Eights offer connection through gifts, service, knowledge, protection, and strength?
• Why do these types often maintain a small circle of true vulnerability?
• How do experiences of rejection, betrayal, unmet needs, and emotional exposure shape the way these types connect with others?
• What is the difference between transparency and vulnerability?
• How do our instincts (Self-Preservation, Social, and One-to-One) influence the way we seek connection?
• An idea to hold that may bring clarity to this discussion is this:
• The term "Rejection" refers to the idea that these types unconsciously assume that their ordinary needs may not be welcomed, so they learn to gain connection by offering something rather than simply showing up with their needs. In classic Enneagram language:
• Twos reject their own needs and become needed.
• Fives reject their needs and become self-sufficient.
• Eights reject vulnerability and become strong.

That is somewhat different from the way many people hear the term today. It does not necessarily mean "I expect everyone to reject me." Rather, it points to a developmental stance in which the person concludes:

"My needs won't automatically be met, so I must relate through what I can provide."

This Saturday we'll continue our exploration of relationship patterns through the lens of the 3-6-9 triad.

How do Threes, Sixes, and Nines create connection? How do they seek belonging, support, and security? What happens when attachment, success, harmony, and safety become central to our relationships?

These monthly gatherings typically include around 30 participants and are one of the most engaging ways to move beyond theory and into real conversation.

Saturday

• 8:30 AM Pacific
• 11:30 AM Eastern
• 4:30 PM GMT