How the Eclipse Shined Light on My Shadow.

A once-in-a-lifetime event happened in our little town - a total solar eclipse. This is the perfect opportunity for this type Five to shine her light.

Waiting for the magic to happen.

Weeks ago, I had planned for my snow tires to be swapped to summers at my car dealership in Burlington. on the Friday before the eclipse. Hmm…Do you think people will be coming up for the weekend that day? What will traffic be like on our two-lane highway into town that afternoon? A quick look at the grocery store parking lot as I drove past en route to my tire swap and it looked like locals were already getting prepared. I will stop in (with my list in hand) and bust out groceries to meal-prep for the weekend. Time management.

Saturday morning, hours spent in the kitchen (Type Fives love their “me” time even if it is for the collective good) local law enforcement cautions locals to stay off the roads (even canceling school on Monday). You don’t have to ask me twice. Stay home? I’m on it!

You see, Type Fives rely almost completely on their thoughts and devising ways to conserve resources. All of this eclipse prep was the perfect scenario to shine my light - shopping before the crowds, staying home, prepping meals, But is that really shining my light, or is it shining light on my shadow? I would say with all of that resource conservation, shadow work is definitely playing out. Did someone say Avarice?

In Chris Heuertz’s book The Enneagram of Belonging, he graciously assigns type-specific loving-kindness mantras to help us manage our Shadows and Saboteurs. I recite them daily (especially when the night-time thoughts creep in) and these phrases have helped me incredibly.

May I be here now.

The view from our spot - Totality.

May I say Yes to the silence.

May I let go.

May I have Faith (I’ve added this one specifically for me to be more open to the Universe’s energy and guidance.)

As my mantra played in my head, tick, tick, tick so did the countdown to totality. I thought about how lucky I was to be experiencing this with Ernie and Brock. This would most likely be something we never experience together again. So be here now, Julie. Say yes to the Silence. Let go. Have Faith.

Preparation for the eclipse brought out the Avarice in me, but when it was time to experience it, my shadow stayed away. The work is a daily thing. And I’m ok with that. When I needed to shine my light and get deeply present, I did and experienced something I will never forget.

Remember, my Enneagram Typing Sessions are FREE. As I explained to a group of women earlier this week - YOU ARE NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF ME - typing helps me build my business! So please, if you haven’t been typed, sign up!



This week’s blog is about two of the Enneagram triads. These are very useful triads as they have to do with conflict style and how we interact with others to meet our needs. If you haven’t been typed, maybe reflect on your style and you might be able to discern your type.

What Ninja and Ivy are teaching me.

I have two cats. They are siblings. One is a black cat (the one pictured) named Ninja and the other, a calico, named Ivy. The other morning, I glanced over from my Peloton and noticed how Ninja was waiting for his next meal. I got lazy a few months back and purchased an automatic feeder. He waits in his Docker’s box at the edge of the dining room table and stares at the automatic feeder. I’m fairly confident he doesn’t tell time because if he did, he would realize he has a minimum of two hours before his next meal. Ivy, on the other hand, goes about her business which only involves some form of sleeping (on a bunk bed, on my side of the bed, in my husband’s clothes he has left on the bed). She couldn't care less when the next meal was going to happen. Ninja is future-oriented. Ivy is present-oriented. I’m not confident an animal can be past-oriented, but I definitely am. This only came from giving some thought to my thoughts. All humans fall into these three categories with past, present, or future orientations. I didn’t know a cat could be future-oriented. I thought all animals were just deeply present. That is why it is so comforting to spend time with them. They are here, now. However, Ninja taught me something I should have known all along - he lives to eat no matter when that might be. That might be why he isn’t the most snuggly of types. He doesn’t want to waste time being with me, he’d rather be contemplating and preparing for when the food drops into his bowl. He is mission-oriented no matter the time of day. If he had an Enneagram type it would be either a 3, 7, or 8! They are doers, planners, and wondering “what’s next?”.

In the Enneagram world, there are three types of stances (Hornevian stances) which are the ways we approach life and get what we need: Compliant (Types 1, 2, and 6) Assertive (Types 3, 7, and 8), and Withdrawn (4, 5 and 9). Ivy is compliant - she lives in the present and is much more affectionate than Ninja. Ninja is assertive - he lives in the future and is mission-oriented (“When is the next time I eat?”), and I am withdrawn - where I focus on the past (observing the world and trying to figure things out). Knowing this about yourself doesn’t excuse you from these types of behaviors (I’m pretty sure, I can’t convince Ninja to change his ways), rather this knowledge opens our minds to other possibilities. You see, many of us are going through life without giving much thought to the why behind our actions. Understanding your Enneagram type will shed some light on this (among many other things) including your Hornevian Stance.

If you have already been typed and would like to meet again for a 15-minute follow-up to clarify your typing (I’m getting better at this!) OR you would like to schedule a FREE typing session, I would love to see you! Schedule those opportunities now: 15-minute follow-up or FREE Enneagram typing.

Back to Social Media and .....

it is rough! I struggle with providing information and making it fun to look at. Follow me on this journey if you are so inclined ( here is my Instagram handle) as I try to incorporate my love (and lack of skill) for watercolors into my Enneagram teachings. So during the week, especially for the next several, I will take you on each of the Enneagram type’s Path to Wholeness Journey - very simplified. This past week was Type One. I share the journey in my blog which is a summary of my Instagram posts (plus some more details).

Also, remember, I am offering Accountability Coaching. If those New Year’s Resolutions are starting to slip, this is a great way to get back on track and stay on track. You can check out that offering here.


Finally, if you haven’t been typed, you are missing out! Check out my FREE Enneagram Typing Session. Even if you can’t continue coaching with me, I would love to help you get typed. It is such a powerful personal growth tool, one you need to be ready for. But if you are ready, your life will never be the same and you will shortcut your spiritual path with an understanding about the Universe unlike never before. While I have plenty of continued coaching options, there is lots of Enneagram information out there for you DIYers. Happy to help you on your journey so please take me up on this. If you can’t or don’t want to (or better yet, already have), please forward this offer to anyone who might be interested. I really do love helping people find their type.