An Invitation to Add New "Sorts"

We invite users of The Enneagram Cards to be creative and to suggest new ways of their own for sorting and using the Cards.

If you write a new Sort, play it many times over several weeks to see how well it works and to fine-tune it. Write the instructions in a length and style similar to those in the TEC Booklet and on this page. Keep the instructions as short and clear as possible.

If your Sort is selected for publication here, The Enneagram Institute reserves the right to edit it. All submissions become the property of The Enneagram Institute, although the author will be given credit by name on this page. To submit new Sorts and ways of using The Enneagram Cards contact us.

Submissions will be acknowledged (whether accepted or rejected) by email only. The best of these new Sorts and suggestions will be added to this web page with the originator’s name, and a free set of The Enneagram Cards will be sent to you as a "thank you."

Additional Free Enneagram Cards Sorts

1. The Solitaire Sort

Shuffle the 90 Cards thoroughly, then turn over each Card one by one, sorting them into nine different piles (or "solitaire lines" of Cards) according to type. Once all 90 have been sorted in this way, there should, of course, be only 10 cards in each pile. Further, see if you can arrange the 10 Cards in each pile (or solitaire line) according to the Level of each Key Word, from the Level 3 words (healthy) to the average Levels 4, 5, and 6. This exercise will be a good way to learn better which traits go with each type, and to get a better "feel" for the internal gradations within each type which are reflected by the Levels of Development.

2. The Assets and Liabilities Sort

Shuffle the 90 Cards thoroughly, then deal five Cards in front of you. Of the five Cards, choose which one or two you consider to be an asset or positive quality of yours, and choose one or two you consider to be a liability or problem in some way. If none of the five Cards apply to you, then take a "pass," and put the five Cards aside. Re-deal five more Cards, again choosing one or two which you consider an asset and which one or two which are a liability.

Once all 90 Cards have been sorted through in this manner, go through your Assets Cards and see if you still agree with all of them (discard ones you do not) and see which patterns emerge. Then go through your Liabilities Cards and see if you still agree with all of them (discard ones you do not) and see which patterns emerge. Are there any connections between the Cards in both of these stacks? Are there certain times in your life when these Assets or Liabilities have been particularly strong? Do the selected Cards reflect your basic personality type, or some other pattern in the Enneagram?

As a variation of this Sort, you can deal five Cards at a time (as above) but retain those which you feel are assets and liabilities of someone else (who may either be present or absent).

3. Learning About Enneagram Type in a Teaching Environment

When teaching an introductory Enneagram class and introducing a new type to the participants, take out the 10 descriptive Cards for the type the session will be about. Sequence them in order from the highest Level of Development to the lowest Level. (Remember, there are 10 Cards for each type in the set.) Hand out individual Cards in sequence to group participants.

After your own introductory comments about the type, ask the person who has the first Card to read the Key Word and the definition and illustrative sentence on the back of the Card, while the remainder of the class listens. After each Card has been read, you, as the facilitator, can add your own comments and extemporize on the content, add examples, more concepts, answer questions, etc. Continue through all ten Cards. Your comments might also discuss the movement down the Levels while showing the interrelated nature of the traits that comprise each type.

Proceed with the remainder of your teaching on the type. The Enneagram Cards are a good way to "anchor" the discussion and to make sure that the range of traits for each type are adequately covered.

Roxanne Howe-Murphy, Ed.D.
Enneagram coach and teacher
Enneagram Institute of the San Franciso Bay Area

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