Enneagram of the Higher Mind With Russ Hudson

While you may have experienced fleeting moments of these qualities of Higher Mind, the challenge is making them a part of your daily human experience.

This integration is what truly connects you with your essence, your soul, and others — to relate to life from your wholeness — rather than from mental constructs and emotional wounds.

Join Russ for a deep dive into the most under-taught — and least understood — aspect of the Enneagram, the Holy Ideas.

These core Enneagram teachings can help you break through the mental patterns and emotional traps of your personality — so that you can readily access powerful qualities of presence, nondual awareness, and freedom.

Master Enneagram teacher Russ Hudson will be your guide for this 8-part journey in which you’ll:

• Discover, and experience, the liberating Higher Mind qualities of your Enneagram type, as well as the other eight types
• Learn to recognize when you’re trapped by the mind and patterns of your type — you’ll then be free to think clearly, seeing reality in all of its dimensions
• Bring more presence to the habitual patterns of your thoughts and perceptions
• Experience guided practices to help integrate your ordinary mind, Higher Mind, heart, and body — essential for balanced spiritual development
• Discover the original purpose of the Holy Ideas in the Enneagram work — and how they relate to traditional views of Western and Eastern spirituality
• Understand how a quiet mind is the key to moving through and transforming old opinions, difficulties, and suffering into fresh insights and revelation
• Realize how Holy Truth and Holy Love can restore your sense of belonging in the world
• Understand the profound depth of intimacy that emerges whenever you’re able to relax the ego activity of assigning yourself traits and characteristics
• Examine why an inner sense of direct knowing requires a profound receptivity — interest and willingness in equal measure —and helps you make the best decisions
• Understand the concept of Holy Work — transforming your life with a willingness to experience it deeply and fully
• Develop an awareness of your instinctual biases, which is essential to this inner work
• Unlock the enormous implications of this inner work — awakening presence, love and compassion in you and your relationships
• Discover that your inner resources can help you meet the greatest challenges of our time

More About the Enneagram

A powerful tool for personal and collective transformation, the 9-pointed Enneagram symbol represents nine distinct strategies for relating to yourself, others, and the world. Each of these Enneagram types has a different pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting that arises from a deeper inner motivation and worldview.

These types or styles are not who you are, but show you the patterns that tend to dominate your experience.

The Enneagram illuminates nine ways we leave presence, nine ways we forget who we really are, nine unconscious patterns that can lead us away from all we truly care about — and also nine direct pathways to awakening back to your essential nature.

When you understand it in depth, the Enneagram reveals the inherent strengths or gifts that each type wants to bring to the world.

Each of these nine gifts is truly needed for human beings to evolve, and to create a world in which we can all thrive — personally and collectively.

What You’ll Discover in These 8 Modules
In this 8-part transformational intensive, Russ will guide you through each of the nine Holy Ideas — sharing powerful, type-specific teachings to expedite your spiritual journey. You’ll receive video teachings, training sessions, and experiential practices. Each class builds harmoniously upon the previous ones so that you can fully integrate what you learn into daily life.

Module 1: Higher Mind, Holy Ideas & Breaking Free of Fixations

The capacities and freedoms that tend to arise with the perspectives of Higher Mind are extraordinary — and often life-changing.

How can you live with these mind-opening insights, which can challenge your perceptions of reality, and not just hold the experience as an interesting memory?

This is where the Enneagram can help you, and where the real inner work lies…

The concept of Higher Mind is based on many centuries of people discovering and rediscovering the capacities of a deeper part of human experience than you visit in your ordinary consciousness.

Your ordinary mind and type fixation reduce your world and perceptions. The Holy Ideas, whose qualities you’ll experience through practices Russ will share with you through this training, are the antidote that can open you to more expansive perceptions, and therefore a bigger life.

In this module, you’ll discover:

Deeper layers of your mind that can help you cultivate more clarity and focus
The nature of a fixation and how it works in relation to the passion of each type
The relationship between presence and the capacities of mind
The original purpose of the Holy Ideas in the Enneagram work — and how they relate to traditional views of Western and Eastern spirituality
A quiet mind is the key to moving through and transforming old opinions, difficulties, and suffering into fresh insights and revelation
Module 2: The Living Truth & Benevolent Presence (Types 8 & 9)

In this module, you’ll discover the first two Holy Ideas corresponding with points Eight and Nine. Along the way, you’ll discover more about the fabric of the universe.

You’ll explore point Eight as a window to experiencing “living truth” — which has more to do with your contact with dynamic reality than it does with a particular formula you might see as true.

You’ll discover that the more your mind touches the dynamic field of presence, the more you’ll see reality as a living dance.

In point Nine, you’ll see not only that reality is unity, you’ll discover something kind and holding in the heart of that reality — the direct perception which can give you a sense of hope for human destiny, and an awareness of the presence of love as part of the fundamental fabric of the universe.

You’ll learn about the particular relationship between the fixated view of types 8 and 9, and the expanded perspective of each type’s Holy Idea. You’ll also engage in exercises to explore our own direct experience of these concepts.

In this module, you’ll discover:

How the first two Holy Ideas deal with the difference between perceiving the fundamental unity of reality and the more egoic view which sees the world as composed of separate things
Experiential practices to give you a sense of both the fixation and the liberating “antidote” of Higher Mind for types 8 and 9
Why kinesthetic awareness and body intelligence are crucial for opening up to the more expansive, nondual view of the Holy Ideas
The difference between normal ideas about love and the perspective highlighted by Holy Love, associated with point Nine
The difference between separate categories and perceptions of “truth” — from your personal truth to the perception of the Holy Truth of point Eight
How Holy Truth and Holy Love can restore your sense of belonging in the world
Module 3: Perfection, Presence & Authentic Connection (Types 1 & 2)

When you look beyond your opinions about yourself and the world, what do you see? What happens in your consciousness when you’re not busy reconstituting old views about “how things are”?

The Holy Ideas of points One and Two are partial answers to those questions, and Russ will walk you through their profound wisdom.

As you’ll discover, one of the most fundamental features of ego consciousness is the ongoing tendency to have positions about whatever is happening — and to have agendas about what you believe should be happening.

The fixations of points One and Two highlight these normal tendencies — and also invite you to see what you might discover when you’re able to relax these habits of mind.

These fixations aren’t exactly wrong. They’re simply very limited compared to what your consciousness is capable of…

In this module, you’ll discover:

Why most, if not all, of your positions about reality are defensive, tangled up in your egoic structures and sense of self (point One)
When you stop creating opinions about your experiences, the Holy Idea of Holy Perfection arises (this doesn’t mean everything is perfect, and you’ll see why!)
The structures of relationship the ego is always trying to create, as well as the agendas you unconsciously bring to individuals who are most important to you (this wisdom comes from point Two)
That Holy Freedom releases you from endless ego expectations of yourself and others, allowing each relationship and encounter to be exactly what it is
Experiential practices to give you a sense of both the fixation and the liberating “antidote” of Higher Mind for types 1 and 2
How to recognize patterns of positions and agendas you’re taking on without realizing it
Some of the unrecognized needs that often hide in agendas and opinions
Spontaneous wisdom and more intelligent responses to life’s challenges, when your agenda is relaxed
Ways to work with your relationships to liberate their inherent joy and creativity, and open you to more ongoing nondual experiences of life
Module 4: Natural Flow of Life & Intimacy With the Present Moment (Types 3 & 4)

In this module, you’ll discover just how much your perception of reality changes the sense of who and what you are.

Points Three and Four are about your sense of yourself and your identity — and also help you live in the amazing paradox of being both consciousness AND a particular human being.

In Point Three, ego-consciousness is invested in seeing itself as the “doer” of deeds, and therefore worthy of credit (or blame) for what happens.

Yet, some of your most satisfying moments of life are likely those in which the sense of this “doer” relaxes and you’re simply flowing with whatever you’re doing…

In Point Four, you’ll encounter the ego’s endless search for self, and experience the many ways that you’re likely trying to “be yourself” even when you’re not at all sure what that self is.

Point Four is clearly about the search for your true identity, and the gradual realization that your identity is not something you CAN construct or create…

In this module, you’ll discover:

The profound depth of intimacy that emerges whenever you’re able to relax the ego activity of assigning yourself traits and characteristics
The Holy Idea of Holy Origin, dropping into a total, beautiful, rapturous intimacy where everything you experience is arising out of this depth — equivalent to the Beloved described in the mystical poetry of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam
How relaxing into your own felt sense of presence can open up your perceptions of reality and a more direct experience of who you truly are
Why an open heart is crucial for accessing the Higher Mind
How Holy Origin opens the deeper mysteries of your heart
Points Three and Four are “flip-sides of the same coin,” and both are elements for being a true human being
Profound states beyond your usual range of experience that make you more human and intimate
An experiential practice to give you a sense of both the fixation and the liberating “antidotes” of Higher Mind for Points Three and Four
Module 5: Experience Direct Knowing & Grounded Faith (Types 5 & 6)

It’s one of the basic questions we confront when exploring the nature of mind — and you’ll discover how points Five and Six deal with this question in profound ways.

At some point, you probably learned that knowing something means memorizing facts about it — like how to swim, or what a strawberry tastes like. This may have diminished the importance of real knowing as a necessary part of your spiritual growth.

As you’ll see in this module, the deeper understandings that the Holy Ideas represent always include the heart.

You’ll learn how a growing awareness of your mind can serve as a constant ground of clear presence — always here, and always supporting your journey. In the language of the Holy Ideas, this is Holy Faith, a form of direct knowing that’s likely a complete departure from what you believe…

In this module, you’ll discover:

That Point Five’s concept of direct knowing requires a profound receptivity — interest and willingness in equal measure
How direct knowing helps you make decisions — the quiet depths of your mind are reliable, an ongoing fountain of intuition and knowing
An experiential practice to open you to the deeper qualities of knowing
The amazing ways your Higher Mind can extract knowledge you’ve acquired and synthesize it instantly…
The connection between “mindfulness” and the steady qualities of Higher Mind
That your intuitive knowing has been there for you through your entire life — and now you can better tune into it
Relief from the underlying worry and anxiety of your ordinary mind
Module 6: Awaken to Your Intuitive Mind & Divine Purpose (Type 7)

How can you best deal with suffering and loss in life without escaping from yourself or getting stuck in patterns? It’s one of the biggest questions human beings face.

Russ will guide you to explore the aspects of Higher Mind that relate to point Seven, revealing wisdom about what truly brings humans satisfaction and fulfilment — and what helps you tune into the aspect of direct knowing, enabling you to recognize your best path.

Point Seven reveals a quality of boundless and unconditional positivity that gives you the inner resilience needed to move through challenges.

Like the knowing in points Six and Five, this quality becomes more steady and reliable as you work through your identification with ego patterns and live with greater presence.

This quality first appears as a simple and beautiful appreciation of what is here right now. There’s no need to flee from any experience. Authentic positivity empowers us to meet our difficulties with maximum kindness…

In this module, you’ll discover:

The concept of Holy Work — the work of transforming life by your willingness to experience it deeply and fully
A quality of lightness and positivity that comes naturally to your Higher Mind
The distinct difference between this positivity and trying to control your experiences through “positive thinking”
Experiential practices to give you a sense of both the fixation and the liberating “antidote” of Higher Mind for point Seven
Real freedom has little to do with the ego’s false notion that you should always have more options
That planning for the future can be done from a relaxed and grounded connection with presence
The arising of this Holy Idea can move you naturally toward supporting the liberation of others — without any forcing or inner-critic activity
Module 7: Syncing Up Your Mind, Heart & Body for Spiritual Awakening

Without adequate integration, these nondual levels of perception you’re beginning to master can become vehicles for “Spiritual Bypass” — the tendency to use spiritual states to move away from your humanity and your real life, rather than as a means to embrace them.

The Enneagram provides a number of solutions to help you avoid this pitfall — including the teachings of the centers and the way they work together, either for your liberation or to keep old patterns in place.

Other Enneagram elements, such as the teachings of the Virtues and the Passions, or of the Three Instinctual Drives, can work in tandem with the teachings of the fixations and the Holy Ideas.

The idea is not merely to produce some interesting states, but to shift the ways in which our centers operate individually and with each other…

In this module, you’ll discover:

Fixations actually keep the suffering of the passions in place
That work on the heart center and the body center facilitates the development of Higher Mind
That perceptions of the Holy Ideas render the Virtues more accessible and stable
How to be aware of the overall action of all of your centers working in habitual ways, and how awareness can shift those patterns
Awareness of your instinctual biases, which is essential to this inner work
That all Enneagram teachings are really a map for soul development and spiritual maturation
Module 8: Embody the Gifts of Higher Mind in Your Daily Life

In this final module, you’ll explore with Russ how to customize what you’ve learned and apply it to your inner work, focusing on the areas that have the greatest impact — and on the specific teachings on Higher Mind that will bring you the most growth in your daily life.

This class will include an extended Q&A with Russ, so he can guide you and fellow students to try new tools and methods to support ongoing inner work.

In this module, you’ll discover:

Highlights of your journey so far — and how to apply what you’ve learned to ongoing inner work
Specific ways to help you continue to heal your passion and relax your fixations
That the enormous implications of this inner work awakens more presence, love, and compassion in you and your relationships
That your inner resources can help you meet the greatest challenges of our time
The Enneagram of Higher Mind Bonus Collection
In addition to Russ’ transformative 8-part virtual course, you’ll receive these powerful training sessions with leading visionaries and teachers. These bonus sessions complement the course and promise to take your understanding and practice to an even deeper level.

Nine Types Meditation
Audio Meditation From Russ Hudson and Jessica Dibb

Russ and Jessica Dibb will guide you through this original meditation designed to support and illuminate each type. These meditations will highlight the most important growth areas for your personal journey and help you better understand and relate to others.

Jessica Dibb is founder, spiritual director, and principal teacher of the Inspiration Community School, an integral consciousness school dedicated to promoting personal, relational, and planetary wellness. Over the last 20 years, she has designed and facilitated unique workshops, classes, and ongoing breath-centered trainings that are grounded in a highly integrated model of psychospiritual healing and development to support self-actualization. Her teachings assist people in cultivating consciousness through all stages of life, from conception onward.

Original Ideas Behind the Enneagram
Audio Dialogue With Russ Hudson and Cynthia Bourgeault

Russ and Cynthia Bourgeault share a deep background in the Gurdjieff work, and in the original ideas behind the Enneagram symbol and its teachings. In this audio dialogue, they discuss some of the roots of the system, as well as the centrally important issue of orientation with the material. Cynthia and Russ also look at the triadic logic of the Enneagram, based in what Gurdjieff called “The Law of Three,” to introduce students to some of the dynamic elements of the system that open up its capacity to change lives.

Cynthia Bourgeault is a modern-day mystic, Episcopal priest, writer, and internationally known retreat leader, as well as the founding Director of both The Contemplative Society and the Aspen Wisdom School. She is also the author of seven books: The Meaning of Mary Magdalene, The Wisdom Jesus, Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening, Mystical Hope, The Wisdom Way of Knowing, Chanting the Psalms, and Love is Stronger Than Death.

Living From a Boundless Perspective: An Experiential Journey Through the Holy Ideas
Two Video Teachings From Jessica Dibb

The Holy Ideas cannot be grasped in the usual ways that we understand things, and indeed they are an experience of Mind beyond our usual mental activities. Without an ability to abide in your felt sense, the qualities of Higher Mind remain elusive.

In this bonus recording, Jessica will illuminate deeper realizations and experiences of these perspectives — sharing somatic, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual practices to support your felt-sense of:

Point 1: Holy Perfection
Point 2: Holy Will & Holy Freedom
Point 3: Holy Hope, Harmony & Law
Point 4: Holy Origin
Point 5: Holy Omniscience & Holy Transparency
Point 6: Holy Faith
Point 7: Holy Plan & Holy Wisdom
Point 8: Holy Truth
Point 9: Holy Love

Here’s What You’ll Receive

Eight 90-Minute Recorded Class Sessions With Russ Hudson
Experience a rare opportunity to learn from renowned Enneagram teacher Russ Hudson — from the comfort of your own home. Each class session includes a video teaching and guides you to experience depth teachings and practices to integrate your ordinary mind, Higher Mind, heart, and body for balanced spiritual development.

Eight PDF Transcripts of Class Sessions
In addition to the high-quality videos and MP3 audios, you’ll also receive the entire class transcription in PDF format. You can then review, print, and highlight the most important insights and practices you were given.

Exercises and Questions for Each Lesson
Between class sessions, you’ll have the option of completing related exercises, practicing new tools, and answering questions to accelerate your learning and integrate each lesson.

The Enneagram of Higher Mind Bonus Collection
Nine Types Meditation
Audio Meditation From Russ Hudson and Jessica Dibb
Original Ideas Behind the Enneagram
Audio Dialogue With Russ Hudson and Cynthia Bourgeault
Living From a Boundless Perspective: An Experiential Journey Through the Holy Ideas
Two Video Teachings From Jessica Dibb
An Unprecedented Opportunity to Join The Enneagram of Higher Mind Virtual Training
We feel honored that Russ Hudson has chosen to partner with The Shift Network to offer this exclusive online training. This is a rare opportunity to learn from a renowned Enneagram teacher whose powerful insights and pioneering work are helping us heal and awaken ourselves and our world.

Through this powerful online format, you’ll not only save time and money on workshop costs (plus travel, accommodations, and meals — which would cost thousands of dollars), you’ll be able to benefit from Russ’ incredible teachings and exercises from the comfort of your home — and at your own pace!

If you’re serious about integrating your ordinary mind, Higher Mind, heart, and body for balanced spiritual development, then you owe it to yourself, your loved ones, and our world to take this one-of-a-kind training.

About Russ Hudson

Russ Hudson, the co-founder of The Enneagram Institute, is one of the principal scholars and innovative thinkers in the Enneagram world today. He is also President of Enneagram Personality Types, Inc. Russ has been co-teaching the Enneagram Professional Training Programs since 1991, and is a founding director and former vice president of the International Enneagram Association.

Russ is co-author of The Wisdom of the Enneagram, Personality Types, Understanding the Enneagram, Discovering Your Personality Type, and The Power of the Enneagram. He also assisted Don Riso in writing Enneagram Transformations.

He holds a degree in East Asian Studies from Columbia University in New York, from which he graduated Phi Beta Kappa.