Community Retreat Day
In-Person & Open to Experienced Students
Saturday May 16th 2026 9:30a-5:30p
Southeast Portland
Southeast Portland
All 9 Types Exploring
How We And Others Experience Our Highest Values and Ethics
- How do you experience your own primary values, natural gifts and higher states?
- How do you convey this to others, consciously or unconsciously?
- Is the Enneagram accurately describing higher experiences of yourself?
- How do others experience and describe your higher ways of being? Does it match your own experience?
- How might others better find these values and qualities in themselves and others?
"Of course, no Enneagram style 'owns' a particular value or values. Although we may be unconsciously motivated by our type values, there is room for discovery of common ground in the diversity of their expression. I wonder about folks not even knowing about their high sides! Do Threes realize the impact of their natural ability to support and encourage others, or is that a part of their automatic? Don't we all benefit from slowing down to look at what we have and who we are, in our own view and in the views of others? Looking forward to another exploration of what good comes naturally to us all."
Facilitator: Deb Lyman, LCSW Type 6
What might we find in exploring our primary values and what our natural good is?
What do we have to learn from one another?
Rather than "fitting in" to written Enneagram type schemas, we'll examine and listen to our own lived experiences first.
Maybe the enneagram map points to the general territory. Is it pointing to something we can know even more about directly with others?
We will listen for, but certainly not limit ourselves to, these foci from literature on the types...
What do we have to learn from one another?
Rather than "fitting in" to written Enneagram type schemas, we'll examine and listen to our own lived experiences first.
Maybe the enneagram map points to the general territory. Is it pointing to something we can know even more about directly with others?
We will listen for, but certainly not limit ourselves to, these foci from literature on the types...
Love, Relating with Others, Shared Humanity
Effectively Raising People Up, Authenticity
Depth, Beauty, Equanimity
Knowing, Wisdom, Omniscience
Loyalty, Courage, Advocacy
Joy, Freedom, Potential
Innocence, Strength, Passion
Interconnection, Harmony, Will
Being of Use, Integrity, Serenity
This retreat day assumes a solid familiarity with the system, and we are reserving 4 seats for each type to be represented in the day's workshop. Expect self-reflections with inquiries such as described above, and dyads/triads/small groups and panels of shared-type participants exploring their own worldviews on the natural high-qualities states for everyone's experience and benefit.
"I recently watched an interview with a young man in his 20s who survived one of our country's many school shootings. He has turned to advocacy and public service with an amazing force. When the interviewer said that he was 'brave and courageous', the young man went blank and said he knew of no other response. He was expressing a natural higher state of response that seemed remarkable to another; it was not remarkable in his experience of himself.
We tell 4s that they are amazing for being able to process their own and others' losses and grief, or we tell 2s that they have a broader capacity to be personally loving. I suspect they go a little blank because they are engaging in a state that actually comes naturally to them. Ask an 8 about being strong and they will tell you that there are no words for it, and that everyone has strengths. Ask a 1 about being useful to the greater good and they'll ask: "Well, shouldn't everybody?" Might it be that when I tell a 6 that they 'went to bat for the underdog' that they don't see it as courageous, but just what comes naturally? We might often be blind to something wonderful about us. And might this exploration teach us values that do not arise first in ourselves, but to which we have better access than we already know?
Deb and I are interested in hearing your language for what you know as your core ethics, your higher values... and we are curious if we all tap into the experience in some way: differently or in different measure? Might there be core values that some of us access more easily, or access only in certain situations, or some that we are possibly averse to? And are there ways to expand our experience? Good God: Put the facebook posts, books, graphs and young evangelical podcasts away. Live and local people of each type sharing is the way to explore what is our natural Goodness."
Facilitator: Dale Rhodes, M.S., M.A. Type 4
We tell 4s that they are amazing for being able to process their own and others' losses and grief, or we tell 2s that they have a broader capacity to be personally loving. I suspect they go a little blank because they are engaging in a state that actually comes naturally to them. Ask an 8 about being strong and they will tell you that there are no words for it, and that everyone has strengths. Ask a 1 about being useful to the greater good and they'll ask: "Well, shouldn't everybody?" Might it be that when I tell a 6 that they 'went to bat for the underdog' that they don't see it as courageous, but just what comes naturally? We might often be blind to something wonderful about us. And might this exploration teach us values that do not arise first in ourselves, but to which we have better access than we already know?
Deb and I are interested in hearing your language for what you know as your core ethics, your higher values... and we are curious if we all tap into the experience in some way: differently or in different measure? Might there be core values that some of us access more easily, or access only in certain situations, or some that we are possibly averse to? And are there ways to expand our experience? Good God: Put the facebook posts, books, graphs and young evangelical podcasts away. Live and local people of each type sharing is the way to explore what is our natural Goodness."
Facilitator: Dale Rhodes, M.S., M.A. Type 4
Summons
Keep me from going to sleep too soon
Or if I go to sleep too soon
Come wake me up. Come any hour
Of night. Come whistling up the road.
Stomp on the porch. Bang on the door.
Make me get out of bed and come
And let you in and light a light.
Tell me the northern lights are on
And make me look. Or tell me clouds
Are doing something to the moon
They never did before, and show me.
See that I see. Talk to me till
I’m half as wide awake as you
And start to dress wondering why
I ever went to bed at all.
Tell me the walking is superb.
Not only tell me but persuade me.
You know I’m not too hard persuaded.
- Robert Francis
Keep me from going to sleep too soon
Or if I go to sleep too soon
Come wake me up. Come any hour
Of night. Come whistling up the road.
Stomp on the porch. Bang on the door.
Make me get out of bed and come
And let you in and light a light.
Tell me the northern lights are on
And make me look. Or tell me clouds
Are doing something to the moon
They never did before, and show me.
See that I see. Talk to me till
I’m half as wide awake as you
And start to dress wondering why
I ever went to bed at all.
Tell me the walking is superb.
Not only tell me but persuade me.
You know I’m not too hard persuaded.
- Robert Francis
Friends whether they are in Portland Oregon, Newport Oregon, or in a contemplative study group with Taoism& Enneagram author Bill Schafer in Oaxaca...
Facilitators Deb Lyman, LCSW (6) & Dale Rhodes, M.S., M.A. (4) are certified trainers of The Enneagram who lightly call themselves "Loyal & Royal" or on less-optimal days, "The Viper & The Griper". They love exploring how the map can be used to learn more about the actual territory.
If you talk type, you should be with us!
Hello Deb and Dale, Saturday’s retreat was a 5 star event. The energy in the room sizzled. I so enjoyed how you two handled and directed our group. Because of your “lesson plan,” we as a group of 20 or so felt safe to share our truth. That sharing was incredibly powerful and allowed all of us to make paradigm shifts. I would love another program offered by the two of you. Thank you again, Sandy R ( Unabashed Type 8 )
PLEASE NOTE:
Participants will receive brief reflection questions and handouts prior to the retreat day.
There is no food or coffee allowed in the retreat space, it is a Quaker Meeting Hall.
Lunch is 12:30-2:30 on your own at the plentiful food options nearby, and we encourage you to join with other participants if you like. You will have a few reflection questions to consider at this time.
An optional no-host Thai Dinner follows immediately afterwards nearby. This is always fun community time, so plan to enjoy it with us.
Participants will receive brief reflection questions and handouts prior to the retreat day.
There is no food or coffee allowed in the retreat space, it is a Quaker Meeting Hall.
Lunch is 12:30-2:30 on your own at the plentiful food options nearby, and we encourage you to join with other participants if you like. You will have a few reflection questions to consider at this time.
An optional no-host Thai Dinner follows immediately afterwards nearby. This is always fun community time, so plan to enjoy it with us.