Nuances of Type and Subtype
From Surviving to Thriving
A contemplative, metaphoric exploration into our instinctual drives and how they impact the soul’s thriving.
Man was composed of two natures, the animal or lower self and the spiritual or higher self, and this is because the former is necessary to the development of the latter.
— The Zohar
For practitioners, guides, and sincere seekers ready to enter the Enneagram as a lived path of transformation.
Module 2 of 5 — Contemplative Enneagram Practitioner Certification
This module is part of the Contemplative Enneagram Practitioner Certification (CEP) training and certification program, while also standing fully on its own as a complete and transformative experience.
About this Module
Our instinctual drivers are often seen as primitive and as driving our basic survival needs. However, we will explore our instincts as foundations for our thriving–our shared flourishing–our ability to embody our divine potential. By learning what instinctual priorities we default to, we can begin to free ourselves from their sense of urgency and make freer, more conscious choices that support our desire for spiritual connection and communion with Ultimate Reality.
What you will learn
In Module 2, you will
- Learn about our instinctual drives–their aims and energies–and the instinctual needs they are trying to get met. Discover the alchemy that occurs between our instinctual drives and the passions and mental fixations of our Enneagram personality types.
- Gain an overview of some of the main yet differing views in circulation today on the role of the instincts in Enneagram inner development.
- Explore how instinctual priorities (sometimes called our instinctual stack, sequence, or patterns-of-expression) can impact our relationship to our spirituality, including our relationship to the Divine, and how we relate to spiritual community, companionship, and our contemplative and other spiritual practices.
Two Ways to Participate
The self-study option includes full access to last year’s recorded Module 2, allowing you to move at your own pace and engage the material in your own rhythm. The full recorded content is approximately 17 hours and counts toward IEA professional accreditation points.
The live cohort offers a shared, facilitated experience with real-time participation and the depth of learning that unfolds in community.
Please note: If you enroll in the self-study and later choose to join the live Module 2, the Spiritual Explorers (SE) path, or the full Contemplative Enneagram Practitioner (CEP) yearlong certification,your self-study tuition will be fully applied toward the cost of the SE or CEP paths. Note that Rev. Nhien plans to make slight changes to this year’s Module 2 so you’ll be getting slightly new information.
Access to Recordings
These recordings will remain available for your continued reflection and integration—accessible indefinitely, and for at least one full calendar year from the time of purchase or your live session, whichever is longer.
If you begin with the self-study and later join the live training, you will retain access to both sets of recordings, supporting an ongoing relationship with the material over time.
Accreditation, Certificate of Completion, and/or Certification:
For those intending to complete the full Contemplative Enneagram Practitioner Training & Certification (CEP), it is recommended that Module 2 be taken live. An asynchronous option is available for those unable to attend in real time.
The self-study pathway includes:
- Completion of all course recordings at your own pace
- One required 90-minute private training session with Rev. Nhien (offered at a discounted rate of $325)
IEA Accreditation Points
- Live participation: 22 professional accreditation hours (24 total hours minus lunch break)
- Self-study: 17 hours, plus 1.5 additional hours upon completion of the required private session
Certificate of Completion
Participants who complete this module, either live or asynchronously, may request a Certificate of Completion. This is distinct from full certification as a Contemplative Enneagram Practitioner, which requires completion of the full CEP program.
To request your certificate, please email: revnhien@evolvingenneagram.com
Program Investment
$400
Nuances of Type and Subtype from Surviving to Thriving
Module 2 of 5 — CEP Program
✔ 17 hours of recorded teachings
✔ Unlimited access for a minimum of one year
✔ This is a foundational module for the 5-module Contemplative Enneagram Practitioner certification pathway
✔ Purchase price is fully credited to the SE path or CEP yearlong program
Considering the Spiritual Explorers or the Certified Practitioner Path?
For those feeling called to continue more deeply into contemplative formation, the Spiritual Explorers Path includes both Modules 1 & 2 and serves as the opening gateway into the full CEP Training & Certification Path.
Registration for the 2026-2027 cohort opens soon.
Subscribe to our e-newsletter to be notified as soon as registration opens and receive a substantial Early Bird discount code.
Facilitator Bio
This program is guided by Rev. Nhien Vuong.
Rev. Nhien is the founder of Evolving Enneagram and a contemplative teacher, spiritual director, and international presenter. Her work integrates the Enneagram with contemplative practice, guiding individuals and communities into deeper presence, wholeness, and compassionate awareness.
She has been studying the Enneagram since 2002 and teaching it since 2006. She is a Certified Somatic Enneagram™ practitioner and a Certified Awareness to Action Enneagram Professional, and is among fewer than 30 practitioners worldwide accredited by the International Enneagram Association (IEA) with Distinction.
Full Bio →
