Deep Dive Part 1
December 17, 2025
Welcome to this series of Daily Reflections on The Deep Dive.
At the Institute for Conscious Being, teachers Barbara Sloan and Erika Jobes lead an advanced study described as “a deep dive” into the nine energies of the Enneagram. Their Master’s Certification Course builds upon the foundational Scholar’s Certification, guiding students into profound spiritual insight. Those who have taken Barbara’s and Erika’s courses are enthusiastic about the depth of wisdom they encounter. Barbara and Erika not only teach the more intricate principles of the nine energies and the best spiritual practices for each, they give in-depth live interviews to people from each energy.
But what makes a deep dive possible? What are the ingredients that lead to the depths of profound wisdom?
The first is curiosity, without which we would never step into the unknown. Curiosity is the desire to perceive and understand what lies beneath the surface—what must be discovered by noticing, questioning, unveiling, and exploring.
I once stayed at a bed and breakfast in England where guests chatted each morning about the sights they planned to see that day. One seasoned traveler said, “My greatest pleasure in traveling is not just the scenery, it is staying in the homes of different bed and breakfasts. I love to see how other people live.”
Her words intrigued me, so I asked her more. She said, “When I’m in a guest house, I notice the details like the food, the china, the books, the furnishings, even the symbols of faith or culture. I learn what people value by how their home feels. Every place is unique, and I take away ideas to bring into my life.”
This lovely woman was, without knowing it, a deep diver. She was not content to skim the surface; she wanted to understand the story behind things … their whys, their meanings, their essence.
For those on the spiritual path, curiosity works the same way. We long to see beneath appearances to understand the more profound truth of existence. We listen for the mystery behind the visible, yearning for spiritual peace, wisdom, and the reality of the Divine.
We know we will never reach the bottom of this vast mystery, yet we keep diving because we are thirsty for the Divine. Like the students in Barbara’s and Erika’s Master’s program at ICB, we are indeed eager to take the plunge.
Spiritual practice: What study or practice are you engaged in that invites you beneath the surface? Why does it stir your curiosity?
Self-inquiry: What topics or truths are calling you to take a deeper dive?
Prayer:
Dear God, As I explore Your world, open my eyes to the hidden things. Help me see more clearly and understand more deeply. Amen
