by Walter Geldart As the motto of this Journal, The Enneagram and the MBTIŽ, explains - it is our purpose to "explore human consciousness through a study of personality type". The Community Forum Message Board offers yet another dimension in the process whereby this exploration can take place. Individuals who seek to communicate with others no longer have to wait for the next issue of the Journal to appear, as is the case with a typical hard copy newspaper. Overly long turn-around times between replies are significantly reduced. Of course, this is what the electronic media, email, and the Internet can offer us, if we - who are all beginners to some extent - use the opportunity wisely. May this gift of conversation bear fruit by reducing potential misunderstanding and anxiety, and promote smoother, more natural conversations. As we explore human consciousness through a study of personality type - at this web-site, at the Community Forum Message Board, in the Journal, and though countless private emails conversations around the world - we all put our shoulder to the wheel to build that community of fuller human consciousness. Glancing at the names of people who have posted new messages at the Community Forum, we read, from top to bottom: Walter, Julian, John, Steve, Libit, Lylla, Lizzy Mae, Julian, Perceiver, Jlee, JF, Frost, Jamie, and Andy. There are a number of interesting messages, which I leave it to you to explore. The greatest amount of activity occured in the 'MultiCultural' section of the board, and under 'General' comments. Several messages were posted privately at the board, using the 'email Walter' button, and some people also checked the 'Subscribe to Email Delivery' button on the top tool bar. Even more important, perhaps, are the QUALITATIVELY positive things that also seem to be occuring. People are meeting, speaking, listening, being present, and being civil with one another - not only at the EMBTI Community Forum, but at other message boards such as Becca. I have occasionally added my voice to conversations happening there, and I am very happy to see that a warm, friendly spirit is now commonplace. Indeed, the art of conversation is developing in several Internet communities. It is pleasant to be present with one another in this way! And it is beneficial to the community. Because of the unusually large increase in email and activity that has occured at our web-site here, the 'EMBTI', I find it necessary to limit my travels to other boards and web-sites beginning now. In addition to meeting the increased demand here, this will give me more time to physically travel to other geographic locations, meet real people face-to-face to conduct interviews, and attend conferences related to the APT (Association of Psychological Type) or the IEA (International Enneagram Association). I am very pleased that Katharine Downing Myers agreed to be interviewed, and I invite you to read the article that resulted, 'Katharine Downing Myers and Whole MBTI Type'. It is in this issue of the Journal. Please feel free to comment on the conversation at the board. Do you have questions for Katharine? Whereas the enneagram personality type system grew out of an appreciation for unconscious motivation and mechanical habit in the individual, both the MBTI and the original Jungian personality typology emerged out of an emphasis on conscious functions and how these can be 'differentiated'. The Enneagram and the MBTI thus complement each other, and we are pleased, at this web site, to offer the opportunity to bring these systems and their followers into a reciprocal relationship, one of greater mutual respect and shared understanding. I, for one, would like to see some Special Interest Group study the implications, for the Enneagram, of the 'whole type' research published in the new 1998 MBTI Manual. Enneagram professionals would be re-inventing the wheel of research and applications if they do not try to understand the wealth of research data that is present in the MBTI Manual; and it goes without saying that MBTI professionals must understand the new Manual. Do I hear any volunteers for a study on the National Normative Sample of MBTI types? Now that various Jungian perspectives on the Enneagram have been made available at this web site, and shown to offer a viable vantage point from which a study of both systems can be made, people should have less fear about going to mixed parties where people can openly wear both MBTI and Enneagram name tags. It is a sign of the times. Spring is in the air. I saw my first robin. And I saw my first IEA advertisement in the APT Bulletin of Psychological Type! My initial confused reaction was, 'Why is the APT holding their conference at the same time as the IEA Conference?' But then I reread the advertisement and saw that it was in fact an IEA ad in an APT Bulletin. Congratulations to Bonnie Fowke (Enneagram99@aol.com), from Toronto Canada. What will we see next? Maybe APT ads in Enneagram Journals? If you are, by the way, interested in placing an advertisement in 'The Enneagram and the MBTI Journal' - which is frequently visited by members of both groups - please email the editors! There is such a thing as truth, and it emerges in community when people use their own voices without fear. There are many people who read the message board here, but don't take time to leave messages. Some choose to email private messages in response to something that has been posted. This is acceptable, of course. But I also encourage you to post your message; please keep Gurdjieff's comment in mind - 'have no fear'. Remember that what you have to say is likely to be interesting and beneficial to many others to whom you are not directly speaking. So enjoy the new articles presented in this edition of the EMBTI, and also the written and visual art, and all of the the other features. And until the next issue appears in early May, I'll be seeing you at the Community Forum! 
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