The Enneagram Institute Co-founder Russ Hudson presents…

The Enneagram as a Key to Creativity & Self-Knowledge

Sep 8 - Sep 13, 2025 in Santa Fe, USA

Led by: Russ Hudson, Mary Hofstedt, Daniel 'DL' Landes

Financial aid is available. Apply Here.

Unlock powerful new levels of creative energy and self-understanding with a master of The Enneagram

The Greek philosopher Socrates famously said, “To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom.”

This is especially true when you’re in a place of transition or are looking for your next big thing or where to find more purpose in your life.

Having a deep understanding of who you are and where your strengths and weaknesses lie can give you the clarity you need to make decisions that are deeply aligned with the things that matter most to you.

But how do you uncover the deepest, most fundamental truths about yourself?

And how do you leverage these insights to unleash new levels of creative energy that can help you shape new possibilities and flourish in all areas of your life?

One powerful tool of self-understanding that has helped millions of people gain valuable insight is The Enneagram, a personality typing system that is designed to help you recognize your strengths and challenges and how you relate to others and the world.

And now you can learn about The Enneagram and yourself from a true master: Russ Hudson, co-founder of The Enneagram Institute and one of the top teachers of this typology in the world today.

Join Russ and the MEA team for five powerful days in Santa Fe this September and discover how to use The Enneagram to gain deep self-knowledge that will help you get unstuck and fuel your generative capacity to create a life you love.

What You’ll Gain

Through exploration of The Enneagram and what it reveals about your personality and how you interact with the world, you will:

Better understand your own psyche, motivations, patterns, and behaviors so you can live more intentionally and make better decisions in the moment
Gain valuable insight into your strengths and weaknesses and how to use both to guide your own growth and transformation
Break free from limiting habits and align your actions with a life that feels more meaningful and true
Discover how The Enneagram can open you up to creativity and what the nine Enneagram personality types each need to flourish in a creativity capacity
Identify areas where you may experience creative limitations so you can bring more conscious awareness to those areas and bolster your weaknesses
Learn how to understand other people better and cultivate more compassion for yourself and your loved ones

You will leave with valuable clarity into what you’re feeling called to do next along with a personal roadmap and deep insights into the skills you need to cultivate in order to pursue your desired goals.

Meet Your Faculty

Russ Hudson

Enneagram Institute Co-founder

Author | Co-creator of the Riso-Hudson Enneagram Type Indicator (RHETI)

Russ Hudson is one of the world’s leading authorities on the Enneagram personality typing system, which is based on ancient spiritual traditions and describes people in terms of their core motivations, desires and fears. His tools and teachings go beyond surface level, guiding us toward a deeper, more authentic understanding of who we are and how we relate to the world.

Russ’s influential works, including The Wisdom of the Enneagram, are essential for anyone seeking greater self-awareness, purpose, and meaningful connections. By blending ancient wisdom with modern psychology and neuroscience, the Enneagram becomes a powerful catalyst for personal growth, better relationships, and emotional resilience.

A highly sought-after speaker and teacher, Russ has led transformative workshops and retreats at renowned centers such as Esalen, Kripalu, and the Omega Institute. His compassionate and insightful approach has earned him recognition in Psychology Today and a loyal following among a diverse global audience.

In Russ’s workshop, you’ll gain practical tools to deepen self-understanding, develop healthier connections, and live with greater intention. This is your chance to connect with your deepest self and step into a path of meaningful, lasting change.

This workshop is for you if...

You’re curious to learn more about Enneagram or looking to deepen your knowledge of this powerful personality typing system

You’re seeking greater self-understanding and awareness of who you are and why you respond to the world around you in the way that you do

You’re in the midst of navigating life transitions and looking for tools and insight to move forward with clarity

You’re feeling stuck or unfulfilled and are looking for deeper self-understanding that can help you find more purpose and meaning in your life and work

You want to unleash your creativity and generative capacity to achieve meaningful goals in your personal or professional life

You want to grow your understanding and compassion for others and cultivate deeper, more authentic connections with the people in your life

Do this powerful work on our beautiful regenerative ranch in Santa Fe

Santa Fe, USA

Rising Circle Ranch

An upscale regenerative ranch featuring traditional Pueblo architecture and spanning nearly 2,600 acres of wildlife, hiking trails in the arroyo, with ancient petroglyphs, and awe-inspiring beauty. Close to historic Santa Fe, an artisan’s mecca.

Big-sky desert country
Breathtaking nature
Interaction with horses and donkeys
Evenings around the campfire
Star-gazing

Meet Your MEA Facilitators

In addition to the powerful sessions conducted by Russ Hudson, you will be guided through the MEA curriculum by our seasoned faculty members:

Mary Hofstedt is an experienced non profit leader and educator who strives to advance a more hopeful, caring, and connected world. Her passion for youth and community development led her to work with Challenge Success, spearhead a coalition of youth and adult partners to develop a community arts center, and serve for over a decade within Stanford University’s John W. Gardner Center. She recently wrapped up a mid-career break to reflect on purpose, study Spanish, travel, and volunteer with whale shark research and conservation. She serves as a Senior Associate with Heartwise Learning and is thrilled to be based back in Santa Fe after a 22 year stint in the Bay Area!

Before joining MEA, Daniel “DL” Landes spent decades as a restauranteur, author, and publisher. As the owner of multiple restaurants in Denver, CO – and then a hostel in Mexico – he dedicated himself to creating environments where people could work out their humanity while eating and drinking (which is why he fits in so well at MEA).

Now relocated to Santa Fe, DL says that “living in the Galisteo Basin impresses a unique and humbling perspective. Under the expansive, enchanted New Mexican sky I can feel so small and so big. I made a career of kicking up dust; living in the storm until the storm lived in me. When the dust settled two guideposts appeared: Spend more nights under the stars; provide a service.”

You will appreciate his dedication to creating memorable experiences during your time in Santa Fe.

Self-Knowledge Is Self-Power

When you’re able to see yourself clearly and recognize the strengths and weaknesses of your own personality structure – without judging yourself or giving yourself a hard time about it – you give yourself immense power. Instead of feeling like a helpless victim of your psyche, you have the ability to decide what you’re going to do with that information and can take proactive steps to strengthen or compensate for your weaker areas so you can get better results in everything you do.

Are you ready to gain valuable insight into yourself and unlock your creative capacity to thrive?

People come for the workshops,
but they stay for the community

This is truly MEA’s “secret sauce” and something you can only experience in person: the powerful connections you will make, not only with your fellow participants and the incredible MEA faculty, but also the deeper sense of connection you will feel to your own inner self and the natural world around you.

Research into aging shows that your relationships play a HUGE role in your health and wellbeing later in life. At MEA, you will make deep and lasting connections and become part of a larger community that will make your life richer and more meaningful.

Many of our alumni cohorts have stayed in close touch for years after their workshop and we have a growing number of local alumni chapters all over the world. It’s a joy for us to see them continuing to offer each other community, friendship, and support as they create thriving midlives for themselves. So if you have been feeling at all disconnected or isolated on your journey, we would love to have you join us!

Have we mentioned the food?

The MEA experience is designed in part by Chip Conley, a world-renowned boutique hotelier, which means the food is amazing.

All of the ingredients are locally sourced, organic, and made from scratch in our kitchens by hand-picked chefs. The delicious breakfasts, lunches and dinners will leave you feeling nourished inside and out – not to mention the blended drinks made with fresh fruit and other top-shelf ingredients.

Each retreat center has multiple kitchens that always have snacks and beverages available. At MEA, we believe that thriving is delicious!

Your Workshop Includes

5 days and nights of lodging at our boutique luxury retreat center in Baja or Santa Fe with all of your meals, snacks, drinks and other amenities included
Daily sessions and experiential activities to help you connect with your inner self, envision your desired experience, and release what no longer serves you
Meditation covering a range of practices to soothe your nervous system and help you cultivate greater mindfulness and presence in the moment.

Movement to get the energy flowing and build your strength and agility as you chart your course forward to the life you want to live.
Incredible bonding experiences with the most amazing humans you’ll ever meet.
Three delicious, chef-prepared meals plus snacks throughout the day prepared from scratch with the freshest local ingredients.
Festive gatherings to cultivate connection and celebrate the joy and beauty of life.

Tuition starts at $4,000

Ready to start your journey?