We seem to talk a lot about energy these days. “They have good energy” we might say,
or “The energy just felt a bit off’’ is another common one. I’ve always thought this referred to a feeling you got from particular people or places. Certainly, a large part of it is, but as I’ve recently discovered there’s quite a bit more to a person’s energy when looking at it through the lens of Human Design.
What is Human Design?
Often referred to as a combination of Kabbalah, Myers-Briggs, I’ Ching, the chakra system, astrology, biochemistry, quantum physics and genetics, Human Design provides an individual with a highly specific chart or body-graph. This chart, also referred to as an energetic blueprint, explains in great detail how an individual uses their energy when interacting with their environment and those around them.
The chart is determined by using a person’s date of birth, place of birth and time of birth to identify where the stars and planets were at the time.
Where did it come from?
Human Design was developed by Ra Uru Hu, a former advertising executive originally known as Alan Krakower. During the eighties, Ra had a mystical experience with ‘a voice’ that transmitted the Human Design System to him over the course of eight days and nights.
I know, it sounds a bit ‘out there’ to say the least, however as Erin Groom, a Human Design reader/mentor, based in Medowie says, “Given his human design type (Manifestor), it actually makes sense to me because he’s the kind of type that’s here to breathe and birth new things into society. It’s not going to make sense to a lot of people but the people that it does make sense to, it revolutionises their whole life.”
I’ve always thought this referred to a feeling you got from particular people or places. Certainly, a large part of it is, but as I’ve recently discovered there’s quite a bit more to a person’s energy when looking at it through the lens of Human Design.
What is it used for?
The biggest thing Human Design seems to do for people is help them understand themselves better. Having recently gone through the process, I wholeheartedly agree.
I’ll admit I’m quite open to ‘new age’ ideas but even I was a little sceptical about this. I thought a Human Design reading was going to be something akin to horoscopes where everything’s so general and ambiguous that it could mean anything to anyone. However, I was shocked by how much my Human Design reading resonated with me. Like others, it has given me a greater sense of how I’m ‘energetically wired’ and how I best take advantage of this.
Lucy Ellis is an Online Therapist based in Stockton who has recently introduced Human Design into her practice. Lucy says she’s seen first-hand the benefits it can provide.
“Human Design offers people the opportunity to just relax into who they are and not have to try to fit into something that they’re not. This brings about great relief for people. I’ve exposed people to Human Design and they’ve reported to me how much more settled they feel in their body,” says Lucy.
How does it work?
I’m not going to lie, there’s a lot – and I mean A LOT – to get your head around with Human Design. So, in the interest of not bending all our brains too much, I’m going to keep this top level focussing on some key areas including the chart, energy types and authority.
The biggest thing Human Design seems to do for people is help them understand themselves better. Having recently gone through the process, I wholeheartedly agree.
Human Design Chart
A Human Design chart features nine energy centres laid over the top half of a human body. These include the Head (Inspiration), Anja (Conceptualisation), Throat (Communication), G-Centre (Identity), Heart (Will-Power), Spleen (Intuition), Sacral (Life Force), Solar Plexus (Emotion) and Root (Adrenaline/Stress/Pressure).
The energy centres that are coloured on a chart are known as ‘defined’ while those that are white are ‘undefined’ or ‘open’.
Katrina Dorman is a Quantum Human Design Specialist based in Corlette and says when it comes to reading our chart it’s important to remember we all have all the energies with us, albeit to varying degrees.
The coloured or defined centres are the ones that are experienced more consistently or as Katrina says, “The main themes for your life”.
The undefined or open (white) centres are the areas in which we are most susceptible to conditioning and outside influences. Katrina likens this to trying other people’s style on.
Your energy type and authority are determined by the way your energy centres are defined and connected.
Human Design Energy Types
In Human Design there are five different energy types as outlined below. Each energy type has its own specific ‘strategy’, which is how you best go about maximising opportunities.
Additionally, each energy type has its own ‘energetic signature’ which is essentially how you feel when you’re living in alignment with your Human Design system, along with a ‘not-self’, which Lucy says is “not being in alignment with your type and your strategy” and the feelings this creates.
Each energy type has its own specific ‘strategy’, which is how you best go about maximising opportunities.
Energy Type
| Manifestors | |
|---|---|
| Role | The initiators and innovators. They impact others and get things started before moving onto something else. |
| % of the population | 9% |
| How they use energy | Work in powerful bursts, but don’t have sustainable energy to work traditional 9–5 hours. |
| Strategy | To inform those around them and then initiate. |
| Energetic signature | Peace |
| Not-self theme | Anger |
| Generators | |
|---|---|
| Role | The doers and builders.They are the work and life-force of humanity and can just go, go, go. |
| % of the population | 37% |
| How they use energy | Have consistent access to energy, but it’s important they use their energy on work that they find satisfying. |
| Strategy | Wait, then respond to what is presented. |
| Energetic signature | Satisfaction |
| Not-self theme | Frustration |
| Manifesting Generators | |
|---|---|
| Role | The multi-passionate, multi-taskers.Combination of Manifestors and Generators. |
| % of the population | 33% |
| How they use energy | They have the energy to both initiate a project and see it through to completion. |
| Strategy | Wait, then respond to what is Wait to respond, envision, inform, then take action. |
| Energetic signature | Satisfaction |
| Not-self theme | Frustration/anger |
| Projectors | |
|---|---|
| Role | The guides. They are the seers who are here to lead those who recognise their value. |
| % of the population | 20% |
| How they use energy | Projectors do not have consistent energy and are not meant to work traditional 9–5 hours. |
| Strategy | Wait for recognition and invitation. |
| Energetic signature | Success |
| Not-self theme | Bitterness |
| Reflectors | |
|---|---|
| Role | The mirrors. They are intuitive and empathic beings, who reflect the energy of the people and environments around them. |
| % of the population | 1% |
| How they use energy | Their energy is unpredictable and like Manifestors and Projectors they do not suit traditional 9–5 work hours. |
| Strategy | Wait for a full lunar cycle (28 days) to make their big decisions. |
| Energetic signature | Surprise |
| Not-self theme | Disappointment |
Authority Types
Authority in Human Design means how you make decisions based on your chart.
There are seven authority types as outlined below.
| Authority | Decision making approach |
|---|---|
| Sacral | Make decisions using a visceral feeling in your body that will either be a ‘Hell yes’ or ‘Hell no’. |
| Splenic | Make decisions quickly based on trusting your gut and acting on your intuition. |
|
Emotional (Solar Plexus) | Ride the wave of your shifting emotions until you come to a place of clarity. |
|
Ego (Will-Power) | Follow the desires of your heart and trust what it’s telling you in the moment. |
|
Self-Projected (G-Centre) | Talk to other people to get clarity and perspective. You don’t need to get people to, ‘Tell you what to do’ you just need to hear yourself talk to really know what is correct for you. |
| Mental-Projected | You have to talk to other people and see your decisions reflected or projected through others in a space that feels good to you in order to get clarity. |
| Lunar | Specific to reflectors, you must spend at least one lunar cycle (twenty-eight days) contemplating and discussing an issue or situation before making an important decision. |
Human Design in Action
As it turns out I’m a Splenic (authority type) Projector (energy type). Aside from confirming that I’m not meant for the nine to five grind – probably explains why I’m a freelancer! It’s also explains why I need more rest than others – especially others such as my husband, who’s a Pure (Sacral) Generator.
Understanding the energy types of those in our close orbit is something Lucy, Erin and Katrina all agree can be a valuable thing to do.
“In my personal relationship with my husband, gosh, when I saw his chart, I was like, ‘Ah, I get him so much more now’,” says Lucy.
Ra’s original intention with Human Design was to assist parents understand their children better. Katrina explains, “It was ‘downloaded’… so that parents can understand their children’s energy needs and then help them to be themselves and avoid so much conditioning.”
Having done a little digging on my three children, I’ve been amazed at the accuracies it has revealed about their energy types being a Manifestor, Generator and Manifesting Generator. Knowing this is also subtly changing the way I relate to each of them as a different energy type.
Ra’s original intention with Human Design was to assist parents understand their children better…
Workplaces are another area that many people believe could benefit from Human Design.
“There’s so much it could offer to a workplace,” says Katrina. “If you could say, ‘Give me your chart’, and then I can see who you are and what you’re bringing to the team. Then we could honour that and put the right people in the right job. They would thrive because they’re using what they’re here to do as opposed to… trying to be something they’re not.”
Ultimately, I’ve found Human Design isn’t so much about learning new things about yourself so much as rediscovering who you have always been.
“The biggest comment I get is… ‘This has given me the permission slip to just be me’,” says Erin.
“Not only does [Human Design] help people feel secure about who they are and what they naturally bring, but it’s also understanding that your purpose isn’t actually something – it’s actually you. Your purpose is actually you being your most authentic self. Human Design provides you with a framework to get to that place of living as you, without all the conditioning.”
I don’t know about you – or your energy or authority type – but that sounds pretty good to me.
The biggest comment I get is… ‘This has given me the permission slip to just be me.’
If you’re interested in learning more about Human Design there are various websites
where you can download a free chart such as jovianarchive.com or myhumandesign.com. However, to get the most out of the complex chart, you’re probably best to sit down with a specialist, such as Erin, Lucy, or Katrina who you can find at the below:
Erin Groom – eringroom.coach
Lucy Ellis – lucyellis.com.au
Katrina Dorman – linktr.ee/katrinaDormanQHD
