What Is Human Design? A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding It



A self-discovery system, Human Design, marries ancient wisdom with modern science to provide a unique blueprint for understanding ourselves better; it reveals the very essence of our being—the energy we are and how we interact with the world. Holistic to a fault, Human Design is described by its founder, Ra Uru Hu, as a “system of knowledge” that integrates components from astrology, the Chinese I Ching, Judaic Kabbalah, Vedic philosophy, and quantum physics. Elusive as a shadow, it is incisive as a laser. Some view this framework as the sign of a cult personality; others see it as the valuable tool for self-awareness and empowerment that it is becoming increasingly loved for.

The Beginning and the Underlying Philosophy of Human Design

The roots of Human Design extend back to 1987. It was then that a Canadian man named Robert Allan Krakower, who would later be known as Ra Uru Hu, claimed to have gotten a dose of pure mysticism while in Ibiza. By his account, a “Voice” dictated to him the basic principles of the Human Design system over the course of eight days. These principles formed the basis of what he would later lay out in more detail in a hefty tome known as _The Human Design System_.

The Divine Meeting That Inspired the Creation of Human Design

Ra Uru Hu’s brush with what he called “The Voice” has been portrayed by his fans as a close encounter with divinity, one that left him with a comprehensive spiritual awakening. For eight days, from the night of his initiation into the world of the divine to the morning of his enlightenment, he recorded, in voluminous detail, what he understood “The Voice” to have imparted to him. A lot of what he said was laid out in a manner that would make an engineer proud. He called what he had thunk up for us to use the “Human Design System.”

Encompassing and Transreligious

Human Design is frequently characterized as “transreligious,” which means that it draws from many different traditions without committing to any exclusive religious doctrine. This broad and inclusive approach enables it to connect with a large variety of individuals and makes it a suitable framework for those who might be put off by more narrowly defined spiritual paths. In “Transreligious”, the authors do an excellent job of detailing the many different strands that make up Human Design. Their work is valuable for those who are exploring this relatively new system of self-understanding and for those who guide individuals along the path of Human Design.

The Human Design System’s Basic Elements

The Human Design system is based on several fundamental components that, when combined, yield one’s unique BodyGraph. This BodyGraph serves as a close-up rendering of an individual’s energy and its interplay with the environment.

Types of Energy and Strategic Approaches

Human Design centers on four essential energy types: Manifestors, Generators, Projectors, and Reflectors. Each type corresponds with a particular method of generating and interacting with energy and represents a distinct way that individuals resonate and come alive:

• Manifestors: Those with this energy type are idea people—starters and initiators of new pathways, new concepts, and new forms of self-expression. Their strategy is to inform others of their plans before acting.
• Generators: The type that represents the largest group of people, Generators are the earth’s workforce, laboring and living in a life-force economy. They thrive when they respond (instead of initiating) and use their sustainable energy to build and create.
• Projectors: With the mind energy type, Projectors are the guides and teachers in our world. They lead and direct, but only when invited to do so.
• Reflectors: With no defined centers, Reflectors are the rarest type, acting as mirrors for their environments. In short, these four energy types correspond with our most significant methods of interacting with the world.

The Hybrid Type—Manifesting Generators

The Manifesting Generator is a type of manifestor. In terms of energy, they definitely have the capacity to do a lot of things, to start a lot of things, and also to do a lot of responding to opportunities. They can multi-task. They can do many things at once—even in a kind of chaotic way—because they have that kind of energy available to them. Their strategy, informing and responding, is really a kind of dynamic way of moving through life.

Credentials: The Blueprint for Effective Decision-Making

Beyond just energy types, Human Design focuses on the concept of authority. Authority refers to how each of us is uniquely designed to make decisions. For instance, some individuals have what is termed “Emotional Authority.” These folks make decisions after riding the wave of their emotions to clarity. Another authority type is what we call “Sacral Authority,” which relies on gut instincts and quick, embodied responses. The third type of authority is “Splenic Authority,” which operates off of a spontaneous, intuitive sense of direction coming from the body. Following one’s authority type, in any given moment, is a good way to ensure alignment with the act of making a decision.

Seven Varieties of Authority

The Human Design system identifies seven different kinds of authority, which show the various ways people are meant to make decisions. Not everyone has authority in the same place, and not everyone who’s a generator even has authority. (More on that later.) But if you have a type of authority, then understanding how it works, and using it to guide your decision-making, will ensure you live a life that is in alignment with your design.

The Bodygraph and Centers of Energy

The essential element of the Human Design System is the BodyGraph, which reveals a person’s unique energy dynamics. It consists of nine energy centers, 64 gates (which are tied to the hexagrams of the I Ching), and twelve astrological zodiacs, allowing for an unprecedented look at an individual’s energy structure.

What Energy Centers Are and What They Do

The nine energy centers in the BodyGraph provide contemporary interpretations of the conventional seven chakras. Each of the centers corresponds to a different facet of life—identity, communication, survival, and the like:

• A person with a defined center can be counted on as a reliable and consistent source of energy.
• A person with an undefined center is always on the edge of his or her particular kind of energy and is always absorbing and amplifying the energy of a nearby defined center. The energy centers in your BodyGraph offer a glimpse not just at your own kind of energy but also at the way in which others intersect with and perceive your energy.

Hearts, Passages, and the Incarnation Cross

The BodyGraph, with its 64 energy center portals, is like a customized freeway system along which energy flows. The appearance of a straight-line design in the BodyGraph signifies that certain energies will portal through in an undisturbed fashion, whereas a design with curves and detours—like a freeway that doesn’t go directly from point A to point B—portals energy through what could be described as a ‘detour route’ for energy. The Incarnation Cross, another aspect of the BodyGraph, signifies an overarching theme for the life or purpose energies of Earth’s humanity.

How Human Design Assists Us in Achieving Alignment with Life Purpose

At its core, Human Design is about comprehending and valuing one’s unique identity. It is not a system of beliefs, but rather a means of better knowing oneself, so that one can lead a life more in sync with the individuality of one’s energetic makeup and decision-making style.

An Instrument for Introspection

Self-compassion is something that Human Design promotes and encourages, and for good reason. Most people are more inclined to be hard on themselves rather than kinder and gentler. Some of us have been conditioned to believe that if we aren’t constantly doing something, then we’re lazy or not living up to our potential. Even my daughter, who is a good sleeper, has been known to say things like, “Mom, I can only sleep because you’re not busy doing something.”

Real-World Applications to Personal and Professional Life

Human Design offers practical information about how people interact with one another and how they find fulfillment in their work. By comprehending the intricate workings of the interpersonal dynamics between various human types, we can create more harmonious relationships at home and in the office. To illustrate: A Projector might pursue a path of least resistance to staying healthy, which means cultivating a skill set that allows him or her to lead without needing a constant supply of “You’re great!” affirmations. Generators might aim to be and to stay in roles where their work energy can thrive and where they can get immediate feedback about the “uh-huhs” and “uh-uhs” of their tasks—i.e., where their work can make an immediate difference.

Accepting Human Design in Present-Day Society

With the increasing fascination with self-betterment and tailored well-being, the Human Design System is capturing the fascination of a number of fields—most notably life and business coaching, psychotherapy, and even the workplace. Its popularity may be a sign that we’re collectively moving toward coaching that’s less one-size-fits-all and more focused on individuality and authenticity.

A NAS framework is a notion, not an order.

Human Design has many forms in which it can be practiced. Some treat it as a profound spiritual endeavor, while others view it more as a psychology of sorts. At its core, though, when seeing it as Flexible Design, it is about understanding yourself better. Whatever way you view it, the practice is about gaining insight into your behavior and the unfathomable depths of decision-making.

Integrating Human Design into Daily Life

For those who wish to know about Human Design but don’t know how to begin, there are plenty of online resources available to help you make sense of your chart. Of course, it’s always helpful to have an expert decode your chart for you, but even if you don’t have access to a professional, you can still explore and make life-altering realizations using just the tiniest of the system’s intro-level secrets.

If you’re trying to pare down the many demands on your life, consider WoopSocial. This social media management tool can help you save time and, in all probability, some of the frustration that comes with trying to maintain an online presence on multiple fronts. WoopSocial lets you schedule ahead and post automatically to platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Whether you do the “work” of being online because that’s what your digital enterprise demands or because you’re a “person living on purpose” who feels called to interact in the digital space, WoopSocial can help you stay in that space without being constantly tethered to your devices.

At its essence, Human Design is an invitation to be oneself, right down to the foundational level. Its directives can make one’s journey through life feel more satisfying and deliberate, but they are neither spiritual nor psychological imperatives. Instead, the insights that make up this system’s frame of reference can serve as a potent roadmap for understanding oneself and connecting better with others.