Human design is a relatively new and complex system that combines ancient wisdom traditions including the I Ching, Kabbalah Tree of Life, Hindu-Brahmin Chakra system, and Western astrology along with quantum physics and genetics. It was developed by Ra Uru Hu in 1987 during an eight-day meditation experience. What’s great about Human Design is that it’s not asking you to believe in anything. It’s simply an experiment meant to transform your life and lead you back to your true self by claiming and nourishing your uniqueness.
Human design is often termed “the science of differentiation,” because it breaks down how we are all different. This is not a one size fits all approach to self-discovery. Each individual gets a unique map, also known as a body graph or human design chart, that is based on the exact date, time, and place of birth. This map is a visual representation of energetic centers, channels, and gates within a person’s body and provides a unique understanding of your individual life purpose, strengths, weaknesses, and decision-making strategies. It is meant to be a tool for self-discovery and personal development, helping you to better understand yourself and others leading to a more aligned life. It breaks down why we are all different and how we are all meant to have our own unique truths to express in our own ways. Best of all, Human Design gives us specific steps to guide us into a life that is more energetically correct for us, with less resistance and more harmony.
Human Design Components
There are four main components in Human Design:
Type: There are five types – Manifestor, Generator, Manifesting Generator, Projector, and Reflector. Each type has a specific strategy for making decisions and interacting in the world.
Centers: There are nine energy centers in the body (see image above). These energy centers correspond to different aspects of life such as emotions, intuition, worthiness, communication, and more. These centers can be defined (colored in), undefined (white with some gates circled), or open (completely white with no gates circled). This determines how energy flows within an individual.
Channels: These are connections between energy centers. The presence of a channel indicates a specific life theme and creates a unique expression of energy.
Gates: There are 64 gates, each associated with a hexagram from the I-Ching. Gates represent specific talents, characteristics, and life lessons.
How Can Human Design be Helpful?
Here are a few examples:
Relationships: Human design can help you better understand your interactions with others. Recognizing how your energy dynamics and centers interact with those of the people around you can improve relationship dynamics, improve communication and inspire empathy and sympathy for yourself and others. Two or more charts can be looked at together to see the energetics created when people interact such as couples, parent and child, siblings, business partners, etc.
Career and Work: HD allows you to align your career choices with your type, centers, and defined channels to find work that is fulfilling and suited to your natural strengths.
Personal Growth: We can use the insights from HD as a tool for self-reflection and personal development. For example, focusing on areas of growth identified by undefined or open centers and harnessing defined centers and gates for personal mastery.
The Human design system is gaining popularity as an alternative approach to self-understanding and personal growth. It’s so powerful! However, it is essential to approach it with an open mind and use it as one of the many tools to explore your unique self, rather than as a definitive answer to all life’s questions. It is an experiment and one that can be extremely helpful if you find meaning in it.
Remember that HD is not a strict doctrine and not asking you to believe in anything. It is simply one of the many methods to understand yourself and help you navigate life. As a rule, I like to live by having an open mind and taking what resonates and leave the rest. I truly believe that we are our own authority and only you know what is best for you.
My Journey with Human Design
On a personal note, Human Design has brought so much meaning to my life in my relationships and personal growth. The depth of exploration is endless. I have been able to let go of so much comparison and so many doubts that were holding me back, and I am able to incorporate a daily practice of embodying my true self with whole-hearted acceptance.
The most significant help for me is that I am able to understand my children on a deeper level. I see them for who they are and adjust my parenting style to meet them where they are. By treating them according to their design I see that I am nurturing their own uniqueness and have increased healthy attachment and connection as a family. (Don’t get me wrong. Raising kids is still very challenging, but HD did put a little ease into it) If you are curious, head over to my offerings and book an HD reading. It’s never too late to start creating more ease and living the life you want!
Just read your post on Human Design, and gotta say, I was seriously blown away. The whole concept of Types, Centers, Channels, and Gates feels like it gives such a cool and unique way of understanding who we are.
I was particularly struck by how you've used HD in your own life. The part where you spoke about understanding your kids better? That's pure gold. I think any parent would give their right arm for a chance to connect deeper with their little ones, and you've shown them a way to do that.
Also, I love the point you made about not treating HD like a hard-and-fast rule but more like a tool or a roadmap. Makes a lot of…