Hey hey blissmakers! Now that I’m doing Human Design readings, I suppose it’s time I start dispensing some information about this transformative system of self-understanding. (Of course, it’s also a helpful tool in understanding the others in your life, as well.)
I’m going to start at the beginning. (I hear it’s a very good place to start.) The way Human Design is structured is similar to other complex systems of data: The more generalized data is at the top, and each layer deeper becomes more and more specific, or individualized in this case. This doesn’t mean the upper layers are less important. On the contrary, it’s through understanding the broader concepts, and actively working with them, that you can create the basis for accessing and fully experimenting with the deeper layers. Without the foundation of the basics, the deeper concepts have nowhere to root themselves, and can get lost in irrelevancy.
So, starting at the beginning of the Human Design system, we are introduced to the Aura Types, often just called the Types. There are five Types. (Well, technically, there are four types and a hybrid sub-type, but the hybrid sub-type has become so differentiated that it is now considered to be its own Type.)
The five Types are: Manifestors, Generators, Manifesting Generators, Projectors, and Reflectors.
Before we break each Type down into its component parts, it is also helpful to note that the Types are broken down into two categories: Energy Types and Non-Energy Types. Energy Types have at least one defined motor center and are able to consistently produce their own energy, either life force energy via the Sacral Center, or Manifestation energy of a motor Center to the Throat Center via a defined Channel. (We’ll cover Centers and Channels in later posts.) The Energy Types are the Manifestors, Generators, and Manifesting Generators. The Non-Energy Types are the Projectors and the Reflectors. (Though, to keep things interesting, there are some Projectors who can produce their own energy. More on this below.)
Okay, so let’s look at each Type more specifically to understand the special flavor and flair of each.
Manifestors
Manifestors make up around 9% of the global population. That’s a small number, and it’s that way for a reason. Manifestors are BIG personalities with BIG plans and visions. It is the job of the Manifestor to get ideas/inspiration from Source and then to initiate projects/movements accordingly. They introduce new concepts, practices and plans into the world. If everyone was a Manifestor, there’d be too many people with great ideas and nobody to bring them into concrete form.
All Manifestors share the following characteristics in their chart/bodygraph: The Sacral Center is undefined, and they have at least one of the other motor Centers (Solar Plexus, Root, Heart/Ego/Will) connected to the Throat Center via a defined Channel. (I’ll post about Channels and Gates in a later post.)
Manifestors can often be polarizing and are off-putting to many. As mentioned, they have BIG energies. Their auras take up a LOT of space in a room, sometimes to the detriment of less robust auras around them. They like to be in uninterrupted flow. Once they have an idea, they want to get in, get it started, then delegate it, and get out so they can move on to their next brilliant idea. They are here to get things started, and they don’t really need to stick around and see how or when it comes to fruition. They are very independent and often prefer to work alone. They don’t like it when others disrupt their creative flow, and can be a bit of a bear when it happens.
In relationship, they require a great deal of autonomy. If unaware of this need in their design, some partners or collaborators may see them as not caring about the partnership/collaboration, but this is not the case. Their commitment can be seen in their willingness to commit to the collaboration in the first place. They have no problem severing ties when they feel a relationship has run its course, assuming they have not been overly conditioned to behave outside their design.
In short, Manifestors are like the architects in our lives; they get the ideas and create the blueprints/plans for the project, then hand over the building of the thing to someone else.
In order to smooth the way for their initiations, it is important for Manifestors to inform people of their intentions first. This is the Strategy of the Manifestor; to inform. It’s simply a courtesy to those around the Manifestor to give them a heads up of the next brilliant idea to be presented to them, so they can start wrapping their heads around it. This will allow others to be way more open to receiving the gifts of the Manifestor rather than resisting all the new things they keep tossing into the paths of those around them. When the Manifestor neglects to inform the others in their lives as to what they are doing, they are often met with great resistance and even aggression.
Because Manifestors don’t have a defined Sacral Center, they cannot generate their own consistent supply of life force energy. However, they do have definition in at least one of the other motor Centers (Solar Plexus, Root, Heart/Ego/Will), so they will produce energy of some sort consistently. Plus, they will have a motor Center connected to the Throat Center via a defined channel. The goal of all energy in the bodygraph is to be moved through the body to the Throat Center. The Throat Center is the Center of manifestation. This is why Manifestors are so good at bringing new ideas/projects/expressions into the world.
If you are a Manifestor, you may find that life is often trying to box you into a mold into which you are too big and bold to fit. Don’t believe the hype. Don’t drink the Kool-Aid. Keep doing your own thing and let everyone else deal with their reactions to your maverick moves.
As you are getting ready for bed, it is helpful for you to go to bed before you are fully sleepy. Lying down flat will help you to release any extraneous energy you’ve siphoned from others or produced from any defined motor Centers during the day. This will ensure you get the most restful and productive sleep.
You will know you are acting in alignment with your Type when you feel a sense of Peace. If you are out of alignment you will feel feelings of Anger. (These are called your Signature and Not-Self Themes. Each Type has them. They are emotional barometers of whether or not we are living in alignment.)
Generators
Generators make up around 37% of the global population. They make up a greater sector of the population because they are here, along with the Manifesting Generators, to do most of the world’s work.
If the Manifestor if the architect of life’s projects, the Generator is the builder that brings those blueprints into concrete form. Ironically, they could be said to be the ones who actually manifest the ideas of the Manifestors.
Generators also have big energy auras. They are not as bold and polarizing as that of the Manifestor, however. Generators’ auras are sparkly and sunshiny and magnetic. They often feel warm and inviting, and, assuming they are not conditioned out of alignment, others will feel drawn to them like moths to a flame.
There is a synchronistic reason for the magnetism of their auras. Generators have the Strategy of Responding to the world around them. (Yes! Strategy and Authority will be discussed in another post, and soon, so stay tuned!) By having such an attractive force drawing others to them, they are, in essence, consistently attracting opportunities to which they can respond.
Once they respond to opportunities that feel aligned for them, they will set about making those opportunities a material reality. Generators are characterized as having a defined Sacral Center in their chart/bodygraph. This means they can consistently generate life force energy to take on big projects, and keep at them until they are completed. The key here is for them to respond to opportunities that feel aligned for them.
Generators have a tendency to focus on one project at a time. They give that project their full attention and energy until it is complete. Only then will they feel like they can move on to the next opportunity. This can leave others around them feeling left out while they are in their tunnel-vision state.
In partnership, it is helpful for the other parties to recognize that the Generator will display signs of workaholism. This is not a reflection on how they feel about the partner(s) or the partnership, it’s just how they are designed to roll. They can only fully focus on one thing at a time. But when they turn their focus to their partner(s), it’s like basking in the most glorious sunshine.
Generators are also meant to move their bodies everyday. This is to help them to discharge all that excess Sacral energy they are generating throughout the day. It’s important to use up all that energy before going to bed at night. Generators are meant to wear themselves out so completely that they fall asleep the moment their head hits the pillow.
If you are a Generator, you are designed to experience life as a worker bee. This does not mean you are meant to toil through life doing everything you’re told. On the contrary, you are tasked with choosing only those projects that feel aligned and exciting for you. It’s only then you will be able to generate the energy needed to see these projects through to completion. (You’ll learn how to differentiate which opportunities are aligned for you and which are not in the upcoming post on Strategy and Authority.)
Don’t be afraid to get caught up in your work, or to “be in the zone” for hours on end. This is natural and aligned for you. And experiment with ways of using up your energy throughout the day so that you can fully exhaust yourself before stumbling into bed.
You will know you are acting in alignment with your Type when you feel a sense of Satisfaction. If you are out of alignment you will feel feelings of Frustration. (These are called your Signature and Not-Self Themes. Each Type has them. They are emotional barometers of whether or not we are living in alignment.)
Manifesting Generators
Manifesting Generators are a hybrid Type consisting of both Manifestor and Generator traits. They compose around 33% of the global population. They are technically Generators with some Manifestor tendencies and talents, which means that they are also here to help bring the ideas of the Manifestors into form.
Manifesting Generators, or MGs, are worker bees, like Generators. However, they have a unique way of expressing this magick. MGs are FAST. They jump into a project and hit the ground running. They don’t wait for instructions. They don’t stop for directions. They go, go, go. As a result of their quickness, they often miss steps and/or make mistakes as they go. This is not a failing. In fact, this is part of their design. They learn from these missteps, and are able to find the shortcuts in the process. MGs are masters at finding the most efficient ways of doing things. (Though the process of discovery might be a little messy.)
They also have a wider attention span than the pure Generator. MGs tend to have their hands in a number of pies, so to speak. They are like magpies, following their curiosity anytime something sparkly strikes their fancy. They’re also expert multi-taskers, and often have multiple projects going at once, or are reading multiple books at once, or may even be dating multiple partners at the same time. This does not signify a lack of focus nor an inability to fully commit to something. It’s simply that they are designed to divide their focus among various opportunities or experiences with equal devotion and interest.
It is often difficult for the world to understand the MG. They are often several steps ahead of everyone else, and may seem flighty or distracted. But don’t be fooled! They are just operating at a faster speed than everyone else. They learn faster than most people and can easily become bored, especially in traditional learning situations, like the current conventional educational system.
As a result of their rapid pace, they can feel impatient with the slowness of others. It’s important for MGs to realize that most people do not operate at their accelerated pace. It’s also important for all the other Types to recognize that MGs are designed to be faster than they, and aren’t trying to be difficult when they arrive at something several times faster than the rest of the room. They generally aren’t trying to be a ‘know-it-all’, this is just how they operate.
The characteristics that make up a Manifesting Generator in a chart/bodygraph are a defined Sacral Center and a motor center connected to the Throat Center via a defined channel.
And, just like the Generators, MGs have a big, warm, inviting aura which tends to attract others to it. That is, when they are in alignment. MGs can exude a very magickal, unconventional and even mysterious quality that others will be drawn to like mice to cheese.
If you are a Manifesting Generator, you may find that you are creating an unconventional life for yourself. This can show up in the form of several part-time jobs in varying fields (MGs are built for side hustles), lots of travel/a nomadic lifestyle, a constant rotation of romantic partners (a lover in every port, maybe?) or in some other way that is unique to you. You are designed to be different and to find the magick in life through following your curiosity. Your magickal aura will attract opportunities to you. It’s up to you to decide which ones are worthy of your energy. People will often be attracted to you and your quirky lifestyle. Beware of those who want to box you in or slow you down.
It’s helpful for you to allow yourself some time to wind down before bed. This allows you to turn off your highly active mind and to calm your boisterous energy enough to get some sleep.
You will know you are acting in alignment with your Type when you feel a sense of Satisfaction and/or Peace. If you are out of alignment you will feel feelings of Frustration and/or Anger. (These are called your Signature and Not-Self Themes. Each Type has them. They are emotional barometers of whether or not we are living in alignment.)
Projectors
Projectors make up around 20% of the global population. Projectors have defined centers in their charts, but do not have a defined Sacral Center nor a motor Center connected to the throat via a defined Channel.
Projectors possess the gift of being able to see what’s possible from a person or situation. They see the potential of energy, and are here to help evolve us all into a New Paradigm of life which expresses a greater potential than we are currently realizing. However, despite how well they are able to see others, they are not able to see themselves.
If the Manifestors are the architects and the Generators and MGs are the worker bees, the Projectors are the project managers. They oversee the project, but don’t actually do any of the manual labor. Their skillful contribution comes in their ability to see how the bigger picture can be improved upon, either by restructuring the systems, reallocating the tasks, or revising the plans.
In order to share their gifts with the world, Projectors need to be seen and recognized by others. (Remember, they can’t see themselves.) This needs to happen organically, however, from the Projector simply doing what they do and being who they are. If they try too hard to share their ideas with others unbidden, they will likely be met with resistance and, possibly, dismissal or abandonment.
When a Projector is happily and confidently doing what they do and being who they are, they become intriguing to others. It’s then that they will be seen and recognized by others naturally. Others will start to notice what they’re doing, and they’ll begin to receive invitations to share their wisdom. This is the Projector’s Strategy; to wait for invitations, and to accept or decline them according to what feels correct, or exciting for them.
Having no definition in the Sacral Center, the Projector is unable to generate its own life force energy. This means the Projectors generally get tired pretty easily. They are not designed to put in the 40-80+ hour work week our modern culture so often demands. Many Projectors find they function best with around three hours of labor and then a whole lot of rest/recovery, self-care, and play during the rest of the day. This does not mean they are frail. Not at all. They just aren’t designed with their own consistent production of energy, and, so, require more rest and recovery from their exertions. This is especially true of a Projector with no defined motor Centers in their chart/bodygraph.
There are some Projectors who have a defined motor center other than the Sacral. These Projectors will exhibit more energy than other Projectors—though it will never be as much as a Generator or Manifesting Generator. Projectors can also ‘siphon’ or amplify and utilize energy from others in their vicinity who have defined motor Centers. They can feel a burst of energy and stamina in the presence of these people, but will find that energy wanes quickly once they are no longer in that regenerating presence.
If a Projector tries to push themselves beyond what their natural energy production can maintain, they will, eventually, burn out. Sometimes this comes in the form of unrelenting fatigue, but, often, it comes in the form of dis-ease.
A Projector in relationship can sometimes feel like a nag to their partner(s). This is only if they are not utilizing their Strategy correctly, though. If they are able to hold their tongue and simply lead by example, they may find their partner(s) recognize the wisdom in their way of doing things and invite them to share it. However, if this doesn’t happen, it is important to know that these aren’t the people the Projector is here to guide, so that wisdom isn’t for them. It’s also helpful to sleep alone, if that’s possible. If that feels like too big an ask, at the very least the Projector should take some solo time before bed to lie down and discharge any lingering energy from the day. (See below.)
If you are a Projector, you may find that you can witness all the things your friends and family members are doing, and you can see how to make things better, more efficient, or even more enjoyable for them. However, if you try to tell them this, without their asking you for your input, they’ll likely just see it as a form of correction or censorship, and will be resistant to your wisdom. It won’t matter that you are trying to help them. You can only resourcefully share your wisdom with people who ask you for it, or invite you to share it. So, just keep being who you are and doing what you do. Keep doing what feels good to you and brings you a sense of delight. This is the way to get seen, and to start garnering the invitations you need to be able to live your destiny and share your wisdom to help your people evolve and expand. And remember to rest often as you go. Listen to your body, not your mind or social conditioning. You’re meant to work in bursts of energy followed by sessions of rest and recovery. Experiment with this to discover your own unique rhythms of energy flow.
As you are getting ready for bed, it is helpful for you to go to bed before you are fully sleepy. Lying down flat will help you to release any extraneous energy you’ve siphoned from others or produced from any defined motor Centers during the day. This will ensure you get the most restful and productive sleep.
You will know you are acting in alignment with your Type when you feel a sense of Success. If you are out of alignment you will feel feelings of Bitterness. (These are called your Signature and Not-Self Themes. Each Type has them. They are emotional barometers of whether or not we are living in alignment.)
Reflectors
Reflectors compose 1% of the population. They are so rare they are considered the unicorns of the HD world.
Reflectors are here to act as mirrors for the rest of us. They are like chameleons that take on the traits, behaviors and mannerisms of the people in their proximity. Thus they reflect back to us who we are and how we are operating in the world. For this reason Reflectors are said to have a sampling energy. They are consistently sampling what it’s like to live the experiences and expressions of the others in their lives.
Reflectors are characterized by having no defined Centers in their chart/bodygraph. That means, they have no consistent energy at all, and no motor centers to produce any energy. It also means that they are amplifying the energy around them at all times.
Because they have no defined motor Centers, they will find that the typical structures around work and routine will not be conducive for them. Reflectors need to spend more time resting and playing and practicing self-care than working. Like the Projector with no defined motor centers, they are designed to work in short bursts of energy expenditure followed by lengthy periods of rest and recovery. These times of rest are also important for the Reflector to disentangle the amplified energies of those around them, and release them, so as not to mistakenly take them on as their own.
In the analogy we’ve been using for the Types, the Reflector would take the role of the Human Resources specialist. (Though it could also be said that Reflectors would make very good satirists.) They check in with everybody involved in the project, sample how they do things, and reflect back what they see and experience. This helps everyone else have a clearer picture of their own performance. From here the rest of the Types are able to determine if they are happy with the efficacy of their work or if changes need to be made. (It can be a sobering mirror to see how we present ourselves to the world through someone else’s portrayal of us.)
Reflectors are the only HD Type that is intrinsically aligned with the Moon. (The rest of the Types are aligned with the Sun.) As the Moon transits through each of the Gates during its cycle, the Reflector gets to experience the energy of those gates. This is the only way the Reflector gets to experience consistency in the system. This is why their Strategy is to wait 28 days—or a full lunar cycle—before making a decision or taking action.
It is tempting for Reflectors to enmesh themselves with others in relationship. This is true of any relationship, but especially of intimate relationships. Because the Reflector is always sampling and amplifying the energy of their partner(s), they can begin to confuse their partner(s)’ experiences/emotions/fears/thoughts/inspirations for their own. This can make it difficult to leave a relationship even after it’s run its course: They may no longer know where the partner ends and they begin.
Reflectors really require a safe environment with trusted people to function at their highest potential. They need to be able to use their friends/family/partner(s) as a sounding board to make sense of the information they are constantly sampling and amplifying. It is also helpful to know that the people in their community will not take advantage of their gifts, but will, rather, recognize them for the magickal creatures they are. The reflections of the Reflector are offered in service to moving the collective toward a greater realization of our potential. They are not to be used as a tool for getting the Reflector to become beholden to another individual’s personal agenda.
If you are a Reflector, you may find that you are constantly experiencing the world in new and surprising ways. You may feel like you are a chameleon who changes personalities when spending time with different groups of friends/family/neighbors/colleagues. This is natural and is how you are designed to be. Don’t fight it. Have fun with it! You get to try on different proverbial costumes in every setting you enter. See how they fit. Walk in another person’s shoes for a while. You are in a unique position that gives you a decidedly intimate view of how other people live their lives. And, in doing so, you offer the invaluable gift of reflection to the rest of us.
Be mindful of getting enough rest in your day. Also be mindful of the tendency to become enmeshed with the others around you. It is highly beneficial to have some alone time every day to release all those energy samples and get back to the simplicity of You.
It may feel challenging to leave familiar situations, even if they aren’t good ones. But, it’s very important for you to have a safe and supportive environment to which you can come home, and return to yourself, every day. Be very selective about who you allow into your home and your heart.
As you are getting ready for bed, it is helpful for you to go to bed before you are fully sleepy. Lying down flat will help you to release any extraneous energy you’ve siphoned from others during the day. This will ensure you get the most restful and productive sleep.
You will know you are acting in alignment with your Type when you feel a sense of Surprise. If you are out of alignment you will feel feelings of Disappointment. (These are called your Signature and Not-Self Themes. Each Type has them. They are emotional barometers of whether or not we are living in alignment.)
Okay, blissmakers, I hope this brief-ish breakdown of the Human Design Types has been illuminating for you. If you’d like your own Human Design reading, click HERE to book one. You can also go HERE or HERE or HERE to view a copy of your own chart/bodygraph for free.
Stay tuned for more posts in this series.
xoxo,
