Whether we believe it or not, we all have this part within us that instinctively knows what’s right or wrong. Through media, and outside authority figures, we’ve been shaped to believe that we are not capable of sound decision-making. Why? When we’re shaped to believe that we need outside sources to guide our lives, that creates a consistent dependence on those outside sources (cha-ching $$$). Understanding, experimenting, and living according to your Strategy and Authority will peel back those layers of false beliefs and get you back in touch with who you’ve been all along – your most authentic self. Imagine being faced with a decision and knowing to the core how you, specifically, best make decisions. Imagine knowing exactly how your body will tell you whether it’s a yes or no, and knowing that this guidance is always bang on. I think we can all agree that “I should have listened to my gut/heart/intuition” is one of the most frustrating phrases ever. It is at that point that we typically realize that something outside of ourselves was the primary decision-maker.
Recap on Human Design Type & Strategy
So to recap a bit, you have your Human Design Type – which is your energetic blueprint and how you interact with the world around you. Then your Type’s unique Strategy, which is really the only thing you need to do when living according to your Design – but how on earth do you know what to do? What should you initiate (Manifestors), respond to (Generators & Manifesting Generators), accept in terms of an invitation (Projectors), or decide based on how you feel in your environment (Reflectors)? This is where Authority comes in – this is the knowledge within us that ‘speaks’ to us in various ways. If you don’t have your chart handy, get it here – check where it says “Inner Authority” and see below. Note that you have only one specific Authority; the others will not apply to you. They are useful, however, to help understand and embrace what’s most aligned for others in terms of correct decision-making.
Emotional – Solar Plexus Authority
Your compass for making good decisions is your emotional wave and the ups and downs of your feelings. For you, there is no truth in the immediate moment. It might be helpful to know that for 50% of the population, patience is key when making a decision – as everything needed to make a correct decision reveals itself over time. Let’s say you’re faced with a decision, and in that moment, you’re feeling emotionally charged: try to remind yourself that this decision is not yours to make in an instant, and see what it would be like to become friends with uncertainty, letting the answer come to you. Try sleeping on it, and if you’re able to wait it out even longer – ask if you can take some time to make your decision, and notice the clarity you receive when you’re feeling emotionally balanced.
Sacral Authority
Your gut feeling is everything when you have Sacral Authority. This manifests as ah-huh (yes) or uh-uh (no) reactions that rarely have anything to do with what’s circling in your mind. For those with Sacral Authority, the way that questions are framed makes all the difference (think: yes or no, as opposed to open-ended). Feeling the sensation and immediate gut response when you’re asked a yes or no question helps to become familiar with how your body instinctively responds. If there is any sort of hesitation, experiment with saying something along the lines of: “I’m a bit unsure right now, would you mind running it by me again later?” By learning to follow these inner impulses and physical sensations, you begin to understand what you have the capacity for energy-wise, and in turn, you make decisions that are correct for you to follow through with.
Splenic Authority
Your guide for making good decisions lies in your spleen, the center of intuition and immediate knowledge. When you make decisions, they are often spontaneous, based on an inner feeling or a sudden realization of what’s right and/or healthy for you. It’s so important for you to trust these initial impulses, even if they are sometimes hard to explain. For you, the key is to learn and recognize all of the subtle cues your body provides you about certain places, people, or situations. Pausing to question or think about those physical sensations is taking you out of your body and into your mind – and oftentimes, those immediate insights do not repeat themselves. Trust that your first instinct is what’s most aligned for you.
Ego Manifested Authority
For Ego Manifested individuals, good decisions lie in the center of willpower. It’s important for you to pay attention to what you say in order to know what’s aligned for you. Note that there’s a huge difference between what we think we should say vs. what just comes out at times – for you, the latter is the well-lit pathway to living your design. When you speak directly from your heart, you are bypassing your mind – this is correct for you. While you may have been conditioned to control and carefully script what you say, incredible insights and impact will occur when you pay attention to what, for lack of a better word, you blurt out. Trust your voice, and manifestation will follow.
Ego Projected Authority
As with all Projectors, waiting for recognition and the right invitation is key for you. As the recognition or invitation is received, you are opening the door to guide others and feel immense value in the process. And to peel back another layer of this process, the only way you can accept invitations that are aligned for you is to feel a strong sense of self-worth, along with a deep inner knowing of what your heart truly desires. When faced with an invitation, pay close attention to your feelings on whether or not it’s worth it to you. Strong sense of self-worth = accepting worthy invitations = following through on promises = a healthy heart center.
Self-Projected Authority
For all Projectors, waiting for an invitation is key. When you’re invited, the most important thing you can do is to be aware of your reaction and listen to what you say at that moment. What’s aligned for you will always tie into your identity and direction in life – this is where you find success. Does your invitation include doing something that doesn’t make you feel like you? It’s okay to politely decline. If you follow your inner guidance, integrity, and overall life direction, each decision you make will lead to a life aligned with your purpose. Questions like “Will this make me happy?”, or “Am I heading in the direction that’s right for me and my life?” will take you out of your mind (where you think you need to decide something) and into your true center of identity.
Mental Authority
Your ability to receive guidance based on what you sense in your environment is the key to making decisions that will positively impact your life. It’s very simple for you to lean on the innate power of your mind, but as your strength in environmental awareness grows, you will recognize how your mind may have interrupted your decision-making process in the past. Your environment, and how you feel in it, is everything for you – learn to trust the cues that come from your surroundings rather than letting your mind dictate the outcome. If you feel like extra support is needed while making a decision, talk it over with others – not to get their opinion necessarily, but to gain insight into what you’re saying, feeling, and questioning…therein lies your answer.
Lunar Authority
As a Reflector, with all centers in your chart undefined, your personal Authority lies in the way you connect to the lunar cycle. Every 28 days, the Moon transits through a cycle that activates all 64 gates within the Human Design chart. With your openness, each day of this cycle will provide a reliable pattern as each gate is activated – and for you, that will come with new insights and surprises in your perspective. The key for you is to surrender to this cycle, and if you can, wait the full cycle before making meaningful decisions. While you’re moving through this cycle, your environment (where you are, who you’re with) is your guiding light. While you may have been influenced throughout your life to hurry up and get things done, this is your invitation to practice the art of slowing down – with that, comes clarity for you.
Up for an Experiment?
If you love a good challenge + you’re interested in seeing what life would be like to let your Authority guide you – I created a 30-day challenge journal on Amazon that could help document the process: Rise to the Challenge. This is not specific to Human Design, but it has helped me reflect on various experiments! And if following your Authority just isn’t clicking for you, there’s another way of looking at this that was an absolute game-changer for me: Decision-Making From Your Open Centers.
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