Human Design Could Offer a Pathway to Better Living

For thousands of years, people have looked to the stars for guidance in navigating their lives. From Pharoah in ancient Egypt to former first lady Nancy Reagan, people have turned to astrologers for advice in navigating life’s ups and downs.

But today, many are turning to Human Design for a more detailed pathway to self-understanding. Parade explains Human Design reveals key personality traits, how people process emotions, and provides insight into their energy.

Samantha Howarth, a human design expert at The Ann Savannah and founder of Rhythm & Resonance, told Parade,  “it draws on ancient systems including astrology, the I-Ching, and chakra-based energy centers.”

Ra Uru Hu
Unlike the ancient systems, Human Design, according to Jovian Archive, was revealed to founder Alan Robert Krakower (now known as Ra Uru Hu) over eight days and nights in 1987. Born in Canada, Ra Uru Hu enjoyed a successful career in advertising and television production before a personal crisis prompted him to abandon his life in Toronto and move to Ibiza, Spain.

In Spain, Ra Uru Hu was transformed by a mystical experience that revealed what he later called Human Design. During that transformative week, Ra received a transmission of knowledge from what he called “The Voice.” This transmission synthesized ancient systems and modern science into a completely new framework, centered around the BodyGraph—a visual representation of what Human Design labels the Nine-Centered Being.

Ra Uru Hu died in 2011, but the Jovian Archive continues as the official hub of Human Design and offers a series of educational programs and a free tool to create a personal Human Design Chart.

A BodyGraph is a Report Card
According to Self Magazine each BodyGraph  reads like a report card broken down into multiple sections. Unlike astrology’s 12 signs, Human Design defines  four types of people. Each type dictates how they strategically move through life. There are manifestors (initiators who act independently), generators and manifesting-generators (worker bees), projectors (great guides and teachers), and reflectors (mirrors of society, absorbing and reflecting the energy of those around them).

In addition, there are seven levels of  inner authority – the part that ensures people make decisions that align with their true nature. For example, some  people trust their guts, others need to reflect a lot or wait until the answer comes to them naturally.

It can sound overwhelming and complex, but according to  leadership coach Erin Claire Jones,  human design focuses on how people are wired to make decisions, use their  energy, and relate to others. “It is equal parts mystical and practical,” Jones explains in a podcast on Dear Media.

Jones says that Human Design is about practical applications. The classifications are meant to provide insights that have real life applications. She provides an example of its use for couples. One partner might need time to process a decision, while the other is wired to act on instinct. Instead of labeling it as frustrating, human design reframes it as simply being different. “It depersonalizes the whole thing,” Jones says. “We’re just different. This is a way that I could better support them.”

Jones admits that Human Design can seem daunting with its charts and terminology, but she recommends starting with three core elements: type, strategy, and authority. “Just those three pieces can totally change your life,” she says.

Unlike astrology, Human Design does not provide a daily tidbit each day to caution readers to hold their temper or be nice to their co-worker. But for those who put in the effort to understand its complexities, it offers a long-term pathway to a more meaningful life.