Human Design Insights: My Initial Journey
What is Human Design?
What is Human Design? For some, it's like being in a conditioned body thrown into a bowl full of bloody sharks or piranhas—a total mindful stagnation. For others, it may seem like another woo-woo Zen map dictating how life is supposed to unfold. To me, Human Design is an experiment to live through while being a vessel on Mother Earth. An awareness that was stripped from our human body and replaced with rules and dictations—everything that makes us human. Some of us are working to become more in tune with how our energy works and how it best serves us and our communities. Depending on how you initially receive the information, it can feel like coming home, finally something that speaks to you. Or it can feel limiting, stuffy, another set of rules, even downright torture.
Explanation
Human Design combines principles from the I Ching, astrology, Kabbalah, and the chakra system to create a comprehensive guide to understanding your unique energy blueprint. It shows how your energy works, your aura, your decision-making process, your communication style, the environments you thrive in, what motivates you, and how you learn. It's intended to be a guide, helping you navigate life in alignment with your true self.
At its core, Human Design can open up your worldview by offering insights into how you interact with the world and how the world interacts with you. It provides a framework for understanding your strengths and weaknesses, helping you make better decisions and live a more fulfilling life. However, like any system, it's not a one-size-fits-all solution; it requires a personal touch to make it truly effective.
The initial tool don't take into account all humans. This system was channeled through the lens of a straight white male in the 1980s. As a black woman, I don't have much in common with a white man from that era or any era. So like all tools, it needs work to ensure the initial teachings from each of these principles are also honored.
Initial Personal Journey
I discovered Human Design while starting my business and feeling frustrated with my coaches' and mentors' traditional teachings and marketing strategies. Despite previous successes in the military and HR field, I felt like a stump in the ground, not growing or like a boat spinning on a lake. I was in a rut, searching for something to reignite my passion and guide me towards a new direction. I bought books and completed quizzes, hoping they could help me find my purpose. Side note—I never found it and just kept searching outside of myself for something that existed from within.
In my frustration, I decided to scroll through social media and stumbled upon a post about Human Design. I had seen posts about it before, but it looked like another complicated thing I wanted to avoid dealing with. Well, I had time that day, and that post, that moment, sparked a journey filled with extreme happiness as I discovered new aspects of myself, confusion as I tried to understand the system, annoyance as I felt overwhelmed by the amount of information, and growth as I began to apply the principles in my life. Initially, it felt overwhelming, as I thought I needed to follow every detail precisely. But over time, I realized it's more of a guide than a set of rigid rules.
In Human Design, I am a 1/4 Emotional Manifestor. This means that I need to learn the foundation and details about things and then share those with my people (network). My decision-making process takes time, and I need to go through my emotions before making any decisions. Spontaneous actions and decisions are not great for me. I hate rejection, but I understand rejection doesn't have to be negative. It can open new paths and journeys that I didn’t see before. I get to initiate the things I want as long as I want them. I can contribute to those around me with the knowledge that I have.
Human Design helped me see how I show up in the world and how others perceive me. It improved my communication with family and friends and taught me to embrace change. As a black woman, navigating this system also meant confronting societal stigmas and generational traumas, which added layers to my experience.
Through Human Design, I began to understand the importance of my unique energy blueprint. I learned to appreciate my decision-making process and how it differs from others. This understanding allowed me to tailor my business strategies in ways that felt more authentic and aligned with my true self. The journey wasn't always smooth, but it was undeniably enlightening.
Photo by Elena Mozhvilo on Unsplas
Critical Reflection
Human Design is not without its criticisms. Some people find it limiting, feeling boxed in by its categories while being told to live outside the box. Depending on your teachers and the information you consume, it can feel confusing. It's essential to remember that Human Design should be a guide, not a strict set of rules. It's about experimenting, making mistakes, and finding what works for you.
Critics argue that Human Design can be overly prescriptive, dictating how you should behave rather than encouraging you to explore your unique path. This rigidity can be stifling, especially for those who feel pressured to conform to a specific mold. However, it's crucial to approach Human Design with an open mind, viewing it as a flexible tool rather than a rigid doctrine.
The key to effectively using Human Design lies in personalization. It's about taking the principles that resonate with you and integrating them into your life in a way that feels natural. This approach allows you to benefit from the system's insights without feeling confined by its limitations. It's about empowering yourself to shape your own journey.
Conclusion
Human Design has the potential to be truly transformative, especially if you approach it with an open mind and a willingness to experiment. Don't let naysayers deter you from exploring it. Remember, Human Design comes from diverse cultural traditions, and understanding this can deepen your appreciation for the system. Use it to better understand yourself and navigate life's complexities. Your experience is unique, and your path is yours to define. By exploring and adapting Human Design to fit your needs, you can unlock new levels of self-awareness and fulfillment.
If you're just starting, here are a few tips:
Take it Slowly: Take your time understanding everything. Begin with the basics and gradually delve deeper.
Find a Community: Connecting with others exploring Human Design can provide support and additional insights. The Belle âme Garden Community
Keep an Open Mind: Be open to experimenting and making mistakes. Your journey is unique, and finding your own way is okay. By keeping an open mind, you can fully embrace the flexibility and adaptability of Human Design and make it work for you.
Remember, Human Design is a guide, not a rulebook. Use it to enhance your life, not to constrain it. Your path is yours to create, and Human Design is just one of many tools that can help you on your journey.