Human Design Authorities
Understanding How We Make Decisions
The Human Design System is a unique tool for self-awareness and growth, blending astrology, the I Ching, the Kabbalah, the chakra system, and quantum physics. A central concept in this system is Inner Authority, which reveals an individual's unique way of making decisions. By aligning with their Inner Authority, individuals can make choices that are in harmony with their true selves, leading to greater fulfillment and authenticity.
There are several types of Inner Authorities, each associated with specific centers in the Human Design chart. These include Solar Plexus, Sacral, Splenic, Ego Manifested, Self-Projected, Ego-Projected, Mental, and Lunar Authority. Each type governs how an individual processes information and responds to the world, highlighting a distinct decision-making strategy.
Understanding and honoring one’s Inner Authority helps individuals avoid the influence of societal conditioning, leading to empowered and authentic choices. By cultivating this self-awareness, individuals can experience deeper alignment with their true purpose, creating a more harmonious and fulfilling life.
Solar Plexus- Emotional Authority
Solar Plexus Authority in Human Design signifies that emotions are central to decision-making. Those with this authority experience an emotional wave that can last for hours or even days, and it’s the rhythm of this wave that guides their choices. Emotionality here isn’t about instability—it’s about the need for clarity that arises only after riding the emotional wave.
People with Solar Plexus Authority often notice that their feelings toward situations can fluctuate dramatically. One moment, they may feel optimistic, and the next, they may feel uncertain. These emotional shifts are part of their natural process. To make empowered decisions, they must wait until they reach a place of emotional neutrality, free from the extremes of highs and lows.
Living authentically with Solar Plexus Authority involves respecting this process of waiting for emotional clarity. While societal pressures may encourage fast decisions, those with this authority must honor their need for time to feel through situations. This approach ultimately leads to choices that are aligned with their true selves.
Communication is also key for Solar Plexus individuals—sharing their decision-making process helps others understand their need for time. By embracing their emotional wave, they can make decisions that feel deeply correct and satisfying.
Sacral Authority
Sacral Inner Authority is a key decision-making strategy for Generators and Manifesting Generators in Human Design.
Due to this authority coming from the Sacral center- it cannot appear in Non-Sacral Human Design types (projectors, Manifestors & Reflectors), however, Generators & Manifesting Generators can have a different authority.
It operates through instinctive, gut-level responses rather than mental analysis. When faced with a decision, those with Sacral Authority experience immediate, visceral reactions—either a “yes” or “no”—felt as expansion or contraction within the body. These responses are driven by the body’s energy, bypassing the mind’s judgment, which is why it’s often called a “gut response” or “body truth.”
Harnessing Sacral Authority requires tuning into the body’s reactions. The key is to listen to your immediate physical sensations rather than overthinking. Sacral responses are always in the present moment, focusing on what feels right now, not in the future or past.
In relationships, this authority can guide decisions about compatibility and energy flow. However, open communication is crucial to help others understand your process. It's important to avoid conditioning or external pressures that might cloud your gut responses.
Over time, by consistently practicing listening to your sacral response, you can create a life that’s aligned with your authentic self, fostering more fulfillment and clarity in your decisions.
Splenic Authority
Splenic Inner Authority in Human Design is found in Manifestors and Projectors with an undefined or open Sacral and Solar Plexus centers. This authority connects directly to the spleen, the body’s intuitive center, offering instinctive, moment-to-moment guidance. The splenic response comes as a quick, intuitive hit that may not always make logical sense but must be trusted in the present.
This authority operates in real-time and is fleeting—if you miss it, it’s gone. It communicates through gut-level sensations and can manifest as a sudden knowing or an immediate yes/no feeling. Splenic decision-making cannot be planned or analyzed—it’s spontaneous, occurring in the moment.
Fear also plays a role in the Splenic Authority, as it’s linked to survival instincts. Spontaneous fears are typically signals to protect yourself, while recurring fears may stem from the mind and should not dictate decisions.
Trusting the Splenic Inner Authority requires daily practice. Pay attention to the subtle signals it sends, and cultivate a relationship with your body to enhance intuitive clarity. Over time, this connection helps you make decisions that are authentic and aligned with your true self, guiding you through life with instinctive certainty.
Ego-Manifested Authority
Ego Manifested Authority in Human Design is a rare decision-making strategy found in Manifestors with a defined Heart/Ego Center connected to their Throat Center through a motor. This authority is driven by willpower, focusing on what individuals truly desire and have the energy to commit to. Decisions made under this authority must align with one’s deep, authentic desires, not fleeting impulses.
For those with this authority, the voice plays a vital role. Verbalizing their thoughts helps them determine whether a decision aligns with their true self. Communication is key to navigating their decision-making process, as expressing desires allows them to gain clarity. However, this type of decision-making can be misunderstood, particularly in a world that values mental analysis over intuitive will.
Ego Manifested individuals are independent and assertive, with the ability to make swift decisions and take action. This makes them well-suited for leadership or entrepreneurial roles. In relationships, their communication is essential to ensure their partners understand their assertive nature and desires.
In personal development, Ego Manifested Authority requires reflection on one’s desires and ensuring decisions stem from true wants, not passing urges. Embracing this unique authority leads to a fulfilling, authentic life, empowered by clear communication and self-trust.
Self-Projected Authority
The Self-Projected Inner Authority is unique to Projectors and originates from the G Center (Identity Center), which governs self-direction, identity, and love. This authority is centered around self-expression: those with it find clarity and direction by talking through their feelings, ideas, and insights. Rather than seeking advice or external input, they process their truth by verbalizing their thoughts.
Self-Projected individuals are encouraged to wait for invitations to share their thoughts before expressing themselves. Through this interaction, they can hear their own truth, gaining clarity on what feels right for them. The Throat Center, being defined, enables powerful expression but also makes them vulnerable to others’ influences, so it’s vital they choose listeners carefully.
Trusting this process can be challenging, as it contrasts with traditional decision-making based on logic or analysis. However, as Projectors with this authority grow in confidence, they learn to trust the insights that emerge during expression.
The power of the Self Projected Authority lies in its authenticity—expressing their truth allows these individuals to inspire others and guide themselves. In relationships and life, this authentic self-expression is transformative, enabling deep alignment with their true path.
Ego-Projected Authority
The Ego Projected Inner Authority is a rare type found in less than 1% of the population. It is associated with those whose Heart/Ego Center is connected to the G Center (Identity Center). The core of this authority is that decisions are made through willpower and must be invited and recognized by others before they can be expressed effectively.
Those with this authority are naturally sure of their desires, but their willpower needs external acknowledgment to manifest fully. While they have the drive to take charge and assert themselves, it’s crucial to wait for genuine invitations and recognition from others to express their will without overstepping. This authority is grounded in self-worth and value, which are essential for making aligned decisions.
In relationships and professional life, individuals with Ego Projected Inner Authority thrive when their capabilities are recognized. However, they must navigate carefully to avoid being perceived as too assertive or domineering. Patience is key—they must wait for the right moments to step forward, as their authority functions most harmoniously when invited. This process can lead to greater self-assurance and powerful contributions to both personal and professional environments when properly honored.
Mental Authority
The Mental Inner Authority in Human Design, also called the Outer Authority or Environmental Authority, is unique to Projectors and Reflectors. Unlike other authorities, it doesn’t come from within the body but relies on the external environment and the feedback received from others. Individuals with this authority make decisions through interaction, using dialogue and reflection to gain clarity. The process involves expressing their thoughts, hearing them reflected back, and observing others’ responses, which ultimately leads to understanding their own truth.
A crucial element of the Mental Inner Authority is the environment. Those with this authority need to be in supportive, safe settings where they can freely express their ideas. The people around them must also understand their need for open communication and offer valuable, unbiased feedback. Without the right environment and the right people, they may struggle to gain clarity.
Time and patience are also essential. Mental Authority individuals should avoid rushing decisions, as their best choices emerge from a period of reflection. In relationships, this means partners must respect their decision-making process, allowing for ample time to reach conclusions. Over time, mastering this authority helps build trust in their method, aligning them with their life purpose.
Lunar Authority
The Lunar Inner Authority is unique to Reflectors in Human Design. Unlike other types, Reflectors do not have a consistent inner authority but instead make decisions over the span of a 28-day lunar cycle. This process allows them to experience life fully and observe all nuances before reaching clarity. Patience is key: Reflectors must wait until the end of a full lunar cycle to make significant decisions, ensuring they have the time to reflect and gain deeper understanding.
This authority is different from the fast-paced world, as Reflectors are encouraged to trust their need for time and patience. They must honor this rhythm to make decisions that truly resonate with their authentic self, leading to deeper satisfaction and success in life.
In relationships, Reflectors need time to understand dynamics and feel their way through interactions. Their decision-making process can be misunderstood as indecisiveness, so it’s important for partners to respect their need for space and time. Similarly, in career decisions, Reflectors must take time to explore various options and environments over a lunar cycle, ultimately leading to better choices and fulfillment.
By embracing their Lunar Authority, Reflectors can align with their true self and make decisions that reflect their deep wisdom.