Human Design: What is The Viral Astrology-Like Trend: Celebrity Astrologers Weigh In
Discover how the trend can work for you
Whether you’re a believer or not, you likely grew up understanding the 12 signs of the zodiac, which one you fell into and possibly even reading your horoscope regularly. But a new trend called human design is upping the ante and you may be asking yourself, what is human design? Keep scrolling to find out what it is, ad how it can help you!
What is human design?
Human design combines the ancient principles from astrology, the I Ching, Kabbalah, the Hindu-Brahmin chakra system and quantum physics to give individuals insights into their personality, strengths, weaknesses and life purpose. Like astrology, a human design profile maps a person’s unique energy configuration at birth. It outlines their conscious and unconscious personality traits, decision-making strategy and potential for personal growth. “Imagine your human design profile as your personal life compass. It’s not a map that tells you where to go but an internal GPS that guides how you navigate the journey,” explains Aycee Brown, human design expert and author of the upcoming book Embody Your Magic (Harper One, July 2024).
Where do we have ease and flow in our lives, and where are we most likely to become stuck, frustrated and blocked? “Human design helps you understand how you are naturally wired so that you can work in harmony with your core motivations. It’s an incredible time-saver and can bring profound relief and peace,” attests Tali and Ophira Edut, the duo known as The AstroTwins (astrologers to Beyoncé and Dua Lipa) and authors of the upcoming book The Astrology Advantage (Simon and Schuster, August 2024).
The idea is to pinpoint your specific human design profile and then use that as a guidance system to make active changes in your life. “It helps you understand the unique currents within you and the conscious and unconscious forces shaping your decisions and reactions,” says Brown, “This self-awareness brings immense clarity. We often get stuck in the “why” behind our actions and frustrations. The profile shifts the focus to the “how.” It explains why you crave information or learn best through experience. This empowers you to leverage your natural tendencies for better decision-making and a more fulfilling life,” she affirms.
Curious to learn more? Read what our experts say about the human design profile and what learning about yours can do for you.
How does one determine their human design profile?
It can be complicated. In human design, “each person essentially has two astrology charts: One for their exact moment of birth (the “personality” chart), which corresponds to the birth chart in Western astrology. The second chart is calculated for 89 days (or 88º in the zodiac) before their birth. This is called the “design” chart,” explains The AstroTwins. “The belief in this system is that the soul enters the body 89 days before a baby is born. Think of that date as a spiritual birthday.”
While astrology maps the position of the planets in the sky when you are born, human design maps the life force energy that circulates through your body throughout your life. “In many ways, the human design chart is like a circuit board, showing where you, as an energetic being, have easy access to power and might have some short circuits to contend with,” they explain.
A human design profile typically includes several components:
- Type: There are four main types in human design: Manifestor, Generator, Projector and Reflector. Each type has its own strategy for making decisions and interacting with the world. More about these later.
- Authority: This refers to the inner guidance system a person should rely on when making life decisions. An individual’s human design profile could be based on emotions, intuition, or other factors.
- Profile: The profile consists of two numbers, typically written as “X/Y.” These numbers represent different aspects of the person’s personality and interactions with the world.
- Auras: Each human design type has a distinct aura, influencing how they engage with others and navigate their environment. An aura is believed to be a subtle energy field surrounding living beings and is often described as a luminous glow or a colorful halo extending beyond the physical body. It is believed to contain information about a person’s physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well-being. (Click here for more about what your aura can tell you about you.)
- Centers and channels: Human design also involves analysis of the energy centers and channels in a person’s body graph. These indicate areas of strength, potential challenges and opportunities for growth.
Once you understand how it all works, you can determine yours. The easiest way to do this is to take a free online quiz. Many are available, like this one, which does all the legwork for you.
Here’s a TikTok video from @drnaieema that also breaks it down.
@drnaieema Understanding your human design profile #greenscreen #humandesign #humandesignprofile #blackfriday
♬ original sound – Dr. Naieema| HD & Astrology
What are the different types in human design, and what does each mean?
Once you take the quiz and generate your profile, you will fall into one of four types. The AstroTwins break down the four main types and what each means.
- Generators: This accounts for about 70% of the population who are the doers and drivers of action. “They have open auras and are here to find satisfaction in the human experience. Their strategy is to respond to what energizes and excites them while avoiding frustration.”
- Projectors: “[This type] makes up about 20% of the population and has auras that are focused and absorbing. Unlike generators, which initiate action, the projector’s strategy is to wait for the invitation. Projectors are intuitive, wise and strategic and need lots of time to recharge. They struggle with bitterness when out of alignment with themselves.”
- Manifestors: “Less than 10% of the population falls into this category, and their purpose is to inform people and move them into action. Their auras are said to be closed and repellant. These visionary types can struggle with anger when they cannot bring forth their ideas.”
- Reflectors: The rarest of the 4 Types, making up only 1% of the population. “These wise observers are the ultimate mirrors! Their auras resist, sample and reflect other auras. Because they can get lost in the energy of other people around them, they struggle with disappointment. Their strategy is to wait one moon cycle before making decisions.”
And if you feel overwhelmed by all of this, don’t fret! Just take it step by step, advise The AstroTwins. “Like all metaphysical systems, it’s best to be patient with the process and learn one piece at a time. From our experience, the knowledge starts to blossom like a flower when you go petal by petal,” they stress.
“Your profile is a tool for self-discovery, not a set of limitations. By understanding your type, you can identify areas for growth and learn strategies to navigate challenges that arise naturally for you,” says Brown.
If human design profile sounds too complicated for you:
The AstroTwins created a simpler archetype-based system that also helps you use astrology to optimize your work, relate to others and find your thriving zone. The I*AM method involves analyzing your birth chart and identifying the most important parts to make astrology relatable for the average person.
The AstroTwins say everyone falls into one of three categories:
- I (Innovator): trailblazers, pioneers, visionaries
- A (Authority): experts, award winners, achievers
- M (Maven): creator, trend spreader, artist
All you have to do is plug in your date of birth, location and time (if you know it), and it will tell you if you are an innovator, authority, or maven!
For all things horoscope, click here!
