Human Design: Exploring the Five Types

Introduction

Human Design is a system created by Ra Uru Hu. Similar to a birth chart, Ra utilized elements of astrology, the I’Ching, the chakras, and various other ancient teachings to manifest a unique way of life expression. To discover your free Human Design chart, simply enter your birth date, time, and location on the Jovian website.

The information available for decoding your chart is not readily available (for free) on the website, so I’m sure you’ve got many questions about your chart. Before we can delve into the intricacies of HD, let us discuss the 5 Types of body graphs you might encounter. These types often serve as a starting point to HD, although I find there are other components to the system that are just as, if not more, useful for specification. Nonetheless, let’s get started!

The Five Types of Human Design

Generator

Generators make up approximately 37% of the population. As a generator, you are here to work. While that might sound simple at a first glance, the work you’re here to do is solely what speaks to you. You’re not here to serve. You’re not here to do another’s bidding despite a constant unwillingness. Chances are, if you feel unhappy with the idea of doing a particular type of work, it’s not for you.

Something I see often when sharing Human Design to someone who sees they’re a generator is an unsatisfactory response. I’ve come to find that a generator who doesn’t want to be a generator feels this way because they don’t understand what it means to be a generator who correctly follows their authority.

Speaking of which…

Generators are sacral beings, which means they have a constant source of energy and a yes/no response to all that they encounter. In a way, this is a powerful and amazingly useful mechanism. I can ask a generator any kind of yes/no question, and I will get a response. They will either light up with energy, or they will resist or show indifference, which is a form of ‘no’. A generator that listens to their sacral and makes decisions based on whether they feel a true yes will feel what is called their signature: Satisfaction.

Of course, there is far more to it than this, and I will be covering the specific intricacies to the generator type in another blog post.

Manifesting Generator

Often grouped together with the generators, manifesting generators are truly their own type. They comprise of around 33% of the population. While they, too, are here to respond to stimuli and work, they are also here to initiate numerous projects with their constant, sacral energy and steady access to vocalization of that energy.

As a hybrid between generators and manifestors, manifesting generators experience both frustration and anger when incorrectly living their designs. If they listen to their sacral (or emotional) authority, they will feel both satisfaction and peace with the work they have done and the projects they have inspired.

*In a later blog post, I plan on covering the differences between a pure manifesting generator and a generator with manifesting potential, because I strongly feel there are differences between these two subtypes, even though they’re all grouped together as manifesting generators.

Projector

Projectors are 20% of the population. As a non-energy type, they are not here to work, and if they are conditioned to work, will eventually feel burnt out as a result. Projectors are here to guide generator types, and their unique relationship with generators and manifesting generators enables them to experience extreme success, so long as they wait for the right invitation.

I have come across many projectors who feel discouraged by having to wait for the invitation, but when they do, and they listen to their authority in deciding whether or not that invitation is right for them, they are highly successful.

The projector type has many different forms of inner authority and variation, so please stay tuned for my blog that covers these forms in depth, as they are vital to understanding one’s unique chart as a projector.

Manifestor

Making up approximately 9% of the population (soon to be 10%), are the manifestors. Manifestors are here to initiate. They are considered an energy type, but unlike the generators and manifesting generators, manifestors have inconsistent energy. Thus, it is important that manifestors don’t fall into the conditioning that they are here to consistently work. Manifestors are here to inform, so as not to surprise and confuse or disrupt, and then act.

Contrary to popular belief, being a manifestor does not mean one can go around initiating at one’s whim. The manifestor must wait for the mechanisms within their own chart to act, and that can vary from manifestor to manifestor. If a manifestor acts without informing, they may be met with resistance, and if they act against their design, they may experience their not self of anger. On the contrary, the manifestor who listens to their body graph and informs will experience profound, inner peace.

I will cover the specifics of the different manifestor channels and authorities in my pending blog on manifestors.

Reflector

The reflector is only 1% of the population. Here to reflect back the energies and states of those around them, reflectors are here to receive and then send that energy outwards to spread deep awareness. As a result, the reflector is highly susceptible towards the energies of those around them and must make decisions based on a lunar cycle.

A reflector who is conditioned by those around them to feel or experience what they’re feeling and experiencing without receiving the necessary space to check in with their own feelings and experiences will feel disappointment. On the contrary, reflectors who listen to themselves and ensure they get the space needed for their unique openness will feel their signature of surprise.

Stay tuned for further information on the reflector type in my later blog posts.