What is Human Design?

If you’re new to Human Design, you might be wondering, “What the heck is it?”

I’m here to share all the fascinating details! In my personal experience, Human Design has been life-changing. It’s helped me embrace who I truly am, and it’s transformed the way I interact with my family. No longer do I feel inadequate, overly emotional, or defensive—instead, I’ve gained a fresh perspective that allows me to shift quickly into helpful energy rather than reactive energy. And honestly? Life feels a lot more fun now! Keep reading to dive into all the nerdy details about Human Design and how it can bring clarity and joy to your life too.

Human Design is a fascinating and transformative approach to self-discovery and personal growth. It’s designed to help you uncover your authentic self by peeling back the layers of conditioning—the parts of you that you were told weren’t “acceptable” as a child—and reconnecting with who you truly are at your core.

At its heart, Human Design is an experiment—a tool for exploring yourself and the way you interact with the world. It blends wisdom from ancient traditions like Kabbalah, the I Ching, astrology, and the chakra system with modern concepts from genetics and quantum physics. The result? A powerful framework for understanding human behavior and personality. Think of it as “the ultimate personality test,” but with so much more depth!

The best part? You don’t have to believe in anything for Human Design to work for you. It’s not tied to any specific faith or ideology, so it can complement whatever belief system you already hold. (Check out my post on Faith and Human Design if you’re curious about how they can coexist!)

Ready to dive deeper? Let me break down each of these systems and show you how they come together to create this incredible tool for self-awareness.

The Five Systems of Human Design

Human Design is a beautiful fusion of five ancient and modern systems, each contributing its own unique wisdom to help us understand ourselves better. Let’s break them down:

Kabbalah
Rooted in Jewish mysticism, Kabbalah explores the essence of God and the divine workings of the universe. Its Tree of Life symbolizes the structure of creation, and in Human Design, this connects to the nine centers in your bodygraph. Each center corresponds to one of the nine lower sephiroth, representing different qualities of life energy that shape your experiences. Kabbalah reminds us that we’re deeply interconnected with the universe and invites us to embrace our divine design.

Chinese I-Ching ("Book of Changes")
The I-Ching is an ancient guidebook filled with 64 life lessons, each represented by a hexagram. In Human Design, these hexagrams align with the 64 gates in your bodygraph, acting like a personalized roadmap for navigating life’s challenges and opportunities. Understanding which gates are active in your chart can illuminate your strengths, help you make aligned decisions, and support your personal growth.

Astrology
Astrology’s influence in Human Design goes beyond just your birth chart. It incorporates not only the planetary positions at your time of birth (your conscious traits) but also 88 days before birth (your unconscious traits). This dual perspective provides a deeper understanding of how your mind and body work together, offering insights into both your personality and how you energetically move through life.

Chakra System
The chakra system brings its wisdom about energy centers in the body. While traditional chakras focus on seven centers, Human Design expands this to nine, reflecting a more nuanced view of human energy. These centers govern different aspects of our emotions, physical health, and decision-making. When aligned, they create harmony; when out of balance, they can lead to stress or dis-ease.

Quantum Physics
This modern science ties everything together by exploring how subatomic particles called neutrinos influence us at birth. These tiny particles carry information that imprints our unique design. Quantum physics also mirrors Human Design’s idea that we are both wave-like (fluid and adaptable) and particle-like (solid and defined), connecting us to universal energy patterns that shape our behaviors and life paths.

How Human Design Came to Be

Human Design has an origin story as unique as the system itself. In January 1987, Alan Robert Krakower—later known as Ra Uru Hu—had a mystical experience while living on Ibiza, Spain. Over eight days and nights, he claimed to have received a transmission from what he called "the Voice," which revealed the foundation of Human Design.

Ra spent the next 25 years refining this system, teaching it worldwide, and establishing the International Human Design School. His work has since grown into a global movement for self-discovery and personal growth. Though Ra passed away in 2011, his legacy lives on through books, lectures, and a thriving community of practitioners.

Why It Matters

At its core, Human Design is about self-awareness and empowerment. It encourages experimentation over blind acceptance—inviting you to explore what resonates with you personally. By integrating its insights into your daily life, you can create more flow in your relationships, make decisions with confidence, and live authentically as you. Whether you’re seeking personal growth or deeper connections with others, Human Design offers a powerful framework for transformation.

Still have questions? I'd love to chat! Book a free call with me and let's explore your curiosity together.

If you're feeling excited and ready to unlock the full potential of your unique design, go ahead and schedule a Human Design session!