Human Design by Type
There are four Types within Human Design; Projectors, Generators, Manifestors and Reflectors. There is also a very well-known and widely spoken about sub-type of the Generator called a Manifesting Generator. Let’s explore these further.
What is Type?
Type in Human Design refers to your Energy Type. It is determined by the combination of centers you have and the way in which the channels connect them together. It is the most surface level yet important part of Human Design because it determines your aura type and therefore the mechanics of how you interact with other people. That is as far as it stops however! It doesn’t matter what your Human Design Type is in terms of your job or how you will conduct your life. Types aren’t subject to a personality type or job profile. Type does tell us somethings about a person however. Let’s explore.
Generator
Generators are approximately 70% of the population. You are a Generator if you have the Sacral Center defined (the middle square towards the bottom of your chart is red - coloured in). Because your Sacral is defined, you have consistent life force energy available to you. It’s like having your own fuel tank within you which is refuelled each evening as you sleep. If you are a Generator but you feel depleted and have a lack of energy and zest for life, read ‘Deconditioning the Sacral as a Generator’.
With that powerful center defined, you have an aura which is open and enveloping. It wraps everyone in your energy. It’s as though your aura gives everyone a big old hug! That sacral powers that aura style to make it that way. There is no buffer or boundary in your aura; not only do others feel your energy, you feel others deeply as well when they enter your space (which is around 6ft/2m - twice the length of your arm).
Because your aura is so wide, open and enveloping, and you have a personal fuel tank (Sacral Center defined), for you to find your purpose as a Generator, you need to answer the question “Who am I?” It’s through true mastery of that question that you align with that which you have the energy for. The process to find out ‘Who I am?’ is not as logical as it sounds. It is not a mental search for purpose. You can read more about that in the blog “Answering the Who Am I question of a Generator”.
As a Generator, you have specific energy available for certain tasks and it’s no coincidence that the energy you have available is the exact thing you are here to do. Generators tend to find satisfaction by consistently doing the things which they have the energy for.
You know when you’re in alignment because you’ll feel satisfied opposed to frustrated. Read more about “The Generator Signposts of Alignment”.
Projector
Projectors are approximately 20% of the population. They are the newest energy type and they are here to guide. This guidance doesn’t have to be as part of a job or a career, it is woven into the essence of what a Projector is - they guide. You are a Projector if you do not have the Sacral Center defined AND if you do not have a motor defined to the throat (handily, you no longer need to be able to read this, there are many online systems that will calculate your chart and tell you what type you are).
Essentially, Projectors are here to SEE and then guide. They do so through their natural curiosity of others and through the mastery of a system of any kind. Their system could be finance, nutrition, astrology, floristry… Their system helps them to understand other people through and helps others understand and recognise them. It’s a two-way communication and recognition tool. It’s important to note here that it doesn’t matter which system you choose because ultimately you are mastering the system of people. You are mastering guiding people. You, as a Projector, may have one or five systems and combine them together - and that’s ok.
Projectors have a natural curiosity in understanding other people and how the world works because of their aura. Their aura is described as focused and absorbing, some also say penetrating. The mechanism here is the Projector aura zooooms in on the person they are with, it focuses in, penetrates into them and then absorbs information about them. This is why so many Projectors are ‘intuitive’ about people. They seem to know stuff about people before even asking any questions or having a conversation with them. This ability is what helps Projectors ask great questions. They feel into the person they are with and they know what questions will hit the mark. Read about Projector Aura Experiments.
Projectors are great observers - but this can keep them stuck. Projectors spend all their life unknowingly watching Generators (the 70%). They spot how ‘if only they could know themselves better and do what they love to do, and the world would be a better place’… and give themselves the same advice back. This really traps the Projector into cycles of self discovery through therapies. AND there is a time and a place for that. It’s completely OK and normal (and needed) for Projectors to do some inner searching, clearing and healing however too much inward gaze will get the Projector lost.
The Projector Type question is “Who is the other?”. Which means notice other people. Keep your aura pointed outwards. When you feel lost, your direction will come from the interactions you have with the right others. You need to participate in the world and interact. Through the right connections and you recognising the right people, they in-turn recognise you and invite you. Read more about the Projector Invitations.
You know you’re in alignment when you feel successful - which is not societies definition of success - opposed to bitterness. Read more about “The Projectors Signposts of Alignment”.
Manifestor
Manifestors are approximately 9% of the population. You are a Manifestor if you do not have the Sacral defined AND you have a motor connected to the throat. Manifestors are POWERFUL beings, yet most of the ones I’ve spoken with don’t feel that way. They have power to the throat (manifestation). They have incredible impact on others - for good and for bad - without even realising it.
Essentially Manifestors will be the leaders of their own lives (plus have an impact with their leadership on those around them). They tend to do things in their own way - which is perfect and exactly what we need them to do. This is the puzzle piece Manifestors fill in the wheel of life.
Because of the mechanics of the motor going to the throat and no sacral being defined, the Manifestor aura is described as closed and repelling. To many, that may feel or sound awful but it’s working in the Manifestors favour. You are the leader of your own life. You are here to do things differently - you can’t help it! You need to be able to do that in peace. So you aura keeps that distance between you and others to allow for that to happen. You couldn’t be peaceful as a Manifestor if your aura was enveloping and open and absorbing and focused.
I will acknowledge that many Manifestors feel misunderstood and this is the aura’s doing. The aura is a little bit like a foggy plane of glass which you can’t see through. Even when people want to connect, the Manifestor has to guide them into who they are. It doesn’t come instinctively to the other person who is trying to connect. So, Manifestor, open up to those who you want to and they will see what you present.
The question to master as a Manifestor is “Who am I impacting?” It’s through mastery of that question that you bring more peace into your life. Knowing who you are impacting will fulfil that inner need to impact in some way, and also gives you the opportunity to inform people of your decision so they can adjust out of your way.
You’ll know when you’re in alignment when you feel peace opposed to anger - although the anger never truly goes away (no ones opposing sign post does).
Reflector
Reflectors are approximately 1% of the population. You are a Reflector if you do not have any centers defined. You are rare as a Reflector - and it’s likely you already know that deep down (or not so deep down, perhaps!). Many people look at a Reflectors chart and project all kinds of things - ‘wow, they are empty’, ‘wow, there’s nothing there’, plus all the other narratives that come with that - but, my gosh, it’s all so far from the truth.
Reflectors are designed to be tuned into the program - the collective feeling - the collective energies. Their openness allows them to feel the changing tides more than anyone else on this planet. They are witnesses. They are thinkers. They are truth holders - in so many ways.
Because of the open-looking chart with nothing defined, the aura is described as sampling and like teflon (velcro). The aura of a Reflector protects a Reflector. The world is changing and noisy and messy but the mechanism of the Reflector aura allows for selective sampling of that noise, change and mess. And, like water off a duck’s back, once the sampling has stopped, it no longer is affecting the Reflector.
Now - Reflectors still have minds which form narratives. Within that defended aura, the Mind is still forming narratives based on what the Reflector has sampled. Your mind can still be a challenging place to be even though you are protected by your aura. Being so different can mean feeling really confused and not having anyone to model off of.
Reflectors find grounding and purpose through their type questions - ‘Who am I today?’ and ‘Who are they?’
Reflectors are built to feel different each and every day depending on where the transits are and who they are with. Accepting this about your experience as a Reflector can be freeing as you allow for the changes as part of your normal experience of life rather than feeling something is wrong with you.
The question of ‘Who are they?’ refers to looking at the wider picture of society as a whole. Reflectors are like accountants who monitor the books for years, decades. They monitor - through feeling - and report back. That’s why so many of the Reflectors I know have interesting points of views and write in some shape or form (for just themselves or to showcase to others).
You’ll know your aligned as a Reflector when you feel surprised opposed to disappointed (which all too many Reflectors feel about life). Read more about ‘The Reflector Signposts of Alignment’
