HDxLiberation: A Human Design Podcast

Episode 2b - What is Human Design?

• Courtney Napier, Andrea Ward Berg • Season 1 • Episode 2

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In this episode of the Human Design and Liberation podcast, hosts Andrea and Courtney celebrate the podcast's one-year anniversary by providing an introduction to Human Design. They discuss its origins, the various systems it synthesizes—such as astrology, the I Ching, and the Vedic chakras—and its application in understanding the human experience. The episode covers the five energy types and their associated strategies and authorities, offering insights into how individuals can navigate their own liberation journeys through understanding their unique design. They also introduce an upcoming course aimed at making Human Design more user-friendly.

This episode is brought to you by the Pursuing Liberation HD fundamentals course. Click the link to learn more about our March 2025 cohort! (LINK)

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Andrea Ward Berg:

Hi, I'm Andrea.

Courtney Napier:

Hey y'all, this is Courtney and welcome to the Human Design and Liberation podcast.

Andrea Ward Berg:

This is a space where we explore how human design and liberation theology intersect with the past, present, and future.

Courtney Napier:

With the intent of sharing the beauty and pain of the human experience to encourage you in your liberation journey.

Andrea:

Here we go. Hi.

Courtney:

Here we go. Hey, boo. How are you?

Andrea:

I'm good. How are you?

Courtney:

I'm good. I'm really good. Really good. I have news for you, but I'm gonna do it after.

Andrea:

Okay. Sounds good. So

Courtney:

We're friends first and we work together second. We're sisters first for sure. Yes.

Andrea:

Um, all right, I'm excited about this little mini soad. Um, we are going to talk about what human design is today.

Courtney:

Yeah.

Andrea:

Yeah. Yeah.

Courtney:

Two seasons in.

Andrea:

I'm laughing because, um, we've been doing the podcast for, I mean, I think we're right at our year anniversary.

Courtney:

Um,

Andrea:

and we're just now doing an intro human design, but to be fair, I don't think that we expected so many people to find the podcast who were new to human design, which I'm excited about. I'm super excited. So if you are tuning in and you are new to human design, welcome. We're happy you found us. You are in good hands. We are going to take very good care of you. Um, so yeah, it's, it's a good, it's a good thing to do all around.

Courtney:

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We're excited about like, it's good for us. It's good. Like, this is a good opportunity to review and, um, and do it our way. I think like there's been a lot of different approaches to human design, particularly on like social media, because that's like the most accessible place for this information. And, um, as it goes in the social media streets. It can get a little, it can get a little, um, weird, It can get a little weird out there in the streets. So,

Andrea:

yeah. And I think, you know, the biggest, the biggest thing that I am noticing, especially right now is just, um, how confusing it can it can be. And how, um, how you're kind of on your own to piece it together. Um, even like the very fundamental pieces of just like knowing what your type is, knowing your strategy and authority, um, you're left to figure it out on your own. And it's really not. Intuitive. It goes counter to everything that we've been taught our whole lives and that our ancestors have been taught. So, um, yeah, I am excited. We're working on some solutions for that. So, um, you know that we're going to have some ways to work with us and learn things. And we're working to kind of ease that entry, make it more, um, User friendly, um, and also, um, wrap some care around it. but I think, you know, having a place to start and really just what, what the heck is human design is

Courtney:

Yeah.

Andrea:

good place to start. Yes,

Courtney:

yes. So, Andrea, our projector teacher extraordinaire, what the heck is human design?

Andrea:

Okay. So human design. Is a modality that was founded in the mid 80s by a man that goes by Ra Uru Hu that was his spiritual name. Um, and Ra was, I would say he was on his path. He was a fifth line. He. Was a five one. Um, and he studied many of the modalities that human design synthesizes together. Um, so human design synthesizes. Astrology, the I Ching, the Vedic chakras, the Kabbalah, and some quantum physics. Um, the way that I think about this is when you think about astrology, astrology existed between the Middle East and Europe for anywhere between nine and X thousands of years, right? Um, the I Ching likewise. So the I Ching, um, is called the book of life in traditional Chinese medicine. Um, and it consists of what are 64 codons. Um, it has been around for as long as traditional Chinese medicine. So, you know, written Um Written proof is like seven to eight thousand years, but I fully believe that these systems were around way longer. Um, but we know because of impermanence, the evidence, you know, has Gone back to the earth. So, um, so you've got those two modalities, the Vedic chakras, likewise, many thousands of years, um, the Vedic chakras actually come from the Aryan people who were a nomadic tribe between what is current day Iran and, um, all the way across over to Mongolia. Um, so they, they made it to what we know of now as India through those nomadic people. Um, and then you have the Kabbalah, which is a synthesis of, um, spiritual Judaism, esoteric judaism, um, um, and so each of these ancient systems is a window into the human experience. If we of the human experience as this Um, crystal with so many different facets, right? Um, so each of those systems gives you a window in. What's unique about human design is that it found a way to match them it found what parts of the I Ching match the parts of astrology. So, um, it gives us a more robust system to describe the human experience. It, Is still going to be missing. some information because

Courtney:

right.

Andrea:

The human experience is mystical and extremely deep and explain everything. Yeah. hmm, Um, but what you'll find as you start with the system is that there are so many facets. Now that can be really overwhelming because you start with, okay, I'm a generator. And I have sacral authority and I'm a four, six, right? That feels like very straightforward. Before finding human design, I spent a lot of time in Myers Briggs and strengths And, you know, I did like trainings with the intersection of those two systems, because again, like not one system can explain complexities that experiencing. So,

Courtney:

right, right, right.

Andrea:

I do feel like human design does a good job, even though, you know, we live in a lot of astrology that human design doesn't really, um, incorporate. mm So, um, after you find out your type, your strategy and authority and your profile, you will start to hear about all of these other layers, like your definition. Uh, like your, which centers you have defined and undefined your gates, your channels, right? There's so many different aspects of human design, and that can be very, very overwhelming for somebody when they're first coming in. Um, and so I just want to encourage anybody listening to this, just know that that is all there for you and it is a mental exercise. It is interesting. It's fun to go down the rabbit hole, but it can also be a distraction from listening to the way that your strategy and authority works. And, um, it can be a distraction for you really fully getting into your experiment because it requires us to get into our body and listen to whether it's your sacral response or your splenic knowing or whatever your authority is. um, that is like a little bit less thrilling in the beginning because it's a little slower than just being able to Google every single gate that you have, because why not? Um, yeah, but don't get me wrong. I mean, I've done both and you know, again, follow your strategy and authority. Like if you have sacral energy to go down a rabbit hole and read about every single gate that you have, then by all means, like go for it. Um, yeah, but the real magic happens when you. Are embodying it and just like living your life.

Courtney:

right? Right. And so, okay. So I am, um, I am on like my body graph or genetic matrix. Someone told me you should look up your body chart. Your, your, your body graph. I go in and I plug my information in now I have my body graph up and it says I'm, you know, a four six generator seeing these, shapes and these things. And I'm like, where, where do I, where do I start? What is a generator even mean? What is an aura type? Like where, where, where can I be enter in?

Andrea:

Yeah. So I think that's a great question. Um, I am going to. Well, first, let's talk about the aura types. So there's five aura types. Mm hmm. There are generators and manifesting generators. There are manifestors, projectors and reflectors. Um, eacaura typepe works differently with their energy, their energy works differently. So um, I personally use the term energy type. I know some people use aura type, um, energy type just feels a little bit more clear to me. Um, but yeah, you know, for those listening, those two things are the same. If you see energy type or, or a type, or if you just see type, that's what they're talking about. So generators all have a defined sacral, whether you're a generator or a manifesting generator, you have a defined sacral, your strategy is to respond. What is a strategy? Your strategy is, um, how you're meant to, use your energy in the world, how you're meant to, uh, work with the world. Right. Um, and generators have this warm and enveloping aura. Everybody loves to be around generator energy. Um, if you are a managing, the main difference is that you have what's called a motor to throat connection. And that is what manifestors have. So it is a hybrid between a generator and a manifestor. However, Ra was very clear from the beginning that it is not a separate type. It is really just like an additional characteristic for people who have that type of connection. That's why the mani-gen energy feels so different because you're here to bring newness in the way that we do things. Right. Manifestors are here to bring newness. Generators are here to do what brings them energy. And so MGs, you just bring those two together. You're meant to bring newness and the way that we do things. Um, Manny's manifestors, manifestors, Manifestors have an undefined sacred role. Um, and they are here to bring newness into the world. Their strategy is to inform. They're not here to respond to things. They are here to rest when they need to rest until they get an urge. And when the urge comes, they're here to inform what their urge is. So, um, if you're a Manny and you're listening to this, everything that you have been conditioned to believe about how you should interact with the world around you is probably holding you back. So. It's true. Welcome. welcome to the revolution.

Courtney:

Mm-hmm

Andrea:

are not here to get permission. You are not here to, um, be responsive. Um, you're here to bring newness into the world and you're here to initiate, um, projectors. So projectors represent about 20 percent of the population. We are the newest type along with reflectors. We didn't exist until 1781. Um, and we are here to be guides. Um, We have a penetrating aura, which basically means we are able to sense. Other people really deeply. Um, that is not always welcome. So, um, that leads to some very genuine misunderstandings for projector Children. Um, but we are kind of known as the wise ones. Um, Um, we are able to See the way energy can most effectively be used because we have also have that undefined sacral and we're very sensitive to sacral energy. Um, and our strategy is to look for recognition and wait for the invitation.

Courtney:

Mm.

Andrea:

Um, the invitation is. It's really about making sure that when you are giving guidance that the people you are guiding have invited you in, um, the invitation is not about living your life. Um, that is where more of like the recognition comes in of like looking, being in spaces where your gifts are recognized, where your gifts are truly seen and appreciated. Um, And then that creates the pathway for invitations. Um, and then the last type reflectors reflectors have no definition, so no centers defined in their whole chart. Um, and they are literally here to reflect back to us what is happening. Um, so they have a really, really beautiful, um, karma or Dharma, um, within the system, which is to be that reflection point. And, um, they're 1 percent of the population. So very, very few, um, Very, very few reflectors. I don't think I talked about percentages for generators, but for generators. Um, I believe it's like 30 percent are pure generators and 35 percent are manifesting generators. Um, and then manifestors are about six or

Courtney:

Yeah. Yeah. Incredible. And did you say projectors?

Andrea:

7%. Yeah, projectors are 20.

Courtney:

Ah, awesome.

Andrea:

Yeah. between 20 and 22. I mean, it, you know, it varies. It's, it's all of the stats around the percentages are based off of Jovian Archive, which is, um, always kind of my go to for when I send people to get their chart. Someday we'll have, um, pull your chart on our website because so many people ask for it. But, um, that, that's for another day. Um, for now, I just, we send them to Jovian Archive. It's, um, Ra's foundation. His family runs it. It's, um, you know, just very, um, it exists for The legacy that Ra created to, um, thrive. So, um, Jovian archive collects stats around so they own my body graph. Um, and then they also have Jovian archive. Com. So, um, that's where the percentages come from.

Courtney:

That makes so much sense. Oh, I love that. Um, okay. So now that we have our type, um, I'd love to talk about this idea of authority. Let's talk about that. Yeah.

Andrea:

Yeah, we have a really great episode on outer authority for anyone who, um, is really curious about this authority thing. Um, but so Ra really introduced this concept of like, Inner knowing. I mean, inner knowing has been around forever, right? Intuition, some people call it, right? Um, so what I think is unique about human design is he introduces this word authority, inner authority. So there's inner authority and there's outer authority. Um, Inner authority is the way that you are meant to make decisions in your life. It's the way that you are meant to be self led.

Courtney:

Mm.

Andrea:

So, um, what is unique is that human design helps you better understand what that voice sounds like, because it's all based on what centers you have defined. Um, so we are going to go really deep on this in the course. I'm going to talk a little bit about, um, human design fundamentals. Um, I just want to I just want to give you a quick overview of what the different authorities are. Um, and hopefully kind of debunk some of the misinformation that's out there, because, um, one of the things about authority is that authority works in a ranked system.

Courtney:

Mm

Andrea:

What does that mean? Certain centers are louder than others.

Courtney:

Mm.

Andrea:

oh, it's, it's wise to start with whatever authority is listed in your chart. So when you pull your chart, it'll say inner authority or authority, and that is going to be the loudest voice in your chart. So what does that mean? Yeah. When the stakes are high. You're going to want to pay closest attention to that authority, Okay. Big decisions, moving, changing your relationships, like taking a different job, leaving a job, like big decisions, right? Um, but you might have access to some of the other authorities. So as I'm listing these, if you're listening and let's say, um, your authority is like, for example, your authority is a sacral authority right?

Courtney:

Yeah.

Andrea:

But you also have a defined spleen and you have a defined heart, right? So you are going to resonate with some of these other authorities. You have access to those other authorities. It's just your loudest authority is your sacral. Does that make sense?

Courtney:

yes, yes, yes.

Andrea:

I feel like so often that nuance is not given when you learn about authority and it just really does a disservice to the unique way of knowing that each of us

Courtney:

Mm hmm. Yes, totally. I mean, it reminds me of like, you know, you have the whole astrological wheel in your chart. So like you have access to all these things. And so that's a really important point that you have access to, especially if you're, you know, According to your defined centers. Do you have access to that? And, you know, there's other aspects of that too, that we won't get into

Andrea:

transits and when you're around other people and all, you know, all of it is, is influenced, but, um, so, in the training, we're going to go into how to access each of those, even if it's not your own computer. You know, primary authority just so you have a better understanding of how your system communicates with you. So, like, for example, I have, um. I have spleenic authority, but I also have self so it's important for me to know that I have both of those. My identity center, I have a channel between my identity center and my throat. I also have a channel to my spleen. So my spleen is the loudest, um, but also talking things out really helps. Helps me hear myself often. Um, and so if I didn't know that, then I would question the clarity that I get from talking things out and right? Start to doubt this part of my process that is still very valuable. I mean, the spleen, she is a force, like, you you know, when she's got something to say, it's like. I can't, I can't not hear it, you know, um, but sometimes that, you know, self projectedness, um, brings clarity, um, susses out details like they're, it's still super, super valuable. So um, should I go through the different authorities, which was like a little,

Courtney:

Yeah. Yeah. I think we can just on each one and then, you know, like this is a little teaser. So

Andrea:

yes,

Courtney:

Whets your palate.

Andrea:

More is coming

Courtney:

and get you about the course coming up. Yes. But yeah. Touch on our, before we go, let's touch on the authorities and just give people a feel for each one.

Andrea:

Okay. Okay. So the first one is emotional. Emotional authority is actually 50 percent of the population. So 50 percent is emotional. 50 percent is everything else. Um,

Courtney:

Amazing.

Andrea:

of wild.

Courtney:

Makes sense. Makes sense.

Andrea:

Right? Um, so emotional authority has only been around for the last 250 years. It is brand new. Um, and it, it, it comes from the solar plexus, which is the newest center. Um, and the essence of emotional authority is that you need time. Like that is the crux of emotional authority. You need time because what your system does is it picks up layers of information that is not available. To anyone else, and it's layers of information that we don't even have language for. We call it emotional frequency. There's a lot there. Um, and so what looks like is, uh, a lot of highs and lows. We call it the emotional wave. Right. So, um, somebody might come to you and ask you, um, maybe they ask you out for dinner and you think that person's cute, but you also are like, can I trust that person? Right. Uh, what if this goes terribly? So, um, Allowing yourself to ride that wave until you feel clear. Um, what Ra would say about those with emotional authority is that there is no truth in the now. So it's super, super important if you have emotional authority to really learn what your wave looks like. There are. I think four or five different types of waves. Um, and really tune into, um, when you feel unclear, because that is just, that is just a sign that you need more time.

Courtney:

Yeah.

Andrea:

So that's emotional authority. Sacral authority is this nonverbal feeling in your body. Usually it's called like gut authority. it's usually like in the lower realm of your body. Um, and, um, it is nonverbal. And so, um, yes, will feel like energy moving. feel tingly, might feel exciting, these are words that we have for the sensation, but it's really at the crux, it's a sensation, um, and when it's a no, you might feel nothing, you might feel contraction, um, you might feel uncomfortable, there are so many different it can show up, right? and you know, you can hear threads of the deconditioning required in each of these authorities to be able to hear it, right? So sacral authority, this dissociation from the body that supremacy delusion creates has made it incredibly difficult for sacrals to hear their inner authority. Um, the next loudest is the spleen. um, which is the center. It's like a survival center. Um, it's survival fears. It's called the fear center. Um, but the spleen is. Interesting because it's very quiet. It's the oldest center. It's the oldest awareness center. Um, and it gives you this, um, almost like out of nowhere sensation. um, it'll say like, you know, it'll give me a name, you know, and I'm like, okay, I guess supposed to call this person or like often it'll give me a name and then that person will text me in a few minutes. Like, oh wow. Kind

Courtney:

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Mm hmm. Mm hmm.

Andrea:

So when it comes to making decisions or like trying to listen to, this is probably the one that's closest to what we would consider like a traditional intuition. Um, the spleen needs quiet, the quiet in order for it to, in order for you to hear it, it needs quiet. Um, it can be influenced. If you have splenic authority, you naturally have an undefined sacral and an undefined solar plexus. both of those centers are very loud. So, um, you need to be in a space where those centers are not creating an influence. Makes after that we have self projected authority, which is the one we were just talking about. Um, self projected is, um, really only for projectors, a very specific group of projectors. Um, and this is when you need to talk things out. To get clarity. Um, and you need to hear yourself talk. It is not about hearing somebody else. So a good sounding board, somebody that you can talk to that is just going to listen invaluable. or even just talking into your messages is also fine. But most projectors don't want to do that. Most projectors want to be around other people. So, um, okay. Yeah, that makes sense. Part of being undefined sacral. Um, so that is the next loudest. And then you have ego authority, which is, um, when you have a defined ego center or defined heart, and that authority is really about whether or not your heart is in something.

Courtney:

Mm. hmm.

Andrea:

Like, is my heart in it? Then it's a yes. If my heart is not in it, then a no.

Courtney:

Um, So interesting.

Andrea:

yeah. And then after ego, you have, um, mental. Or sometimes called environmental. Um, this is for a very small subset of projectors who, um, have no definition below their throat. They're called mental projectors. Um, and environmental or mental authority is really about allowing your system to digest all of the energy that your open centers have taken in and

Courtney:

Mm hmm.

Andrea:

then feeling in your body what is correct. where your body wants be, what your body, it's literally environmental, what environment your body wants to be in, how is this going to shift the environment? Um, and I would say it's, um, maybe the second slowest authority, the slowest Ooh. emotional depending on the wave, right? Emotion can be quick or it can be slow, but the slowest. You know, sometimes emotionals won't get clarity for months or a year. Um, yeah, um, environmental is faster than that, but, um, it, it can be slow. Um, so if you have mental authority, um, You need patience. Um, sometimes in some systems, this is called no authority, which I think is very strange. Like, why would say that why would you say, um, but if see no authority on your chart, it's mental.

Courtney:

That's so funny. It's true though. I've seen it. Yeah.

Andrea:

Um, and then the last one is lunar. So we all have lunar, but lunar is especially important for reflectors. Um, and this is where you wait for a lunar cycle. So reflectors need to wait a full lunar cycle for making especially big decisions. because what happens is the moon moves through all 64 gates. It moves through the whole zodiac, every month. And so that creates a pattern. reflectors because they have, you know, all of their gates are hanging. And so, um, as the moon goes around the Zodiac, it creates all of these little channels for them, which moves the energy

Courtney:

Yeah. So I love I love how you describe that. That makes so much sense.

Andrea:

it's really cool. So depending on, um, your. You know, your strategy and authority, your type and your authority, you can start to piece together how you are meant to listen to yourself. The last piece, and I'm not going to go deep into this because we are going to go into it in training and the training is going to be super accessible for anybody who's, um, training is super accessible for anybody who is, um, wondering. But, um, mm hmm. going to give you an option to be able to, um, look at your information and also look at your loved ones if and when you're ready to look at them. So, um, you'll have all of that information at your fingertips. But, um, the other piece to pay attention to is your signature. Or some people call it your sign, which is how you know that you are living out your design and you're not self, which is how you know that things are out of alignment or need revision. Um, and we don't have time to get into all the details here, but, um, that will also be in the course. There'll be a lot of description around that and examples and practical information. Um, and you can also just Google it.

Courtney:

Yeah. Yeah. Of all the things that's probably the safest thing to Google. It's your signature.

Andrea:

for sure. Yeah,

Courtney:

Yeah. Oh my God. This is such a great little teaser. I'm so excited about the course. I'm so excited for all the folks coming and finding our podcast. We're almost at a. Thousand downloads. I cannot believe it. That is mind blowing. And so of course, some of you guys have never heard of human design and we're so excited to be able to introduce this incredible tool to you all with a liberative, um, womanist, uh, holistic, somatic lens, because, um, yeah, there's a, there's a lot of approaches out there and this is ours. And we, we really believe in the power of it, especially in this moment in time. Um, and just the opportunity to share this tool and to empower more and more people to be able to understand their own authority. And where they need to be and how to best use their gifts and, um, build community in a time where that is the most important and potent, um, power against authoritarianism and this conditioning system that we're in, um, is just the biggest honor for us. So, um, oh, thank you for finding us. Thank you for listening.

Andrea:

Thank here. Come find us on Substack. Yes. ask us questions. here for the questions.

Courtney:

Until next time.

Andrea:

Until next time.

Courtney Napier:

Thank you so much for tuning in to HD and Liberation podcast. We hope you've gained valuable insights into human design and its role in building a life of peace, success, satisfaction, and wonder. If you've enjoyed this episode, please show your support by liking, following, and sharing our podcast. on YouTube, or your favorite podcast platform. Your engagement helps us reach more people who can benefit from this wisdom. For exclusive content and to join our thriving community, consider becoming a Patreon member. Your support allows us to continue exploring the depths of human design and its potential for life and community transformation. Stay tuned for more fun, thoughtful, and impacting discussions. Together, we're unlocking the path to a more liberated and authentic life. Thank you for being a part of HD and Liberation Podcast. This is the end of the video.

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Andrea Ward Berg

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Courtney Napier

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