Authority In Human Design

If a specialist had to communicate just one key element of Human Design, it would be Strategy and Authority. We are the decisions we make more than the environment that influences us. Every day, waking up and living is a choice. It’s a choice in how we treat our body, our mind, and our heart. Everything we are and feel stems from what we choose. However, many of us feel like we’re mere pawns of luck, living a life shaped by circumstances. It’s true that we are far from living in an ideal world. Privilege still reigns, and we remain victims of our circumstances, from the color of our skin to the country we were born in. In Human Design, “privilege” doesn’t exist—everyone has access to living in their authenticity.

In any life situation, we can either react or act consciously. When we react, we operate on autopilot through our shadows and conditioning. In consciousness, there is a space to make a choice. That’s where our Authority in Human Design comes in.

Authority can be seen as an inner judge. It’s an innate mechanism in our body that gives us a response. The mind is not a good advisor for ourselves. We can use the mind to rationalize when advising others, but when it comes to us, it’s no help. The mind constantly betrays us. Maybe because we have too much information, maybe because it’s clouded by emotion and can’t function impartially. Or maybe it’s simply useless in these cases because our Authority works in alignment with our Design—and with everything the Universe has in store for us.

There are 7 types of Authority in Human Design. Authority is determined by which of our energy centers are defined and operates according to a hierarchy. That means some of us may have multiple centers with defined Authority, but one will always speak louder. Some Authorities are exclusive to certain Energy Types, while others are more universal.

Emotional Authority

Emotional Authority is the strongest of all, and any Energy Type—excluding Reflectors—can have it. To have Emotional Authority, you simply need to have a defined Solar Plexus. This means that approximately half of the world’s population has this Authority. Emotional Authority is tied to what we feel.

The Solar Plexus is both a center of awareness and a motor center. Because of this, those who receive constant energy from this motor feel it intensely. The Solar Plexus is linked to the nervous system, and our nervous system responds to emotions that move through us like waves.

So, it’s only natural that when faced with a decision—big or small—we react emotionally. Who wouldn’t feel ecstatic about a dream job offer? Who wouldn’t feel torn when choosing between ending a relationship with someone they love or moving far away from them? Emotions are always present in all of us, but for those with Emotional Authority, they carry a much greater intensity and, because of their volatility, they must be approached with caution.

The response of someone with Emotional Authority is so strong and spontaneous that it can actually work against decisions that are truly aligned. Therefore, individuals with this Authority must seek Emotional Clarity when making decisions.

If we imagine emotions as waves, we know that some are bigger than others. Some swell and build before breaking on the shore. Others barely reach the sand and dissipate quietly. That’s how emotions are for people with a defined Solar Plexus. When a strong emotion floods their body, they act on impulse, driven by that emotion. But emotions, like waves, come and go—and what matters is what remains. A person with Emotional Authority should never make a decision in the heat of the moment. Instead, they should wait for their emotions to settle, let the wave pass, and ideally sleep on it.

Who among us, with or without Emotional Authority, hasn’t accepted an invitation in the moment only to regret it the next day? That doesn’t mean emotions from the Solar Plexus are false—they’re actually very pure—but they are fleeting. If that emotional decision still feels right the next day, that’s a sign it’s consistent and aligned with our Authentic Self.

Of course, this need for time doesn’t apply to every small daily decision. As mentioned, there are waves and WAVES—usually proportionate to the weight of the decision. Whenever possible, those with Emotional Authority should give themselves time to reach Emotional Clarity—ideally, 24 hours. When the waters are calm and the froth has cleared, Emotional Authority can guide you to the right choice.

Sacral Authority

Sacral Authority is the decision-making power of Generators and Manifesting Generators who do not have a defined Solar Plexus. It is the simplest Authority to apply and master—if, indeed, you are able to build a close connection with your Sacral center.

Since it belongs to Generators and Manifesting Generators, Sacral Authority works perfectly in tandem with their Strategy of “Waiting to Respond.” This is why it’s highly effective when used with binary questions: “yes or no?” or “this or that?” When asked a question, the individual feels a bodily response in the sacral area—either as excitement or comfort, or as discomfort or disinterest. A well-connected Generator (or Manifesting Generator) knows that energetic surge from the Sacral—like thousands of stars lighting up inside—when they’re faced with something that resonates. On the other hand, they know that sinking, wavy resistance when something doesn’t spark them at all.

The advantage of Sacral Authority is that it works for everything—from mundane decisions to life-changing ones. The Sacral center is the center of life force and energy, and it is always responding to the world. The Generator (Manifesting Generator) lives in a constant sea of stimuli, and their Sacral is always giving a yes or a no. Its power is so strong that even when the Solar Plexus is defined—and thus Emotional Authority is the dominant one—the Sacral still chimes in.

A great way to practice tuning into your Sacral Authority is to reduce decisions to two clear options. And remember: for Sacral Authority, anything that’s not an obvious, enthusiastic “Yes!” is a “No.” If you need to think about something, it’s likely a “No”—at least for now. And if the opportunity you’re facing has too many variables, don’t hesitate to ask someone to clarify or reframe the options for you—or do it yourself—until it’s just two choices.

Splenic Authority

Splenic Authority is available to Projectors and Manifestors who don’t have a defined Solar Plexus, and it is a truly intuitive Authority in every sense of the word. Splenic decisions happen in the moment, speak only once, and do so very softly. That’s why it’s crucial for people with this Authority to be very attuned to it—it’s easy to miss if you’re not paying attention.

Those with Splenic Authority should make decisions on the spot and in the heat of the moment, because the intuition only speaks when it’s needed. If you place several plates of food in front of someone with Splenic Authority, their spleen might whisper, “Don’t eat the chicken, it’s off.” If that person has to choose a route home, their intuition will guide them to the safest one—even if it’s longer.

The Spleen (or Splenic Center) is tied to survival and preservation. It’s often referred to as the center of fear, because it always tries to guide us toward what’s safest, healthiest, and best for our well-being.

For people with Splenic Authority, it’s essential to quiet the mind and create inner stillness—because the voice of the Spleen is soft and fleeting. If you’re constantly engaged in internal chatter, you’ll miss it. Practices like meditation and breathwork are especially helpful for reconnecting to the power of this intuitive Authority. The key word here is trust—the more you trust your intuition, the stronger and clearer it becomes.

Ego Authority

To have Ego Authority, you must have a defined Heart center, while the Spleen, Sacral, and Solar Plexus are all undefined. Because of this configuration, Ego Authority is exclusive to Projectors and Manifestors, and as the name suggests, it is an egocentric Authority that expresses itself differently depending on the type.

We already know the Solar Plexus holds our emotions, while the Heart center holds our willpower. Although they might often seem to overlap, when it comes to Ego Authority, you must trust its immediate response: let your will be done!

For Manifestors, the Heart is defined through its connection to the Throat, so Ego Authority expresses itself through the voice. The response—spoken loudly and clearly, almost instantly—is the valid one for Manifestors with Ego Authority. “I want this!” or “I don’t want that!” is the voice of the Ego. In this case, a quick, heartfelt response is the correct decision for someone with this Authority. It’s essential for Manifestors with Ego Authority not to censor themselves and to allow their heart’s voice to be heard. Naturally, the mind will try to interfere, to suppress or modify the response, limiting the ability to actually hear the Ego Authority.

Projectors with Ego Authority have the Heart connected to the G Center of identity. Their decisions always align with their core values and inner ideals. For that reason, their choices may seem to come from a place of deep wisdom, when in truth, it’s simply their inner connection to the G Center speaking.

However, it’s important to remember that Authority works only when the Strategy is followed. In the case of Projectors, they must feel recognized and wait for the invitation. Only then should they use their Ego Authority to respond. This can often feel like a game of patience, because the Heart is a powerful motor center that constantly communicates its desires. The key is to follow those desires only when recognition and invitation are present.

When Authority comes from the Ego (Heart), it’s essential not to fear being perceived as selfish. Making decisions based purely on what is best for you and on your personal desire is, in fact, the correct path for this type of Authority.

Self-Projected Authority

Self-Projected Authority is exclusive to Projectors and occurs when the Solar Plexus, Sacral, Spleen, and Heart are undefined, but the G Center is defined and connected to the Throat. This creates a direct link between identity (the G Center) and communication (the Throat). Just like Manifestors with Ego Authority need to express their decisions out loud, Self-Projected Projectors must also speak—but the process is quite different.

With Self-Projected Authority, speaking out loud helps to find clarity. This doesn’t mean they’re looking for advice or input from others. On the contrary, with a defined G Center, these individuals know who they are and aren’t easily influenced.

This process of voicing decisions doesn’t even require another person. A Self-Projected Projector simply needs to speak aloud, letting the words flow, ideally in the presence of someone who recognizes them—or even while alone or in front of a mirror. When it’s the right decision, coming from identity rather than the mind, the words will flow smoothly—clear, confident, and coherent. The G Center provides access to an innate wisdom aligned with their Authentic Self.

Because this Authority type involves many undefined centers (Root, Spleen, Sacral, Solar Plexus, and Heart), and only the Ajna and Crown may be defined (which often creates mental chatter), Self-Projected Projectors must learn to distinguish the voice of the G Center. If their speech feels scattered or uncertain, the guidance is likely coming from the mind—not their true inner voice. Given their sensitivity to conditioning, they must choose carefully who they speak with—someone who truly sees them and stays neutral. They need a good listener, not a problem-solver.

A useful practice for this Authority: don’t be afraid to ask yourself, “Do I really want this? Will this make me happy?”—and then speak your answer out loud. Trust what flows.

Environmental Authority

Environmental Authority is the Authority of Projectors who have no other defined center except for the Throat, Ajna, and Crown. With so many open centers, these individuals are extremely vulnerable to the environment around them. For this reason, making an important decision in a toxic environment will likely end in disaster. Projectors with Environmental Authority must carefully choose the settings they move through and know how to protect themselves from outside energies.

Let’s imagine a Projector with Environmental Authority in a bar at 2 a.m., surrounded by their Generator and Manifesting Generator friends who are already tipsy and invite them to head to a club and stay until 5 a.m. In that environment and under the influence of their friends’ sacral energy, the Projector with Environmental Authority can easily give in—and 30 minutes later, they already know it was the wrong decision because they feel exhausted and have to wake up at 8 the next morning.

So how can this Projector make a decision? We already know that having defined Ajna and Crown centers brings a lot of mental activity, ideas, and hypotheses—long stories with a beginning, middle, and end. And we also know that the mind doesn’t make the best decisions. What this Projector needs is to follow a process similar to that of Self-Projected Authorities, but with careful attention to their environment.

Unlike the Projector with Self-Projected Authority, this one doesn’t have a defined identity center, so they can’t speak from an inner voice—they’re too influenced by what’s happening around them. That’s why a Projector with Environmental Authority needs to remove themselves from the friends and the noise of the bar, go take a walk and get some fresh air, and then speak out loud everything they’re thinking (ideally to someone neutral), and the right decision will eventually come through.

Environmental Authority is also known as a Non-Authority, because there is no specific energy center taking charge of the decision-making. It’s essential that Projectors with Environmental Authority learn to filter out what are simply emotions, fears, insecurities, or overthinking—and that they are extremely selective about the environments they surround themselves with.

Lunar Authority

Lunar Authority is exclusive to Reflectors. Reflectors are the rarest Energy Type, with all centers undefined. If Environmental Authorities need to manage their surroundings carefully, Reflectors go even further. Their aura’s purpose is to act as a mirror, reflecting the environment and giving others a chance to see themselves more clearly.

Still, Reflectors are regular people with everyday lives who need to make choices and decisions using their own Strategy. Reflectors aren’t completely undefined—they have specific gates that consistently give them certain characteristics.

Reflectors came into this world to experience everything, and because of this, Lunar Authority asks them to wait through a full lunar cycle before making any major decision. This way, they can experience the energy of all 64 gates. The energy that shows up most consistently throughout the lunar cycle will be the correct one for them.

Of course, this only applies to major life decisions. A Reflector doesn’t need to wait 28 days to decide whether to have fish or chicken for dinner. However, they should wait a full lunar cycle before entering into a personal or work relationship, buying a house or car, quitting a job, etc. If there’s no time given for a Reflector to wait, then the decision likely isn’t right for them. As a general rule: if time isn’t granted, it’s probably not aligned.

Authorities only work when Strategy is followed. Without Strategy, Authority becomes useless. It’s no use for someone with a Self-Projected Authority to talk about dating a coworker if that coworker never actually extended an “invitation.” Living according to your Energy Type, following your Strategy, and listening to your Authority are the first steps to aligning with your Human Design.