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Human Design Strategy: Initiate and Inform, Respond, or Wait

Learn about Human Design strategy and how to implement it for your Human Design type to live in alignment with your auric truth.

What is Strategy in Human Design?

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Human Design is a complex system developed by Ra Uru Hu, formerly Robert Krakower.

The New-Age philosophy is based on a combination of other modalities including astrology, numerology, the Hindu chakra system, and quantum physics.

Along with authority, strategy is one of the fundamentals of the Human Design system.

According to Human Design, all human beings are one of five aura or energy types, which is determined by birth date, time, and place.

In addition to each individual’s aura type, people are further categorised by profile type, and then when you get even deeper into its concepts, we can also look at gates and channels, single and split definition, and circuitry.

Along with authority, strategy is one of the fundamentals of the Human Design system, with each energy type having different strategies and its own specific approach.

Essentially, strategy describes our personal genetic blueprint for how we are designed to interact with the outside world.

Not got your body graph yet? Use our free Human Design chart calculator to get one now!

What is the Difference Between Authority and Strategy?

If you’ve looked into Human Design at all, then you’ve most likely heard the terms strategy and authority, and most likely heard them in unison. 

The reason you’ll often hear them spoken about together is because they work in tandem.

They are both important aspects of HD, but how do they differ?

Strategy is how you are designed to interact with external stimulus and authority is your decision-making process.

The reason you’ll often hear them spoken about together is because they’re both determined by your defined energy centers (which in turn determines your energy type), and they work in tandem.

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Unlike the free reports typically available online, the offering from Supernatural Coaching is a 120+ page comprehensive deep-dive into your unique Design and type, also covering profiles and themes and providing a quick reference guide and workbook.

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Overview of Human Design Strategy

Let’s take a quick look at variations of strategy by type, and then we’ll take a closer look at each one in turn:

  • Manifestors should initiate; they’re here to get things started. Their strategy is to inform.
  • Generators respond; they’re here to build. Their strategy is to wait to respond.
  • Manifesting Generators build; they’re here to find shortcuts to mastery. Their strategy is to inform and respond.
  • Projectors guide the response; they’re here to direct others. Their strategy is to wait for an invitation.
  • Reflectors reflect; they’re here to reflect the situation for assessment. Their strategy is to wait a full lunar cycle.
Learn how to read your Human Design chart in our post covering the various components and terminology.

Now let’s dive into each strategy and how each works in practice…

Manifestor Strategy to Inform

Manifestors have a motorised throat, meaning that their Throat center is defined by a direct connection to a motor center. This means they have a unique ability to initiate in a way no other type can*.

This is where the Manifestor strategy comes into play.

Starting projects using their power to initiate has an unfortunate tendency to rub people up the wrong way. The Manifestor aura can come across as arrogant and domineering, and people do not respond well to such energy. 

As a result, Manifestors can make efforts to follow their purpose (to initiate), which is correct for their type – but hit resistance from their peers. That’s not to say the Manifestor type will abandon their intentions, it just becomes unnecessarily challenging, and creates friction.

This is where the Manifestor strategy comes into play.

When Manifestors employ their strategy, others move out of their way to allow them to execute their projects without objection.

The Manifestor strategy is simple but effective; in order to avoid opposition from those around them, they must simply inform.

This is not the same as asking permission, rather it’s a courtesy, letting people to know what to expect. 

When Manifestors employ their strategy, they should begin to notice less resistance to their plans, and others move out of their way to allow them to execute their projects without objection.

Generator Strategy to Wait to Respond

The Generator strategy is to respond, but this can manifest in different ways, according to the specific definition of an individual’s chart.

The power of the Generator is in their defined Sacral.

We know that strategy and authority are not the same thing, but for a Pure Generator they are very closely linked, with both playing an important part in reaching a correct decision.

This process can be facilitated by asking a trusted friend to ask yes/no questions, which are then responded to – without consciously thinking about the answers. Employing the help of the right people is key to this process.

In practice, the Sacral voice sounds like a negative ‘uhn-un’ groan or a positive or ‘uh-huh’ tone.

The power of the Generator is in their defined Sacral, which means they will always be waiting and listening for that Sacral response. However they can have three different kinds of authority, with each bringing a different influence to that response…

Sacral authority means simply paying close attention to the pure Sacral response before making big decisions.

The Sacral response may manifest as a knot of dread in the belly.

In practice, the Sacral voice sounds like a negative ‘ughhhh’ or ‘uhn-un’ groan or a positive ‘mmmmm!’ or ‘uh-huh’ tone. Pay particular attention if the sound doesn’t match the words!

Other ways the Sacral response may manifest include a dull or heavy feeling in your belly, like a knot of dread (negative response), or an expansive, lifting sensation in the gut (positive response).

Splenic authority means intuition forms part of their strategy, alongside the Sacral response.

Splenic authority can feel like tummy butterflies, goosebumps, or adrenaline coursing through your veins.

Generators are described as the worker bees of the Human Design system.

Emotional authority means the Generator must also honour their emotional wave, before ultimately paying attention to the Sacral response. 

The emotional response is driven be a defined Solar Plexus, and is often set in motion by the sound of the Sacral response.

Generators are the dominant type of HD and are described as the worker bees of the system thanks to their consistent and abundant energy reserves, and strong work ethic.

When Generators are in alignment with their specific strategy and authority, they experience deep satisfaction.

Manifesting Generator Strategy to Inform and Respond

Manifesting Generators have the motorised Throat of a Manifestor, and the sustainable energy reserves of a Generator, thanks to the definition of their powerful Sacral motor.

Because of these traits, people struggle to agree on whether MG’s are a hybrid of the Manifestor and Generator, or their own type.

MG’s can also initiate like their Manifestor cousins.

I’ll let you draw your own conclusions on that one, but as far as strategy goes, it’s a combination of the Manifestor and Generator Human Design strategies (although you’ll probably find people who even disagree with this!).

*For the eagle-eyed of you, you may have noticed an asterisk under the Manifestor section, where I mentioned that they can initiate in a way no other type can. Well here is where I expand on that.

The MG strategy has specific actions, in a precise order.

MG’s can also initiate like their Manifestor cousins, however this is secondary to their Generator trait to respond; in fact, many consider MG’s to be a Generator subtype, and this is one key area that this bears out.

When a Manifesting Generator type is living correctly, their strategy has specific actions to execute, in a precise order. Here’s the first step to last:

  1. Wait for something to respond to.

This first part of your strategy is where you channel your Generator life force energy.

Taking action without first waiting for something to respond to inevitably leads to a lack of success, followed by the MG experiencing the not-self theme of either or both the Generator (frustration) and the Manifestor (anger).

2. Tap into and heed the Sacral response.

Sacral energy is powerful for anyone with a defined Sacral center, and paying attention to the primal message that comes from that gut feeling is vital.

Because MG’s have a motorised Throat, the ‘uhh’un’ or ‘uh-huh’ Sacral sounds emanating from your gut response will be even more evident.

3. Visualise the outcome.

Visualisation is a powerful tool for Manifesting Generators, bringing both clarity and efficiency.

4. Inform anyone who will be affected by your actions.

This is where your Manifestor energy comes into play.

Remember, informing people of your intentions is not the same as asking permission, but it can clear the way for you, reducing resistance and even bringing people on board with your plans.

5. Respond / Initiate.

After you’ve waited for something to respond to; after you’ve honoured your true Sacral response; after you’ve visualised the outcome you want; after you’ve informed those around you – now is the time for you to respond or initiate.

Following these steps and mastering the art of responding will allow a Manifesting Generator to naturally find and experience their signature and purpose. 

Projector Strategy to Wait For an Invitation

The Projector strategy is simple – but not always easy to follow.

We’ll all conditioned to believe that initiating action, pursuing projects, and essentially going after the things we want is the best way – the only way – to achieve our goals. And yet for Projectors, this simply doesn’t work.

When Projectors follow their strategy and authority, everything seems to seamlessly align, like ‘fate’.

Projectors can be ambitious people, just like anyone else – I know firsthand because this is my type! 

This is unfortunate for us because it can feel like like we’re resisting what comes naturally, both in terms of our desires and also societal expectations.

But, according to Ru’s teachings, by simply taking our foot off the gas, everything will fall into place. Our strategy dictates that instead of chasing projects, if we just invest our time and energy into those things which light us up, people and opportunities will come to us. In abundance!

It can be hard to implement, but in those moments of ‘fate’ when everything seems to seamlessly align with no effort on our part, it’s hard to believe there’s not something to this!

There’s one more important element to the Projector’s life purpose and that is, of course, their authority. They have the greatest variation of authority of all HD types:

Factoring in authority as well as their type’s strategy can help Projectors to accept the right invitation and make the right decision, ultimately leading them to embracing their authentic self.

Reflector Strategy to Wait a Full Lunar Cycle 

While every other type has a distinct authority and strategy, Reflectors are the only type where it’s basically the same: to wait a full lunar cycle before making major decisions.

Reflectors are the rarest aura type, making up only 1% of the world’s population.

This is largely explained by the fact that, aside from the Mental Projectors subtype, this is the only type that has no inner authority because of their entirely open centers. Instead, these non-energy types take their authority from an external cue.

Reflectors are so-called for your reflective qualities, and this along with the depth of your openness means you mirror those around you, ‘trying on’ various personas that you admire. 

As a Reflector, this tendency can make it difficult for you to know your true self. You are the rarest type making up only 1% of the world’s population, and you’re profoundly influenced by the cycles of the moon.

Their feelings about a given situation can vary depending on the position of the moon, and allowing it to cycle through every gate is what brings Reflectors the required clarity to feel confident in any important decision they make.

Ready to Order Your Report?

Curious to find out more, or order a reading for yourself or a loved one?

A comprehensive report can be an excellent tool to help deepen your relationships. And, newly unique to the market, child reports are now also available to help strengthen your connection with your child, and support their wellbeing.

Hot tip: Use code HD963K2 for a 25% discount when you purchase two or more reports!

Unlike the free reports typically available online, the offering from Supernatural Coaching is a 120+ page comprehensive deep-dive into your unique Design and type, also covering profiles and themes and providing a quick reference guide and workbook.

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Just getting started with Human Design? Get your Essential Human Design Report for just GBP 10.00!

What the Science Says

Human Design is growing in popularity all the time, which suggests it resonates with a lot of people. That said, there’s currently no evidence to support the theory.

But, as I’ve said many times before, that doesn’t diminish its value, if people find comfort in it.

Strategy is akin to guidance on how to behave, without allowing for nuance or context.

As far as the concept of strategy goes, it’s one I personally struggle with.

We looked in great depth at the idea of authority in Human Design, and how in certain circumstances there’s science to support one specific approach to decision-making. Albeit gut decisions carry weight across the board, and not just according to birth date and place.

Where strategy is concerned, however, this is akin to guidance on how to behave, as opposed to tuning into primal instincts. And for me at least, this is something which should remain fluid, to allow for changes in moods, situations, and goals.

I usually cite studies in this section, but given the nature of this particular concept and the fact there’s no evidence to support it, that’s difficult. So for transparency and clarity, this is simply my opinion.

I’d love to hear anecdotal evidence from you guys if your experiences do in fact align with the idea of strategy! Please let me know in the comments.

Signature reading Kate, with a heart.