Knowledge base
8 Authorities
Authorities in Human Design

Personal Authority is the inner certainty that a decision is correct. It is determined by the configuration of defined centers in your BodyGraph and serves as a signal of your readiness to act. It does not arise in the mind and demands no rational proof: the mind is useful for analysis and for explaining things to others, yet your own choice is always felt through familiar signals that let you tell “yes” from “no” and “now” from “not now.”

The signal is perceived as a specific set of cues: calm instead of inner noise, composure, and a natural willingness to stand by the decision without extra effort; conversely, doubt, fuss, and an urgent need to prop it up with arguments show that your Authority is silent and the energy for further action has not appeared. Some people gain clarity instantly; for others it ripens over time—it all depends on individual configuration—yet one truth is universal: if the feeling of “yes” or “no” is unstable, it is too early to decide.

💬 The question must be specific: any Authority hardly operates on the level of general musings; the more concrete the wording of the question or choice, the more accurately you can recognize whether the energy to act has switched on or not.

Practicing Authority comes down to disciplined attention. Translate intentions into live binary questions, testing the pull not “someday, somehow,” but strictly in the present moment, while separating mental constructs from the body’s impulse.

Typical distortions are obvious and predictable: replacing your personal signal with habit or fear, craving guarantees, trying to solve abstract “questions of a lifetime” instead of what is pressing here and now, delegating the choice to other people, deadlines, or calendar dates, and retroactively justifying a step already taken as supposedly “by Authority.” Such scenarios intensify your resistance and dilute your inner certainty.

The main function of Authority is not to choose goals for you or explain them, but to check the relevance and energetic viability of your very next step right now. When a choice is made in alignment with your Personal Authority, sustaining the decision meets no resistance.

Emotional Authority

Author: Nikita Razdorsky

This is the primary decision-making strategy for those with a defined Solar Plexus Center. Its essence is simple: clarity takes time, and spur-of-the-moment spontaneity is unreliable. The emotional wave rises, falls, then evens out, and only on that flat “shelf” does the unmistakable sense of “yes” or “no” appear. Hence, rule number one is to pause—at least overnight, and ideally for one or two full cycles of your natural emotional wave.

Key point: “No truth in the now” is not a ban on action. It’s an invitation to let your emotions complete their full cycle. Decisions made from an even-keeled state are easier to uphold, require fewer tweaks, and rarely lead to regret.

Translate your intention into a concrete choice, and give yourself time for the answer to ripen. Do not decide at the peak of excitement or at the trough of the wave (sadness, fear, anger, etc.); both states amplify future regret. Tell the other person, “I need some time—I’ll get back to you tomorrow/on Monday,” note the deadline, and return once your emotional wave has stabilized.

Signs of genuine clarity: physical ease rather than shaky enthusiasm or anxiety; the answer remains stable when you check it again in the morning and in the evening; the decision stands on its own, independent of external incentives—you would choose the same even if the bonus disappeared. If the answer is “maybe,” that is neither “yes” nor “no,” but a cue to keep waiting. And if clarity does not arrive within a reasonable time, the natural next step is a polite refusal or postponement—better a “not now” than a hesitant “yes.”

💬 Respecting your own emotional tempo generally increases others’ trust in you. When you openly say that you need time and return by the deadline with a clear answer, your value in your partners’ eyes grows, and the quality of your joint decisions grows along with it (even though it may feel the opposite in the moment).

Typical distortions: mistaking the emotional wave (impatience, fears, desire for gain, inspiration, joy) for alleged intuition; demanding iron-clad guarantees; rationalizing your impulse after the fact with logic and arguments; stretching the wait into procrastination. The right approach is transparent time boundaries and an honest check-in: “I’m on the upswing,” “I’m on the downswing,” “I’m in a balanced state.”

Sacral Authority

Author: Nikita Razdorsky

The Fastest Way to Make Decisions. Unlike other energy Authorities, Sacral Authority works in the present moment and offers repeat confirmation. The answer arises from the lower belly as a clear bodily “yes” or “no”: you may hear a brief “uh-huh” or “uh-uh,” and the body naturally leans forward or stays still. If uncertainty, confusion, or a long pause appears—that’s a “not now.” The Sacral signal doesn’t predict the future or devise strategies; it simply tells you whether your energy is ready to pour into a specific action right now.

When the Sacral Center is defined and the Solar Plexus Center is undefined, the decision arises instantly and is easily reproduced when you check again. To direct, concrete questions—“do it/not do it,” “now/not now,” “go/not go”—the Sacral Authority responds briefly, without explanations. Hesitation means the question is too broad or the timing isn’t right yet. This Authority sets boundaries: it shows where your energy will rise to support the action and where resistance and fatigue will begin.

The practice is simple and demands disciplined attention. Turn abstract intentions into vivid yes/no statements and voice them aloud. Ask a trusted friend to pose a series of simple yes/no questions without leading you. Listen not to reasoning but to the body: the brief sound, the gentle lean forward, the feeling of cohesion—versus fuzziness, inner bustle, and the urge to “justify.” It helps to note your observations: what the question was, what the Sacral answered, and how it felt to sustain the chosen action a day and a week later. When the answer repeats after you rephrase the question and pause for a moment, that’s a reliable sign the signal is genuine.

️A Sacral “yes” isn’t a blank check for every subsequent step. Check each stage: “start the task,” then “finish the first block,” then “continue tomorrow.” Break big decisions into a sequence of small ones, confirming each next step. That protects you from overload and from promises your energy can’t uphold in the long run.

Common distortions. The habit of being accommodating or pleasing others substitutes a polite “yes” for a true response; fear of missing out pushes you to say “yes” when the body is silent; the mind rushes to compile a list of reasons “why I should,” even though the Sacral Authority has already said “no.” If there’s simply no response, that’s an answer too. Rephrase the question, refine the timing, ask again tomorrow, but don’t replace the absence of a signal with logic or perceived benefits.

The essence of Sacral Authority is an honest check: do I have sustained energy for this right now? The more attentively you train yourself to hear the brief bodily answer, and the more strictly you separate it from mental constructs, the less inner friction you’ll experience and the more genuine satisfaction you’ll derive from the actions and relationships you choose.

Splenic Authority

Author: Nikita Razdorsky

This is an immediate somatic check of an action’s safety and appropriateness in the “here and now.” The signal is brief, subtle, and precise: you either feel natural relief and an urge to move forward, or a barely noticeable contraction and a desire to pull back. This Authority neither predicts the future nor explains the reasons—it only indicates whether the option is right for you at this moment. Ten minutes later the context may shift, and the correct answer will shift with it, so it’s essential to keep checking as you go.

Reduce the choice to a simple yes/no statement and say it aloud: “do it / don’t do it now,” “go / don’t go today.” Pause for a second, drop the background noise, and listen to your breath and body. Learn your own markers: a feeling of lightness and clear focus, a quiet “yes” without excitement—or a micro-spasm, the urge to postpone, a wave of anxiety, or inner restlessness.

💬 A helpful “approach–retreat” technique: mentally say “yes” and observe your body’s response, then mentally say “no” and check the sensations again. Proceed in micro-steps: “start negotiations,” then “settle the details,” then “sign.” Reconfirm each step instead of issuing a blanket verdict upfront.

The hallmarks of a genuine signal are simple: bodily calm instead of an adrenaline surge, no need to talk yourself into it, and a steady feeling that persists after a small test step. If the answer is “no” or it’s fuzzy, that means “not now.” Refine the question, scale the step down, or come back to the check later—but don’t hide the absence of a signal behind rationalization.

Common distortions. Confusing splenic clarity with fear or intense emotions; waiting for the signal to repeat and missing the moment; making long-term promises on the basis of a single “yes”; demanding explanations and logical guarantees after the body has already said “no.” The remedy is simple discipline: a brief pause to listen to the body, right-now wording, minimal commitments, and a fresh check after any change in context.

Ego Manifested Authority

Author: Nikita Razdorsky

This is the Heart Center’s power articulated through the Throat Center. Your inner truth appears as a short, clear phrase spoken aloud with no attempt to control it. Listen not to your thoughts but to the words you utter in the moment—they show what you are genuinely ready to commit your will, resources, and word to.

Turn each choice into a simple first-person statement in the present tense or near future: “I’ll start,” “I won’t,” “I’ll take it,” “That’s not for me.” Say it aloud and immediately tune in to your felt readiness to act. Don’t pad the decision with explanations or soften the wording for others’ comfort—editing your speech instantly pulls you away from your Authority. If no natural phrase emerges—if you begin to waver, justify yourself, or hunt for the “right” wording—then it is “not now.”

Signs of a genuine signal: brevity and specificity of the statement; a feeling of centeredness and an inner “I can/I will” right after you say it; the decision stays firm when you test it with the same word after a short pause; a natural readiness to back your words with action, time, or money. If tension arises after you speak, you want to postpone the action, or you feel a sudden need to add “extra arguments,” your Authority has not spoken.

💬 The Heart motor is strong, yet it also needs rest: promise only what you can truly sustain or support with resources. Break large tasks into stages and use your voice to confirm each next step: “Starting today,” “First milestone done by Friday,” “Continuing/pausing.” Honor the cycles of effort and recovery—restoration is just as essential as exertion.

Your strategy is to inform before you act. Speak plainly and in a timely manner. When you trust your voice, influence arises naturally: the word sets the direction, and action affirms it.

Common distortions. Wanting to please and be “convenient” instead of offering an honest “no”; trying to explain the decision before the short phrase is spoken; bargaining with yourself after a clear “I won’t”; making “someday” promises without immediate readiness; replacing informing others with excuses. The antidote is simple: one short statement—one decision—one action.

Ego Projected Authority

Author: Nikita Razdorsky

A relatively rare Projector configuration in which the Heart Center is connected to the G Center. The Throat, however, is not connected to a motor, so the key to living correctly is a strict alignment of Strategy and Authority: wait for recognition and an invitation into meaningful roles and decisions, and then check whether you truly want to take them on.

The signal is simple: “I’ll take it on / I won’t.” It feels like an inner “I can”—a readiness to commit your word, time, energy, and money—or the absence of that readiness. This is not about rational arguments or a desire to please; it is an honest check: are you willing to cover the cost of your promise and meet the deadline? If that readiness is lacking or you are uncertain, then it is “not now,” no matter how enticing the external perks may be.

Wait for a correct invitation and recognition of your qualities, then put the choice into a clear first-person statement: “I’m taking this,” “I’m not taking this,” “I’m ready for the first stage.” Listen to the immediate feeling: if composure and calm resolve arise—go; if you sense tension, the urge to bargain with yourself, or the need to hurry and pile up logical arguments—step back or scale the commitment down to something manageable. Break obligations into stages and reconfirm each next step: “doing the first block,” “continuing / stopping.” This shields the Heart Center from overexertion and preserves the quality of your influence.

💬 A marker of authenticity is your readiness to sign your name to the action, timeline, and contribution you have declared. If you would make the same choice without the promised benefit and external pressure, the decision is likely correct. If, however, the choice hinges on securing recognition at any cost or on the fear of missing out, you are no longer following your Authority; you are being conditioned by open centers.

The Heart motor is strong, yet recovery is just as important: it requires a rhythm of exertion and rest. Make promises only in the amount you can truly sustain, record the terms in writing, and build in pauses for recovery. When the invitation is correct and the will is present, your word becomes a pillar for others—your influence emerges naturally and is maintained without inner friction.

Self-Projected Authority

Author: Nikita Razdorsky

This is the voice of your identity, emanating from the G Center and expressed through the Throat. The essence is simple: the truth can be heard in what you say yourself, without constructing it in advance with logic or trying to please others. It isn’t the mind that decides but your inner compass—the felt sense of “this is me” or “this isn’t me,” spoken aloud.

Wait for recognition or an invitation, then convert your choice into brief first-person statements: “I’m in” or “This isn’t for me.” Speak it, and immediately check your bodily sense of wholeness: if calm composure and a natural readiness to act arise, proceed; if tension appears or you feel like softening the wording or adding explanations, that means “not now.” If the phrase doesn’t come easily, the decision isn’t ready. It’s useful to record what you said and check whether the same sense of “I” remains a few hours later.

💬 Brevity and specificity of the statement; a feeling of inner alignment—“I’m in the right place”; willingness to invest yourself with words, actions, and time; steadiness of the decision when you repeat the same formula later. If, after speaking, you feel like postponing or hunting for supposedly “right” arguments, that’s already the mind.

Boundaries and Resources. In your Authority configuration there is no direct motor, so it’s essential not to promise more than you can sustain without strain. Break commitments into stages and confirm each subsequent step aloud: “I’ll wrap up the first block by Friday,” “I’m continuing/stopping.” Observe a rest regimen: the quality of your direction depends on clear self-identity, not pressure.

“Does this give me a sense of wholeness? Does it allow my style and direction to shine through?” If the spoken answer energizes you, it’s your path; if it fragments you, politely decline or revisit the topic later. Your success is built on trusting your own voice: when you honor what you’ve said, the direction aligns by itself and influence arises naturally.

Common Distortions. Mental editing of speech through logic to make things easier for others; the drive for recognition at any cost; trying to “work out the right answer” instead of speaking honestly and spontaneously; long promises born of a single impulse; confusing “being useful” with “being yourself.” A simple discipline helps: one short statement—one decision—one action.

Outer Authority

Author: Nikita Razdorsky

A Mental Projector has no inner bodily authority for decision-making. Clarity ripens outside of you—within the correct environment and through voicing your thoughts aloud. In this process, the mind doesn’t “decide” for you; it shapes your truth as you hear your own words in the presence of others. As you stay on your path and maintain the right geometry of life, the mind reveals itself as a priceless External Authority for others, while for you the right decision emerges when what you have spoken crystallizes into a stable, simple, recognizable formula.

The process looks like this: you wait for recognition and an invitation, arrive in the right place among the right people, phrase the question in your own words, and speak it aloud—without trying to please, convince, or forge consensus. Your interlocutors are not there to advise you but to provide a backdrop against which you can hear your own thinking. With each round of articulation, the phrases naturally become denser and more precise; at some point the urge to ask more questions or find yet another listener disappears, and a state of mental clarity arises: “I understand what I’m doing or how to do it,” and every other option simply falls away.

💬 Calm replaces bustle; the decision formula feels complete with no urge to add “one more argument,” there is no pull to keep talking just to talk, and you are ready to act on the stated plan within the specified timeframe. A helpful check is to pause for one sleep cycle: if, in the morning, the same concise decision comes back in the same words, the choice has matured.

Protect the environment: choose neutral, non-pressuring spaces and people who know how to listen, ask clarifying questions, and refrain from burdening you with advice. State your boundaries upfront: “It’s important for me to say this out loud and hear how it sounds; I’m not asking for advice.” Set a deadline for returning with your answer and honor it. If the formula hasn’t crystallized by that time, politely take a pause or say, “Not now.” Do not replace the absence of clarity with the supposed urgency of the situation, other people’s expectations, or the fear of missing out.

Your practical anchor is your own speech. Speak in short, specific, first-person formulas: “I’m taking this/I’m not taking this,” “This format and timeframe work for me,” “I’m stepping away from this direction.” Listen not to the elegance of the argument but to how the statement gathers you from within. If, after you speak a phrase, you feel the impulse to soften it, explain yourself, or look for ‘one more perspective,’ clarity is not yet complete. Return to articulating it later, in the correct environment. In this way, the Mental Projector’s mind becomes a reliable External Authority: it lights the way for others and, at the same time, helps you make your own decisions without inner friction.

Lunar Authority

Author: Nikita Razdorsky

All the centers in your BodyGraph are undefined, so there is no fixed internal source for decisions. Clarity ripens in rhythm with the lunar cycle, as the Moon sequentially activates different gates. For significant choices, rely on one full lunar cycle—approximately 28–29 days—and on your personal, recurring clarity pattern, which you will recognize by observing several consecutive cycles.

Keep your own pace: set a clear timeframe for getting back with an answer; speak the topic aloud in the correct environment and with trusted partners who serve as a “mirror”—not to advise you, but so that you can hear your own wording. Keep brief notes: what you discussed, which words “lit you up,” where doubts arose. For urgent tasks, take reversible steps without long commitments; for long-term matters, wait for the full circle and the recurring sense of clarity.

💬 When you no longer feel the urge to seek “one more opinion,” the phrasing of the decision contracts into a simple, steady formula; it sounds the same the next morning after sleep, and the pressure to do something—anything—immediately disappears. That is genuine clarity.

With an undefined G Center, your environment becomes decisive: the right place and people clearly improve your well-being and the quality of your decisions, whereas an “incorrect” space blurs your sense of self. Watch for bodily markers—lightness, steadiness, natural engagement—as indicators that the place is correct, and feel free to change surroundings if they do not “gather” you.

️False voices of the undefined centers. For a Reflector, they sound especially convincing and require conscious attention:

  • Root Center—“Speed up and get it done to relieve the pressure.”
  • Splenic Center—“Cling to the familiar, even if it is harmful.”
  • Sacral Center—“Keep working; you still have energy.”
  • Solar Plexus Center (Emotional)—“Avoid conflict at any cost.”
  • G Center—“Define who you are and where you are going right now.”
  • Heart Center (Ego)—“Prove your worth.”
  • Throat Center—“Say or do it right now.”
  • Ajna Center—“Lock your mind and opinion in place.”
  • Crown Center—“Find the answer immediately.”

It is crucial for you to study the false voices of each center in detail. Notice these impulses, name them aloud, and reduce their influence—make decisions not from those pressing voices, but from the clarity that matures over time.

Speak briefly and specifically in the first person, listen for the phrases that repeat and “light you up,” and track the rhythm of your own clarity moments. When you honor the lunar cycle and the correctness of your environment, decisions come together without unnecessary friction, and a Reflector’s life becomes satisfying, delighting you with pleasant surprises and remarkable twists of fate.