Human Design Authority: Seven Types for Aligned Decisions

In Human Design, authority is your unique inner guide for making decisions that align with your true self. It’s not about logic or reasoning; instead, it’s about tuning into your body and trusting the signals it gives you. Everyone has a different authority type, which helps you navigate life in a way that feels authentic and fulfilling. Understanding your authority type is key to making choices that align with your energy and purpose. In this blog, we’ll explore the seven types of authority and how they can empower you to make aligned daily decisions.

Human Design Authority Explained

Human Design Authority is the inner decision-making guide unique to each person, showing how to make choices aligned with one’s true self. It’s based on a person’s unique energy configuration and is considered one of the most vital aspects of the Human Design system.

In Human Design, authority isn’t about mental reasoning but about following a deeper, inner sense that leads to the right decisions for one’s life path. There are seven main types of authority, and each connects to specific centers in the body that determine how an individual naturally makes decisions. Some people have a clear inner voice or a feeling in their gut, while others may need more time to tune into their emotional clarity.

The seven authorities are:

Emotional Authority (58% of the population) – Generators and Manifesting Generators. Ride the emotional way to clarity.
Sacral Authority (29%) – Generators and Manifesting Generators. Trust Your Gut Response
Splenic Authority (8%) – Projectors, Manifestors, and Reflectors. Trust Your Instincts In Present moment.
Self Authority (1.7%) – Projectors with defined G Center. Trust Yourself to Lead the Way
Ego Authority (1.3%) – Manifestors and Generators with defined Heart Center. Decision-Making from the Will.
Environmental Authority (1.6%) – Projectors. Trust Your Surroundings
Lunar Authority (0.7%) – Projectors. Wait for the Moon’s Cycle

At its core, Human Design authority is about trusting your body’s wisdom when making decisions. Unlike traditional decision-making, which often relies on mental analysis or external influences, authority in Human Design is based on how you naturally process information and make choices through your energy centers.

Each person has a specific authority type, tied to different centers in the body. These different authorities guide you toward decisions that align with your authentic self, ensuring you move through life with clarity and purpose. By understanding and following your authority, you can avoid resistance and feel more confident in your choices.

How to Find Your Human Design Authority

How To Find Authority In Human Design Chart

To discover your Human Design authority, you first need to know your Human Design chart, which is based on your birth information (date, time, and place). This chart reveals your human designƒ type, centers, channels, and most importantly, your authority.

Once you generate your chart (using a Human Design calculator or working with an expert), you can locate your authority in the chart, which will be based on how your centers are defined. Your authority is connected to specific centers—such as the Solar Plexus, Sacral, or G-center—depending on your design.

For example, if you have a defined Sacral Center, your authority might be Sacral, meaning you make decisions based on a gut response. If your Solar Plexus center is defined, your authority is Emotional, and you’ll need time to ride the emotional wave before making a decision.

Your authority tells you how to tap into your body’s wisdom. Understanding your authority helps you navigate decisions with ease, allowing you to trust the process and find clarity in your choices.

In the following sections, we’ll dive into each of the seven authority types, explaining how they work and how you can use them to make decisions that feel right for you. Whether you have emotional clarity, gut instincts, or a need for time, your authority is your personal compass.

1) Emotional Authority in Human Design

Emotional Authority is one of the most common and powerful authorities in Human Design. It is found in about 50% of the population, making it the most prevalent authority type. If you have Emotional Authority, your decision-making process is deeply tied to your emotions (solar plexus center: Solar plexus Authority), and the key to making decisions that align with your true self is to wait for emotional clarity.

In Human Design, Authority refers to the inner guidance system that dictates how we make decisions. For those with Emotional Authority, emotions play a central role. However, it’s not about making decisions based on the immediate or fleeting emotions you experience in the moment. Instead, the key is to give yourself time to process your emotions, waiting for them to settle into clarity before making any significant choices.

While emotions can be powerful, making decisions in the middle of emotional highs or lows can often lead to unclear or regretful outcomes. By waiting for your emotional wave to subside and achieving a neutral state, you can make decisions that are more in alignment with your authentic self.

The Key to Emotional Authority: Waiting for Clarity

One of the most important aspects of Emotional Authority is the concept of waiting for emotional clarity. Emotional Authorities must understand that their emotional waves can significantly impact decision-making. These waves are natural, and emotions rise and fall over time.

Emotional highs can bring excitement and passion, often leading to impulsive decisions. On the flip side, emotional lows can bring feelings of doubt or sadness, which can also cloud judgment. Both extremes can lead to decisions that don’t align with your true self.

For those with Emotional Authority, it’s crucial to not make decisions during the highs or lows of these emotional waves. Instead, the best choices come when emotions settle down, and you can make decisions from a calm, neutral place.

The Emotional Wave: Understanding Your Emotional Energy

The emotional wave is a defining characteristic of Emotional Authority. Your emotions rise and fall in predictable patterns, and understanding your wave is key to navigating your emotional state effectively.

Emotional Highs: These are moments when you’re filled with excitement, joy, or passion. While these highs may feel inspiring, they can also cause impulsiveness and lead to hasty decisions. It’s important to wait until the excitement subsides to gain clarity.
Emotional Lows: During these phases, you might feel doubt, sadness, or frustration. Lows can create feelings of uncertainty, making it harder to trust your decisions. Just like with highs, it’s best to wait for the emotional wave to pass before deciding.

How to Make Aligned Decisions with Emotional Authority

For those with Emotional Authority, the decision-making process involves more patience than for other authority types. Here’s a simple strategy for making decisions that align with your emotions:

Notice the Wave: Be mindful of your emotional state. Recognize when you’re experiencing a high or low and understand that this is a natural part of your wave. Avoid rushing into decisions during these emotional extremes.
Wait for Emotional Clarity: Trust the timing. You don’t need to make decisions in the heat of the moment. Allow yourself time for the wave to settle and for your emotions to stabilize. This process could take a few hours or a few days.
Trust Your Timing: Emotional clarity doesn’t always come immediately. Be patient and trust that, over time, you’ll gain the insight needed to make a sound decision.
Embrace the Emotional Cycle: Your emotional state will naturally fluctuate, and that’s okay. The key is to recognize that clarity will come once you’ve allowed yourself the time to process and reflect on your feelings.

Sacral Authority in Human Design

Sacral Authority is the second most common authority type in Human Design, found in about 29% of the population. Sacral Authority is most commonly found in people with a defined Sacral Center in their Human Design chart. This authority type is typically associated with Generator and Manifesting Generator. If you have Sacral Authority, your decision-making process is driven by the body’s gut response—often referred to as your “gut feeling.” This authority is all about listening to your body’s instinctive, immediate reactions to situations, people, or choices.

Unlike Emotional Authority, which requires waiting for emotional clarity, Sacral Authority calls for instant, visceral feedback. The key is to trust and follow your gut response, which will often manifest as a “yes” or “no” feeling, depending on the situation.

How Sacral Authority Works

For those with Sacral Authority, decisions are made by tuning into the Sacral Center, which is located in the lower abdomen. This center is connected to the body’s natural energy and is an intuitive system designed to provide immediate, physical responses to external stimuli.

When faced with a decision, your Sacral Center will send you a clear, bodily response—often in the form of sounds like uh-huh (a “yes”) or unh-uh (a “no”), or a physical sensation that feels like a pull towards something or a push away from it. These signals are your body’s way of guiding you toward what feels right and away from what doesn’t.

Unlike the emotional wave, which requires patience to process, Sacral responses are instantaneous. The key to success with Sacral Authority is learning to trust your gut instinct rather than overthinking or second-guessing the initial response. The first instinct is usually the clearest and most aligned with your true self.

Making Decisions with Sacral Authority

Pay Attention to Your Gut: The Sacral response will be felt as a physical reaction. This could be a feeling in your stomach, an impulse to speak or move, or an immediate sense of attraction or repulsion. Pay close attention to this immediate response when faced with decisions.
Use Yes/No Questions: When you’re unsure about a decision, try asking yourself clear yes/no questions. Your Sacral Center will provide an immediate, instinctual answer. Trust this response—don’t let the mind interfere.
Avoid Overthinking: The more you think about a decision, the less clear your Sacral response becomes. If you find yourself getting lost in your thoughts, take a step back and refocus on your gut feeling. It’s the immediate, instinctive reaction that holds the most value.
Test It Out: If you’re unsure, try to test the response by giving yourself a choice and listening to how your body reacts. The Sacral response will often feel clear and strong when it’s right. The more you practice, the easier it becomes to recognize.

3) Splenic Authority in Human Design

Splenic Authority is a less common authority type, found in about 9% of the population. If you have Splenic Authority, your decision-making process is guided by instinctual, in-the-moment awareness. The Splenic Center provides immediate, intuitive hits that are usually quick and fleeting. People with Splenic Authority make decisions based on what feels right at the moment, without needing to overthink.

This authority is connected to the Spleen Center, which governs instinct, intuition, and physical survival. Splenic Authority operates on the principle that your body knows what is best in the present moment.

How Splenic Authority Works

People with Splenic Authority receive subtle, intuitive flashes of awareness. These flashes often come as a quiet, instantaneous knowing, a physical sensation in the body, or a soft voice telling them what is right. Unlike Sacral Authority’s gut response, Splenic Authority is instinctual and much more fleeting, so it’s important to act quickly when the decision arises.

If you have Splenic Authority, don’t wait for more information or seek reassurance—trust the first instinct and act on it immediately.

Making Decisions with Splenic Authority

Act Quickly: When you get an intuitive hit from your Spleen, take action immediately. Don’t overthink or delay.
Trust Your Instincts: Your body is instinctively guiding you, so pay attention to the subtle cues it gives you.
Don’t Overthink: The instinctive hit is often fleeting and quiet. If you hesitate or second-guess it, you might miss the opportunity.
Learn to Recognize Your Instincts: With practice, it becomes easier to distinguish between instinctual awareness and mental chatter.

4) Self Projected Authority in Human Design

Self-authority is found in about 1.7% of the population. This authority type is associated with individuals who have a defined G-Center in their Human Design chart. The G-Center governs your sense of self, identity, direction, and love, and if you have Self Authority, your decision-making process is guided by your inner sense of purpose and direction. It’s all about trusting the inner compass that comes from a deep connection with your true self.

People with Self Authority don’t necessarily need to make decisions based on external influences or the feedback of others. Instead, decisions come from within, relying on a natural clarity that arises when they are aligned with their authentic self and life’s purpose.

Unlike Emotional or Sacral Authorities, which rely on instinctive responses or bodily cues, Self Authority is a subtle, ongoing connection with your deeper sense of identity and direction in life. It’s more of an inner knowing that tells you what feels aligned, and what doesn’t.

How Self-Projected Authority Works

With Self Authority, decisions are made from a strong sense of internal direction. The G-Center (also called the “Identity Center”) provides a constant, underlying awareness of what feels right for you. When you are connected with your true self, you will feel a sense of clarity and peace around decisions. When you are off-track or out of alignment, you may experience a sense of disconnection or lack of clarity.

Unlike other authorities where the decision-making process might feel more immediate or instinctual, Self Authority requires patience and self-awareness. The clarity about what is right for you comes in moments of reflection and self-connection. Often, it’s not about instant feedback, but about recognizing what feels authentically aligned over time.

Making Decisions with Self- Projected Authority

Tune into Your Inner Sense of Direction: Self Authority is about knowing your true self. When making decisions, check in with your inner guidance and sense of who you are and where you are headed. Your clarity comes from this deep, inner knowing that often appears as a sense of peace or alignment.

Reflect and Let the Decision Unfold: Unlike authorities that require immediate responses, Self Authority may take time. When faced with a decision, give yourself the space to reflect. Your inner clarity will reveal itself in time, often after a period of self-reflection.

Trust Your Own Perspective: External feedback may not always serve you. For Self Authority, the most important decision-making tool is your own sense of purpose and self-awareness. If something doesn’t feel aligned with your true self, you’ll sense it, even if others disagree.

Wait for Clarity: Sometimes, the place of clarity will not come immediately. Trust that it will emerge when you are in touch with your authentic self and life’s path. It’s important to allow the decision-making process to unfold in a natural way, without forcing conclusions too quickly.

Align with Your Values and Purpose: Your decisions should be in alignment with your personal values and overall life purpose. If something feels right, it’s because it resonates with your core identity. If it feels wrong, it’s often because it conflicts with who you are at your essence.

5) Ego Authority in Human Design

Ego Authority is found in about 1.3% of the population. It is a rare authority that operates through the Ego Center or Heart Center, which is responsible for willpower, desires, and personal strength. People with Ego Authority make decisions based on their own will and self-interest, relying on their inner desire and drive to guide them.

Ego Authority: Manifested vs. Projected

Within Ego Authority, there are two expressions: Ego Manifested and Ego Projected. Both are driven by the Heart Center (Ego Center), but their decision-making processes differ.

Ego Manifested occurs when the Heart Center is defined. Individuals with Ego Manifested Authority make decisions based on their inner willpower, desires, and personal sense of what they want. They have a strong, consistent inner knowing and can act directly on their desires without external influence. These people are self-driven, deciding based on their own needs and goals.

Ego Projected happens when the Heart Center is undefined. While they still experience the energy of the Ego Center, their decision-making is influenced by others’ perspectives and recognition. They often seek validation or guidance from those around them before acting. Their willpower is more about responding to external feedback than having inner clarity.

In short:

Ego Manifested: Decisions are made independently from a deep sense of willpower and personal desire.
Ego Projected: Decisions are shaped by external recognition and how others perceive them.

Making Decisions with Ego Authority

Check with Your Willpower: Ask yourself, “Is this something I truly want?” If it feels like it’s coming from a place of personal power and will, it’s likely the right decision. The key is to listen to your inner desires and evaluate if the choice aligns with your personal will.

Trust Your Desire for Personal Satisfaction: Ego Authority individuals often feel an innate drive to make decisions that lead to personal satisfaction and empowerment. Trust that your desires are a valid guide for making choices.

Empower Yourself in Your Decisions: The more you make decisions that align with your desires and willpower, the stronger and more empowered you’ll feel. If something feels disempowering or against your will, it’s not the right path for you.

Own Your Choices: With Ego Authority, taking full ownership of your decisions is vital. You don’t need to explain yourself to others. If a decision feels right for your personal desires, trust it, and stand firm in your choice.

Ego Authority is a powerful decision-making process that comes from empowerment and self-interest. It’s about making choices that align with your true desires and inner strength, without relying on others’ feedback or influence.

6) Environmental Authority in Human Design

Environmental Authority is found in about 1.6% of the population. This authority type is associated with individuals who have a defined Environment Center in their Human Design chart. If you have Environmental Authority, your decision-making is primarily influenced by your physical environment and the energy around you. The key to making aligned decisions is to pay attention to how your surroundings impact and shape your energy.

Rather than making decisions based on emotions or gut responses, Environmental Authority individuals need to be in the right place, at the right time, to feel clarity. Your surroundings will play a key role in helping you align with your decisions and make the most authentic choices.

How Environmental Authority Works

For individuals with Environmental Authority, the energy of the environment you’re in is crucial. You need to be in the right space—whether it’s a physical location, the people around you, or the overall vibe of the situation—to feel clarity. The environment holds the energy that will either nourish or confuse your decision-making process.

When faced with a decision, it’s important to assess how your environment feels. You may need to change locations or be around certain people to gain the clarity you need. Once you are in the right setting, the decision will become clear, and you will feel aligned.

Making Decisions with the Environmental Authority

Find the Right Environment: When you need to make a decision, it’s important to be in a comfortable, supportive environment. The energy of the place or people around you will have a significant impact on your decision-making clarity. Pay attention to how your surroundings feel.

Shift Your Environment if Necessary: If you don’t feel clear about a decision, consider changing your physical surroundings. Whether it’s moving to a new location or changing who you’re around, your environmental energy can make a huge difference in your clarity.

Observe the Energy Around You: Your environment holds subtle clues. Pay attention to how you feel when you’re in different spaces—how the people and the setting make you feel will help guide your decisions.

Create Harmonious Spaces: Set up your physical surroundings in a way that feels nourishing and supportive for you. The more aligned and comfortable your environment is, the easier it will be to make decisions.

Environmental Authority is about trusting the energy of your surroundings. When your environment aligns with you, the right decision will become clear, offering you the clarity needed to move forward with confidence.

7) Lunar Authority in Human Design

Lunar Authority is the rarest of all, found in about 0.7% of the population. People with Lunar Authority typically belong to the Projector type. Unlike other authorities, Lunar Authority individuals do not make decisions on the spot or based on immediate responses. Instead, they need to wait through a full lunar cycle (about 28 days) before reaching clarity.

For Lunar Authority individuals, decisions come through a process of reflection and gradual clarity over time. As the Moon moves through its phases, their sense of alignment with a decision becomes more clear.

How Lunar Authority Works

Lunar Authority is uniquely tied to the moon’s cycle, which is approximately 28 days. Those with Lunar Authority must wait out the full cycle before making important decisions. This authority type is tied to the natural rhythms of the universe and needs time to process and reflect.

This waiting period allows Lunar Authority individuals to fully absorb and reflect on a decision, ensuring that they are making the right choice for their true self, not based on impulse or external pressure.

Making Decisions with Lunar Authority

Wait for the Lunar Cycle: To make a decision, you need to wait for clarity. Lunar Authority individuals should not make hasty decisions but instead, allow time for the moon to pass through its phases. The right answer will become clear with patience.

Avoid Rush: Decisions made under pressure are often not aligned with Lunar Authority. If you’re facing a big decision, avoid making it immediately. Allow the cycle to unfold, and let your feelings and clarity evolve over time.

Reflect and Trust Your Process: Trust that the clarity you need will come with time. During the lunar cycle, observe your emotional state, thoughts, and intuitive insights, as these will guide your decision-making process.

Use the Moon’s Phases to Your Advantage: Lunar Authority individuals often find it helpful to reflect on decisions at different points in the moon’s phases. The new moon phase is great for setting intentions, while the full moon phase often brings clarity and resolution.

Lunar Authority is about trusting the wisdom of time and cycles. By allowing the lunar cycle to guide your decision-making process, you can access deeper clarity and alignment with your true path.

Inner And Outer Authority

In Human Design, the distinction between inner and outer authority lies in where decision-making guidance comes from.

Inner Authority

Inner authority is when your decision-making is guided by something within you, like your body, emotions, or inner knowing. These authorities rely on your personal energy and intuition. Examples of inner authorities include:

Emotional Authority: Decisions come from emotional clarity, requiring time to ride out emotional waves.
Sacral Authority: Instant gut responses, often a “yes” or “no.”
Splenic Authority: Instinctive, spontaneous awareness from the body.
Self Authority: Decisions are based on self-awareness and identity, especially in Projectors with a defined G Center.
Ego Authority: Driven by willpower and personal desires, often found in Manifestors and Generators with a defined Heart Center.
Lunar Authority: Although it involves reflection, decisions are based on the lunar cycle, requiring time to align with the moon’s phases.

With inner authority, your decisions come from within your own system, whether it’s a gut response, emotional clarity, or intuitive insight.

Outer Authority

Outer authority, on the other hand, refers to decision-making influenced by external factors or interactions with others. Environmental Authority is the key example. Those with this authority make decisions based on their surroundings, such as the people they are with or the energy of a specific environment.

So, the key difference is:

Inner authority comes from within your body or energy system, guiding your decisions from your internal responses.
Outer authority is influenced by your environment or external circumstances.

This distinction helps clarify how we make decisions—whether by tuning into our inner signals or responding to what’s around us.

Human Design Authority FAQs

What does your authority mean in Human Design?

Your authority in Human Design is the decision-making process specific to your energy type. It guides how you make aligned choices, based on your body, emotions, or environment. It’s the internal or external compass that helps you navigate life in the most authentic way.

How many Human Design authorities are there?

There are seven Human Design authorities: Emotional, Sacral, Splenic, Self, Ego, Environmental, and Lunar. Each authority type represents a unique way of making decisions based on your energy system and interaction with the world.

What is my strategy and authority in Human Design?

Your strategy and authority in Human Design are determined by your energy type and chart. The strategy is how you interact with the world (e.g., wait to respond for Generators), while your authority guides how to make decisions (e.g., emotional clarity or gut responses).

How do I know my inner authority?

To know your inner authority, you can check your Human Design chart. The authority is indicated by the defined centers and specific gates in your chart. Once you identify it, learning how it works—whether through gut feelings, emotions, or instinct—helps guide your decision-making.

What does sacral authority feel like?

Sacral authority feels like a physical gut response, often expressed as a “yes” or “no.” You may experience it as a pull or push in your body, a feeling of excitement or resistance, or hear a clear sound like “uh-huh” for yes or “uh-uh” for no when deciding.

What is the difference between emotional and sacral authority?

Emotional authority requires waiting for emotional clarity over time, while sacral authority provides instant gut reactions. Emotional authority involves riding out emotional waves before making a decision, while sacral authority is about trusting immediate physical responses to situations.

How to strengthen sacral authority?

To strengthen sacral authority, practice tuning into your gut responses. Ask yourself yes/no questions, listen to your body’s immediate reactions, and avoid overthinking. The more you trust your gut and respond instantly, the clearer your sacral authority becomes.

What is the rarest authority in Human Design?

The rarest authority in Human Design is Lunar Authority, found in only 0.7% of the population. It’s unique to Projectors and requires waiting through the lunar cycle for clarity, making decisions based on the phases of the moon.

Do all Manifesting Generators have sacral authority?

Most Manifesting Generators have Sacral Authority due to a defined Sacral Center. However, if they have a defined Solar Plexus, they may have Emotional Authority. If their Spleen or Heart Center is defined, they could have Splenic or Ego Authority, respectively.