Cognition: How Human Design Can Help Identify Your Super Sense
Whether it’s tingles when you enter a room with weird energy, smelling when something doesn’t seem right, or being able to taste a hit – we’re more familiar with what Human Design calls “cognition” than we think. Terms that explain subtle sensory experiences are all over our vernacular, yet we put so little emphasis on the fact that there are many different modes of understanding the world that evade the tight boxes of the 5 senses. Cognition in Human Design is often called your “super sense” as it describes a specific skill that is readily available to you. The 6 cognition types include Smell, Taste, Outer Vision, Inner Vision, Feeling, and Touch.
In truth, we have so many tools at our disposal that go untouched or undeveloped! By bringing the layers of our sensory experience into our conscious mind, using a framework like Human Design, we can start to validate those subtle feelings and grow them to expand our awareness. We’re always getting messages from the world around us that carries information about what is beneficial and supportive to our well-being and what is not. All we have to do is learn to dial that little voice up and the potential is truly endless.
How to Find Cognition In Your Chart
There are a few ways you can find your cognition – the easiest is to go to Jenna Zoe’s calculator and fill in your birth info and your cognition will be listed as “strongest sense.” If are using an advanced GeneticMatrix account it will be listed on the left-hand side under “body” OR you can old school discern the info from the little numbers that show up under the arrows next to the head center. To do it this way, use the top left arrow and look at the number on the left. So based on the example below, the number we want is “5.” I also cover cognition and the meaning of the other arrows, colors and tones in Human Design Integration Sessions.
Cognition Types
Ok now that we know where to find the cognition, let’s dive into what it all means – for anyone using the number, I will list them accordingly!
Smell
Information comes to you through the frequency of smell. Tuning into how something smells to you – good, bad, interesting – helps your body calibrate itself to determine if that thing (or person) is beneficial to you in the moment. There is a very primal nature attached to smell cognition as it helps you understand what will be healthy for you, keep you safe, or ensure success. Allowing yourself to breathe through your nose and process what comes up may help you feel more in touch with your inner-knowing. You may be more sensitive to certain smells than others and it can be helpful to only take in one smell at a time – if you find a detergent aisle or candle store overwhelming, give yourself permission to leave. Alternatively, you may be able to pull out on fragrance from the rest that sits well in your system, it’s yours to play with! If you find yourself drawn to phrases like “that smells like success” or “something smells off here,” embrace your olfactory power and experiment with how honoring your smell cognition plays out.
Taste
Do you need to nibble on something to determine if it’s right for you? Now, this may make most immediate sense in the context of food, but with taste cognition it can be applied to everything you do in life (and no this doesn’t necessarily mean literally putting things in your mouth but feel free to!). You’re in a constant process of refining your pallette and selecting things that provide the same satisfaction as an incredible bite of food. Notice if you pick up taste sensations in certain environments or around different people as it can provide clues to the sweetest options for you. It may be helpful to limit your exposure to an overwhelming amount of anything as you like to come at things one piece at a time. Give yourself permission to sample life as it feels right to you. Breathing through the mouth can help people with taste cognition tune into their environment and inner-knowing – play around with breathwork and take deep breaths through and open mouth to see if that helps make things more clear for you.
Outer Vision
Aesthetics, aesthetics, aesthetics! This cognition is all about visual stimulation. When you’re in a place that is subjectively appealing to you, it may dial up the volume on your intuition. Allow yourself to be drawn to beautiful places and spaces and notice how visual clues guide your path. It could be noticing a person’s scarf and striking up a conversation or curating your home in a way that allows your body to relax and your mind to fully open. Creating food that looks visually beautiful can also be supportive as it helps you get to know the items your working with in an intimate way. Essentially, by working with what looks appealing to you, you’re curating the frequency of your world. You have a knack for understanding what goes together harmoniously and what doesn’t. If you walk into a restaurant and the artwork puts you off, feel free to leave! It’s all about leaning into the understanding that how you see the world is essential to framing what is right for you. Want to learn more? Check out 3 Tips for Working with Outer Vision.
Inner Vision
What’s your inner world like with inner vision cognition? Do you find yourself closing your eyes and visualizing your dreams or future? This cognition shines when you allow yourself to go within. Literally, this can be closing your eyes for a moment while making a decision and the answer will become clear. Play around with spaces that have low lighting, minimal sounds – create a cocoon for yourself as this can help you pick up on the subtleties of situations or your next move. Outer distraction pulls you away from your inner process and having this cognition invites you to get cozy with the deeper layers of your psyche. You don’t need any external validation or prompts to get to the core of what feels right for you. It’s all about being receptive to what comes up and trusting that to be just the information you need. Check out 3 tips for working with inner vision.
Feeling
If there’s something off in your environment, you know it! Feeling cognition picks up on the subtle energy that places and people give off and allows you to physically feel the vibration in your system. If you notice you’re feeling on edge or unable to fully relax into a place, that information is trying to direct you elsewhere. You notice things that others don’t and this can lend itself to heightened empathy or compassion for what people around you are experiencing. You can choose to hold space and communicate to others what you’re picking up or not. Get really curious about how you feeling and allow yourself to gracefully (or not) exit if you do not feel called to hold space. With this cognition you may also be sensitive to electro-magnetic frequencies so try turning off your devices at night or when you need an energetic break of sorts. Spending time in nature and away from the “noise” can be supportive as you try to discern your next step or how you truly feel about something. You live in a world of vibes so it’s important to honor the little clues you pick up on and trust their guidance.
Touch
You pick up information from the tactile experience of life. Give yourself permission to feel things and notice how the material or sensation piques your interest. Comfort may come through physical contact and you may find yourself knowing things about others simply from brushing against them. You have the power to project your feelings and understanding to the world around you as you manipulate and move energy with ease. Holding and playing with objects that feel good to you can help you tune into your inner voice and discern what sort of places, people, and opportunities are right for you. Keep in mind that minimalist environments may make you uncomfortable and give yourself permission to surround yourself with things that you love. You’re here to play with the physicality of feeling and transmit your care through the things you tactily make and share with the world.
Interested in learning more?
Who wouldn’t?! Cognition is one piece of your chart and can illuminate so much. There are so many fascinating ways you can blend your cognition with the other information in your chart to help bring more ease and self-assuredness into your life. If you’re ready to learn more, book your sessions here.