Why Are We so Intimidated by Our Power? Reflections from Human Design Sessions

When I first started giving Human Design readings, my biggest concern was being able to tell people about the challenging aspects of their design. These are areas that are prime for shadow work and have endless potential for growth.

We all have sticky things we need to work on. Having an open emotional center, however, paired with the channel of judgment, I knew it was my job to give it to people straight...but feared the emotional ramifications of giving people news they might not want to hear.

What I've learned, however ... is the when it comes to naming and discussing areas for growth, most people are quick to own and claim these things. "Oh I have an open head center so I tend to think about things that might not be important for me... totally, that's me!" I understand the feeling of validation and recognition that comes with being able to associate an area of struggle with a Human Design element or quality. Do I often feel I need to prove myself to others? Completely 100%, sure.

So eventually, I learned the "scary" task of being direct with people about areas for growth was really not that big of a deal after all... but something else started to bubble to the surface.

When it came to speaking about the gifts, talents, and life's mission that showed up in charts ... suddenly clients would start to tense up.

The pattern I've witnessed is a willingness to accept and level with the "challenges" apparent in our design and a BIG resistance to embracing the wonderful, powerful, magical truth about our being.

Don't get me wrong, some of the incarnation cross descriptions can be lofty and potentially intimidating in their greatness. If you were told you're here to be unapologetically yourself and set an example that allows others to do the same – that's no small task. BUT it is also something that you inherently do and embody – often without even realizing it!

This is usually the part of the session where I feel people think I'm just trying to make them feel better or fluff them up a bit ... I get "is that what it really says?!?" a lot. And, yes, I promise I'm not just making it up.

So this leads me to ask a question – why is it that we're so frightened of our greatness? Why does embodying and living in alignment with a destiny that feels grand, empowering, and mystical AF scare so many of us?

Thinking of the archetypes used for the Profile Lines, it's a little obvious. We don't want to be martyrs, heretics, hermits, or to an extent role models because society/experience has taught us that is bad. When we are bold and big and different, we are vulnerable to the backlash, punishment ... there's an element of past-life trauma for sure but can we deny the real and present ways people are silenced or harmed for just being in this modern world?

We're still very entrenched in systems and ideals that teach us standing out and fighting against the establishment is a dangerous thing. Our identities are regularly weaponized against us – systematically, culturally, and socially. Especially if you are in a body or part of a community that has been historically excluded, marginalized, repressed, or abused.

Human Design is a tool that is meant to show us how specific and individual we are. The goal is to illustrate that we are all rare crystals that come in different patterns, shapes – and there are over 2 billion potential configurations that make us all so special. But we don't live in a Human Design world, unfortunately. Much of Human Design literature speaks about fighting against "homogenization." And as a CIS white woman ... the idea of being "different" because of my Human Design is exciting and enticing because my experience is homogenization approved! However, I can recognize that this is not the case for everyone. It's not a privilege everyone enjoys.

So what am I saying here – Human Design is pointless and it's impossible to reform society? Not even a little. Human Design is one tool that gives a language to a variety of experiences. It's a template for recognizing and appreciating our individual expression and experience – and there are many more that exist.

My intention is to bring awareness to this pattern and raise the idea that we as a collective – especially if we teach or use Human Design – need to hold space for the big and varied struggles, joys, and gifts that come with existing in a human body. Tools like HD demonstrate the potential for embracing the magic of differentiation – and work is needed to anchor in a reality that reflects this idea.

Maybe start with recognizing that the things you take for granted in yourself can be things that someone else has never experienced or never felt able to. All this to say, if you are feeling like it's challenging or scary or hard to really step into the powerful, aspirational, inspirational, influential parts of your design, be kind to yourself.

If you've started to work with your chart to break some of the conditioning or limiting beliefs that have been imposed on you, remember little things can be the most impactful too. There is no right or wrong way to be according to your design and you can take or leave anything that doesn't resonate in your system – but don't discard the beautiful truths that are yours either.