Which Human Design Authority Do I Have?

One of the first questions after discovering your Type is: what is my Authority? Your Authority is your most reliable inner compass for making decisions, and it is determined by which Centres are defined in your BodyGraph. In this article, you get a simple step-by-step guide to determine which of the seven Authorities you have.

What Is an Authority Again?

An Authority is your way of making decisions that are correct for you, independent of what your mind thinks. There are seven Authorities in Human Design, and everyone has one (Reflectors have a distinct form via the lunar cycle).

For the basics, first read: what is a Human Design Authority.

Step 1: Look at Your BodyGraph

On your free chart, you see nine Centres. Some are colored (defined), others are white (open). The Authority hierarchy runs from top to bottom. You read from the top of the list downward, and your first match is your Authority.

Step 2: Walk Through the Hierarchy

Go in this order:

1. Solar Plexus defined? → Emotional Authority
2. Sacral defined (and Solar Plexus open)? → Sacral Authority (only for Generators and Manifesting Generators)
3. Spleen defined (and Solar Plexus + Sacral open)? → Splenic Authority
4. Ego/Heart defined (and the above open)? → Ego Authority (Manifestor or Projector variations)
5. G Centre defined, no motor to Throat? → Self-Projected Authority (Projectors only)
6. None of the above defined? → Mental Projector Authority (Projectors without a motor to the Throat + without a defined Solar Plexus, Spleen, Ego, or G Centre)
7. No Centres defined? → Reflector Lunar Authority (follows the 28-day lunar cycle)

Step 3: Check Against Your Type

Not every Authority occurs with every Type. Here is a helpful table:

If your Type and Authority do not match, something is incorrect in your birth data. Be sure to check your birth time.

Examples

Example 1: Generator with Emotional Authority

Solar Plexus and Sacral are both defined. Follow the hierarchy: Solar Plexus first → Emotional Authority. The Sacral voice is present, but is overruled by the emotional wave. You first hear your gut-level yes, and then wait out a wave before deciding.

Example 2: Projector with Splenic Authority

Solar Plexus open, no Sacral (Projectors never have this defined), Spleen defined. Directly after the first two → Splenic Authority. Spontaneous signals in the moment, often just once, subtle.

Example 3: Manifestor with Ego Authority

Solar Plexus open, no Sacral, Spleen open, Ego defined. Directly after the first three → Ego Authority. Your heart wants something, or it does not. Brief statements like "yes, I want this".

Common Points of Confusion

In Conclusion

Discovering your Authority is one of the most practical steps in Human Design, because it directly influences your daily decisions. No more endless overthinking with your mind, but listening to the bodily signal that is correct for you.

Calculate your chart for free and see which Centres are defined in your chart. For an in-depth look at each Authority, visit the Authorities hub.