Deconditioning
I printed out my Human Design chart right after my last business closed. I tucked it into my journal, its lines and numbers a little overwhelming, but also comforting to have a reference point while navigating loss. Each time I explored it deeper, I felt seen and was reminded of parts of myself I’d completely forgotten—and was inspired to get to know again.
I find it fascinating that we’re all on a similar journey- reclaiming the parts of ourselves we’ve dulled to fit in, learning to shine brighter in the way only we can. Human Design invites curiosity about ourselves and an awareness of how we show up in the world.
As I started mapping my experiences to the elements of my chart, I could see where I’d been conditioned: where my edges had been softened, my natural rhythms suppressed and what I had been afraid to show. Over time, this practice has helped me take things less personally, advocate for my needs, set boundaries, show my true colors, and release guilt around other people’s expectations.
Below I’m sharing the practical framework I use to navigate conditioning and reclaim energy.
What is Conditioning?
We’re each born with unique energetic gifts, talents, curiosities and ways of expressing ourselves that make us magnetic. Conditioning, however, shows up as the internal dialogue that questions whether we’re enough—or even too much- and can keep us stuck in place.
From birth until around age 21, our subconscious absorbs everything—family dynamics, societal expectations, and past experiences—without a filter. We learn what’s “safe”, what behaviors earn love, approval, or success. Over time, these lessons become internalized as truth, even if they aren’t fully ours.
Challenging emotions—pressure, guilt, doubt or fear—are signals pointing to conditioning. They’re our nervous system’s way of saying, something here isn’t my natural energy. Exploring these uncomfortable feelings without judgment allows us to reclaim our energy and step more fully into who we are.
Opening the Door
When these feelings arise, instead of avoiding them, I pull out my Human Design chart to see where they’re coming from.
For example, I recently noticed anxiety around publishing on Substack. Not because of the content itself but, because of balancing the time to fully live into each piece while keeping things moving to build resonance around my work.
Now when the pressure flares, I recognize it as tied to the shadow of one of my greatest gifts (21) and my open Ego center’s conditioning- a story that my worth isn’t easily seen so I feel the pressure to publish often.
Pausing to reframe, I see that my gift is designed to guide my energy into depth rather than breadth. With this awareness, I can tell my nervous system it’s safe to relax and focus fully on (and enjoy!) the draft in front of me. It’s not about quantity but quality.
Naming the feelings, mapping them to my chart, and reframing them has released so much energy for creation.
Key Areas Of Conditioning In Your Chart
Once you notice patterns in your feelings and energy, you can map them systematically. I focus on these four questions and key elements:
Which of my greatest gifts feel blocked?
Am I honoring the needs and boundaries of my energy type?
Which open centers are pressuring me right now?
Which fears of my awareness center gifts are testing me right now?
1. Incarnation Cross Gifts
Your Incarnation Cross represents the energy of your four greatest gifts- your most authentic expression. These are often where our main shadow stories appear: the personal narratives of stuckness or doubt.
Many Human Design teachings focus only on the high-vibration of our gifts, but each also has a shadow- the opposite energy. Understanding the shadow side helps you better understand the wholeness of your gift instead of getting stuck inside of it.
Here’s an example I explored using a chatGPT prompt: What is the shadow story I might be telling myself with Human Design incarnation cross gifts, 39, 38, 21 and 48?
Shadow: “I have so much to give, but if I challenge anyone, I’ll be rejected (39). Everything is unfair; I must fight just to matter (38). I can’t trust anyone else—I have to control it all (21). And no matter what I know, it’s never enough; I’m not skilled enough to shine (48).”
Oh wow, that hits home. And what’s the reframe?
Reframe: “I was designed to stir things up—not to be rejected, but to awaken people (39). Struggles aren’t proof I don’t matter—they’re invitations to discover what’s worth fighting for (38). I don’t have to control everything; my strength is knowing when to lead and when to trust the flow (21). My wisdom comes from recognizing depth and letting it ripple out (48).”
2. Energy Type Needs & Boundaries
Honoring the natural needs and boundaries of our main energy type prevents conditioning from running the show. Anger, bitterness or frustration often arises when energy doesn’t get to operate as it was best designed.
Manifestors: Thrive with freedom to initiate and act independently. Energy needs to be protected by setting boundaries around being controlled or micromanaged.
Generators: Thrive when responding only to opportunities that genuinely excite them. Energy needs to be protected by saying no to overcommitment or tasks that don’t light you up.
Manifesting Generators: Thrive when they respond and pivot in alignment with gut guidance. Energy needs to be protected by avoiding pressure to act too quickly or skip essential steps.
Projectors: Thrive when recognized and invited, with ample time to rest and observe. Energy needs to be protected by setting boundaries around being pushed or expected to initiate without invitation.
Reflectors: Thrive in safe, reflective environments with time to make decisions. Energy needs to be protected by maintaining boundaries against absorbing unhealthy or chaotic energy.
3. Open Energy Centers
Open centers are highly sensitive to others’ energy, which can amplify conditioning. The potential of open centers lies in awareness—learning to notice what isn’t yours and belongs to other people.
Crown: Shadows show as feeling you must have all the answers, mental overwhelm, or confusion. Awareness allows you to notice when ideas or pressure are coming from others rather than yourself.
Ajna (Mind): Shadows appear as uncertainty, mental pressure, or fear of not knowing. Awareness allows you to discern which thoughts are truly yours versus absorbed from the environment.
Spleen: Shadows show as fear of inadequacy, missed threats, or mistakes. Awareness helps you distinguish your own instincts from what you’ve picked up from others.
Solar Plexus (Emotional): Shadows appear as fear of rejection or emotional instability. Awareness allows you to observe emotional energy without absorbing it.
Heart (Ego/Will): Shadows show as fear of not being valued or needing external validation. Awareness helps you notice when you’re reacting to others’ expectations rather than your own will.
Throat: Shadows show as fear of being unheard or overlooked. Awareness allows you to discern which expressions are authentically yours versus influenced by others.
Sacral: Shadows appear as fear of lacking energy or capacity. Awareness lets you distinguish what truly excites you from what you’ve taken on from others.
Identity (G Center): Shadows show as fear of being lost, misunderstood, or disconnected. Awareness helps you navigate identity pressures and reclaim your sense of self.
Root: Shadows appear as fear of pressure, overwhelm, or being rushed. Awareness allows you to recognize external pressure versus your natural drive.
4. Awareness Center Fears
Defined gifts in the Ajna, Spleen and Solar Plexus centers can amplify certain fears. Tracking these provides another point to reclaiming energy.
Ajna (Mind) Gifts:
4: Fear of uncertainty comes with the gift ofsolutions and mental clarity.
47: Fear of confusion comes with the gift of realization and insight.
43: Fear of being misunderstood comes with the gift of originality and breakthrough ideas.
11: Fear of being misunderstood comes with the gift of vision.
17: Fear of being wrong comes with the gift of guidance.
24: Fear of repeating mistakes comes with the gift of reflection.
Spleen (Instinct) Gifts:
18: Fear of imperfection comes with the gift of improvement.
28: Fear of purposelessness comes with the gift of courage.
32: Fear of failure in loyalty comes with the gift of faithfulness.
44: Fear of repeating past mistakes comes with the gift of pattern recognition.
48: Fear of inadequacy comes with the gift of depth and mastery.
50: Fear of not fulfilling responsibility comes with the gift of integrity.
57: Fear of uncertainty comes with the gift of intuitive clarity.
Solar Plexus (Emotional) Gifts:
6: Fear of rejection comes with the gift of emotional clarity.
22: Fear of social embarrassment comes with the gift of emotional intelligence.
30: Fear of desire being denied comes with the gift of passion.
37: Fear of lack of community comes with the gift of harmonious connection.
49: Fear of injustice comes with the gift of values and principled action.
55: Fear of emptiness comes with the gift of abundance and freedom.
36: Fear of turbulence comes with the gift of emotional resilience and adaptability.
Ever Evolving
True growth, purpose, and transformation begin with awareness. Human Design helps us see the invisible forces shaping our energy—the limiting beliefs, conditioning, and shadows—so we can navigate life with intention and presence.
Struggle is part of the journey toward purpose: each challenge reflects where our energy has been dulled, and each observation offers a chance to reclaim and transform it. Sharing these struggles reminds us that we’re all walking the same path, becoming masters of our energy.
Human Design isn’t a manual for perfection—it’s a guide for the lifelong practice of understanding and loving ourselves more deeply. Each time we engage with curiosity and contemplation, our energy shifts, clarity emerges, and alignment deepens.
Reclaiming your energy is profoundly liberating. Which is exactly why I’m here for it!
