The Human Design Strategy of Waiting

Introduction to the Human Design Strategy of Waiting

Wait to respond, wait for the invitation, and wait for 30 days.  These are the Human Design strategies for Generators, Manifesting Generators, Projectors and Reflectors.

I see so much confusion around this strategy of waiting and am writing to provide more clarity as to what it really means and how to incorporate proper waiting into your daily Human Design practice.

Mis-utilizing the Human Design act of waiting is the number one reason clients can’t actualize the principles of the Human Design System.  And really, what high-powered Generator or Manifesting Generator readily sees the value in waiting? Most of us focus on doing!

It Really Isn’t Waiting

Waiting is a confusing word choice.  Waiting conjures up all the wrong interpretations:  doing nothing, sitting on the couch eating bonbons, twiddling your thumbs.  You must wait for something to happen. The very label gets in the way of understanding the real intention behind this critical concept.

In our American culture, waiting implies being passive. Waiting implies that you can’t and shouldn’t be in action.  No wonder so many people have trouble buying into Human Design and/or actualizing this concept.  The moment someone says they have to wait, they run for the hills or throw up resistance.

But the waiting that Ra Uru Hu, the founder of the Human Design System, isn’t passive waiting it is active waiting.  There is an enormous difference between the two.

What is Active Waiting?

Waiting, in Human Design theory, is an active state.  It means to be awake and aware and paying attention so we don’t miss signals from our Inner Authority.

There is no passive waiting in this interpretation.  We are meant to be actively engaged in our lives with those things we already know are correct for us AND be paying attention for signals from our Inner Authorities about new directions to pursue.

Being actively engaged in our lives while being awake and aware, being in tune with our Inner Authority is what there is to master.

Active Waiting Can Be Tricky

Our Inner Authorities are the seat of our wisdom; we need to let our Inner Authorities inform and guide us. That won’t happen if we are stuck in our heads, wrapped up in mental conversations with ourselves and making choices mentally.

Active waiting is not passive such as sitting on the couch and waiting for the phone to ring.  Nor is it about being overly busy and racing through your day and being head blind.  It requires that your mind and your Inner Authority do each of their jobs correctly.

The Job of the Mind

The mind is truly amazing.  Our mind gains knowledge, has perspective, researches, contemplates, receives inspiration, connects with the Divine, creates and invents, writes music and novels, and so much more. The list of the jobs the mind can take on is endless.

We serve others through the amassed knowledge, wisdom and perspective we have gathered over time.  We can teach, advise, consult, care-give, heal, lead and more.

But the mind is not a reliable decision-maker for our own personal choices.  The mind is predominately focused on the past or the future, it can rarely be in the present.  And the present is where/when our personal lives unfold.

The Job of Inner Authority

However, Inner Authority is always in the present moment.  From the perspective of the Human Design System, Inner Authority is a consistently reliable inner guidance mechanism.  And, Inner Authority is always communicating.  Always.

For Generators and Manifesting Generators your Sacral Energy Center is always responding with that hit, that inner vibration, that inner sound or rising up of sacral energy.  When your Sacral Center is not resonating, that is practical communication as well.  That is your ‘not now’ message. (Even if you have an Emotional Inner Authority, for all Generator Types, the initial response is always from the Sacral Center).

For Projectors, that invitation and being seen and recognized lights you up in your own way.  That invitation can prompt your Spleen to respond, or start your Emotional Wave of awareness, or tickle your sternum where your G-Center/Self Center resides.

Your Inner Authority is always communicating with you.  When it is silent, it is broadcasting important ‘not now’ information.  It is never not talking to you.

Our job is to pay attention and be aware of what our Inner Authority is signaling. And in light of its message, take appropriate action.

The Job of Outer Authority

Let’s get Mental Projectors and Reflectors into this discussion as well.  These Human Design Types have Outer Authority and are tied to the cycle(s) of the Moon.  People with Outer Authority need to gather inner responses over a period of time, ideally a month at a minimum, before they can discern the over-arching direction for their decisions.

They need to let themselves be activated and propelled into action by the Moon.  It takes the Moon 29.5 days to transit all 64 Gates of a Design.

For Mental Projectors and Reflectors the waiting is about experiencing and savoring.  Savor, taste and store their inner responses to life in order to gain clarity over time.  This implies that all experiences and emotions are informative.  The Mental Projector and Reflector flourish when they can use their awareness to be the observer of both their own inner experiences and of the world around them.

The Curse of the Nike Slogan

“Just Do It”.  This short slogan has had a tremendous impact on our societal attitude and norms.  I see the impact of this statement on so many of my clients and their approach to life.  Just do something, anything. Being in action is better than doing nothing.  Faster is better than slow and methodical; faster is best!  If you can’t make an informed choice, just go.

I see so many colleagues and clients feeling pressured to make decisions in the moment.  And if/when they don’t make decisions quickly, then their inner conversations are harsh and cruel.  “You are a bad decision maker.”  “You are a procrastinator.” “You are a failure.” “You will never make it.” These negative inner conversations are relentless and just add more pressure to move forward quickly.

Fear of Missing Out

FOMO.  Fear of missing out.  FOMO has become a popular texting phrase these days and exemplifies the societal messages that being in action, any kind of action is better than not.  FOMO puts you up in your head and causes mental anxiety and prompts you into action without paying attention to your Inner Authority. If you don’t jump in what are you going to miss? Missing out is to be avoided at all costs. 

Stop Figuring Out Life

I mentioned earlier in this article that getting stuck in your head and only making mental choices keeps you from proper waiting.

When we are in alignment with our Type, Strategy and Inner Authority, life flows.  Our Inner Authority will guide us to be in the right place at the right time.  Our Inner Authority just knows.  Inner Authority points the way; shows us the breadcrumbs to follow, the next steppingstone.

Trying to make sense of life, trying to figure out what is best, rationalizing, strategizing, trying to understand; these are all mental processes.  The moment you are over-focused on figuring out life you are disconnected from your Inner Authority. You are no longer able to be awake and aware and paying attention to your Inner Authority. You are no longer in a state of active waiting.

When we are trapped in the process of trying to figure out life, we are not trusting our Human Design.  It is that simple.  Figuring out life is an old, old practice and it will serve each of us to break that habit.

Conclusion

Waiting in Human Design is an active state.  Being awake and aware and paying attention to your Inner Authority is crucial to the practice of Human Design. As you deepen your practice of Human Design you learn to deeply trust your Design and let your Inner Authority lead the way.

You can break up the traditional habit of making mental choices and free up your mind so it can be more playful, and curious, and reflective, enjoy learning and be free from mental stress.

Would you like to talk more about this concept of active waiting? Just schedule 30 minutes on my calendar. I am happy to talk with you.