the Throat is the diamond shape of the Self. This represents purpose and direction in life, as well as self – love. It is like a global positioning system, aligning us with who we are, where we are and to what we are guided. It relates to our boundaries, determining what is appropriate, what is not; who is in, who is out. This is where we find the answer to the ‘Who am I?’ question. It is a centre that provides a consistent connection to the soul.
The energies of love reside here in all their forms: spiritual or fateful love, love as an attraction to the physical form, love of humanity and love of the journey of life itself. Many self – truths can also be found within this centre with the creativity to expand life and the ability to be receptive to all it offers.
Anatomically, the Self relates to the liver, the seat of the soul, where our blood is cleansed. Depending on whether your centre is defined or not, this determines how you filter life experiences. A congested liver raises one’s level of intolerance for life and therefore reduces one’s ability to connect directly with it.
If your Self is defined
‘I know who I am, and I know where I’m heading’ is your slogan. You have an assured identity with an equally strong sense of purpose and direction. There is something certain and solid about your character. You don’t seek to ‘just be yourself’ but also your ‘best self’. If you’re not feeling it, start tapping your in – built compass, because it will always guide you ‘home’.
Ultimately, you cannot stray for long from a natural sense of self. If you do, you’re not being true to your nature and you’ll sense an inner angst or frustration, as if you’re swimming against the tide. But the majority of the time you are resolute, believing you are who you are and that’s not going to change.
The downside is that you can be diverted to shepherd those who feel lost. If you’re not careful you could look behind and find an entourage of hangers – on dragging you down. Yet you can be immoveable when you find a true path, a pursuit or a partner you set your sights on, and there is an indefatigable consistency about what you seek. There is a ‘Nothing is going to stop me’ quality about your chosen direction.
If your Self is undefined
‘Where I am is who I am right now’ is your slogan. You can struggle to find a strong sense of identity and can wear many hats in life. You can be all things to all people, reflecting back to them the truth of who they are. This means you derive a sense of self from the environment and people around you. The same could be said for your direction in life – it tends to be a bit changeable, for there is no reliable in – built compass.
There is, of course, a beauty to this flexibility. It allows the compassion to identify with everyone and turns you into something of a social chameleon. In that sense, that’s exactly who you are, so your identity crisis is solved!
So, learn to go with the flow and live in the moment. But be wary of succumbing to the conditioning influence of someone else’s determination, purpose and direction – that can lead to all sorts of wrong paths. Your impassive wisdom is to embrace your innate ability to reflect back your observations about someone else’s being or chosen direction, even if you don’t really know where you’re going yourself. You can, in this respect, become an overseeing guide, working out the way ahead for those who are too wrapped up in themselves to see it clearly.
When you need to find consistency in how you live your life, draw guidance from those who have this centre defined. It’s important, therefore, that you trust who you get your bearings from. If you keep company with, and draw guidance from, people who are personally empowering, you will always have a fulfilling life. If you’re swayed by those who are disempowering, you will inevitably make the wrong choices. For example, Britney Spears is someone with an undefined Self, so her stability and direction absolutely depend on the calibre of person she listens to and allows herself to be influenced by. This determines whether she stays on track or goes off the rails! It is crucial for her well – being for her to surround herself with people who have her best interests in mind.
The Heart
Willpower and Wishes
Next to the Self, tucked below right, is the Heart, a centre which balances willpower with ego and comes armed with a competitive streak, either to prove a point in business or be ‘top dog’ in the material world. This is one of four ‘motor centres’ within Human Design, and a motor centre pushes us on in life. This one is where our heart’s desires are fuelled.
The biggest thing to which people aspire is a sense of freedom, and willpower drives us on towards that freedom. The Heart expresses its inherent willpower in one of two ways. One is the use of willpower in accordance with universal and greater good. The other is ego driven and applied for purely selfish reasons. We are forever caught in this balancing act: do we consider the common good or just look after number one?
All money matters are processed through this centre, filtering our material needs and wants as we balance our values: our values of life against our values of money. You may think that making money is all in the mind – indeed, there are mental formulas to assist the creation of wealth – but in actuality, money is an energy form closely related to the wishes emanating from the Heart. Power, prestige and money are all thrown into this melting – pot centre.
Anatomically, this centre is related to the organ of the heart and it is no surprise that the greatest source of disease in the world is heart disease. When people come under intense pressure to ‘get on with it’, ‘get rich’ and ‘make it happen’, it naturally follows that over – exertion will lead to complaints from the heart. This centre is also related to the digestive process, stomach and gall bladder. All these organs can function well when you’re in natural attunement with your life but can experience problems when your willpower is invested in pursuits that are wrong for you.
If your Heart is defined
It is statistically rare to have a defined Heart, but if you’re among the iron – willed few, you can move mountains. You are a potential superhero in terms of Human Design. Your potential to harness raw willpower can accomplish something in five minutes that would take someone else an hour. You are all about ‘throwing your heart into it’ or ‘following your heart’. It is your source of courage, valour and standing in life.
For you, accomplishments are never the question; alignment with what is truly worth your time and energy is more the issue. So you must be careful about to whom and what you pledge this willpower, because the Heart must be respected. You must ensure you’re committed, because ‘your heart is in it’.
There is an impressive and consistent assurance about people with this centre defined. Classic examples of such powerhouses are Winston Churchill, John F. Kennedy, Donald Trump, Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Dalai Lama and Al Gore. These are powerful figures who have put their heart into all they’ve done and have used their willpower to enhance their sense of values.
Binding themes of this centre are the ability to stand on your own two feet, to be bold enough to convince others, to take control of a situation and to handle crisis. But inefficiency can irk you in a way that makes you want to take on every task and do it yourself. You will want to get your own way and may run the risk of being perceived as arrogant in the pursuit of your goals.
One of the greatest requirements of a defined Heart is rest. Chill. Put your feet up. Take a break! Having the sense to sit down and rest is crucial, even polite – to give everyone else the chance to catch up with you!
If your Heart is undefined
The majority of people have an undefined Heart. In this case, you might yearn to be a powerhouse, but your heart’s not designed to be in it. You have nothing to prove and must