Have You Been Told That You're Lazy... You May Just Be A Projector!
I recently discovered an amazing new system of self-knowledge called “Human Design.” Human design is a synthesis of ancient and modern sciences. It incorporates the principles of the I Ching, Astrology, Kabbalah, the Hindu-Brahmin Chakra system and Quantum Physics. Your Human Design Chart, also called a BodyGraph, is calculated using your birth date, time and place. One's Human Design is comprised of nine centers, thirty six channels and sixty four gates, all of which are either open or closed, connected or absent and on or off. In essence, the Human Design Chart/ Bodygraph reveals one's unique genetic design. This design offers profound insights, along with strategies and techniques, for making correct decisions and functioning optimally in life. It's quite fascinating and really explains why some people appear to be go getters while others appear to be lazy. But in reality, we all just function differently.
With Human Design there are five different types of people. There are Manifestors, Generators, Manifesting Generators, Projectors and Reflectors. Manifestors are here to INITIATE. Generators are here to RESPOND. Manifesting Generators are here to RESPOND or INITIATE. Projectors are here to GUIDE and Reflectors are here to REFLECT. That's the simple version of the types. It gets much deeper ofcourse! I just happen to be a Projector. I am here to GUIDE, which makes quite a bit of sense actually. I am a Reiki Energy Healer, a poet and a writer of a spiritual blog (among other things). I help GUIDE people on their spiritual journeys. It actually took me a long time to figure out that I was supposed to guide people. But eventually I figured out who I am and what my purpose is. My Human Design Chart simply clarifies what I've come to understand about myself. Ofcourse life would've been much easier had I known about Human Design years ago! But everything happens for a reason in the right time!
Reading up on Projectors, I've found that we are built to work for only short periods of time and then rest. In order to stay healthy, projectors must not take on more than they can handle. Conserving energy is of the utmost importance and napping is also quite crucial. This rings very true for me. For as long as I can remember, I've always felt quite exhausted after spending time around people. In fact, I recall feeling so tired after a day at elementary school, that I had to take an immediate nap upon returning home. This actually happened throughout my Junior High School and High School years as well. I used to wake up around 11pm/ 12am at night, after taking an extended nap, at which point I would start doing my homework. My parents never really understood why I was always so tired, but thankfully they didn't stop me from taking my much needed naps.
In my adult life I've managed to create much healthier sleeping habits, but I still tend to need a lot of rest, especially after spending time around groups of people. And a full day of activities surrounded by people may actually leave me drained for a few days... sometimes even a week! My rule is to only be around people for approximately 2 hours at a time. Then I need to spend time alone in order to recoup my energy. If I don't follow this rule I may end up staying home and napping for several days at a time until I finally regain my strength to go back into the world again! During this down time I usually don't even have the strength to talk on the phone. Pretty crazy!
Upon continuing my research on Projectors, I started to realize that I was going about things the wrong way for a very long time. The strategy for projectors is to “wait for the invitation.” Unlike manifestors, projectors are not supposed to initiate anything. Sounds pretty lazy huh? But this is a very serious rule! Trying to initiate anything may actually drain the energy of a projector. Projectors just need to practice patience and wait to be invited. The invite may come as a question or as an invite to join, share, lead, etc. Invitations may also come in the form of body language, glances or just a subtle feeling that the other person(s) is interested in them. It’s through an invitation that a projector receives recognition and success. It may sound pretty crazy waiting to be recognized by others instead of initiating contact, however when a projector is living his or her Human Design, their aura will magnetically attract others to them. The wait shouldn't be too long!
So once upon a time in my younger years I was unknowingly going against my Human Design. After I graduated college I decided to take an outside sales job. Worst mistake ever! Little did I know that working a sales job was going to be so horribly draining for me. Ofcourse at the time I was also dealing with mental and physical health problems. But as a projector, I'm not built to be running around all day long trying to sell stuff, nor am I even meant to initiate a sale. I should be in an occupation where I would receive the invite, not initiate. I ended up becoming horribly depressed and quit my outside sales job after 3 long painful months. I also worked as a telemarketer briefly. Again, I was initiating sales by making phone calls. That didn't work out too well either!
I decided that what I really wanted to do was to be an entertainer (singer, songwriter, actress). I thought I had to run around town meeting with music producers, talent agents, record labels, DJ's, club promoters, etc. And so I ran around New York city for a few years and ended up running myself into the ground. I was working with a reggae artist at the time who asked me one day, “How are you going to handle having a record deal and going on tour when you get sick all the time?” I didn't realize that by running around town so much seeking an entertainment career I was actually making myself sick. I was pushing way too hard trying to make something happen and I wasn't getting enough rest. I also ate a lot of junk food, didn't meditate, nor did I practice any type of healing or clearing techniques. As an empath, I was absorbing all the energies around me (both positive and negative) and I didn't know how to deal with them. It was not an easy time for me to say the least.
I ended up moving out to Los Angeles but I struggled financially for a very long time. Just the idea of working a 9-5 job made me feel depressed and anxious. I worked part time jobs here and there, but even those small jobs seemed to drain the hell out of me! My parents (both generators) were helping me financially, but at some point they started really getting on my case. They both wanted me to work a conventional 9-5 job and they were pressuring me to no end. It was extremely stressful. I actually had to stop talking to them on the phone for a while because talking to them would make me feel physically sick, depressed and anxious. I was adamantly against working a 9-5 or just working for anyone really. I knew that my parents believed I was spoiled and lazy, and I found that to be quite upsetting. The reality is that they just didn't understand what I was going through. I really wanted to work and be productive... but it just had to be on my own time when I had energy. And I couldn't be around people for too long. I'm not lazy! But I do get drained very easily. I can't push myself too hard.... and I don't handle stress or pressure very well. This is an aspect of my Human Design. I'm a projector!... And a splenic projector at that, which makes things even trickier for me. Ofcourse, now it all makes sense!
Projectors function in a way that is opposite of what we are all typically familiar with. The rules for projectors tend to conflict with society's standards of how one should operate in order to achieve success in this world. Most of us are taught that if we want to be successful in life (career, love, etc) we must take on the characteristics of a go getter. We must show initiative. We must take action! Perhaps even chase after our dream? But the problem is, for a projector, taking action (initiating) is not the correct approach. If a projector chooses to initiate rather than wait, one may face rejection, resistance or not be seen at all. This can lead to frustration, bitterness and/or depression.
I finally came to terms with the fact that I can't do everything. I need help. I need others around me that can do the things I can't do, and likewise I can do things for them that they may not be so good at it. It's called teamwork! I just so happen to have a best friend who is a master manifestor. He is very good at networking. He always attracts amazing entertainment situations. We finally made a deal that I would do certain things to help him (energy healing, rides to places, etc) and in return he would do the networking for both of us. In essence, he would be my manager and initiate situations for me so I wouldn't have to exhaust myself trying to do a job that is best suited for him. We are helping each other and yet at the same time we are both living true to our Human Design. I believe teamwork is very important in order to achieve success... and it's even more important to understand one's Human Design. I believe that having a team, whereby each member works in a way best suited to their Human Design, will in effect maximize efficiency and ensure a successful outcome.
It sucks sometimes when family members and friends don't understand our Human Design. Most of us don't even understand ourselves. We'll try to follow the advice of those we respect and care for, but not all advice is correct. Advice should be given based on an individual's Human Design and not necessarily based on the experiences of the person giving the advice. We all function differently and so what works best for one person doesn't always work well for the next person. It can be frustrating for others who think they know what's best for you. And ofcourse it can be frustrating and stressful for you when you're not being understood. But the reality is, no matter how much explaining you do, not everyone is going to understand how you are meant to function in this world. But your Human Design chart does show you how you are meant to function so you can have a better understanding of yourself, be more efficient and thus successful.
So if you've been getting called “lazy” by friends and family or you've been experiencing difficulties working a 9-5 or just experiencing difficulties working very long hours or being around people for too long, initiating projects, managing stress, sustaining optimal energy levels, etc... Then you may just be a Projector like me! Regardless, I believe everyone should sign up to get a free Human Design Chart/ Bodygraph! It can be most helpful on your journey to understanding yourself and living a happier and more fulfilling existence.
Jennie H is a Reiki Master Energy Healer, Co-Founder of Self Saviorz Society California Non-Profit 501(c)(3), Poet, Author and Entertainer with goals to help raise the vibration and consciousness of humanity!