What It Means to Be a Generator in Human Design

Dec 6

A deep dive into the Generator type

Generators are one of the 5 types in Human Design. The different types in Human Design speak to how we use our energy. Generators have powerful creative energy, which gives them the stamina to do work they love.

Generators are here to do what they love. When they focus on following what lights them up, and saying no to what doesn’t, it makes them magnetic.

Pure Generators are the most common type, making up 37% of the population. They have an important role in society as builders and creators. Due to their defined sacral center (more on this later), they have lots of vitality and life force energy, including reproductive energy responsible for sustaining the continuation of life.

Generators are gifted at bringing their dreams or someone else’s to life with their steadfast energy. Another one of their gifts is mastery: mastering a skill, project, or task. The majority of what we see around us has been built by Generators, and this important type keeps our world running.

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Generator basics

What is a Generator in Human Design?

Technically speaking, all Generators have a defined sacral center. What makes them distinct from Manifesting Generators, who also have a defined sacral center, is that there’s no connection between a motor center and the throat center. The motor centers are the sacral, solar plexus (emotions), heart (ego), and root center.

Here’s an example of a Generator’s chart. The defined sacral center is circled.

image used with permission from https://humandesignblueprint.com/

Here’s another example of a Generator:

This Generator has a defined throat center (circled in brown) but no channels connecting it to a motor center. They have three defined motor centers (circled in pink) but no connection between them to the throat. If they did, they would be a Manifesting Generator.

Having the sacral center defined means that Generators have consistent energy throughout the day. Like the mechanical device of a generator, they have a motor to go, go, go—and the potential to light up the world around them, metaphorically speaking. Having this internal motor makes it easy for them to work, parent, and create all day long.

Without a connection between a motor center and the throat, pure Generators may not be as quick to bring their ideas to life as Manifesting Generators. This doesn’t mean that Generators can’t “manifest” (aka accomplish their goals) but it requires more of a step-by-step process than a quantum leap to the manifestation.

What is the Generator personality?

Here are words I associate with Generators:

builders
doers
powerhouses
creatives
helpers
uplifters

Generators have helpful energy. People are naturally drawn to them, especially when a Generator is doing what brings them joy. When a Generator is doing what “lights them up,” their energy spills over and uplifts those around them.

What is the Generator energy (aka aura)?

One of the reasons people are drawn to Generators is because they have what’s called an open and enveloping aura.

All Human Design types have a specific aura, which you can think of as someone’s energy. Generators are designed to be magnetic to people and opportunities. Generators are not meant to go after what they want. They don’t need to! Generators’ aura naturally attracts things to them.

It feels warm and embracing to be in a Generator’s energy, so long as the Generator is following what brings them personal satisfaction.

What is the Generator strategy “to respond?”

Every type in Human Design has a strategy and following it reduces resistance in your life. It’s a hack to align with your best life because it helps you enter the correct commitments and relationships. The Generator strategy is “to respond.”

“To respond” means waiting for a gut response before committing energy to something or someone. The gut response is a visceral feeling in the body. It signals to the Generator when to spring into action and when not to.

The gut response is a simple mechanism that signals yes, no, or not yet. Much like a stoplight signals green for go, yellow for hesitate, or red for no-go. You can ignore it or let your mind override what it’s saying but that can lead to fender benders in your life.

Generators are here to trust what their gut is telling them. The gut response is a bodily sensation or reaction, not a thought. Often the feeling resides in the lower body but it can also be a sound.

A “yes” can feel like:

a pull towards something
an expansive feeling
butterflies in the stomach
a “full-bodied yes”
an “ah-huh” or affirmative guttural noise

A “no” can feel like:

a contraction in the body
a slight pull away from something
a drop in the stomach
a feeling of recoil or disgust
an “uh-uh” or negative guttural noise

Often we are conditioned out of our bodily responses. Children are much freer in responding to the world around them, especially in vocalizations and gestures. For Generators, these reflexive responses are their truth. The deconditioning work is not to suppress them but to listen to them.

For Generators, trusting their gut feeling is the key to aligning with their highest potential in life. Their truth comes through their reflexive response.

Generators thrive when they wait to see what crosses their path and stay open to what shows up in their environment. This is a better strategy for them instead of trying to make something happen out of thin air and where their attractive aura helps them. However, not everything that shows up in a Generator’s world is correct for them. This is where listening to their gut response is crucial.

A note on “not yet”: The gut response not only tells a Generator what to commit their energy to but also when to. When their gut feels hesitant, this means“not yet.” The Generator can check back in a day, a week, a month, or a year later. If the gut is now a “yes” then they can trust this is the correct timing.

Can Generators pursue jobs, opportunities, or people?

While patience is required for Generators, they aren’t designed to “wait for the invitation” like Projectors are. Generators are here to be constantly interacting with their world, which includes the digital world. They can absolutely pursue something after their gut gives them the green light.

For example, if a Generator needs a job, they can go on a job listing site and see what their gut pulls them toward. Or they can ask around their network to see if anyone has heard of a job opening. When they see or hear of an opening and they have an expansive reaction in their body, then it’s correct for them to apply for that job.

Let’s say they want a partner. A dating app is a great way to trigger a response because it presents them with a profile that they must swipe left or right on (yes or no). They can swipe right on that dating app profile that gives them butterflies or left on the one that gives them a dreadful feeling.

Note: Following your strategy doesn’t make you rejection-proof but you may find it mitigates stress in the job or mate search.

Following their strategy “to respond” requires Generators to get out of planning mode and look around them, leave their apartment, or seek out stimulation online or with people. Sometimes, Generators are so stuck in their heads or their five-year plan that they miss golden opportunities right in front of them.

Life flows best when Generators wait to see what shows up in their environment. This is what triggers the gut response. When their response is a yes, then they can go after that thing.

The power of ‘yes or no’ questions for Generators

A great tool for Generators to drop into their gut and out of their heads is to have another person ask them yes-or-no questions, or give them options, rather than ask open-ended questions.

For example, if you have a Generator friend instead of asking them where they want to go to dinner (an open-ended question), give them options: “Do you want to get sushi or pizza?”

Another example. Let’s say you have a Generator partner who is stuck on whether or not to take a job. They’re making a pros-and-cons list. Draw them into a conversation where you directly ask them: “Do you want this job?” Watch their body language as they respond. If they try to explain their decision that’s a telltale sign that their answer isn’t coming from their gut. Ask them to answer “yes or no.”

The mind is strong and will often override the gut feeling or provide a whole host of rationalizations for a decision. The best practice for Generators is to learn to drop into their body. It can also be helpful for them to ask themselves yes-or-no questions in a mirror and scan their body for an honest response.

What is the Generator’s not-self and signature?

Every type has what’s called a not-self theme and a signature.

Frustration is Generators’ not-self theme.
Satisfaction is Generators’ signature.

The signature is the reward for following your strategy (and also your authority, which we’ll get to later).

The not-self is the telltale sign that you’re not following your strategy.

Frustration can look like:

feeling “stuck”
being depleted or drained
feeling resentful about what you have to do

This can happen when Generators say yes to things that are really a no for them. Often this happens when they feel like they should do something, instead of listening to what their body is saying. Frustration can also result from initiating action rather than trusting life to show up for them.

Satisfaction can look like:

contentment in the present moment
energy to tackle challenges that arise
waking up energized for the day
joy and excitement

Satisfaction is the telltale sign that a Generator is saying yes only when they have a full-bodied yes and no to what drains their energy (even though they can do it). It also means that they’re waiting for a gut feeling before pursuing anything.

Prioritizing satisfaction over the shoulds is the fastest way for Generators to get into alignment with the vibrant, joyful life that is their birthright.

How do Generators best make decisions?

There’s a deeper layer to how Generators can make the best decisions. This is by following what’s called their authority. Our authority is our decision-making process. No one is designed to make decisions from their minds!

Generators can have one of two authorities:

sacral authority
emotional authority (also called solar plexus)

The sacral authority means that the immediate response of the gut is to be trusted and decisions aren’t meant to sleep on. Generators with a sacral authority need to be mindful of not letting other people’s emotions (including others’ excitement) influence their decisions.

The emotional authority means that the immediate gut feeling needs to be slept on. Generators with this authority experience emotional waves, and they need to wait until their emotions settle a bit before making a big decision. Their best decisions come from a place of calm and are not made when they feel super excited or super low. Their gut may be telling them the same thing the next day, but it’s important to wait until they feel clarity about a decision.

What does it mean to have a defined sacral center?

Generators have a lot of energy and they can go, go, go all day due to their defined sacral center. This sacral energy is designed to be used up each day, hopefully in ways that are satisfying, so the Generator can crash at night feeling fully spent. For some Generators, this might be working more hours at the job they love. For others, it might mean doing a workout that excites them after they leave work.

If a Generator is having trouble sleeping, it might mean they haven’t fully used up their energy throughout the day on things that feel satisfying to them.

The sacral center corresponds biologically with the gut and reproductive organs. Generators can trust their gut response to tell them what they have the energy for. When Generators experience gut issues, it can be a sign that they’re not listening to their gut. It can also be a sign that a Generator is trying to initiate action instead of being receptive to life.

The sacral center corresponds with fertility, sexuality, and reproduction. While any type can be a parent, this center provides the juice to produce life.

Can Generators experience burnout?

All types are susceptible to burnout. Often, when a Generator is experiencing burnout it’s because they’re overcommitting. Others can sense their capacity and may often ask Generators for help.

Generators need to check with their gut if helping someone else or taking on that extra task at work lights them up. The gut response tells them what they have the capacity for. Listening to it will protect them from overextending their energy. It can be hard for Generators to say no but it’s not selfish for them to set boundaries on their energy. It often has a positive ripple effect when they do!

Generators can feel depleted, drained, or even depressed when they’re not truly doing what they love. Generators don’t have to work for themselves to do what they love. It’s about getting honest about what brings them joy and satisfaction. Maybe that’s being a stay-at-home parent. Maybe that’s switching to a different department at their current job or delegating some of their responsibilities.

This also extends beyond work. Generators should also pay attention to whether they’re prioritizing their satisfaction in small ways throughout the day.

For example, if you’re a Generator, this can start first thing in the morning. Notice if you squash your desire to have a coffee and drink green juice instead because it’s “healthier” even though it doesn’t give you satisfaction. Choosing what you should do over what your body is pulling you towards depletes your energy over time. These incorrect micro-moments can build up until you end up feeling spark-less overall.

As a Generator, think of ways you can do more things that satisfy you (no matter how small). Also, pay attention to obligations that feel draining (even if you have the physical energy to do them) and think of ways you can release or delegate them.

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Generators and work

What are the best careers for Generators?

Generators are not limited in what careers they can have. They make good workers at any job because once they commit their energy to something, it’s hard for them to pull out of it until the task is completed. This is why it’s so important for Generators to follow their authority and only commit to the right things.

While Projectors are designed to be leaders, and Manifestors are here to lead as well, that doesn’t mean Generators can’t be in positions of leadership. They can also guide others, such as work as therapists or coaches. In positions of guiding others, they may find that they can see more clients than the non-sacral types because of their energetic capacity.

Generators are adept at building companies, empires, etc. because of their steadfast energy. Again, this could be their own enterprise or someone else’s.

Another gift Generators have besides building is uplifting others. When a Generator is “lit up” by what they’re doing that energy is infectious. It doesn’t drain a Generator’s energy when others get jazzed up by being around them. When a Generator “selfishly” follows their bliss, they have an overflow of positive energy. They can make others feel good just to be around, in or outside of the workplace.

The importance of work to Generators

As I mentioned at the start of his article, Generators are here to do what they love. They can find a lot of personal satisfaction through work. Finding the right work can transform their lives. Using up their sacral energy every day helps them maintain their health and experience regenerative sleep.

Generators can find themselves through their work. When they surrender how they think their life should go, and instead follow where their gut leads them moment-to-moment, a fulfilling life will unfold.

How to magnetize opportunities as a Generator

When a Generator isn’t seeing what they want show up in their world, the temptation is to initiate action. Instead, a Generator can experiment with creating space in their lives by letting go of the things that they don’t enjoy. This space can allow what they want to come into their world. It’s also okay to rest as a Generator!

If you’re a Generator unhappy at your job, start focusing on what brings you satisfaction outside of work: hobbies, activities, or spending time with people who uplift you. This can also help to magnetize career opportunities.

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Generators and love

How should Generators date?

Dating apps can be a great tool for Generators because they give them something to respond to. A dating app profile presents a yes-or-no choice, which is ideal to trigger the gut response. Remember, the gut response shows Generators which commitments and people are correct for them.

For Generators, dating is all about dropping out of the mind and into the body. When they walk into a room full of potential mates, such as a party or a bar, they should pay attention to whom their body is pulling them toward and follow that instinct.

The best match for Generators, whether online or IRL, is not about the checklist in their head but the person (or people) who gives them a feeling of excitement in their belly.

Note: I’ve written more about the Generator’s best dating strategy here.

Generators in relationship

Generators must enter relationships correctly: by following their gut response. Their sacral energy is designed to keep them in commitments until it’s no longer correct for them, making them steadfast partners. If entered correctly, if/when the relationship ends, they will also exit it correctly: without guilt or blame that can carry into future relationships.

Generators can be in a relationship with any other type. Generators should be mindful in relationships with the non-sacral types (Manifestors, Projectors, or Reflectors) that their partner is not designed to keep up with them. They should not expect these partners to do all the things with them.

Projector-Generator pairings often make good partnerships. Projectors are designed to guide the energy of Generators by asking them the right questions, and Generators need questions to respond to. When the Generator is lit up by what they’re doing, this helps energize their non-sacral Projector partner.

How do you love a Generator?

Communication is often the key to relationships, and if you’re with a Generator, the right type of communication is essential. The best way to communicate with your Generator is not through open-ended questions but questions that trigger their truth through response:

ask them yes or no questions
give them options
don’t push them to explain their response

Encourage your Generator to follow their passions, even if they’re not yours. As in any relationship, honor their boundaries. When they say ‘no’ don’t push them to do something, even if you know they have the capacity to do it. Encourage them to set boundaries around and delegate what they’re not excited by.

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Generators’ past and future

What is the history of Generators?

In traditional Human Design, Generators are sometimes referred to as “slaves.” This is culturally insensitive language. It appears to be referring to a time in history when Generators were taken advantage of for their labor and stamina, and forced to build empires under the rule of Manifestors.

Note: There’s some weird stuff in Human Design. If this is helpful, take it. If not, discard it.

What is the future for Generators?

This is an important time for Generators to become aware of their creative potential and understand themselves better. Generators have the opportunity to know themselves better than any other type because they have a reliable built-in response system. They are also designed to be the most inwardly focused of all the types, here to get to know themselves and their process.

Generators are still our great builders but are entering an age where their self-knowledge can show them exactly what they’re here to do—and they’re here to do what they love. When they do, their energy spills over and has a ripple effect on the world.

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I hope this article brought you a greater understanding of yourself as a Generator or your Generator loved one so that we can all experience more joy and fulfillment in our lives.

To learn more about your unique Human Design, book a reading with me. I help people make better love, career, and life decisions for themselves.

#humandesign

Ana Saldamando