The Root Center in Human Design

The Root is a centre for pressure, adrenaline and stress

The Root tells us: 

+ Stress is just fuel meant to move us forward when used correctly

+ If we don't understand pressure, we push ourselves too hard

+ If we turn pressure inward we can become depressed

+ A healthy balance of stress actually brings us to joy

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  • It's like a regulator that pulses energy on and off - the pulses tell you when things feel right and it's time to act

  • It has a fixed way of dealing with the pressure to move forward

  • It has a fixed way of dealing with stress

  • When Root and Solar Plexus are connected, if your mood is down, so is your energy and it can be difficult to do anything (even get out of bed)

  • When Root and Spleen are connected, if the timing isn't right, there's no energy

  • The defined root naturally exerts pressure on others 

  • When the pressure you usually know how to work with becomes too much or you're not using your S&A you can become obsessive

  • You tend to project the excess stress onto others, which often looks like having unreasonable expectations of them 

  • When using your S&A, you excel with the right pressure, challenge and stress

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  • The undefined root is under pressure

  • You take in stress, adrenaline, pressure and amplify it

  • Pressure is uncomfortable for you, you're always in a hurry to cross everything off your to-do list so you can finally relax... 

  • But the to-do list never ends, so you'll push yourself until burnout unless you learn to create boundaries yourself

  • You may also rush to finish tasks and not really do your best work because you just want to be done

  • Can be addicted to adrenaline

  • Can be addicted to (and sensitive to) caffeine

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  • Can operate on an auto-pilot of pressure and mental decisions that take you out of alignment

  • Open roots don't naturally know how to use pressure productively

  • Your system is not meant to operate under long periods of pressure

  • May deal with extreme stress, panic attacks and extreme stage fright

  • Hint: use your strategy & authority!





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  • You can truly be wise about rest

  • You can be wise around boundaries, relaxation and free time

  • You can trust and know that you don't need to hustle or always be busy to be successful or joyful

  • You can be wise about the energy of pressure - when it's being used effectively and when it's not






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Format Energy

  • 53 - abstract format energy -pressure to get started, a cyclical way of living with clear beginnings, middles and endings

  • 60 - individual format energy - pressure to transcend limitations with powerful bursts of evolutionary (mutative) energy

  • 52 - logical format energy - the pressure to concentrate, focus and live in a detailed, sequential, organized way 

Katie Irvine