A primer on the five energy types
A no-nonsense guide to the gifts, wounds, strategies, and energetic mechanisms that characterize each of the five energy types in human design
The five energy types represent the foundation of the human design system. Every person is assigned an energy type based on their birth time, date, and place. The energy types don’t predict a person’s path or personality — it simply explains a person’s underlying energetic mechanism.
We need all five types — in different doses — in order for our society to thrive. Each type is meant to serve a slightly different purpose and their energetic rhythms, natural gifts, and sensitivities are all intentionally designed to support that purpose.
No type is better or worse than the other. They are all equally valuable — even if the world isn’t set up to support each of them in equal measure (we tend to favor the sacral operating system, since it’s in the majority).
The sooner you can embrace the way your mechanism is designed to function, the more ease, magnetism, and fulfillment you will enjoy.
Below, I have offered a short primer on each type based on my own interpretation & experiences.
Manifestors (9% of the population)
Purpose: Manifestors are here to initiate and create. They are the challengers, the visionaries, and the pioneers amongst us.
They are most magnetic when they’re free to move to the beat of their own drum, unencumbered by the need to justify or explain themselves. If they become too consumed with what others will say or think, it will lead them to dilute their big idea or message.
Energetic rhythms: Manifestor energy comes in big, powerful bursts around a creative urge. Depending on their authority, this urge might be triggered by an emotion (emotional authority), a knowing (splenic authority), or a want (ego authority).
Once they’ve channeled this creative energy into something meaningful (to them), their energy will dissipate just as quickly as it arrived. They’re designed to be unpredictable and inconsistent — in the best way! However, it’s important for manifestors to honor their lows and rest, so they can hibernate in preparation of the next urge.
Strategy (aka “path of least resistance”): Because manifestors move with speed and conviction, it can often be triggering for those around them — they might feel left behind, caught off guard, or envious. To reduce the friction a manifestor might encounter, their strategy is to inform: to communicate their plans, to talk through their process, to articulate what’s moving them. This is not the same as asking for permission, however. This is simply giving people a head’s up…and it is entirely up to the manifestor’s discretion.
Core wound: It’s hard to live in a world that’s based on approval and “belonging” when you’re designed to stand out.
Many manifestors have been conditioned to “reign it in” or “tone it down”, which might lead them to make themselves small in an effort to appease others.
Not-self (aka “red flag”): But when a manifestor feels limited or forced to dim their light, they get angry. Anger is often viewed as a shameful or ugly emotion, so many manifestors have learned to disguise it as something else: frustration, hives, road rage, digestive issues.
Signature (aka “green flag”): When manifestors are given the space to do their own thing, on their own timeline, they feel at peace.
If you love a manifestor, don’t try to control them. Instead, be a cheerleader. Show up for them. Listen. Amplify. Support.
If you want an example of a manifestor doing her magnificent thing, check out on Substack.
Projectors (22% of the population)
Purpose: Projectors are here to guide and optimize. They are the advisors, the innovators, and the strategists amongst us.
They have a unique point of view on the world that can only be accessed when they’re able to create a degree of spaciousness. They are most magnetic when they are well-rested and when they feel recognized for their gifts and contributions.
Energetic rhythms: Projector energy ebbs and flows throughout the day and week. They have the ability to apply themselves in short, intense bursts and are most effective when focused on one task or one person at a time. When they work smarter vs. harder, a projector can get a tremendous amount done in short amount of time.
In between periods of effort, it’s essential for projectors to recharge — ideally alone. The key is that there are no expectations during this window of rest, and that there is no pressure for output.
Strategy: Because projectors don’t have their own internal motor and are thus dependent on the energy of others, it’s important to be extra intentional about how and with whom they share their gifts. As a result, their strategy is to wait for the invitation — in other words, to wait to be recognized and invited in before sharing their gifts. This invitation can be energetic or explicit, but it ensures that the person or project on the other end is ready to receive and implement the projector’s wisdom.
When a projector allows the world to come to them instead of feeling pressure to go out and “make it happen”, they experience more ease, efficiency, and ultimately…fulfillment.
Core wound: It’s hard to be passive and inconsistent in a world that puts hustle culture on a pedestal. Most projectors feel enormous pressure to “keep up” and tend to compromise on their body’s needs, because the world still values do-ing over be-ing. They’re highly sensitive and easily pressured into exceeding their energetic capacity, resulting in burn out.
It’s important for them to embrace that productivity is not linear — it’s about quality vs. quantity.
Not-self: When a projector doesn’t feel recognized, or when they’re pushing themselves beyond their energetic limitations, they become bitter. They might resent the person, the job, or the circumstance that is pressuring them to operate out of alignment and can become passive aggressive, distant, or detached.
Signature: When projectors move through the world at their own pace, with ample spaciousness, they have the ability to see & realize opportunities no one else can. A projector in alignment is wired to succeed.
If you love a projector, let them know that you see them. Acknowledge their gifts, ask for their input, and call out the ways they make your life better. Give them ample space to recharge, alone, without any responsibilities.
is a great example of a projector who has used her genius to master Substack and achieve great success without compromising on her commitment to slow living.
Generators (31% of the population)
Purpose: Generators are here to generate energy and excitement around the things they love. They are the cheerleaders, the problem-solvers, and the executors. They provide the persistent, steady energy required to move things forward.
Generators are most magnetic when they are attuned to their gut (the sacral center) and allow their physical responses to life to determine who and what they pour their magnetic energy into.
Energetic rhythms: (Healthy) generators wake up with a full tank of fuel — and they’re designed to burn through that fuel throughout the day at a steady pace, applying it to people and projects that light them up. When their tank is empty, they go to sleep.
If a generator spends their energy in satisfying ways, their sacral tank is automatically refueled overnight. That’s why an aligned generator can generate whatever energy they need — for however long they need to — to get a job done. This gives them the ability to grind and hustle without tiring — as long as what they’re working on is a HELL YES.
However, when they spend their energy on people and projects that drain them, or are the result of a “should”, they will eventually burn out like everyone out.
Because all the non-sacral types depend on generators and manifesting generators for their life-force energy, it’s important to remember that the best way to serve others as a sacral is to fill your own cup first and foremost.
Strategy: The way a generator determines whether something is aligned (aka a “HELL YES”) or not is by paying attention to their sacral response. Their bodies are continuously communicating to them in the form of subtle — and not-so-subtle — guttural noises and sensations: “mmm” or “uhuh” sounds that escape before they can stop themselves, a tugging sensation in their belly, goosebumps, a full-body shiver, etc.
The greatest challenge for most generators is to trust their body (and their gut) over their mind. Sacral responses are often hard to validate with a logical reason or explanation — they’re not meant to “make sense”. However, since we live in a world that celebrates “rational” decision making, many generators learn to compromise on or ignore their response, cutting them off from the most valuable source of inner guidance.
Core wound: Because generators are such effective executors, people often praise them for their ability to “get sh*t done”. As a result, it’s too easy for a generator to start to associate their worth and value in the world with how productive they are, or how effective they are at executing other people’s requests.
This leads many generators to prioritize other people’s needs over their own. Because of their seemingly boundless energetic reserve, the impact of this slight admission is small at first. But over time, the “shoulds” add up…and a generator may find themselves spending all their time and energy on other people’s HELL YES’s.
Not-self: The sign that a generator is spending too much of their time and energy on things that do not light them up is frustration. Energetically, frustration can also manifest as feeling stuck or stagnant and there is nothing worse to a generator than a life devoid of motion and joy.
Signature: When a generator is honors their gut and listens to their sacral response instead of the rational mind, they are naturally drawn towards the people, projects, and environments that feel most satisfying to them.
If you love a generator, the greatest gift you can give them is to accept their boundaries and allow them to prioritize their own joy over the “shoulds” or expectations of others.
One of my favorite generators on this platform is and her Substack is very appropriately named “Fill Your Cup”.
Manifesting Generators (37% of the population)
Purpose: Like generators, manifesting generators are here to generate energy and excitement around the things they love. However, in addition to being the cheerleaders, the problem-solvers, and the executors, manifesting generators are also the rule-breakers
They are here to teach us that progress is not meant to be linear and that the best solutions often exist outside of the box.
Manifesting generators are most magnetic when they follow their gut and have the freedom to move through the world in response to whatever excites them.
Energetic rhythms: (Healthy) manifesting generators wake up with a full tank of fuel — and they’re designed to burn through that fuel throughout the day at a steady pace, applying it to people and projects that light them up. When their tank is empty, they go to sleep.
If a manifesting generator spends their energy in satisfying ways, their sacral tank is automatically refueled overnight. That’s why an aligned manifesting generator can generate whatever energy they need — for however long they need to — to get a job done. This gives them the ability to grind and hustle without tiring — as long as what they’re working on is a HELL YES.
The key difference with a pure generator is that a manifesting generator often requires more variety when it comes to how they spend their time and energy. They are the multi-passionate.
When they feel pressured to pick one path, interest, career, or goal, they will never feel fully fulfilled or energized. Similar to generators, it’s also important that they avoid people and projects that drain them, or feel like a “should”.
Strategy: The way a manifesting generator determines whether something is aligned (aka a “HELL YES”) or not is by paying attention to their sacral response. Their bodies are continuously communicating to them in the form of subtle — and not-so-subtle — guttural noises and sensations: “mmm” or “uhuh” sounds that escape before they can stop themselves, a tugging sensation in their belly, goosebumps, a full-body shiver, etc.
The greatest challenge for most manifesting generators is to trust their body (and their gut) over the mind. Sacral responses are often hard to validate with a logical reason or explanation — they’re not meant to “make sense”. However, since we live in a world that celebrates “rational” decision making, many manifesting generators learn to compromise on or ignore their response, cutting them off from the most valuable source of inner guidance.
Core wound: Manifesting generators suffer from the same predicament generators do: they are celebrated for their ability to “do it all” without complaint, which often leads them to attach their self-worth to being agreeable. This creates an attachment to their identity as a “yes person”, making it very difficult to set boundaries or prioritize their own needs and desires.
Moreover, because manifesting generators move incredibly quickly —connecting dots and identifying efficiencies — the world often wants to slow them down. To make them choose instead of supporting their multi-hyphenate nature.
As a result, they feel pressure to “stick it out” long after something has stopped lighting them up. But, over time, they will become less energized, less engaged, and less creative — all the hallmark traits the rest of the world has come to rely on them for.
Not-self: The sign that a manifesting generator is spending too much of their time and energy on things that do not light them up is frustration. Energetically, frustration can also manifest as feeling stuck or stagnant and there is nothing worse to a manifesting generator than a life devoid of progress, creativity, and joy.
Signature: When a manifesting generator honors their gut and listens to their sacral response instead of the rational mind, they are naturally drawn towards the people, projects, and environments that feel most satisfying to them.
If you love a manifesting generator, the greatest gift you can give them is to accept their boundaries and allow them pivot or quit when something no longer brings them joy.
One of my favorite manifesting generators on this platform is . Her reflections on motherhood are the medicine you didn’t know you needed.
Reflectors (1-2% of the population)
Purpose: Reflectors are here to act as a mirror and reveal the truth behind the many false facades we encounter everyday. They are the shapeshifters, the pulse checkers, and the highly sensitive souls.
Reflectors have the ability to see straight through the B.S. and get to the heart of the matter. They are most magnetic when they are living in the present and when they are recognized for their unmatched wisdom and insight.
Energetic rhythms: Reflector energy is the most inconsistent of all the types, because it is always a reflection of their environment in any given moment. Depending on who they are with or where they are, a reflector might operate like a generator, a manifestor, or a projector. Their energy is fluid and dynamic, but most of all, it absorbs.
Reflectors do not generate their own energy and are therefore always dependent on their surroundings. As a result, it’s important for reflectors to simply be in the present, instead of comparing today’s energy or output to yesterday’s.
Their natural state is quite neutral and objective, but they can become easily influenced and affected by others. This is why it’s essential for a reflector to feel good in their spaces (home, office, community) and to spend ample time in their own company, in order to tune into their true energetic needs and capacity.
Strategy: Reflectors are designed to be in constant conversation with the universe. Their environment acts as their “outer authority”, feeding them information about what is required for the collective to thrive. They are meant to sample from life and the different energy types, gleaning wisdom from each and puzzling the truth together over time.
The strategy for reflectors is to “wait a lunar cycle” (aka, a month), because it allows reflectors to lean into every sensation and experience with pressure to react or respond immediately. Waiting a lunar cycle gives them time to reflect and ultimately make decisions based on the full picture — rather than a momentary glimpse.
Core wound: A reflector’s heightened sensitivity is simultaneously their greatest gift and their heaviest burden. They feel everything and everyone so deeply that it can be debilitating to move through the world at times. They might want to pull away and become a recluse in order to protect themselves.
Reflectors are often conditioned to view their sensitivities as a weakness. As a result, they feel pressure to ignore or override them in order to seem unflappable.
Unfortunately, this can lead them to disconnect from their most important source of guidance — their connection to, and understanding of, the world around them — and shy away from living their true purpose.
Not-self: When a reflector gets caught speculating about the future or comparing themselves to others (or even who they were yesterday), it inevitably results in disappointment. Reflectors are particularly weary of uncertainty and therefore tend to attach themselves to certain outcomes or labels. In reality, they have zero control over how a situation might unfold and who they are designed to be in a given moment — only the environment does. So their best course of action is to let go of any expectations and trust that they are always exactly where they’re meant to be.
Signature: The greatest high for a reflector is surprise. This sensation is often the result of detachment — letting go of one particular outcome or identity and allowing themselves to be delighted by whatever life has to offer in that moment.
If you love a reflector, celebrate their wisdom and one-of-a-kindness. Embrace their sensitivities, invite them to share what they see, and give them time to sample from life before making decisions. Create an environment for them that feels supportive and nourishing.
If you’re looking for an example of a reflector who authentically embodies her design, check out the magical .
Do you know the energy type(s) of any of your favorite Substackers? Please share them below so we can expand on the list of examples, since it’s so helpful to witness someone embodying their type IRL.
If you want to go deeper and explore other aspects of your design, check out some of my offerings here.
Aw thank you Alexandra for including me!! I’m sure your readers will get a lot from this ❤️
Opened my Subby and thought I got spammed; I'm so honored to be included here, Alex. THANK YOU.