Defined and Undefined Centers in Your BodyGraph

When you first encounter your Human Design BodyGraph, it can feel like stepping into a completely new world. You see this chart with its nine geometric shapes, some colored in and others left white, connected by lines and numbers. These shapes are the Centers, and they are the foundation of understanding how energy flows through you and how you interact with the world. Let’s explore what it means to have Defined and Undefined Centers and how this knowledge can transform your life.

The Basics: What Are Centers?

Centers in Human Design are energy hubs. They represent specific themes and functions within your life. Think of them as the mechanics of how you process energy and interact with the world. There are nine Centers in the BodyGraph, each with its unique purpose:

Head: Inspiration and mental pressure.

Ajna: Conceptualization and mental awareness.

Throat: Communication and manifestation.

G Center: Identity, love, and direction.

Heart (Ego): Willpower and self-worth.

Sacral: Life force and vitality.

Solar Plexus: Emotional awareness and sensitivity.

Spleen: Intuition and survival.

Root: Pressure and adrenaline.

Each Center can be either Defined (colored in) or Undefined (white). This distinction is crucial because it determines how you experience and express energy in that area of your life.

Defined Centers: The Fixed and Reliable

A Defined Center is consistent and fixed. It’s like a steady drumbeat in your life, always playing the same rhythm. When a Center is Defined, it means you have a reliable way of processing and expressing the energy associated with that Center. It’s who you are, consistently, no matter where you are or who you’re with.

For example:

If your Throat Center is Defined, you have a consistent way of expressing yourself. Your voice carries a particular tone, and you’re likely to be recognized for how you communicate.

If your Sacral Center is Defined, you have a consistent source of life force energy. You’re Designed to work, create, and sustain energy over time.

Defined Centers are your foundation. They are what others recognize in you because they are always present. However, they are also narrow in their expression. A Defined Center doesn’t adapt or change, it simply is. This consistency is both a strength and a limitation. You know who you are in these areas, but you may not fully understand how others experience them differently.

Undefined Centers: The Open and Receptive

Undefined Centers are white in your BodyGraph. These are areas where you are open to the energy of others and the environment. They are not fixed or consistent, which means they can be influenced by external forces. This openness is not a weakness, it’s a profound opportunity for learning and wisdom.

For example:

If your G Center is Undefined, you don’t have a fixed sense of identity or direction. Instead, you experience a variety of identities and directions depending on who you’re with and where you are.

If your Solar Plexus is Undefined, you don’t have consistent emotional waves. Instead, you amplify the emotions of those around you, often feeling them more intensely than they do.

The Undefined Centers are where you go to school in life. They are where you are conditioned by the world, for better or worse. Conditioning happens when you take in energy from others and identify with it as your own. This can lead to confusion, frustration, and living out of alignment with your true self. But when you recognize this openness and stop identifying with the energy, these Centers become sources of profound wisdom. You learn to see the full spectrum of possibilities in these areas.

The Duality of Defined and Undefined

Human Design is a system of duality. Defined and Undefined Centers are not about good or bad, better or worse. They are simply different. Defined Centers are reliable but fixed. Undefined Centers are flexible but vulnerable. Together, they create the unique tapestry of your Design.

Let’s take the G Center as an example:

Someone with a Defined G Center has a fixed sense of identity. They know who they are and where they’re going. But this fixed identity can make it difficult for them to adapt to new roles or others’ directions.

Someone with an Undefined G Center doesn’t have a fixed identity. They can adapt to different places and take on different roles. But this openness can lead to confusion if they try to define themselves through others, or seek love outside of themselves.

The key is to embrace both aspects of your Design. Trust your Defined Centers as your foundation, and use your Undefined Centers as opportunities for growth and understanding.

The Role of Conditioning

Conditioning is the influence of external energy on your Undefined Centers. It’s a natural part of life, but it becomes a problem when you identify with it. 

For example:

If you have an Undefined Heart Center, you might feel pressure to prove your worth. You might overcommit or push yourself to achieve things that aren’t aligned with your true nature.

If you have an Undefined Root Center, you might feel constant pressure to get things done. You might rush through life, never feeling like you can relax.

The moment you surrender to your Inner Authority—the decision-making process unique to your Design—you begin to free yourself from unhealthy conditioning. You stop trying to fix or define your Undefined Centers and instead allow them to be what they are: open, receptive, and full of potential wisdom.

Practical Tips for Living Your Design

Know Your Chart: Start by identifying which Centers are Defined and Undefined in your BodyGraph. This is your roadmap to understanding how you process energy.

Trust Your Defined Centers: These are your anchors. Lean into their consistency and reliability. They are your strengths and the foundation of your Design.

Observe Your Undefined Centers: Pay attention to how these areas feel in different environments and with different people. Notice when you’re taking on energy that isn’t yours.

Decondition: This is the process of letting go of unhealthy patterns in your Undefined Centers. It takes time and awareness, but it’s essential for living your Design.

Experiment: Human Design is not about belief, it’s about experimentation. Try living according to your Strategy and Authority and see how it feels. Notice how your Defined and Undefined Centers influence your decisions and interactions.

The Wisdom of Openness

Undefined Centers are often misunderstood. People think they are weaknesses or flaws, but they are anything but. They are where you have the potential to gain the most wisdom. When you stop identifying with the energy in these Centers, you begin to see the world in a completely new way. You understand the diversity of human experience, and you become a source of guidance and insight for others.

For example:

Someone with an Undefined Ajna Center can see multiple perspectives and hold space for different opinions and insights without being attached to any of them.

Someone with an Undefined Solar Plexus can become deeply empathetic, understanding the emotional experiences of others in a way that Defined Solar Plexus individuals may not.

Embrace Your Design

Understanding Defined and Undefined Centers is a profound step in your Human Design journey. It’s about recognizing what is fixed and reliable in you and what is open and receptive. It’s about trusting your strengths while embracing your vulnerabilities. Most importantly, it’s about living as yourself, free from the pressure to be anything else.

Remember, this is not about fixing or changing who you are. It’s about understanding and accepting your Design. When you do, you begin to live with greater ease, authenticity, and alignment.

To learn more about your Centers, create a myBodyGraph account today and get to know your chart in-depth with the teachings of Ra Uru Hu.