Holding & Releasing Energy For Reflectors

Nine open centres, sensing energy from others, and no real consistency. Seems like a recipe for over-stimulations and a pressure-cooker of extra energy in our Reflector bodies.

But this doesn't have to be your reality. In fact, there are some powerful ways that the Reflector aura actually protects us, as well as some really effective strategies for releasing energy when it's no longer needed.

First and foremost, let's remember that Human Design is a system that shows you how to live in alignment with your truest, most aligned self. It isn't intended to put you in a box, cause you pain, or set restrictions on how you live.

This can be tough to believe if you've ever experienced unpleasant emotions, feelings, or energy that you can't seem to shake. More often than not though, the discomfort is a matter of needing the right tools and strategies rather than a defect in the Reflector design.

When we're talking about energy I consider emotions and physical energy together as part of this category, since the emotions of others can be just as contagious and felt as deeply in the body. I like working in 3s so let's look at three themes you can use to navigate your unique Reflector energy.

*Please know that the stuff you're about to read pertains to the usual ebbs and flows of energy that Reflectors experience, and we're not talking about any kind of mental health condition. Always seek the help of a trained pro if you need support with your mental health and wellbeing.

Here we go!

Learn What Belongs To You
 

Energy comes and goes for all Human Design types, not just Reflectors. We all have distinct patterns, energy sources, and ways that we're influenced by others, so the first thing you'll want to practice here is understanding when the energy belongs to you versus when it's coming from someone (or something) else.

The easiest way to do this is to have a bit of time to yourself before you go into any social situation so you can recalibrate. It doesn't have to be hours and hours of me time either. Sometimes a quick shower is the perfect way to tap into what the energy is feeling like in your body. I think the shower or bath is so great because your body can feel the sensations of nice hot water, which is super relaxing. During this time you can take in some slow breaths to calm your nervous system and really tap into how you feel.

This doesn’t mean you're going to end up super zenned out. Instead, it'll tell you how the current version of you is really feeling. And now that you have that baseline you can compare it to whatever you feel out in the world. It's much easier to pick out the source of jittery energy when you know you were pretty mellow just a few moments ago.

Practice saying in your mind or out loud, the words "mine" or "not mine" when you feel any kind of energy. A wave of excitement, sudden lethargy, restlessness, or anything in between. Name it and claim it. As you can imagine, it takes both practice and awareness to get comfortable with this. The good news is, you can even give it a try when you're watching Netflix at home! I love watching sappy rom-coms and staying present to how quickly my energy and emotions change with that of the characters.

What's Your Story?

As I mentioned before, Reflectors have nine open centres. This isn't good, bad, or otherwise. It just is. But it can be really enticing to ride this train for days without stopping to question where you're going. Here's what I mean.

Inevitably you're going to feel uncomfortable emotions that aren't really yours. When this happens, are you going to let them pull you under and ruin the next few days or are you open to trying something more empowering? At this point you might already be able to say that the energy you're feeling isn't yours, and yet it's still coursing through your body. It's at this exact moment where you'll need to stop and ask yourself what the energy means for you.

If you're thinking to yourself that the unfocused energy you feel means that you can't do your work or be productive, then guess what? That’s exactly what's going to happen. It isn't easy to snap out of these states once you're in them so the best defence really is a great offence. When you pair your awareness of your energy versus someone else's, the next step is to allow yourself the choice…yes, I said choice…of what you'll let that energy mean to you. This is your story, after all.

Here's an example from my own life. In the past when someone was in a bad mood and I felt that negativity, I'd allow myself to spiral into a similarly awful mood even though I had no idea why I kept going along with it. When it subsided I was left exhausted and annoyed by how much mental energy the whole ordeal had wasted. Once I realized I'd been putting myself through this by choice, I started prompting myself with mantras like, "It's not for me" or simply saying "No, thank you" to that energy as a way to let it know I wasn't the right destination for it to arrive at.

Knowing what your story is when it comes to these changes in energy can be a saving grace for allowing sensations to come into your body, be felt, and then leave, rather than hanging onto them.

Feelings Are Just Feelings

I used to get really offended when I felt unpleasant energy, especially if I was in a great state one minute only to get bumped into hopelessness the next. I'm not sure why I reacted this way but I was actually outraged that other feelings had the nerve to interrupt my day. After learning about Human Design and the Reflector connection to the moon, these constant changes in how I felt didn't seem so malicious. Afterall, feelings are just feelings.

When you are caught in a loop of emotions that seem completely out of your control though, these feelings might as well be a Hulk-sized bully that's sent to rough you up. By following the first two themes above, you'll ultimately get to a point where you can actually appreciate the changes in your feelings.

When you allow yourself to feel through the different energy you experience throughout the day and as part of the 28 day lunar cycle, my hope is you will also see the connection here to your role as a Reflector. Yes, the big decisions in your life should always go through a lunar cycle before making the choice, but do you know what comes in really handy when you need to make small decisions? Your feelings!

There's no need to over-think here or take your feelings personally. Where Reflectors can really shine is by allowing their energy flows to influence what they do each day. For example, this morning I had a burst of excited energy and when my Husband asked if I was up for a mini road trip, I said YES without hesitation. Letting this energy guide my tiny decision was so interesting because it led me to meet some new people I otherwise never would've run into. Now that I'm back home and feeling more grounded, if asked to go on another adventure my answer would be a resounding NO! And that's ok.

Feelings are just feelings. They're not here to ruin your day or cause you distress, so try not to take them so seriously. Feel into your body and see what you're up for.

And Finally, Releasing Energy
 

When I'm asked how Reflectors can release energy, what they really want to know is how to make the bad feelings go away. I'm always reluctant to start that conversation with those kind of how-to's because my hope is that Reflectors can form a new relationship with the energy they experience instead of just trying to avoid the energy altogether.

With that in mind, there is a time and place for practices to help you release energy that's overstayed its welcome. Here are some to try out, and there are lots more you can find online:

• Take some time to yourself where you can have low sensory input. Go for a drive, take a walk, or sit quietly alone. My advice is to avoid listening to music or watching tv during this time so you can really tune into yourself without the influence and distraction of other things.
• Shake it out. Stand up and literally shake your arms and legs to get the energy to move along. Dancing is another option, and this would be an option where it's ok to blast your tunes as you move your body.
• Rely on nature. When it comes to releasing energy, there's no better way than letting Mother Nature take it off your plate. So what should you do once you're outside? It's a full sensory experience: smell the air, feel the grass or dirt beneath your feet, notice the colours you see, and listen to the breeze floating past you. It's up to you if you want to find ways to taste nature!

There you have it. Reflectors are no strangers to experiencing fluctuations in energy. It's one of the most validating aspects when you discover Human Design and finally understand why there's so many variations in how we feel. Revisit the themes above often and see how far you've come each time.