If you’re looking for an explanation of your emotional authority, you’ve probably found many articles written by well-meaning splenic or sacral authorities. In this post I’ll explain what emotional authority is, how it differs from other authorities, what emotional clarity feels like and some difficulties that might show up as an emotional inner authority as someone with emotional authority!
If you want to be able to truly live your Human Design, and create the life you dream of, you’ll need to understand and follow your emotional authority.
Does this sound like you? You know that you have emotional solar plexus authority, but you’re caught up making “in the moment” decisions, or decisions guided by your mind and logic.
Learning to love your emotional wave is vital in becoming who you were designed to be. In this post we will cover what emotional authority feels like and common difficulties in using your emotional authority so that you can embrace your inner authority and take your next most powerful step.
What is Emotional Authority?
Understanding the Emotional Solar Plexus.
The emotional Solar Plexus is the most special of the nine centers (in my opinion). This is for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, the solar plexus center is both a motor center and an awareness center. This means that the solar plexus creates energy (as a motor) and allows us to process life (awareness). It is the only center with these 2 functions.
Because the Solar Plexus is a motor center, it creates energy in waves that manifest as emotional experiences. The Solar Plexus motor is like a rollercoaster. It goes up and it goes down, in constant motion. Sometimes the peaks are higher, sometimes you stay in the low for longer. But it is always in motion.
This is what creates the emotional “waves”, because it is always moving.
It is also at the top of the hierarchy of authority. Meaning that if your solar plexus is defined, you are an emotional authority. Regardless of whatever else is defined in your chart, the solar plexus is the authority King. Hence why over 50% of the population are emotional authorities.
What makes it different from other inner authorities.
Emotional authority needs time. You cannot make “in the moment” decisions most of the time. (see below) The emotional waves need to ride the highs and lows of each opportunity. You’re waiting for a moment of clarity where you are aware of the pros and the cons but also know this is a yes/no for you.
When in the moment decisions are totally appropriate for an emotional authority.
This can usually show up in 2 ways.
1. You’ve already ridden a wave for this particular opportunity/event and know that you want it. This normally shows up more for the positive things, the yeses, desires you’ve carried for a while. But it would still be recommended to wait even a short period to be sure. Example: I’d been looking for a hydroponics set-up to grown baby greens at home for a few weeks. When I saw one on offer at the supermarket, I knew it was a yes and purchased. (This being said, I still had the walk around the store as my mini wave ride just in case).
2. You know yourself very well and know that this opportunity is absolutely not for you. It doesn’t contain any ounce of anything that sparks joy for you. Example: I was invited to a Mama Mia themed karaoke, dress-up hen do in London, where I would only know 2 people, I knew immediately that was an absolute no for me, because I know myself. And that sounds like my personal hell.
How do I find emotional clarity?
If your inner authority is the emotional solar plexus you are looking for a moment of emotional clarity. As with all inner authorities they live in your body. Emotional clarity can feel like a moment, a knowing, a calm sense of yes or no.
It often feels like a moment of calm in your body. It could be just a split second where all of the energy in your body settles and you just know.
It’s important to note that the solar plexus authority is seeking clarity not certainty.
I like to use the ocean analogy. The emotional wave can feel like getting tossed around in the waves of a storm. You’re caught in the whites, not knowing what way is up or down. Maybe you’re riding that peak higher than you’ve ever ridden before?! This is exhilarating, agonising sometimes, and we don’t make decisions here. Clarity is standing in the tiny waves, allowing them to lap across your ankles at the shore. Watching the waves crash further out to see.
Clarity is not stillness. It is a moment of comforting calm and awareness of what is out there.
Continuing on the ocean analogy, once you have had your moment of clarity, once you have come to your decision, the movement doesn’t stop. Just like the waves. They continue to pull back and rush forward. You will still be able to see the highs and lows. Do not allow this to make you second guess yourself. Stay focused on that moment where you “just know”.
Again, clarity is not certainty!
Do not wait to be 100% sure. That moment will probably never come. Because you can see the highs and lows. That’s the awareness piece. Instead find a percentage that feels comfortable enough for you to commit to whatever steps come next.
Depending on the impact of this decision you might be wanting 70-80% clarity. But there will also be times where 51% might be enough. Only you can know how much is “enough” in that moment. This is where the awareness of the solar plexus is a blessing and a curse.
In more simple terms, emotional authority decision making is making decisions that just feel good (after a period of time to ride your wave). They will feel like a lack of tension in your body, maybe a warm feeling in your belly. It could feel like a deep exhale or a nice warm hug with a loved one. It will be different for everyone.
Take some time to reflect back on times where you just knew the right decision for you. How did it feel? Where did you feel it in your body? Use these are signs to look out for in the future.
Common difficulties with Emotional Authority
Fear of Missing Out – FOMO
We live in a fast-paced, do it now, don’t hesitate society. There’s no avoiding it. We are bombarded with all the things we will miss out on if we don’t act in the moment. Special time-limited sales, on the spot bonus offers. We see them everywhere. This can complicate your emotional authority, that really needs time!
Here is the biggest piece of advice I like to share with emotional clients, “if it cannot wait for you, it was never yours.” Or, “if it cannot wait, it’s a no.”
Because you are designed to ride the wave, to wait until clarity. Therefore if it cannot wait, it was never part of your journey anyway. This immediately releases a lot of decisions from your plate that require an immediate answer.
And that leads me into my next struggle for emotional beings in Human Design.
How much time is enough time for an emotional authority?
Again, there is no clear answer here. The blanket advice is “sleep on it”. But that’s not always true or supportive.
Every decision has its own emotional wave. Usually, the bigger the decision, the longer the wait for clarity will be. But again, that’s not always true.
My advice is to invite some time, and see what happens. Here’s a few examples from my real life.
Buying a new car: I found the car I liked online, went to see it, drove it, before making any decisions my partner and I went to the local burger place for lunch. This 35-40 minutes was enough for me to feel the clarity for the $7,000 purchase.
Moving countries: My therapist asked me what I wanted to do next, the words “move back to Europe”, spilled out of my mouth seemingly out of nowhere. I sat with that for roughly 72 hours before I knew it was right. Within the next week I’d informed my job, booked my flights and began planning to move my life from Florida back to the UK.
Shopping for clothes/home items: I regularly pick up the item and carry it around the store with me. When I get to the check-out, I usually know. Or I wander around the store once before picking it up. This one is also great as if you’re not sure, you can buy it and return it at a later date.
When logic & over-thinking take over.
Emotional authority, like all inner authorities carry no baggage. That’s a super clear and easy way to determine the difference between your authority and your mind/anxiety speaking. Your inner authority is either a yes or a no.
A logical or mental decision sounds like yes/no because: I should, it makes sense, other people might think, I’m expected to etc. If any of those show up you’re in your head. Always come back to your body.
I like to take a deep inhale, close my eyes and as I exhale feel the energy moving down from my head deep into my body. Grounding in my lower pelvis and feeling into the energy here.
Do not allow your mental thoughts to derail your authority.
Remember, authority doesn’t need to “make sense” in the traditional way. It needs to feel good. Get really good practice in no longer explaining your decisions to yourself or anyone else. “It feels right/wrong” is all you need!
Learning to listen to and love your emotional authority is essential to living your design and creating your most authentic and peaceful life. Recognizing how clarity feels to you and giving yourself permission for emotional clarity to be all you need to make a decision can change your life.
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