Splenic Authority in Human Design: A Guide to Intuitive Decision-Making

Many times we receive an internal message and disregard it only to realize later that our gut was trying to tell us something important. For those with Splenic Authority in Human Design, these messages happen frequently and are difficult to ignore. They are a form of instant, internal knowing that happens physically, emotionally, or mentally – and are usually correct.

This article provides an overview of what it means to be a Splenic Authority in Human Design, including what type of decisions you are designed to make, how the decisions happen, what the experience is like, and how to develop your ability to listen to your body and make decisions based on your own internal guidance.

What is Splenic Authority in Human Design?

The Splenic Authority is one of the decision-making systems in Human Design. Those with a defined Splenic Center and no other Authority overriding it are designed to make decisions using a direct and instantaneous intuitive connection with their body.

In order to function in this way, there is no analysis or justification needed to support the decision – it simply exists as an understanding.

How Does Splenic Authority Function in the Body?

The Splenic Authority governs a person’s instincts regarding survival, immune response, and intuition. As such, it is typically associated with the earliest stages of development in the body and is strongly connected to the present moment. When active, it communicates directly to the person using physical sensations, mental/verbal whispers, or sudden insight without rationale or explanation.

One of the defining characteristics of the spleen is that it does not repeat its messages. So, you may get a flash of “yes”, a gentle “no”, or a “let’s go” and that may be the last time you will get that specific message.

This lack of repetition makes it easy to dismiss the messages if you are accustomed to relying on your analytical skills to process information or to wait for a strong emotional response.

The Splenic Center: An Overview of Instinct and Intuition

In Human Design, the Splenic Center represents a person’s natural instinct and awareness of their health and well-being in the current moment. In essence, it is a center that allows individuals to connect directly with their body in real-time and make decisions accordingly. 

Therefore, for individuals with Splenic Authority, their most effective decision-making will occur when guided by their internal body wisdom rather than through rational thought processes.

Some people describe their Splenic Authority experiences as a sudden physical attraction to something, a slight constriction in the chest area, a rapid flow of ideas, or even a distinct scent. Each person’s experience is unique and can take some time to identify and understand.

Different Types of Splenic Authority in Human Design

Manifestors with Splenic Authority

Those who are Manifestors with Splenic Authority are naturally inclined to trust their internal guidance for determining the direction they wish to take and the actions they choose to take. Their challenge is to recognize the Splenic Authority signals and share them with others prior to taking action.

They may not always be able to provide a clear explanation of why they are pursuing a particular course of action, however, when they are on the right path, they will intuitively know it.

Milzprojektoren

As a Splenic Projector, the individual has a unique combination of needing to wait for an invitation while also listening to their internal guidance to determine whether to accept the invitation. In essence, their body will indicate who is a healthy fit for them at the moment. They will not need to justify their decisions as their body will know instinctively who is good for them and who is not.

Decision Making Using Splenic Authority

Decisions made through the Splenic Authority happen in the moment. The decision is either caught immediately or missed altogether. Unlike decisions made using Emotional Authority, which allow for reflection and consideration of past emotional responses, decisions made using the Splenic Authority cannot be revisited. This emphasizes the importance of being fully engaged and present in the moment.

Individuals with Splenic Authority may experience a desire to pursue something without having a clear rationale for why they want to do so.

Similarly, they may feel an overwhelming urge to leave a situation without an apparent reason for wanting to do so. These feelings are indicative of their Splenic Authority signals.

Identifying the Splenic Voice: Quiet Whispers of Intuition

Individuals with Splenic Authority often ask how they can recognize their internal guidance. Recognizing the Splenic Authority voice is subtle and subjective. It may be a soft, internal voice, a non-verbal “yes,” a physical sensation, or a sharp turning away from something.

My friend Jamie, a Splenic Projector, described her internal voice as “a soft bell inside of me.” She said she misses it when she is too busy or overwhelmed.

Listening to the Splenic Voice requires becoming more attentive to the present moment and to the physical sensations occurring within the body. Individuals with Splenic Authority must become comfortable acknowledging and trusting their physical sensations as a source of truth.

Fear and Instinct in the Splenic Authority Experience

The Splenic Authority also contains primal fears – the fear of the unknown, the fear of failure, and the fear of being inadequate. However, the voice of fear is distinct from the voice of intuition. Fear paralyzes, whereas intuition guides.

A significant part of developing the ability to rely upon the Splenic Authority is to learn to distinguish between the voice of fear and the voice of intuition. Developing this ability requires patience, self-awareness, and compassion.

The Impact of Conditioning on Splenic Authority

The majority of humans are brought up in some kind of culture that favors rational thinking and planning and that encourages explanation. Thus, some people with Splenic Authority may question their internal knowing. If you grew up in a family or worked at a job that discouraged you from trusting your gut or ignoring your instincts, it arguably can take some time to build up trust in your Splenic Authority. 

Re-developing your relationship with your spleen can take a conscious effort to let go of the thought process of analyzing and second guessing yourself.

Characteristics of People Who Have Splenic Authority

In general, people with Splenic Authority seem instinctive and spontaneous. They make decisions quickly, and generally don’t seem to have to offer a lengthy rationale. People with Splenic Authority are usually in touch with their bodies and the world around them. They are often quite sensitive to people, places, and environments; they can usually tell when they are not in resonance.

Stärken und Herausforderungen der Splenic Authority

Strengths:

• Instant and accurate decision-making

• Strong body awareness

• Intuitive and instinctive decision-making

• Instinctual ability to assess risks and opportunities

Challenges:

• May miss the signal due to distractions

• May second-guess decisions after they are made

• May have difficulty explaining decisions to others

How to Trust and Develop your Splenic Authority

Begin to pay attention to when you clearly felt a “yes” or a “no” internally, and examine what occurred as a result. Avoid attempting to justify or explain your feelings – simply acknowledge and appreciate them. The more you honor and respond to your internal hits, the more you will begin to recognize them.

Pay attention to what interferes with your ability to listen to your body – stress, excessive noise, rushing, etc. Your spleen thrives in an environment of calmness and focus.

Practical Tips for Working with Splenic Authority

• Engage in mindful and breathing practices that help you connect with your body.

• Minimize decision-making in noisy or chaotic environments.

• Maintain a record of your internal hits and how they play out.

• Surround yourself with people who respect your internal knowing – even if it occurs silently.

Splenische Autorität in Beziehungen und Beruf

It can be difficult to describe your thinking process, when to stay or leave a relationship with someone. If you are in a relationship with someone with Emotional Authority, please be patient as it takes time for them to feel through their emotions. You are built to act and react to opportunities in the moment.

In the workplace, Splenic Authority can come in very handy in high stress fast-paced jobs which require you to act quickly and recognize patterns. Likewise, in the workplace, it is helpful to set boundaries and remove yourself from distractions that will make it hard for you to listen to your body.

Splenic Authority in Entrepreneurship and Leadership

If you operate a company or a group using your splenic authority, you are probably skilled at making fast judgments and managing risk, but you don’t always have a compelling reason to share this with others.

Find individuals that will support your vision regardless of whether it feels rational or intuitive to you. Give your body permission to guide you, and provide structural support for your body rather than trying to suppress it.

Splenic Authority & Other Authorities

Working or living with someone that has emotional authority, be aware of the fact that they go much slower. They require time to think, you determine things quickly. This can create conflict unless you acknowledge and honor the other person’s timing.

In contrast to sacral authority, the responses of your body to gut feelings will likely be quieter. Both are based on the body, but the spleen speaks softly.

Misconceptions Regarding Splenic Authority

“It’s just a gut feeling.” No. A splenic authority is intuitive, not gut-driven. Gut feelings come from the sacrum.

“You should let the decision rest on it overnight.” No. If it is unclear now, it is unlikely to become clear later.

“It is illogical.” Yes. And that is the entire point.