The 9 Human Design Centers: Defined vs Undefined (and What That Really Means for You)

Understanding Your Human Design Centers: Defined vs Undefined

If you've pulled your Human Design chart and seen a mix of colored and white shapes, you're looking at your Centers—and they tell you how your energy works.

In this guide, we’ll walk through:

• What the 9 Centers are
• The exact difference between defined and undefined Centers
• How this shows up in everyday life
• Practical tips for working with your configuration

If you don’t yet have a chart, you can generate one for free at humandesign.wtf.

1. The 9 Centers in Human Design (Quick Overview)

Human Design has nine Centers, similar to chakras but with some key differences. Each Center represents a core life theme:

• Head – Inspiration, questions, mental pressure
• Ajna – Thinking, concepts, opinions
• Throat – Communication, manifestation
• G Center – Identity, direction, love
• Heart/Ego – Willpower, value, material world
• Sacral – Life force, work, sexuality (only defined in Generators/MGs)
• Solar Plexus – Emotions, feelings, desire
• Spleen – Intuition, health, survival
• Root – Stress, drive, adrenaline, momentum

For a deeper dive into each individual Center, you can also read:

• The 9 Human Design Centers Explained
• The Centers in Human Design: Defined vs Undefined

Here, we’ll focus specifically on defined vs undefined and how to live this information.

2. Defined vs Undefined: What It Actually Means

On your BodyGraph, each Center will be either colored in or white:

• Colored = Defined
• White = Undefined or Open

Defined Centers

A defined Center is a place where your energy is fixed, reliable, and consistent.

You can think of it as:

• A broadcast signal you’re always putting out
• A place where you condition the environment more than it conditions you
• An energy you can generally trust as yours, day in and day out

Defined Centers tend to feel like:

• "This is just how I am."
• "I don’t really change here depending on who I’m with."

Undefined (or Open) Centers

An undefined Center is white, with at least one gate activated. An open Center is completely white with no gates activated. In everyday language, most people simply say "undefined" to include both.

An undefined Center is where your energy is amplified and conditioned by others.

You can think of it as:

• A satellite dish – you receive and amplify what’s around you
• A place where you change depending on who you’re with
• A lifelong learning and wisdom center

Undefined Centers can feel like:

• "I’m different with different people."
• "I’m not always sure what’s true for me here."

Both defined and undefined are equally correct. Defined is not "better." Undefined is not "broken." They simply describe how your energy works.

3. The Not‑Self Stories of Undefined Centers

Where we struggle the most in Human Design is often where we’re trying to be fixed in an area that is meant to be flexible.

Undefined Centers are where we’re more vulnerable to conditioning and the Not‑Self—the part of us that makes decisions from fear, pressure, or "shoulds."

Below is a quick tour of the common Not‑Self stories of each undefined Center, plus what you’re actually here to learn.

Head (Undefined)

• Not‑Self story: "I must answer everyone else’s questions and solve every idea."
• Pattern: Mental overwhelm, chasing inspiration, overthinking.
• Wisdom potential: Knowing which questions actually matter and which can be released.

Ajna (Undefined)

• Not‑Self story: "I have to be certain and have a fixed opinion."
• Pattern: Pretending to be sure, fear of saying "I don’t know," rigid thinking.
• Wisdom potential: Comfort with not knowing and seeing many perspectives.

Throat (Undefined)

• Not‑Self story: "I must get attention and be heard right now."
• Pattern: Talking to be noticed, forcing your voice, over‑sharing.
• Wisdom potential: Feeling when the timing is correct to speak and what truly needs to be expressed.

G Center (Undefined)

• Not‑Self story: "I have to figure out who I am and where I belong—permanently."
• Pattern: Identity crisis, changing yourself to fit in, chasing love.
• Wisdom potential: Deep understanding that identity is fluid and that place and people bring out different, correct versions of you.

If you have questions about the G Center specifically, explore The G Center: Self, Direction and Love and The Open G Center: Navigating Direction and Identity.

Heart/Ego (Undefined)

• Not‑Self story: "I must prove my worth and keep every promise."
• Pattern: Over‑committing, burning out to prove value, shame around willpower.
• Wisdom potential: Understanding that worth is inherent, not earned through pushing or promising.

Sacral (Undefined)

• Not‑Self story: "I should keep going like everyone else."
• Pattern: Overwork, ignoring body signals, staying in the wrong work or relationships.
• Wisdom potential: Learning when enough is enough, and honoring natural ebbs and flows of energy.

Solar Plexus (Undefined)

• Not‑Self story: "I must avoid confrontation and truth."
• Pattern: People‑pleasing, anxiety around others’ emotions, emotional avoidance.
• Wisdom potential: Emotional clarity, discernment of what feelings belong to you, and a calm presence amid intensity.

For a deeper look at emotional energy, see The Solar Plexus Center: Emotions and Truth and The Open Solar Plexus: Empathy and Emotional Wisdom.

Spleen (Undefined)

• Not‑Self story: "I’m afraid to let go of what’s unhealthy or familiar."
• Pattern: Staying in jobs/relationships too long, clinging to what’s safe, chronic low‑grade anxiety.
• Wisdom potential: Sensitivity to what is truly healthy and supportive in the present moment.

Root (Undefined)

• Not‑Self story: "I must get everything done as fast as possible to relieve the pressure."
• Pattern: Rushing, stress addiction, difficulty resting.
• Wisdom potential: Recognizing pressure as just energy, not a command, and moving at a sustainable pace.

For a broader context on this topic, you may enjoy The Not‑Self Theme in Human Design: Recognizing When You’re Off Track.

4. Living with Defined Centers: Your Natural Consistency

Defined Centers are where you’re consistent and naturally influential.

Some key points about defined Centers:

• They are your energetic backbone—the parts of you that don’t easily change.
• You tend to project these energies into your environment.
• They show where you’re here to be reliable and not easily swayed by others.

Healthy vs Unhealthy Expression

Even defined Centers can show up in a distorted way if you’re living against your Type and Authority.

Healthy definition feels like:

• "This is just me, and I’m okay with it."
• Low drama, steady expression of that Center’s theme.

Unhealthy definition can look like:

• Rigidity: "This is how it is; I’m always right."
• Using your consistency to dominate others rather than just be yourself.

If you want to understand how your Centers interact with your Type, read Understanding Your Human Design Type: A Simple Overview alongside this article.

5. Practical Tips for Working with Your Centers

Here’s how to apply this, starting today.

Step 1: Check Your Chart

1. Go to humandesign.wtf.
2. Generate your free chart using your birth data.
3. Look at the nine shapes on the BodyGraph:
   • Colored = defined
   • White = undefined/open

Make a quick list of your defined and undefined Centers.

Step 2: For Each Undefined Center, Ask:

• "Where do I feel pressure here?"
• "Where do I try to prove something or keep up?"
• "What actually feels relief in this area?"

Write a few bullet‑point answers for each. You’re mapping your Not‑Self patterns.

Step 3: For Each Defined Center, Notice:

• "How does this naturally show up in my life?"
• "Do other people comment on this about me?"
• "Do I ever feel like I’m too much here—or not enough?"

This helps you see where you may be judging your natural consistency instead of honoring it.

Step 4: Experiment, Don’t Perfect

Human Design is an experiment, not a belief system.

You don’t need to:

• Fix every pattern overnight
• Memorize all the mechanics
• Force yourself to act different

You’re simply observing:

• "What happens when I respect my undefined Centers’ limits?"
• "What happens when I lean into my defined Centers instead of hiding them?"

For more ways to experiment gently, see Experimenting with Human Design and Living Your Human Design Experiment: A Practical Guide.

6. Examples: How This Plays Out in Real Life

Here are a few quick scenarios to make it concrete.

Example 1: Undefined Root, Defined Sacral

• At work, you feel constant pressure to clear your inbox and finish tasks now (undefined Root).
• You do have stable energy to work and create (defined Sacral).

Shift: Instead of letting the Root panic say "do everything," you:

• Prioritize what your Sacral has energy for right now.
• Let some tasks wait, even if the pressure feels loud.

Example 2: Undefined Solar Plexus, Defined Spleen

• You easily pick up others’ emotions and feel anxious (undefined Solar Plexus).
• You have consistent intuition about what is healthy for you (defined Spleen).

Shift: In emotional situations, you:

• Pause and ask: "Is this emotion actually mine?"
• Listen to your Splenic hits about whether to stay, leave, or take space.

Example 3: Undefined G, Defined Throat

• You feel like a chameleon in identity and direction (undefined G).
• But you consistently express yourself when you talk (defined Throat).

Shift: Instead of forcing a fixed identity, you:

• Let different aspects of you express through your voice in different places.
• Choose environments and people that feel good, rather than agonizing over “who am I really?”

7. FAQ: Centers, Definition, and Your Design

Are defined Centers better than undefined ones?

No. Defined Centers are consistent; undefined Centers are adaptive and wise through experience. You need both consistency and openness in a chart. What matters is living in alignment with your Type and Authority, not having more definition.

What if I have a lot of undefined Centers—am I too sensitive?

You may be highly receptive and empathetic, but that’s not a flaw. It just means environment and people matter a lot. Support yourself by:

• Taking alone time to discharge others’ energy
• Choosing relationships and spaces that feel safe
• Letting your Strategy & Authority guide where you go and who you’re with

For more support here, see Understanding Your Undefined Centers in Human Design.

What’s the difference between undefined and open?

• Undefined Center: White, but has one or more activated gates.
• Open Center: Completely white with no gates.

Mechanically there’s a difference, but on a practical level both are inconsistent and conditioning-sensitive. Most basic readings simply say "undefined" for both.

Can an undefined Center become defined later in life?

Your natal chart remains the same throughout your life. However, transits and other people’s auras can temporarily define your Centers. This is why you may feel different in certain relationships or at certain times. Your base design, though, doesn’t change.

How do Centers relate to my Type?

Your Type (Generator, Manifesting Generator, Projector, Manifestor, Reflector) is determined largely by which Centers are defined and how they connect to the Throat. Understanding Centers gives nuance to how your Type’s energy actually behaves. A good next read is The 5 Human Design Types: Which One Are You?.

I feel overwhelmed by all this. Where should I start?

Start tiny:

1. Get your chart at humandesign.wtf.
2. Circle just one undefined Center that feels most challenging.
3. Watch that Center for one week: what pressures, fears, or "shoulds" arise there?
4. Begin making small decisions from your Strategy & Authority, not from that pressure.

Over time, this gentle observation turns into real, embodied wisdom.

Understanding your defined and undefined Centers is less about labeling yourself and more about relaxing into how your energy naturally works. When you stop trying to be consistent where you’re meant to be fluid—and stop hiding where you’re meant to be steady—life tends to feel a lot more like you.