Ajna Center in Human Design: Analytical Mind

Right below the head center is another triangle, the ajna center.

You can use The Wild Pixel’s chart generator to generate your chart.

The ajna center's energetic themes

In my post about the head center, I attributed the head center to a search engine, gathering information. The ajna center is a processor that takes the information and sorts them into files. This synthesis is like a computer in your head 🧠

Note: as with the head center, the ajna works with your strategy and authority. But a computer and a bunch of files do not make decisions on your behalf. You’ve looked up and processed information that helps with decision-making, but it doesn’t do it for you.

Analytical thinking, clarity, and validation live within the ajna center. I normally attribute intuition to the splenic center, but when the pressurized spiritual downloads come from the head center, it's natural for the ajna center to translate it into intuitive wisdom.

On the shadow side, the ajna center imposter syndrome and desperately holding onto ideas that you no longer believe in so you don't come off as a hypocrite. This can manifest in constant criticism and giving away your creativity out of fear.

The defined ajna center

This means that you have a structured mental system with how you work with information. You could still experience mental blankness, not having any ideas. But when you do have ideas or information to work with, you have a default way of working with it.

The way you work with information is to dump it out like jigsaw pieces. Then you start clicking them together to see the bigger picture.

For example, you're asked to create a dish for a potluck. You know you don't want to spend more than 30 minutes on a dish. Your brain dings - aha! Pasta salad is cheap to make and easy.

You might not identify with being clever or smart. Having a defined ajna doesn't mean the answers come to you immediately. Give it grace and patience. You might also feel that your ideas aren't creative, grand, or impactful enough. That's a question of whether you trust yourself.

The shadow side to the defined ajna center is feeling imposter syndrome. If what you know clashes with what you've been taught, it's easy to stop trusting your knowledge. Even if you have hard evidence that validates what you know, you might pull away because you were never allowed to have unique thoughts.

This is common shadow work with my private clients. A woman-identifying client works in a male-dominated environment and her ideas are dismissed as too emotional. A social justice volunteer believes that this-or-that thinking is detrimental to the cause but is told that if extreme measures aren't taken, the cause will fall apart.

These are moments where you talk down your genius and dismiss them as unrealistic or ridiculous. If you're currently experiencing this and it feels right for you, enter this shadow realm.

The undefined ajna center

I call the undefined ajna center, "the open mind." (It's also an easy way to remember what it means).

As it sounds, the open mind takes on ideas and structures from external spaces. You're receptive to the wisdom around you, having an eclectic understanding of information.

With my private clients that have the undefined ajna center, the open mind is apparent. Many of them agree they have the ability to see things from all perspectives, able to argue on both sides. Even if they don't agree with someone's ideas and philosophies, they hold compassion because they're able to sink into the core of that person's thoughts.

On the shadow side, the undefined ajna center can feel some type of way about not having consistent access to information. You watch one Youtuber try the 5am and morning green smoothie challenge. Then you see another Youtuber find success in sleeping in and eating a huge carb-loaded breakfast. This can cause mental confusion.

You might also try the 5am routine and share it with all your friends. Then a few weeks later, you find it unsustainable. The sleeping in routine looks really good. But on the shadow side, you might be scared to come off as a hypocrite so you publicly hold onto this 5am routine even though it makes you miserable.

Give yourself the narrative of, "I'm trying this [thing] out but I'm open to other [things] too."

Processing spiritual downloads from the head center

Remember that the head center downloads messages that come from a pressurized space. But they don't always make sense.

The ajna center can help the head center with that.

Let's say you get this rush of inspiration that comes from a planetary influence you work with. The ajna center can pull this information and come up with a plan to turn that inspiration into something tangible. Like if Venus inspires you to love on your significant other, your ajna may retrieve files on what your s/o enjoys and turn that inspiration into action.

My day-to-day experience with the ajna center

I have an undefined ajna center.

I love productivity methods and software. Over the years, I've tried the bullet journal, the three goals per day method, using things 3 and asana and Trello, etc. I would get mad at myself for not sticking to one method. It was so detrimental for me to force myself into one system that I became frazzled and disorganized for weeks before I gave in.

The shadow work here was releasing my need to self-validate and self-identify with systems. I've learn to love that I'm flexible. Now, I have multiple ways of planning. I give myself the option to choose between a written planner (I use Goodnotes on my iPad), my todoist app, a calendar app, and an index card - I'm sure there's more. But I reduce the chances of the disorganization disrupting my life.

✨ On my mental health: I've had clients ask me how their Human Design is affected by mental health. For me, I'm diagnosed with a form of bipolar disorder. Each shift lasts weeks.

With an undefined head/ajna center, I feel particularly susceptible to impulses when I'm inspired by others. My brain goes into overdrive mode. I actually created The Wild Pixel over three days during a manic episode.

During these times, there's something happening to my "mind." I'm aware of it and I know how difficult it can make my life. Reminding myself of my undefined mind serves as a reminder that I don't have to act on every inspiration, especially when it involves money or gambling. But I also channel that creative overload into art, writing, or jotting down endless ideas for when I'm out of mania.

Know that mental health does not make you unable to live in your design. Allow your design to work alongside you. It will not look like anyone else's journey and expressions anyway.

And that's the beauty of Human Design.