The Pressure Centers of the Bodygraph

The root and head are the two pressure centers that assist us in self-growth as a species. We experience pressure from them in different ways; root pressure more in the body, and head pressure more on the mental plane. They both hold the keys to our evolution, though.

Being our most pure and powerful energy, the root is the fuel for evolution. In the root center, we process and deal with stress and adrenaline. Through stressful situations, when we meet challenges, we are forced to face them and grow from them… and if we don’t, well— life keeps throwing the same difficult themes at us until we do learn and grow from them. Then… it sends us new challenges, and on and on.

The head center is not fuel but it still houses a pressure to evolve. Here, evolution is not so much about moving through the challenges and stresses of our daily lives, but rather, transforming our systems of thought as a species. This can come as either an internal process or one experienced while interacting with others. With the head center, we meet our areas of doubt, confusion, and inspiration. Doubt and confusion in the head center can be a challenge to us, just as stress in the root center can be. We can get mixed up in all sorts of thoughts and spirals of thoughts until we find a temporary solution or answer— but it is never the end-all. Thus, life continues to send us new mental concepts and questions to ponder and seek answers to. Head pressure is that innate, ongoing urge to know more, to understand better.

So, think about how the root is at the bottom of our designs and the head is at the top. Together, they act as a pressure sandwich, in between them being all the other centers. Then, consider this: the root center is also associated with our kundalini energy. Kundalini is an immense potential energy stored at the base of our spines— or, in Human Design terms, in the root— until some kind of impetus, or many, causes the energy to surge up the spinal column towards our head. This energy, or fuel from the root, travels directly into the head, so the head and the root have a relationship that is interdependent on one another in a unique way. There is great energy for transformation that travels through us every day, and we grow in our abilities to move through stress (provided by root) and in our capacities to know and understand things (provided by the head).

These pressures to evolve will continue to be, so we might as well embrace them. In the root center, it is futile to try and fight or even avoid stress. We must develop a healthy relationship with stress— see it as a necessary companion to our self-growth and like tough love from a mother.

In our head center, it is important we develop a good relationship with our pressure to know and understand things. While that pressure will always be there, we needn’t make it the pinnacle of our focus. We can enjoy this natural tendency as humans to be curious but balance it with being present while life continues to do so around us and always, through us.