Hello! I accidentally started a series on all the different assessments, systems and quizzes I like to use for myself and for clients to assist with self-knowledge and growth.
It all began when I read someone's rant about ADHD diagnoses on fb and I thought, "Hmmm. Diagnoses and labels can be very helpful." Here's why.
Then I figured I would share some of my fave ways to "diagnose" and label myself and my clients.
Part One covers my favorite assessment tools. Go here to read it. And go here to share on the fb thread what you are on the Enneagram.
Today, I'd like to cover systems. Systems in my lexicon are fairly static structures that require your input so they can generate an output that is also generally static.
My three favorite systems are astrology, Soul Language and Human Design.
Astrology.
Obviously astrology is a system that's been around for a long time. I understand that many folks are skeptical of astrology (including my double Scorpio hubby), and while it's always fair game to cast a gimlet eye on the next trendy new age subject, astrology can give us incredible gifts regarding how we understand ourselves and the world.
For me, astrology is compatible with my pan-religious belief system though when I was younger I was taught that anything pre-Christian was occult-y. Thank goddess I no longer believe that because indigenous belief systems are amazing, including astrology.
You're likely very familiar with astrology if you're reading this.
In fact, in nearly all of my recent conversations both online and off, my coffee partner has more than once said, "Oh yes my astrologer..."
Many years past this might have elicited an eye roll from me, but now the humans i hang around are familiar with so much more than just sun signs.
Astrology gets fun (and more nuanced) when you have a birth chart and then when you know what's moving where in your chart so that you can track themes and trends across time. I had a mind blowing moment a few years ago when I realized that when Mars is retrograde, my life goes kabloom! (Not always in a bad way.)
I have five different things (planets and such) up in my 12th house (oof) so that knowledge has given me a bit more ease around my desire to go deep, engage with big questions, dig into suffering (maybe even revel there a bit too long), and also my very dark sense of humor.
Again, this is about self-knowledge and growth and healing and to me, astrology is one of the most accessible ways to start on that kind of journey.
I have a LOT of astrology resources. I'll be making a pdf with the resources from this series but for now here are a few of my faves:
Moon Omens for general stuff.
Aliza Rose for business of astrology
Jacquelyn Tierney for Divine Style and branding/photos
Soul Language
Soul Language is an incredible system that I include here because it is technically a system in that instead of your assessing yourself, the founder Jennifer Urezzio (or any of her practitioners) calls on her guides to discern your three Soul Languages (or those of your business/child).
Then she gives you tools to work with each Soul Language. Much like the Enneagram, Jennifer shows the spectrum of healthy and integrated Soul Languages as well as the signs to look for when they are less integrated.
I've been working with my own Soul Languages for over a decade and the nuance of this work is incredible- it grows with you. Soul Language has many applications in your business, your spiritual life, with your money and relationships.
Human Design
Human Design is a system that has been trending hard over the past couple years. Also based on birth data, this system categorizes people into categories including: projector, reflector, generator, manifesting generator.
I'll be honest, I don't know that much about the types other than my own (generator) and apparently 70% of the population is made up of generators.
I've used human design to better understand my own yeses and nos and to parent my child. Human Design is interesting because it invites you (whatever your type) to leave aside your conditioning of how you should do things and instead embrace ways of deciding and being and doing that are unique to your HD.
I'm early in my discovery phases around Human Design but one of the best investments I made was a session with Amy Miyamoto who combined her knowledge of parenting, astrology, HD and Soul Language to give me a wonderful report on how my my strengths and weaknesses weave in and out with those of my daughter and then how we accommodate both of our needs in a healthy way.
Amy Miyamoto (can combine astro, Enneagram, Soul Language, Human Design)