Ever since I started researching my ancestors I’ve wanted to ask them questions. Why did my maternal grandparents leave the vineyard in France? Why did my father’s sister move to Peru? Why did my paternal grandfather study iridology? There is so much I wish I knew about the decisions they made.
It is now possible to gain these insights through human design.
Human design was invented in 1987 by Ra Uru Hu, a Canadian who settled in Ibiza. It combines ancient systems like astrology, Kabbalah, I Ching, and the chakra system with modern science like quantum physics to generate a personal “blueprint” which results in a practical map of how your energy works, including your decision making strategies. How does this relate to our ancestors? Well, armed with your ancestor’s birth details, a Human Design professional can decipher their chart and give you some insight into the reasons behind their decisions.
Luckily my friend, Ilona Herreiner, is a Human Design professional. Having just published the 2nd edition of Upheaval, my grandmother’s memoir, I wanted to find out what prompted my grandmother to make the decisions she did. Here is what Ilona told me:
Olga’s chart shows a mix of defined and undefined Centres. The defined Centres are where she had consistent energy, strong instincts, fixed ways of operating. The undefined or open Centres are, where she absorbed the world around her. These likely gave her deep wisdom over time, but also made her sensitive to pressure, especially to be something she wasn’t.
She was a Manifestor, a powerful initiator, designed to start movements and lead with boldness. Her Strategy was to inform before acting, a way to reduce resistance from others. But as a woman in Russia at this time, this was no easy task. Society at the time didn’t exactly roll out the red carpet for a woman with the drive to lead, act independently, and break moulds. Olga carried within her the fire to initiate change, but the world around her likely told her to stay silent, small, or compliant.
Her Splenic Authority meant her decisions were rooted in instant intuition; a bodily knowing in the moment. But in a time when women’s voices were often dismissed, how challenging it must have been to trust such a subtle inner truth.
With a Split Definition, she would’ve felt drawn to others who helped her feel more complete; energetic bridges who could unify her internal duality. This may have played out deeply in her relationships.
Her 1/4 Profile (Investigator / Opportunist) paints the picture of a woman who sought deep knowledge (Line 1) and shared it within her inner circle (Line 4). She influenced not by force, but through presence and connection.
Born under the Right Angle Cross of the Sphinx 2, Olga was here to bring direction, holding a sense of where we’ve been and where we’re going. She was designed to be a compass, even if the world didn’t always allow her to speak.
Her path was likely full of resistance, but her chart reflects an incredible inner strength. A woman born to lead in a world that wasn’t ready.
If you would like to find out more about Human Design and the blueprints for your ancestors, you can contact Ilona here.
