Human Design: Shifting From Upheaval to Integration
Introduction
Periods of upheaval can be some of the most difficult yet defining moments in life. They strip away what is no longer aligned and, if navigated consciously, they create the conditions for transformation.
This was the experience of Shabadpreet, Director at RA MA Institute and a 3/5 Generator in Human Design, who came to me during a particularly intense period of her life and leadership. As a Generator, her sacral energy is designed to respond, to build and to create when lit up. But in times of upheaval, when life feels uncertain and demanding, that connection to the sacral response can be clouded by pressure and over-responsibility.
What unfolded in our work together was a journey from intensity into integration, from disconnection into renewed energy and alignment.
Leadership Challenges for a 3/5 Generator
When we began our sessions, Shabadpreet described the time she was in as a “major upheaval.” There were layers of intensity, both personally and professionally. She knew this period would shape her future, but it also felt destabilising. What she wanted wasn’t just to survive it, but to use it consciously as a period of growth.
Her 3/5 profile means she is here to learn through lived experience. Line 3 is the experimenter, the one who discovers what works and what doesn’t through trial and error. Line 5 is the natural problem-solver, often called into leadership to offer solutions to others. For a 3/5, upheaval isn’t unusual, it’s part of the curriculum of life. But without the right support, those times can feel overwhelming.
She came into this process looking for guidance that would allow her to uncover the “gold nuggets” in the upheaval. She wanted to illuminate insights, find perspective, and ground into herself so that she could lead with clarity rather than being pulled by the chaos around her.
Human Design as a Tool for Integration
Our sessions used Human Design as a foundation. For Generators, the sacral centre is key. It’s the inner compass that shows whether something is aligned or draining. When life gets noisy, it can be hard to hear that sacral response, and the tendency can be to push through, to over-commit, or to get caught in obligations that don’t actually serve the energy.
My role was to help her reconnect with that inner signal. We created a container where she could pause, reflect, and listen. She described the process as stretching, but never overwhelming. The work was sensitive, paced, and warm, qualities she highlighted as essential in allowing her to fully open into the experience.
One of the biggest breakthroughs was the practice of putting herself first. For a Generator, this is not selfishness. It is the foundation for sustainable leadership. When a Generator honours their energy, everything else aligns. When they override it, exhaustion and frustration set in. Shabadpreet discovered that prioritising her energy actually gave her more capacity, more clarity, and more presence.
We also worked with her 3/5 profile, helping her see that the upheaval wasn’t a failure or a setback. It was part of her natural process of experimentation and learning. By reframing it, she was able to embrace the lessons without the weight of self-judgment.
The Transformation in Leadership and Energy
Through our time together, Shabadpreet began to feel a renewed sense of energy and spaciousness. She shifted from feeling consumed by upheaval to feeling more integrated with her decisions and movements.
She described how she now approaches decisions from a quieter, consolidated place within herself. This gave her the ability to respond rather than react. She noticed more clarity in her leadership and a deeper sense of alignment in how she was showing up for her business and her community.
She reflected that the process wasn’t just about receiving information, it was about integration. Human Design wasn’t abstract theory. It became a lived experience that helped her anchor into her authentic energy and navigate upheaval with more steadiness and awareness.
In Her Words
“This experience enabled me to shift out of upheaval into the good stuff. My biggest aha moment was putting myself first. Abi’s warmth and pacing gave me energy and spaciousness. Working with her brought me into a completely different perspective.”
The Power of Human Design for Generators
Shabadpreet’s journey highlights how powerful Human Design can be for Generators in leadership. Generators are the life force of the world. They are here to do what lights them up, to build and create from a place of deep satisfaction. But when they push through without honouring their sacral response, they become exhausted, frustrated, and misaligned.
For a 3/5 Generator, upheaval is often a catalyst. The Line 3 experiences the bumps, the setbacks, and the experimentation. The Line 5 feels the call to lead, to solve, to carry others through. That combination can create pressure, but when harnessed consciously, it also creates resilience and wisdom.
By putting herself first, by listening to her sacral energy, and by reframing upheaval as part of her design, Shabadpreet was able to transform intensity into integration.
My Connection to RA MA Institute and Guru Jagat
This case study carries a special meaning for me because of my own connection with RA MA Institute and its founder, Guru Jagat.
I first discovered RA MA in 2017 at their founding studio in Venice Beach. It was also my introduction to Kundalini Yoga. Guru Jagat created a space that was distinctive energetic, modern, and accessible while still honouring the depth of the practice. Walking into RA MA, I felt an atmosphere that went beyond yoga as exercise. The combination of mantra, breathwork, and movement opened up a new level of clarity and vitality that has stayed with me ever since.
Since then, RA MA has evolved. The U.S. studios have now closed, and the institute is fully based in Mallorca, Spain. The global community continues to flourish there, carrying forward Guru Jagat’s legacy through retreats, trainings, and study that support people in awakening to their own potential.
Working with RA MA’s Director in her leadership journey has been especially meaningful given my own early experiences with Kundalini and RA MA in Venice. That introduction shaped part of my path, and it now weaves into the work I do with incredible leaders like Shabadpreet supporting them to align with their Human Design, move through upheaval with awareness and lead from a place of authenticity and strength.
