When does the Potent Inner Work become Naval Gazing?
Embodying Human Design and Astrology in Daily Life
This post is prompted by a conversation with my coach Ebonie who is an expert at energetics and embodiment work. We’ve been working together for a few years now. She pointed out that sometimes I have a tendency to ‘naval gaze’ which is basically endless self-analysis at the expense of real-world action. I had to laugh as it was true. I was holding back taking any actual real action until I felt I knew everything I could possibly know about my own Human Design… even writing on here.. this Substack was gathering dust for months!
In case you aren’t familiar, Human Design is a self-discovery system that combines astrology, the I Ching, Kabbalah, and the chakra system to provide a blueprint of your unique energy, decision-making strategies, and life purpose.
So it’s pretty incredible how much self-affirmation it can give- how you can see yourself and the parts of you - the parts you want to develop and the parts you weren’t quite sure were really there - such as being creative, or being intuitive, or being a leader. When it’s there in black and white in your chart, it’s almost addictive. Your dopamine centres get activated and you want more!
So where can we draw the line? Obviously as I work with Human Design I think there is incredible value in spending time understanding your chart, but at what point does self-discovery become naval gazing, and how can we transform potent self-development work into meaningful, embodied living?
The Beauty of Self-Discovery
Astrology, Human Design, and similar energy blueprint systems help us:
• Understand how our energy operates (Human Design)
• Navigate cosmic cycles that influence our life (astrology)
• Recognise patterns in our lives and relationships
• Learn strategies for decision-making, communication, and even healing
The more we study these tools, the more we realise the depth of what they have to offer. But it’s easy to get stuck in the study phase, feeling like we always need more information to fully “get it” before applying what we’ve learned.
When Self-Discovery Becomes Naval Gazing
Naval gazing happens when self-reflection turns into over-analysis and inertia. Here are a few signs:
• Constantly looking up your astrology chart or Human Design graph for validation before making decisions.
• Feeling paralysed by the need for things to align “perfectly” with your chart or design before taking action.
• Using your design or chart as an excuse for inaction: “I can’t do that because I’m a Projector,” or “It’s Mercury retrograde, so I’m not even going to try.”
• Endless self-analysis without integrating what you’ve learned into how you live day to day.
The problem isn’t the tools—it’s how we use them. These systems are meant to guide us, not control us. The goal of self-awareness is not to endlessly examine ourselves but to live in alignment with the insights we’ve gained. And be OK with making ‘mistakes’ - this is how we learn!
The Shift to Potent Self-Development
Potent self-development happens when we bridge the gap between learning and embodiment. It’s about trusting what we’ve learned enough to let go of the tools and start living. This doesn’t mean we abandon astrology or Human Design but that we use them as training wheels to build confidence in our intuition and decision-making.
Here’s 5 ways to make the shift:
1. Prioritise Embodiment Over Study
• Take what you’ve learned about your Human Design strategy or astrological insights and consciously apply them to your daily life.
• Instead of researching more, ask: “How can I embody what I already know?”
2. Start Trusting Your Intuition
• Your intuition is a muscle that strengthens with use. At some point, you have to trust it without constantly referencing your chart or design.
• Use your insights to guide your intuition, not replace it.
3. Take Imperfect Action
• The wisdom of self-discovery only comes alive through action. You’ll learn more about yourself by doing, experimenting, and reflecting than by waiting for the perfect conditions.
• Make decisions aligned with your strategy and authority in Human Design—but do it without overthinking.
4. Check In Periodically, Not Constantly
• Use Human Design or astrology as a checkpoint, not a crutch. Set intentional times to revisit these tools, but don’t let them dictate your every move.
5. Live in Alignment, Not Perfection
• Your chart or design isn’t a prescription—it’s a guide. Life isn’t meant to fit neatly into boxes, even those drawn by Human Design or astrology. Trust the messiness of the human experience.
My HD Chart
I am a 6/2 Manifesting Generator with Emotional Authority:
The Power of Embodiment
The true goal of self-development is freedom—freedom to be fully yourself, to trust your intuition, and to move through life with confidence and clarity. The whole point of these energetic analysis tools is to guide us back to ourselves, back to self-trust. To remove societal conditioning.
When we embody the lessons we’ve learned, we no longer need to second-guess every action or decision. We live in alignment naturally, intuitively, and powerfully.
Your Human Design or astrology chart is a map, not the destination. At some point, you must put down the map and start walking the path.
Trust that the work you’ve done has prepared you to live boldly and intuitively. That’s where the magic happens—not in the endless study of who you are, but in becoming it.
And if you’d like my support…
If you are just getting started with understanding your Human Design, or want to dive deeper with insights you already have (but not in a navel gazing way!) I offer a package called ‘Your Energy Evolution’ over a month which includes a personal PDF report that I create myself, a Zoom call to review, and a month of Q&A on Telegram to support you to start embodying the insights.
