Getting a human design reading can be a transformational experience. Your human design really highlights a lot of the patterns that turn up in your life. You learn so much about yourself and how to really optimize how you move through the world. But how do you choose the best human design reading for you?

At the simplest level, the best human design reading is going to be the one that really helps you understand how your design operates. If the reading gives you insight into your design and helps you begin to live your design, it’s a good one. At a deeper level, there are four things I think you should consider when deciding what the best human design reading is for you.

Format of the human design reading

The format of the reading is going to really make a difference in how much you get out of your reading. There are three common formats used in human design readings. Each has its up and down sides.

One common format is a written report. In this type of reading, you submit your information and receive back a written report describing your design, challenges and things to watch out for. One benefit of this style of reading is that sometimes it is less costly. You also don’t need to be available at a particular time for it.

Of course, the biggest downside to a written reading is that you can’t ask questions or talk about it directly. Sometimes an aspect of your design may not resonate with you. It can be helpful to discuss that with the reader.

A second common format is a pre-recorded video such as the kind Loom makes. In this type of reading, the reader sends you a link where you can watch a video of them describing your design. It has similar benefits to a written report although it can be more expensive because it takes more time for the reader to make the video.

The downside of this format is the same as a written report. It’s not interactive. It can leave you with unanswered questions about your design.

Finally, there’s an interactive reading. In this format, you schedule a time with the reading and meet in-person or over an online meeting platform. The reader will guide you through your design and allow you to ask questions. They may also ask things like “How does this show up on your life?” to help you integrate what you’re learning.

The biggest downside of an interactive reading is cost. The reader has to be available when you are, and they can only support so many clients in this way. This means they need to charge more for the reading.

Your experience with human design

How much you already know about human design is going to have a big impact on what will be the right reading for you. If you’re just starting out, the best human design reading for you is going to be one that covers the basics. One example is my human design foundation reading. Many other specialists offer similar beginner readings.

If you have some background in human design, you make want a reading that goes deeper. That way you can begin to really experiment with living your design. A deeper reading may explore areas of conditioning, the centers, gates, or channels in your design.

Special areas of concern

Human design and conditioning affect every area of our lives. Sometimes we want to zero in on a particular subject such as business or relationships. If you have an area of your life where you feel like you’re experiencing difficulty, a human design reading can help. You’ll want to find a human design specialist who specifically addresses your area of concern.

Obviously, specialized readings often deal with deeper areas of human design. They may not be as much help to someone new to human design. If that’s you, starting with a reading that covers the basics is still going to profoundly help with your area of concern.

Based on all of the above, the best human design reading is going to be the one that makes your design clear to you. If you come away from the reading with insight into how better to align to your design, it’s been good.

You can learn more about human design in general at my human design page.