The Deconditioning Journey: Returning to Your True Self DIVINE energy
In the Human Design system, deconditioning is the unraveling of everything you are not so that the truth of who you are can finally express, be free and shine through.
It’s not about adding more layers of knowledge, beliefs or practices. It’s about releasing the grip of the mind, letting go of inherited conditioning, and surrendering to the deep intelligence of your body. Because underneath it all is your true Higher Self who is born to create, enjoy, love, be free.
This is not an overnight process. It’s a journey, a return.
What Is Deconditioning?
Deconditioning means shifting out of living from the “not-self” (patterns shaped by external expectations, pressure, and mind-driven decisions) and learning to live from your unique Strategy and Authority.
// It is about recognizing where you’ve been living according to what the world told you to be, rather than what your design reveals you are.
// It’s about experiencing yourself directly — free of masks, stories, and false identities.
// It’s about remembering: your body knows the way.
The Seven-Year Cellular Cycle
Human Design teaches that deconditioning takes approximately seven years, linked to the body’s natural rhythm:
It takes about seven years for most cells in the body to renew.
Each cycle is like a cellular reset, a turnover of old frequencies and the embedding of new awareness.
The process is slow, deep, and nonlinear — you cannot rush it.
Just like planting a seed, you don’t receive the fruit the same day. Transformation unfolds gradually, in layers, over time.
My thoughts on the 7-year cycle?
I believe that you can fasten timelines, and you can decondition at a faster rate when you become very honest with yourself and make change bravely. Having awareness is important of when you slip into your Not Self - we teach this very in depth inside the Certification!
To be honest - 8 years into my experiement - I do feel like a different person - full of freedom, creativity, fulfilment and love (very different to my burnt-out bitter & frustrated law career days). I definitely felt better every year but now looking back, I can see how the biggest shifts happened at the 7 year mark. It’s not waiting for then, but looking forward. Every year gets better and better!!
The Phases of Deconditioning
While everyone’s journey is unique, common stages often appear:
1. Awakening & Recognition
The moment you discover your design, something clicks. You feel seen in a way you never have before. This spark begins the journey.
2. Shedding & Resistance
As you live your Strategy and Authority, old patterns feel increasingly unbearable. Jobs, relationships, and roles that once seemed “normal” no longer fit. The mind resists, clinging to control. You may feel disoriented, “between two spaces” — no longer your old self, not yet fully anchored in the new. This is the most challenging part - stick it out, so much goodness is on the other side!! You are in your expansion, and it can be uncomfortable - lots of ego deaths and rebirths!
3. Rebuilding & Reorientation
You begin to rebuild life in alignment with your truth. Relationships shift. Work evolves. Choices come from inner authority instead of external pressure. Slowly, life begins to feel more authentic, spacious, and aligned. This is true freedom!!
4. Integration & Embodiment
Years into the process, alignment feels less like an effort and more like your natural state. You no longer question whether you are living “correctly” — you simply live. The not-self loses its grip, and you remain in your Higher True Self (even in the challenges). You become inspired and motivated in life - full of creativity, love and joy.
The Challenges Along the Way
Deconditioning isn’t easy. It often means:
Leaving behind relationships or jobs that no longer align.
Facing resistance from family or culture.
Moving through periods of uncertainty, loneliness, or loss of reference points.
Meeting frustration, bitterness, anger, or disappointment as signs of misalignment.
And yet — each challenge is also a doorway into greater truth!
The heart of deconditioning is simple: relax into your design, trust your body, and let life flow through you.
The Fruits of Deconditioning
On the other side of this journey, you find:
Relief & clarity → no more forcing, no more masks.
Freedom → the power to say no to what’s not for you, and yes to what nourishes you.
Authenticity → the courage to live as yourself, unapologetically.
Divinity & Power → the realization that living your design is not just about alignment, but about reclaiming your sacredness and creative force.
It’s like cleaning up your diet — once you’ve tasted real nourishment, the old toxic patterns feel intolerable. I have never looked back!! It’s the greatest gift to your life! THIS is the journey you signed up for as a human - to forget your true self divine energy, to remember and become empowered to create your own heaven on earth.
Walking the Path, Day by Day
Deconditioning is not about perfection. It is about presence.
One breath. One choice. One aligned decision at a time.
Trust your Strategy and Authority, they are your compass.
Don’t reintroduce the frequencies you’ve worked to release. Notice when old patterns come up, and choose different. Even if it takes time, as long as you eventually do.
Allow the process to unfold in its own time, and be so so patient with yourself. This is big work!!
And most importantly: know that you are not alone. This is the collective journey of our era. Each person who deconditions adds to the rising frequency of humanity.
The deconditioning journey is a radical act of love, for yourself, and for the collective.
It asks for courage. It asks for patience. And it asks for deep trust in your body and the intelligence of life itself.
But the gift is beyond measure: to live free, authentic, aligned, and whole.
Deconditioning is not about becoming someone new. It’s about remembering who you have always been.
