Today, I feel very intrigued by the expression “living in the Projection Field” commonly used in Human Design, especially when talking about the 2nd and the 5th line in Human Design Profiles.

Lines 2 and  5 around me

One of the reasons for my fascination is that (as I often mention) all people in my family- both sisters, mom, my daughter, my late husband, and my best friend – all are 3/5s, and I am the only 1/3. My dad, I believe, is a 3/5 also, for a long time, his time of birth is unknown to us. But recently I realized that he can also be a 4/6, so the jury is still out on this one.

It tells me something about my life’s mission – to truly understand the essence of line 5, which is more obvious to me as it is the second line of almost everyone in my family. And, ironically, all my best friends.

I was also married to the 5/2 Reflector once (husband #1). I do not believe that knowing it at the time would save our marriage, but it would make me understand the person so much better, especially after the divorce.

Husband #3, Jim (who is a 2/4) was another “experience” in itself. Very alien energy to what I am used to, and yet also very charming and almost intoxicatingly beautiful. It is like the Universe gave me a chance to observe both of these lines in action intimately.

The 2d line and the projections – wow, it is pretty interesting to see in action. Wanting to answer the calls, and in a typical 2nd line trajectory, answering a lot of wrong calls…

The 2nd line does not have clarity which calls are the right ones, which means it is so crucial for them to follow their decision-making Authority so much more than eagerness to be of value or whatever else mental reasoning is behind their actions.

If they answer the call that is incorrect, sooner or later, it will backfire, and then they end up so hurt. And then one of the challenges of the 2nd line is taking responsibility for dealing with the situation and healing. Often, they just project blame outwards instead (the shadow of the 2nd line)

I used to think it was the 3rd line that carried so much pain… until I started focusing on the 2nd line (when it is the first line of the profile, 2/4 and 2/5).

These guys are so sensitive (I think it is the shadow side of the purity and hopefulness of the nature of this line). They get hurt at such a deep level, and they carry that hurt with them, while the 3rd line has that unique quality to rise above the pain and try again.

But here is the difference in the mechanics. The 3rd line learns from their mistakes, and they channel the pain into innovation. They are energetically driven by the desire for improvement, optimization, and efficiency. This is why they have the potential to be materially successful, and when they are successful, they have the power to sustain others in their lives (this is why the 3rd lines need to focus on self-sustainment before anything else.

My personal experience romantically with 2/4s and 2/5 is, unfortunately, very tragic. These are profiles from my most painful experiences to date…

The energetics of these profiles are so insanely attractive to me, but perhaps those men I met were not my “correct” people after all – it always ends quite dramatically with so much to unfold and process. Almost the opposite experience to how it begins, as the 2nd line also carries aggression as the flip side of the magical charm.

It is kind of like a mesmerizing flame, too close and you learn that it can burn you and pretty badly, too. (I might need to stick to my 3/5s going forward not to be so hurt if it does not work out.)

I know what was wrong – I was attracted to the potential I could see in the Projection field, but the person behind the projection turned out to be something else, not what I saw.

What is Projection Field anyway?

I had a problem understanding the Projection Field initially. Now I am seeing it in the context of a bigger picture. Each line in the hexagram has a role, a purpose that places it in a certain position, an angle to assist the evolution of others.

 

The 1st line is here to ensure the foundations are solid;
the 2nd prepares us to anticipate something new;
the 3rd challenges the system;
the 4th connects and influences;
the 5th organizes us;
and the 6th inspires us by its authenticity.

 

Within thee roles, lines 1, 3, 4 and 6 are actively “doing their thing” where is the 2nd and the 5th line are subject to being called out – in case of the 2nd line to share something new and incredibly good they have discovered, or if it is the 5th line called for help, to organise, to sort out the mess, because indeed they are such brilliant strategic minds, who see what needs to change to end the crisis.

The mechanics of the 2nd line

But back to the 2nd line. Its process is to keep bumping into the same mistakes, over and over. They do not seem to learn in the adjustment, and the themes repeat these mistakes until there is a breakthrough.

And then they can turn even evangelistic about their breakthrough (especially 2/4s and 2/5s whose Design lines are here to externalize and universalize that breakthrough). Before the breakthrough happens, the 2nd line can even find itself hermetting in that painful frequency (not by choice, of course, these are just mechanics of the energy frequencies and flow). They can even make themselves “unavailable” by developing mental and physical appearance and/or health issues. (Ra Uru Hu talks about it in his Profile series when he talks about the 2nd line). To me, this is such fascinating stuff, as it helps watch these patterns in real time sometimes.

Yet after the breakthrough, the 2nd line will never descend back. It is a form of a leap. And they can be quite rigid in this new position, like turning vegan, or quitting smoking, they will be campaigners for this new thing that has revealed itself. This is because the 2nd line is designed to anticipate the new. And there is beauty in this hopefulness. And when they get to that breakthrough, they feel so alive. And almost cocky in their “newness.”

Even if your type is not a Projector, the 2nd represents a ‘projected’ line. It is projected upon (and it projects a lot on others, too).

Here is how the mechanics of the Projection Field work: Line 2 is focused on something they love doing and something that is natural to them, and the rest of us look at it and say, “This is so cool! Can you show us more? Can you share more with us?” The 2nd line is always “called out” of the retreat by those around it.

Line 2 does not need to “go find its people”; they come and find line 2 when the time is right. It just needs to give others an opportunity to see what it is doing.

For 2/4, it will be the social network – that is a crucial puzzle piece for people with this profile. The 4th line body needs connection to others to be healthy.

For 2/5, it is the seductive and magnetic energy of line 5 that magnetizes and attracts people from the outside. The 5th line needs people to influence through its voice.

And when called out, line 2 gets to share what they have learned and mastered, that natural gift of theirs, with the rest of us, which means that it never needs to be pushing and getting attention, forcing themselves to show up.

People come TO line 2. And if that “call out” feels good – it means that this is the right call and the right timing!

The 5th line mechanics

On the opposite side of the spectrum, in an example of the switch in the Projection field, there is a particular 5/1 individual in my extended family. I think it demonstrates the mechanics in the context of projecting onto the 5th line person.

At first, when this person entered the family, to me, he seemed like the best thing since sliced bread. I had never even met him yet, and I was already thinking that he is such a great person, with so much love to give and so wise and grounded. What I was projecting at him was my hope that he could be all that. He SEEMED capable: a projection of capability is the first part of the 5th line mechanics at work.

You see, my initial projections (in true 5th line mechanics) were positive, despite the limitations. We meet a 5th line, and we project our hopes on their capabilities. We seem to be blind to their shortcomings beyond these projections. We become so seduced by what we want/hope to see in him that the real person has no chance to be seen. With the Projection field, all assumptions are to do with the one projecting, not the one who is projected upon!

What’s interesting to reflect on now, in hindsight, is that he was always “of a different world” to me, not my kind of person of interest, looks, style, or stances in life… and somehow I refused to acknowledge it in my overenthusiastic excitement about him. I never even took time to get to know him, to explore.

And that lasted, until, in a true “Heretic’s style”, he completely unintentionally “revealed” that “limitation” I refused to see on a day at a family gathering.

On that day and on several occasions since, he’s made some quite “shockingly inappropriate” comments, both about my personality, life choices, and my coaching business (which he has no clue about running or growing). And it was inappropriate, because the timing was off every time; these observations he had were not called for in the context of the conversation, and often the wording he used was purely insulting to my intelligence.

Suddenly – like a deafening sound of shuttering glass – my projection switched. It has become so clear how far he is from seeing and recognizing my light. For him, I am just someone weird who makes weird life choices, and does something weird and (inexplicably, how) gets paid for it.

Hmmm, imagine my disappointment… And then I realized that this disappointment is all I see. And I cannot shake it off.

I do not “feel safe” in his presence anymore. In fact, I struggle to look at him; talking to him requires mental effort and composure… No matter how I try to reason it, I cannot go back, not even to neutrality. This negative projection is just too strong.

Ironically, he senses it but keeps doing the same thing – making inappropriate comments, imposing himself into my personal space instead of trying to let it go and give me space. It is like he needs to fix something (and that is also the 5th line color – Guilt – that wants to be of value, to save, to fix).

Disclaimer: the above was not a rant. I am describing a scenario where the dynamics change because we are dealing with that Projection field. 

But here is another revelation I have had since I am experiencing this. It only happens in the following scenarios:

1. If the correct 5th line person is too close to you all the time. In that case, separation periods are very beneficial to flush the projections.

2. When the 5th line person is incorrect for you in the first place, this is the case in my story above. In this scenario ,the incorrectness will reveal itself sooner or later, and I feel that just being aware that the person is incorrect can help manage the negative projections by merely being aware of what is going on. And reducing contact – my way of dealing with it all.

   I have an Open Will centre and it is crucial that I have no people who do not value me around, as it immediately affects my self-worth.

3. Finally, when their role in the moment “expires.”

   Remember, we turn to the 5th line in crisis. That is when they shine, that is when they fulfill their role. When there is no crisis, their attempts to be of value are unnoticed or rejected. We just do not need them. This can happen with a mentor, therapist, or even a friend. And this is why the 5th line people need to be responsible for when to offer their visions, their fixes, their opinions. Even when they are not Projectors, they need to have been at least energetically invited to help that crisis. If they are not, or if there is no perceived crisis, it is not the time for them to offer their solutions.

The 5th line possesses a very mysterious and seductive ability to draw positive projections, mostly because of the Projection Field quality, which completely ignores the “limitations”.

Projections, as a result, start very positively. It is almost as if we become actively fascinated with the person. We hang on their every word. They literally are like the sunshine that shines its light on what we are seeking.

Line 5 can absolutely enjoy those positive projections (who wouldn’t?) – IF they are surrounded by people who see and publicly celebrate their brilliance and value. Otherwise, they tend to withdraw their special gifts, hoard them – I wrote about it here. 

What ACTUALLY happens is that people who project do not see the REAL PERSON in front of them. They do not see any possible “limitations” that any human tends to have. Rather, they see someone with solutions to their problems. And so they project very high expectations, often exceeding what the line 5 person is capable of delivering on. Assume capability despite limitations. This is why setting boundaries and clarity is so vital for the 5th line.

And then, the other side of the coin. In fact, the term projections in psychology mostly refer to negative stuff. It is almost a self-defense mechanism, and it comes from a form of low self-esteem, to keep the discomfort about ourselves at bay and outside our awareness.

Line 5 is like a “karmic mirror” to others. So when the projection switches to negative, we start seeing, or what I feel is more accurate, experiencing our own weaknesses, insecurities, and inadequacies.

The “Switch”

Let me tell you another story about a switch in projections. I had a very good 5/1 online friend, a coach with whom we collaborated and even took each other’s trainings. I showed patience when she started coaching MY clients on MY coaching calls, but one day during my launch, I realized that because she was part of the pre-launch event and had that magnetic line 5 “savior” energy, she was attracting and converting my potential leads into her program – and they simply could not afford us both at that time….

It felt like treason. She knew I needed those clients; I was in a financial pickle. But I do not think it even crossed her mind; they were projecting that sweet “save me” energy, and she was seduced by it herself.

I did not confront her or say anything. I did not unfriend or block her on Facebook. But that was the end of my communication with her. I just unfollowed her content and did not engage in chats or comments in any meaningful way. I never could get over that feeling, just like with a previous example, there was a wall between us that I simply cannot overcome.

The “switch” happened.

The truth is that perhaps the people who chose to sign up for her program (which was not in competition with mine in its nature) were not good leads for me in the first place.

What I actually experienced was revealing my money insecurity. I see clearly now how I was triggered and how territorial I immediately became about my “leads”… And maybe if she was not a 5/1 but a 6/2, for example, I would have seen this straight away, but in the case of projection switch, what we see is the reflections of our own darkness or wounds.

And here is an interesting observation: the “switch” in my projections is still very strong after a few years, and even seeing and analyzing the situation as I just did does not let me return to the fascinating admiration I felt for this person for years.

This is the power of projections, and this is what people with line 5 are constantly dealing with. People ghost them all of a sudden, or collaborations that worked so well take a U-turn. There is always some form of drama around.

But it is not without their own doing. In Aligned To Be Seen Experiences™ for people with line 5 in their profiles, the words TIMING and FIX come to mind constantly. Yes, they are brilliant at solutions, and they are driven to help humanity evolve to be better…

But if they try to “fix” others or situations without an invitation (that includes passing opinionated comments or unsolicited advice) or at the wrong time, that switch can happen to them instantly, with terrible consequences, because living in the Projection Field is very tricky.

Yet, I believe that not a single element in Human Design is “pulling a short straw.” All straws in this bunch are perfectly wonderful, but in order to experience the gifts, we ought to get intimate with the shadows, so we can lovingly raise the vibrations, step around the obstacles of conditioning or false motivations and learn how when we are aligned with the pure nature of our design, when we understand our strategy, when we relax into trusting the right timing and the right circumstances – miracles happen, and tremendous opportunities open up to truly serve the humanity.

And this is why I wrote this article today, to help you understand this complex Projection Field that line 5 needs to master in order to experience this life in the most wonderful and aligned form. I don’t know about you, but this possibility really excites me.

Yes, the Projection Field is a powerful thing… I suspect I am also projecting onto my 3/5 Mental Projector daughter, who is the only person I have never felt disappointed with or annoyed at… (I hope that never changes.)

However, I have to ask myself, “Is it because I have been projecting only positive expectations? Or maybe it is the mother thing?” I tend to think it is the projection, and maybe because I have always intuitively given her a lot of space without attaching expectations- allowing her to learn as she bumps into life and lives through a very vast range of experiences…

Inside the Aligned To Be Seen Experience™, I go deep into the lines’ psyche, because I believe that when you know how energetically you are operating, your process and how it interacts with others in your world, there is so much validation and from that point, courage to show up authentically that can be drawn. Because you no longer feel like a victim of the world, but an adventure on your unique path to fulfillment. Order yours here.