The Undefined Solar Plexus: How to Hold Space Without Absorbing

The human emotional system is the most complex and powerful aspect of our being. The emotional solar plexus in human design is the most powerful center in the bodygraph when it's defined. But even when it's undefined, the solar plexus can 'take over' the energetic body. 

I've written a lot about the defined solar plexus and even wrote the Emotional Authority Tracking System to help gain observer consciousness of the emotionally defined system. 

But the undefined solar plexus in Human Design is even more complex and nuanced. Unlike individuals with a defined solar plexus, who have a consistent and reliable emotional wave, those with an undefined solar plexus are like emotional sponges, matching and amplifying the emotions of others. It’s messy, it’s overwhelming, and sometimes they just want to wring themselves out and hide in a corner.

This openness can be both a gift and a challenge, shaping how they navigate relationships, confront conflict, and ultimately, live authentically. Sure, they might cry during dog food commercials or feel inexplicably anxious because the barista looked at them funny, but they have a unique gift.

In this blog, we’ll explore the journey of the undefined solar plexus—from childhood coping mechanisms to adult patterns of avoidance—and uncover strategies for managing emotional energy, fostering self-awareness, embracing the full spectrum of emotions, and learning about their unique way of helping others.

The Mechanics of the Undefined Emotional System

The undefined solar plexus is part of what Human Design calls the "open emotional system." This system carries humanity's deepest not-self strategy—a survival mechanism that develops in response to the emotional energy of others.

It is a fancy term, but basically, it means they are wired to match everyone else’s emotional vibes, feeling others' emotions as they are being felt. This is also called somatic empathy. Children with an undefined solar plexus are highly sensitive to the emotional climate around them from birth.

All undefined centers in our design show how we are receiving others, sensing others' energies, and behaving in inconsistent ways. Undefined centers are how we learn who we are by what we are not.

The undefined solar plexus acts as a container for others' emotions, experiencing others' emotions in their body. This is also called somatic empathy.

This can be overwhelming as a child, and as a teenager, they usually figure out how to put up some sort of wall via stories of resentment, blame, shame, etc. This block allows the undefined solar plexus to experience themselves without getting flooded by others. But sometimes they realize they blocked everything and have forgotten how to feel.

Holding Space

By gaining the observer perspective, they can open the barrier slightly, like opening a window instead of the door. Then they can match the emotions of others in a way that doesn't deregulate them.

This is what 'holding space' means—observing without absorbing. It’s the art of matching frequencies without deregulating yourself. When you follow your strategy and authority, the undefined solar plexus is capable of feeling like a calm, stable, empty space for the other’s emotions,.

When the undefined solar plexus follows its strategy and authority to hold space for an emotionally deregulated person, the emotional person will begin to match their emotional stability. They will find themselves calming down, which is healing for them.

It's also healing for the undefined solar plexus because this process allows them to feel some of the emotions, adding resiliency to the "container" of the solar plexus, and creating wisdom.

Here are some experiments to hold space:

Childhood

Our childhood is the bulk of our conditioning journey. Open emotional children become the emotional mirror, reflecting and amplifying the emotions of those around them.

Picture this: You’re a baby, just chilling in your crib, when suddenly you sense your mom’s postpartum depression. Next thing you know, you’re crying your eyes out, she’s crying her eyes out, and the dog starts howling because why not? Congratulations, you’ve just created your first emotional feedback loop.

As you grow up, you start to figure out that expressing all these big feelings isn’t always welcome. Maybe you throw a tantrum because you’re overwhelmed by the emotional chaos around you, and instead of getting a hug, you get a timeout... or worse...

This is how the undefined emotional solar plexus child might be forced to shut down, learning to suppress their emotions to avoid conflict or discomfort. 

Even in households where emotional expression is encouraged, the child naturally learns to avoid emotional waves to escape the physical unease—trembling, nausea, or discomfort—that arises when faced with an upset parent or caregiver.

Over time, they develop strategies to placate others, minimize their presence, and retreat into solitude to avoid reliving or amplifying emotional trauma.

Adulthood

These childhood patterns persist into adulthood, shaping relationships and behaviors.

Boss is yelling? Smile and nod. Partner’s in a mood? Hide in the bathroom with a bag of chips. The undefined solar plexus learns to perfect the art of people-pleasing, a "Don’t Rock the Boat" attitude, and a life dominated by the fear of emotional confrontation because, let’s be real, confrontation is exhausting.

The constant exposure to others' emotions can also lead to emotional burnout and amplification. If the solar plexus holds in all the emotions it matches with, their bodies will eventually release in a single burst—a "tantrum" of sorts—where all the suppressed emotions come rushing out.

Avoidance comes at a cost, as it can result in long-term disconnects from one’s own truth. By prioritizing emotional peace over authenticity, individuals may block not only the "bad" emotions but also the "good," leading to intimacy issues and an inability to authentically connect with others.

Challenges

• Emotional Confusion: Whose Feelings Are These Anyway? Trying to differentiate personal emotions from those absorbed from others can be incredibly challenging. This confusion can manifest in actions like taking emotions out on the wrong people, gossiping, lying, or even developing eating disorders and other emotional imbalances.
• Avoidance and People-Pleasing: Why deal with emotions when you can just… not? The tendency to avoid conflict often leads to people-pleasing behaviors. While this may create temporary harmony, it can result in a distorted life where one’s own needs and truths are consistently suppressed.
• Emotional Burnout: Matching everyone else’s emotions is exhausting. The constant amplification of others' emotions can be exhausting. Emotional overwhelm leading to emotional burnout and a sense of being overwhelmed.

Strategies

While the undefined solar plexus presents unique challenges, it also offers opportunities for growth and self-awareness. Here are some tips to help you manage the chaos without losing your mind:

• Spend Time Alone: Solitude allows individuals to recalibrate and differentiate their own emotions from those absorbed from others. Think of it as emotional airplane mode.
• Take Breaks from Intense Situations: Stepping away from emotionally charged environments can prevent overwhelm and provide clarity. If your strategy and authority says 'enough is enough!' then permit yourself to walk away. It doesn't have to be forever, or it can. 
• Set Clear Boundaries: Establishing boundaries with influences that repeatedly leave you feeling drained is essential for emotional well-being. 
• Choose Supportive Environments: Give yourself the gift of supportive, emotionally stable friends. Follow your strategy and authority to guidance that can view the situation from a neutral perspective so you can find clarity and step back into the game. 
• Selectively Confront What Matters: You don’t have to avoid everything. Instead, focus on addressing issues that truly matter and align with your truth. Speak your truth.
• Practice Self-Reflection: Question the mental strategies you employ to avoid confrontation. Are they serving your highest good, or are they perpetuating avoidance? Ask yourself: “Is this my emotion, or am I matching it from someone else?”

The goal isn’t to become an emotional robot—it’s to stop running from your feelings and start embracing them (even the messy ones). Here’s how to reframe your emotional triggers:

• Instead of: “I don’t want to go”
  Try: “Do I have the energy for this?”

• Instead of: “I don’t want to talk about it. I’m fine. It’s okay.”
  Try: “Do I actually feel fine, or am I just avoiding a conversation that might get awkward?”

• Instead of: “Be nice, smile, speak softly”
  Try: “Is it my job to manage their feelings, or can I let them figure it out?”

• Instead of: “I’m totally overwhelmed, I don’t know how to feel”
  Try: “Is it time for me to be alone? “Will I find clarity if I can sit in my own energy?”

The Solar Plexus Experiment

To better understand the dynamics of the undefined solar plexus, try this experiment:

1. Pair up with someone who has a defined solar plexus (if you’re undefined).
2. Turn your backs to each other, in aura but without physically touching.
3. The defined person should recall a time when they felt a strong emotion and allow themselves to feel it fully, without giving any verbal or physical cues.
4. The undefined person should wait until they sense an emotional shift and write down what they feel.

5. Compare notes and see if you guessed right. 

Embracing the Emotional Spectrum

Having an undefined solar plexus isn’t a curse—it’s just a different way of experiencing the world. Sure, it can be overwhelming, but it also makes you empathetic, intuitive, and deeply connected to the people around you.

The journey of the undefined solar plexus moves from fearful to courageous, avoidance to openness, suppression to authenticity. By embracing life’s emotional lessons and cultivating self-awareness, individuals can learn to navigate the emotional spectrum without resistance.

So, the next time you find yourself crying over a cat video or hiding from a difficult conversation, remember: you’re not broken. You’re just wired differently.

If you're ready to explore these energies more deeply and integrate your design in an empowering way, I invite you to join my Blooming Your Design course. This transformative experience will help you navigate your energy with greater awareness, resilience, and clarity.

Click here to learn more and sign up!