When pleasure becomes your compass
In the pleasure garden with Karen Pawley
In the Pleasure Garden features monthly reflections from women solopreneurs about what nourishes them, from pleasure and self-care rituals to building businesses that sustain us rather than deplete us.
In a world constantly asking us to keep up, scale up, and show up in ways that aren't ours, what if pleasure is found in permission to be ourselves?
This month, I'm welcoming Karen Pawley into the Pleasure Garden. Karen’s a Human Design guide who helps women discover their own personalized operating manual. Last year, I had a Human Design reading with her, and it was both affirming and illuminating.
Her work is grounded in a beautiful truth: when we understand how we're uniquely wired, resistance drops and pleasure rises naturally. She offers a different definition of success. One measured not by how fast we grow, but by how sustainable it feels and pleasure becomes a trusted compass.
Grab your tea and join us.
Can you share a glimpse into your world right now. What’s lighting you up these days?
Human Design remains at the top of the list of things that are lighting me up right now. Being able to use the mechanics of a person’s Human Design blueprint along with the poetic insights from Gene Keys are the cornerstone systems I use when guiding clients in our transformational coaching sessions.
What are three pleasurable words to describe yourself?
Tenderness, Grace and Authenticity
Where do you find inspiration?
As a person with an Undefined Mind in Human Design I’m constantly open to inspiration, and I truly do find inspiration everywhere! Whether it be a book I’m reading, a podcast I listen to, a conversation with a friend, one of the small communities I belong to, or a walk in nature. Any of these can inspire me.
Is there a book, podcast, or resource that has deeply influenced you?
The Artist’s Way was a book that started me on my spiritual journey nearly 20 years ago. Most recently, I enjoy the raw honesty and deep conversation on Glennon Doyle’s podcast - We Can do Hard Things and Elizabeth Gilbert’s “Lovelet” Community - Letters from Love.
Name a person, past or present, real or fictional, whom you admire and look up to.
I’d say the person I looked up to the most and had a significant impact in my life is the incredible Madiba, Nelson Mandela.
What are the first things you do every morning?
I start my day slowly!
I’m always sure to start my day with a prayer - gratitude for another day that I can sip from the silver stream of life, releasing any expectations, criticism and perfectionism of myself and others, opening myself to receiving what the Universe is sending my way and whatever service I can offer for the greater good.
Is there a ritual you could not live without in your day?
My HUGE mug of Rooibos tea - the taste takes me back to my homelands of South Africa
What are some favourite ways you nourish yourself?
Rest is my number 1!
Rest, pause, contemplation, deep breathing. Long, deep conversations with friends. Hugs and cuddles with my family and our dog, Gypsey.
For someone who's never heard of Human Design, how would you describe what it is?
My favorite part of Human Design is that it's equal parts mystical and practical. Based on your time, date, and place of birth you will receive a bodygraph / Blueprint that helps you see how you're uniquely wired, so you can stop fighting against yourself and start working with how you’re actually meant / designed to operate.
Think of it as your own personalized operating manual.
I’ve worked with many systems over the years and this is the first one I’ve found that combines Eastern and Western, ancient and modern techniques and philosophies.
Through the lens of human design, how would you define pleasure?
Human Design guides people back to their unique selves and I can’t think of anything more pleasurable than getting to live the life, and be the person I came here to be!
What everyday pleasure became easier or more accessible once you understood yourself better?
Rest has become delicious instead of defensive (no consistent life force energy as a Projector), simple, solo moments feel deeply satisfying instead of empty. Feeling deeply is rich, and human, not something to correct, and that is one of the greatest pleasures there is.
What changes in people's experience of pleasure once they understand how they're uniquely designed?
In a world where we're often trying to be like those around us, emulating their routines, their strategies, their ways of working, Human Design is the permission slip we need to just be ourselves.
It offers a sense of freedom. Understanding your design makes life efficient. There’s less resistance, less self-betrayal, less exhaustion. And when resistance drops pleasure rises naturally.
How does understanding your Human Design change the way you build pleasure into your business as a solopreneur?
Instead of asking: “Is this scalable?”, or “Will this grow fast?” I’ve started asking: “Does this feel good to sustain?”, “Do I feel respected here?” and, “Does my body relax or tense?”
For me, pleasure is feedback and predicts longevity. If pleasure disappears, misalignment is present.
I’d love for you to share about microscopic pleasures that you have recently experienced:
A taste: lemons from our garden
A sound: an owl hooting
A sight: I’m a sucker for sunsets
A smell: homemade apple pie baking in the oven
A touch: raindrops on a winters walk
More about Karen Pawley
Human Design Specialist • Transformation Coach • Yoga Nidra Facilitator
Founder of Health2Healing
Karen helps women reconnect with who they truly are, their energy, their gifts, and their natural way of working, so they can build businesses and lives that are aligned, grounded, and deeply authentic.
With years of supporting women through transition, burnout recovery, identity shifts, and purpose recalibration, her work blends Human Design, coaching, and rest practices to help clients understand their energetic blueprint and embody it in practical ways.
She specializes in translating Human Design into real-world application which makes it not just interesting, but truly useful.
Website: Health2Healing
Instagram: Health2Healing
Special offer for my clients:
Karen is offering a Foundational Reading (60-75 minutes) that includes a personalized 60+ page Blueprint Report, business & messaging interpretation, and 2-3 custom essence statements for $145 USD.
The Blueprint Report, business interpretation, and essence statements (normally +$60) are included as a gift for my clients.
