diff --git a/conf.el b/conf.el
index c42fce5..14d906e 100644
--- a/conf.el
+++ b/conf.el
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@
 (load "ess-site")
 (setq ess-history-file "session.Rhistory")
 (setq ess-history-directory
-      (substitute-in-file-name "${XDG_CONFIG_HOME}/r/"))
+          (substitute-in-file-name "${XDG_CONFIG_HOME}/r/"))
 
 (setq org-log-done t)
 (setq org-src-window-setup 'current-window)
@@ -495,6 +495,27 @@ function is not meant to be called independently."
         (org-forward-heading-same-level 1 t)))
     found-active))
 
+;; project level testing
+(defun nd/test-blocked-project ()
+  (let ((found-active)
+        (found-blocked)
+        (found-held)
+        (previous-point))
+    (save-excursion
+      (setq previous-point (point))
+      (outline-next-heading)
+      ;; note, only active tasks can break the loop because we don't know if the final
+      ;; heading in the project will be active (and could override the project status)
+      (while (and (not found-active)
+                  (> (point) previous-point))
+        (when (or (and (nd/is-project-p)
+                       (nd/test-blocked-project))
+                  (nd/is-active-task-p))
+          (setq found-active t))
+        (setq previous-point (point))
+        (org-forward-heading-same-level 1 t)))
+    found-active))
+
 (defun nd/is-active-project-p ()
   "return keyword if project has at least one
 active task or project"
diff --git a/conf.org b/conf.org
index a205172..f0adf20 100644
--- a/conf.org
+++ b/conf.org
@@ -666,7 +666,6 @@ some definitions:
     (equal (nd/is-task-p) "WAITING"))
 
   ;; org-forward-heading-same-level
-
   ;; project level testing
   (defun nd/test-first-order-project ()
     "tests the state of a project assuming first order.
@@ -688,6 +687,37 @@ some definitions:
           (org-forward-heading-same-level 1 t)))
       found-active))
 
+  ;; project level testing
+  (defun nd/descend-into-project ()
+    "returns numeric value according to state of project:
+  0: stuck
+  1: held
+  2: waiting
+  3: active
+
+  Larger values have precedence over smaller (eg a NEXT
+  keyword will override any other WAITING or HELD task present"
+    (let ((project-state 0)
+          (previous-point))
+      (save-excursion
+        (setq previous-point (point))
+        (outline-next-heading)
+        (while (and (< project-state 3)
+                    (> (point) previous-point))
+          (let ((keyword (nd/is-todoitem))
+            (if keyword
+                (let ((cur-state (cond ((nd/heading-has-children) (nd/descend-into-project))
+                                       ((equal keyword "HOLD") 1)
+                                       ((equal keyword "WAITING") 2)
+                                       ((equal keyword "NEXT") 3)
+                                       ((nd/is-scheduled-heading) 3)
+                                       (t 0))))
+                  (if (> cur-state project-state)
+                      (setq project-state cur-state))))
+          (setq previous-point (point))
+          (org-forward-heading-same-level 1 t)))
+      project-state))
+
   (defun nd/is-active-project-p ()
     "return keyword if project has at least one
   active task or project"