Use Your Human Design Chart to Help You Stay Healthy and Vibrant
There is no shortage of theories and advice for addressing health issues and challenges, and for helping us maximize our well-being.
Here is a very different approach: use your Human Design Chart!
Click here to read the Introduction to this article series and Part 1 about the Five Types
Click here to read Part 2 about the Nine Centers
Part 3: Significant Gates and Channels
In this third part of the three-part series of articles about using Human Design to improve our well-being, we look specifically at several select Gates and Channels and how they affect us. (You’ll need your Human Design Chart to see your Gates and Channels.)
Explanation of Gates and Channels
A Gate is an fundamental energy of behavior. There are 64 Gate energies. They represent the full range of human experience and expression, and they correspond directly to the 64 hexagrams of the Chinese I’Ching. For example, Gate 28 is the energy for struggle (specifically the struggle to find meaning in life), and Gate 17 is the energy for formulating opinions.
Each of the 64 Gates has a specific, fixed location on the bodygraph image for visual indication of energy placement and flow.
The specific energies that YOU carry, which were imprinted on you relative to your birth date, time and location, are shown in the columns of red and black numbers on your Human Design chart.
Each large black number is a Gate energy that is a conscious behavior for you and it has a corresponding black bar on the bodygraph. Each large red number is an unconscious Gate energy/behavior and has a red bar on the bodygraph. A red and black checked bar shows a Gate energy that you carry both consciously and unconsciously in your chart.
When a Gate is colored (red, black or checkered), it opens the flow of that energy. That energy is considered “defined” for you and you carry its expression consistently.
It takes two Gates to form a complete Channel, and each Channel connects two Energy Centers (the geometric shapes on the bodygraph).
Complete Channels are influential in our charts because they indicate a complete energy flow and they “define” (color in) the Energy Centers at either end.
How Gates and Channels Affect Us
When we carry a Gate energy or a complete Channel of two Gate energies, those particular energies become themes in our lives. Each theme has a high expression, a low expression, and the range of behavior in between. It’s often either a sterling quality for us or an issue in our behavior, but either way it’s a theme in our life and part of who we are.
When we make decisions and take actions in alignment with our energetic structure (by using the Strategy for our Type), we naturally live the higher expressions of the energies we carry.
The lower expressions of our energies most often appear when we are living our Not-Self (see article about the Not-Self here). Low expressions take a toll on us physically, mentally, emotionally, and probably spiritually, too, and just might be the primary cause of dis-ease! The further we live from the truth of who we are, the greater the pain and suffering in our lives and greater our chance for illness and discomfort.
Our Type (covered in Part 1 of this article) and our nine Energy Centers (covered in Part 2 of this article) exert broad and important influences on us. But the Gates and Channels offer more personal and more specific influences.
Below are a few of the most significant Gates and Channels in terms of potential impact on our well-being. Check the columns of black and red numbers on your Human Design chart and charts of loved ones, then use this information to improve your awareness, resiliency, and overall well-being.
Gates 29 and 46 – Channel of Discovery
Gate 29 is the energy for commitment and perseverance. Gate 46 is also the energy for determined perseverance plus it carries synchronicity (being at the right place and the right time) and sensuality (love of the body and of this physical experience).
With either of these Gates colored in on your chart, you are likely to feel in your body any energetic misalignment you may have in your life. Physical symptoms, ailments or accidents are your red flag that you’re not living in alignment with the truth of who you are and what is correct for you.
If you have the Gate 29, your head may be saying “yes” to things while your body is saying “no.” Listen to your body. If you’re committing to things that are not correct for you, your body will pay the price.
If you have the Gate 46, you have an intuitive honoring of the body as the temple of the soul and you probably enjoy the physical expressions of being alive. If you’re not trusting your body or your intuitive sense of timing, your physical well-being can be negatively affected.
The best approach is to follow the decision making and action taking Strategy for your Human Design Type. Don’t push or force action, or commit to things on the spot if you’re supposed to be waiting before you take action.
Gate 12 – Gate of Caution
Gate 12 brings the energy for clearly articulating ideas and feelings, with great impact on others, when the timing is right. When the timing isn’t right, you’ll be misunderstood or not express yourself as intended or not have the impact you desired.
The caution can emerge after the experience of expressing yourself when the timing wasn’t right—you may be reluctant to try again. Yet, this energy can feel a powerful impulse to express. So there is a potential for shyness, anger, inner struggle, and even depression.
This is also the Gate of the breath, so any kind of breath work and even singing can be beneficial if Gate 12 is defined in your chart. Use your Strategy to help you wait for and sense the right timing for your communications and self-expression.
Gates 39 and 55 – Channel of Emoting
This Channel is a deeply emotional energy that is sometimes creative and playful, sometimes melancholy or tense, and even possibly sometimes self-destructive or violent. Waiting for the right mood, the right timing and appropriate recognition is crucial for correct use of this energy.
Gate 39, the energy for provocation, is designed to restore the flow and break the tension of where other people are stuck—in its high expression. In its low expression, tension, moodiness, and despondence can show up, all of which have negative effects on all aspects of well-being.
Gate 55 has a spiritual quality and attitude of abundance in its high expression, but an attitude of lack and negativity in its low expression.
Because food is often associated with abundance and also with soothing bad moods, those with this Channel can sometimes have issues with emotional eating. Some also have issues with hoarding.
Best approaches: be aware of your tendencies, consciously choose higher expressions, use your Strategy, wait for correct timing, and embrace the natural ebb and flow of your creativity and emotional energy.
Gate 28 – Gate of Struggle
Ah, struggle. The good news is that this energy is really about the struggle to find meaning and purpose in life. The bad news is that it can devolve into plain old, everyday struggle.
When you follow your Strategy, you will engage in the correct struggles that will help you discover your true purpose. When you don’t use your Strategy consistently to make decisions and take actions in alignment with your energetic structure, life will likely feel hard and unfair.
In its lowest expression, and especially in line 5 or 6 (small number like an exponent next to the Gate number), this energy can sink into despair and feel that life is empty and meaningless, or take huge risks because “it doesn’t matter anyway.”
Gate 51 – Gate of Shock
Gate 51 is, in its low expression, the energy for shocking others or being shocked, physically or in any other way. People who live out the high expression of this energy can have intense, life-altering experiences that initiate them into a connection to Spirit. So you can see how, either way, this could potentially impact well-being!
This energy can also have a competitive quality or attract the competitiveness of others. Or people with the 51 may like to test themselves and push themselves (it’s connected to the Will Center).
Best approach: follow your Strategy—are you seeing a pattern here?
Gate 47 – Gate of Realization/Mindset
If you have the Gate 47 you probably spend time trying to make sense of your life and your experiences. You may be very inspired by ideas and information that come to you, but you wrestle with “how” to use and implement them, and you may get stuck or simply give up.
Your mindset is crucial to your well-being and resiliency. You will have epiphanies and the solutions will appear when you:
- trust they will come
- are open to them
- are willing to wait without forcing answers or actions.
On the other hand, if you see the glass as “half empty,” have a generally negative outlook, or feel anxious, pressured or oppressed, these energies will drag you down and potentially harm your health and mental state.
Recognize the opportunity here and the power of your choice, and choose wisely. Make peace with not always having clarity; relax and let things unfold. They will make sense in due time.
There are many more Gates and Channels that I could describe for you, but in my opinion these are the most significant in terms of potential impact on our health and well-being. I hope you have found this article and the entire series to be useful. I welcome your comments, and also your requests for what you’d like to learn more about.
🙂 insightful. Thanks
And what about the cross of incarnations? Thanks
Hi Roberto, yes Incarnation Crosses also definitely affect our well-being as they are made up of the four most powerful Gate energies in our charts. If any of the Gates and Channels I mentioned happen to appear in your Incarnation Cross (the top two black numbers and top two red numbers in columns of Gate numbers on your chart), then their influence on you is significant. There are 192 Incarnation Crosses…much more than could be covered in an article! But I know that ICs are of interest to people and I appreciate your question about them. I’ll work on coming up with ways to provide information about them. ~Evelyn
Thank you found this at the right time. Feeling very grateful xox
How about gate 61 and 25?
Hi Miranda, for this article I chose a few gates and channels that I felt to be the most likely to impact our health. But of course,
ALL gates and channels impact us and therefore have the potential to affect our well-being. Gate 61 is the gate of the thinker and of asking WHY. It reaches to know the unknowable. Gate 25 initiates us into the love of spirit. Living the low expression of either of these gates could definitely impact our wellness, especially at the spiritual level. I hope that helps.
What is the difference between
1) having certain gates in the chart and having certain gates OPENED in the chart,
2) are the two gates that form a channel open by default?
3) can a gate connected to a hanging channel be opened?
Milena,
Thank you for your thoughtful questions about Gates and Channels. I will try to answer some of your questions. 1) having certain gates in the chart and having certain gates Open in the chart. As Evelyn mentioned in the article, you have either Defined Gates or Open Gates. “The specific energies that YOU carry, which were imprinted on you relative to your birth date, time and location, are shown in the columns of red and black numbers on your Human Design chart.” So if you have a Gate colored (red, black or checkered) in your chart, that would be defined and a theme for you. If the Gate remains open, this could be a lesson for you.
2) are the two gates that form a channel open by default? Yes, you must have a planet that will define the GATE energy. Again, that would be “which were imprinted on you relative to your birth date, time and location, are shown in the columns of red and black numbers on your Human Design chart.”
3) can a gate connected to a hanging channel be open? Yes, the definition of a hanging channel is one of the 2 Gates is open. You will often be energetically attracted to a person that might have the Open Gate to complete your channel. Example would be Gates 29/46 – Channel of Discovery. You had the Gate 29 defined in your chart (colored black) but the Gate 46 was open. You might find yourself energetically looking to fill that Gate 46 with people you meet.
I am sure Evelyn has a much more information to answer your questions – but I wanted to again thank you for your thoughtful questions. Cindy – assistant to Evelyn
very informative. Thank you
I had a life coach tell me I have gate 47, which is a red flag. She said I have to control my mind. You’re right I have no idea what to do with the epiphanies I get and at the age of 58, I am ready to give up. I’m not sure what to do with this information that was given to me.
Cris, Thank you for your comment about a red flag Gates. I also have the Gate 47, I had a coach that told me that all the epiphanies I have I do not have to act on. They might not be mine to act upon. It is not bad that you are getting epiphanies – just remember to follow your strategy. Cindy, Assistant to Evelyn
Hi Cris, in addition to what Cindy said, the trick with this gate is to NOT try to make sense of everything in the moment. Be present. Experience everything fully. Trust that it will make sense later as you can look back on things. They often don’t make sense in the moment, when happening. Use your Strategy and Authority to guide you to what to take action on and what not to.
Evelyn: I read this with great interest as I have a daughter who has in her unconscious Sun Gate 47.6 Now when i read about this gate it seems rather hopeless so if you could please help me understand how to speak to her about this gate and what it is trying to teach her rather feel completely overwhelmed by this. She is a 4/6 with her conscious Sun in gate 26.4 Being 24 she is still in the first part of her 3 part life and honestly I would consider getting her a reading if it was in the hands of someone who could understand how this would need to be presented to her in a manner she could grasp. Of course she overthinks everything. We talk about Human Design and she wants to embrace trusting that things will work out but I would like to give her some guidance about how to handle the energies of her 47.6
PS. Sometimes the wording used in Human Design can be intimidating for a person wrestling with the growth of the energies. IE calling 47.6 in her unconscious Sun “Futile” seems rather hopeless for her so I would not want to present it to her in this manner. She does not have the wisdom or experience to grasp that yet.
AND one more comment before you answer. Her Gate 47.6 not only is it in her Unconscious Sun but it is part of her Incarnation Cross Rulership 4. Where do I even begin on explaining to her the significance of all this? Seems a bit overwhelming at first glance.
Hi Kathleen,
I agree that HD terminology *can* be intimidating and confusing, as it often speaks to the low expression rather than the high expression of the energy. I encourage you to find positive interpretations. What I wrote about Gate 47 really speaks to the choice a person has–which is very empowering. “Recognize the opportunity here and the power of your choice, and choose wisely. Make peace with not always having clarity; relax and let things unfold. They will make sense in due time.” The thing to emphasize to your daughter is to experience her life in the moment it’s happening, not pull back and try to analyze it which results in missing the experience of it. Then trust it will make sense as she gains more perspective on it over time. Gate 47 is in the experiential circuitry and will produce insight and comprehension if she waits for it. The other key thing for her is to notice her thoughts and beliefs and notice how she feels as a result of them. If it doesn’t feel good, she can (ie, has the power to) be deliberate in choosing better feeling and more empowering thoughts and beliefs. Extremely useful for her to learn this at her age. Can shift her whole life! Hope that helps.
Thanks Evelyn – This is actually very helpful. I also agree learning these things at such an early age will be so very beneficial for her. I’m grateful for your input.
What if i have none of these gates active in my chart?
Hi Jessica, it simply means that the issues associated with those active gates are not inborn thematic issues for you. They can be themes from conditioning by others around you, so it’s useful to know what they are in case you do experience them. Remember, we all have ALL of the chart, we just experience the open gates in our chart inconsistently.
Thank you for your continued explanation of gate 47. I’m a Manifestor with 47.6–when I read about the gate/line, I cried. I have all this Manifestor energy (emotional authority) combined with constant mental activity (closed Ajna and Head). Sometimes, the duality of the two threatens to tear me apart.
Thank you for offering a more constructive interpretation of this gate. I’ll try to remember to “relax and let things unfold.”
I notice that I have 10 channels in my chart but the large majority of charts I read only have 2-4. Is there something having so many channels signifies?
With that many defined channels, you probably also have many defined centers. People with lots of definition are here to have lots of impact on others. You are also likely to have several, if not all, of the motor centers defined (Sacral, Will, Emotional Solar Plexus, and Root). From a health standpoint, be sure that you are taking good care of your energy by making decisions that are in alignment with your Strategy and Authority.
Oh dear, I have 3 of these. I’m done for!!!!
Don’t worry. You’re not doomed. And you’re not alone; most everyone has several of these markers.The energies of the gates and channels can be seen as a spectrum from mature and healthy expressions to unhealthy expressions. These are described in the blog post. Be aware of your Strategy and Authority and be especially aware of the areas in your life where you may be misusing your energy.
Wow, thank you so much Evelyn. So funny how this system simply tells it like it is, seeing the qualities most commonly expressed in the gates. It’s mind blowing. Is there information on gate number 22 and the channel of openness?
Thanks so much Evelyn 🥰
If you’re interested in the Gates on the Emotional Solar Plexus, I plan to start a series of posts on that center. To receive them as they’re published, sign up for my emails at: https://pages.humandesignforsuccess.com/email-optin or check for published blog posts about the Centers at: https://www.humandesignforsuccess.com/blog/