Human Design describes and uses 64 archetypes of behavior and expression, called Gate energies (which map directly to the 64 hexagrams of the I’Ching). The Gates show the broad range of possible expression of being alive. On our personal Human Design charts, they appear as the specific energies imprinted on us related to our birth.
Every being on the planet has some combination of these 64 Gates “defined” (colored in on your chart) which means those energies are important themes and consistent for you.
Please remember though, we ALL “have” ALL of the possible energies of the chart—whether they are defined or undefined on your particular chart. What is defined is consistent for us; what is undefined is inconsistent but we still experience it.
The Gate 16 is called the Gate of Skills and it exhibits enthusiasm. Part of the logical circuitry, it likes to experiment and to develop and hone skills through repetition and practice.
The 16 is the eagerness that gets you excited about new endeavors but it lacks depth unless paired with the Gate 48. If you have both defined, you have the Channel of Talent—the 16-48.
Here is what’s key about the 16: it likes to leap out and get going without a lot of preparation. It’s a creative, enthusiastic, “shoot from the hip” energy. It develops skills through practice, but sometimes lacks patience for the process.
So if you know people who have the Gate 16 defined in their charts, you have two choices. You can judge them for their enthusiastic activity but their “surface” approach to things. OR, or you can appreciate their excitement, enjoy their enthusiasm, learn from their experimenting and their pattern-finding talent, and respect their ultimate drive for mastery.
If one person has the Gate 16 defined and another person has the Gate 48 defined, together they define the Channel of Talent which can make for a dynamic relationship in which they both balance each other’s energy.
- The 16 will bring the 48 out of their immersion in depth and their feelings of inadequacy, and help them bring forth the 48’s solutions and deep understandings.
- The 48 will help ground and slow down the 16 with a foundation of depth and support, and provide direction for the 16’s development of skills.
Together they bring creative talent and practical solutions into the world.
love it Evelyn! Thank you for describing the dynamic between people with & without certain gates and how they can benefit from each other in working together.
Projector with the 16-48 channel of talent 🙂
How cool is this….I am 16-48 channel of talent! Yay!…That explains a lot of my entire life and relationship with my partner.
That’s fun to know, isn’t it!
Helllo! I am a projector with channel 16 and my husband MG has channel 48. Can you explain how this can work together in a marriage?
Between the two of you, you complete the 48-16 Channel, called the Channel of Talent. The enthusiasm of your Gate 16 can give him a boost if he’s feeling unready; his Gate 48’s drive toward depth and preparation can temper the tendency of your 16 to leap in. It’s a nice combination! For more insight about your relationship from a Human Design perspective, I suggest a Relationship Reading: https://www.humandesignforsuccess.com/human-design-services/custom-human-design-reading/