The Human Design Gates
The Gates in our charts are those numbers on both the left and right hand sides of the body graph. They were originally inspired by the traditional Chinese I Ching and much of the definitions come directly from the I-Ching. The Gates make up 70% of our entire being so knowing them and their key roles are a crucial step in being able to love ourselves better.
A good place to start is by learning the 4 leading Gates that make up your Incarnation Cross. These are the first 4 Gates in your chart found in the Sun and Earth Positions.
Below I have alchemized both the basic Human Design Gates with Richard Rudd's Genes Keys, to deliver a better understanding of the functions and properties of each Gate
Gate 1
Human Design: Gate of Self Expression
I-Ching: The Creative
Astrology: Scorpio
Behavior: Self Expression
Mantra: Creativity Rooted in Unique Direction
Lowest Expression: Entropy (Deception)
The Gift: Freshness (Authenticity)
Highest Expression: Beauty (Alchemy)
Godhead: Hades
Location in the Body Graph: G- Center
Channel: 1-8 Channel of Inspiration
Physical Location in the body: Liver
Amino Acid: Lysine
Foods: Most fish and lean meats, cheese, eggs, soy, spirulina
Description: Creativity is a natural occurring energy within every human being. It is such a primal instinct for us. This Gate has the very potential to manifest inspirational creativity without limitations.
Leads: The Right-Angle Cross of the Sphinx 4
Gate 2
Human Design: Gate of Higher knowing
I-Ching: The Receptive
Astrology: Taurus
Behavior: Being The Driver
Mantra: I trust my higher knowing to be the driver
Lowest Expression: Dislocation (Fixation)
Gift: Orientation (Flow)
Highest Expression: Unity (Presence)
Godhead: Maia
Location in Body Graph: G Center
Channel: Channel of the Beat
Physical Location in the body: Sternum
Amino Acid: Phenylalanine
Foods: Protein rich foods, beans, eggs, nuts, cheese, chicken, fish, soy
Description: This Gate rules the inner directional knowing of the self. It is interested in movement through time and space. Trusting ones own higher knowing to be the director is key for those with a leading Gate 2
Leads: The Right Angle Cross of the Sphinx
Gate 3
Human Design: Gate of Ordering
I-Ching: Difficulty in the Beginning
Astrology: Aries/Taurus
Behavior: Leads by example
Mantra: The Storm will be fierce yet it is needed to bring new life.
Lowest Expression: Chaos (Selfishness, Fixation)
Gift: Innovation (Independence, Flow)
Highest Expression: Innocence (Purpose, Presence)
Godhead: Janus
Location in the Body Graph: Sacral
Channel: Channel of Mutation
Physical Location in the body: Naval
Amino Acid: Leucine
Foods: navy beans, pumpkin seeds, chickpea, hemp, chia seeds, eggs, poultry, salmon
Description: The role of this Gate is to transcend confusion and establish order. Through this something new can be created. This transcendence happens in bursts with no knowing of when or how long between bursts. It acts like a pulse for the creative mutative processes
Leads: Right Angle Cross of Laws and Juxtaposition Cross of Mutation
Gate 4
Human Design: Gate of Formalization
I-Ching: Youthful Folly
Astrology: Leo
Behavior: Succeeding with Hope
Mantra: The fresh new spring learns from the heart of the ancient stone.
Lowest Expression: Intolerance
Gift: Understanding
Highest Expression: Forgiveness
Godhead: Thoth
Location in Body Graph: Anja
Channel: Channel of Logic
Physical Location in the body: Neocortex
Amino Acid: Valine
Foods: low-fat yogurt, firm tofu, podded peas, oatmeal, pumpkin seeds, mushrooms, lentils, meat, fish, poultry
Description: This Gate is about applying ones mental awareness to curate logic formulas that are fueled by doubt about future outcomes. Knowing that each formula is only a potential not an absolute. Allowing these formulas to pass through ones mind without attachments on using them is key to avoid mental chaos.
Leads: The Right Angle Cross of Explanation
Gate 5
Human Design: Gate of Fixed Rhythms
I-Ching: Waiting
Astrology: Sagittarius
Behavior: Finding beauty through the mastery of patience
Mantra: Be like the clouds in the heavens, patiently holding the waters of life
Lowest Expression: Impatience
Gift: Patience
Highest Expression: Timelessness
Godhead: Prometheus
Location in the Body Graph: Sacral
Channel: Channel of Rhythm
Physical Location in the body: Sacral Plexus (belly button)
Amino Acid: Threonine
Foods: tofu, sunflower seeds, flaxseeds, wheat germ, cashews, almonds, lentils, and pistachios
Description: Nature waits for rain to occur. There is the process of precipitation and cloud formation before the storm can hydrate the land. This Gate represents the natural patterns of the Earths cycles, in these cycles is necessary periods of waiting. It's in those times of waiting in the beauty of patience that the cycle can run its course.
Leads: The Right Angle Cross of Consciousness 4
Gate 6
Human Design: Gate of Friction
I-Ching: Sun Shining on the Roaring River
Astrology: Virgo
Behavior: Considering time so that the flow of love can be communicated correctly
Mantra: I am aware of the friction
Lowest Expression: Conflict
Gift: Diplomacy
Highest Expression: Peace
Godhead: Harmonia
Location in Body Graph: Emotional Solar Plexus
Channel: The Channel of Mating
Physical Location in the body: Mesenteric Plexus (Lumbar Ganglia)
Amino Acid: Glycine
Foods: bone broth, poultry, eggs, dairy
Description: Within the emotional wave there is an instinctive pressure to move against it, to fight it. This results in friction. Gate 6 is about holding on through the friction with true diplomacy. It's the surf board between your feet and the wave. When a surfer sees an ideal wave, the surfer must paddle through water being pulled in the opposite direction, if the surfer remains focused and pushes through the friction, the board will eventually catch the correct part of the wave and then can glide forward with the wave. After the wave and board become one in motion all the surfer has to do is trust the natural flow to shore in one peaceful motion.
Leads: Left Angle Cross of the Plane 2
Gate 7
Human Design: Gate of the Role of the Self
I-Ching: The Army
Astrology: Leo
Behavior: The leader who leads others with their own hearts by leading from ones own current of love.
Mantra: Those whom I want to lead require me to follow my heart to lead others by example.
Lowest Expression: Division
Gift: Guidance
Highest Expression: Virtue
Godhead: Thoth
Location in Body Graph: G-Center
Channel: The Channel of the Alpha
Physical Location in the body: Diaphragm
Amino Acid: Valine
Foods: soy, cheese, yogurt, peanuts, mushrooms, oatmeal
Description: This Gate is often described as the power behind the throne, not in a hierarchal sense but in being the example of the logical compass that points to where the collective should go. People with Gate 7 often lead through logical inspiration by setting the example through ones own actions. This Gate has the potential to be a catalyst for change through leadership but only if these individuals can learn how to impower themselves to be their own captain of their personal life directions.
Leads: Right Angle Cross of the Sphinx 3 & Juxtaposition Cross of Interaction
Gate 8
Human Design: Gate of Contribution
I-Ching: Uniting
Astrology: Taurus/Gemini
Behavior: I share my creative expression with those who care to witness because I understand that
my expression bring inspiration to others and enables unity to form through the sharing of my
individuality.
Mantra: The air that I breathe is not different from the air the other breathes
Lowest Expression: Mediocrity
Gift: Style
Highest Expression: Exquisiteness
Godhead: Maia
Location in Body Graph: Throat Center
Channel: Inspiration
Physical Location in the body: Thyroid
Amino Acid: Phenylalanine
Description: Gate 8 knows how to attract attention from the collective to then in turn lead whom
they attract by example alone. It is the leader that leads through authentically living and loving what it
does. Gate 8 has the potential to empower others through authentic interaction alone. It would be
wise for the carriers of this gate to own and empower its own individualistic traits because this is how
they will attract those whom it desires to lead.
Leads: Right Angle Cross of Contagion
Gate 12
Human Design: Gate of Caution
I-Ching: Standstill
Astrology: Gemini
Behavior: The dance of the yin and the yang
Mantra: Light cannot exist without my darkness and darkness cannot exist without
my light.
Lowest Expression: Vanity
Gift: Discrimination
Highest Expression: Purity
Godhead: Lakshmi
Location in the Body Graph: Emotional Solar Plexus
Channel: Openness 12-22
Physical Location in the body: Thyroid
Amino Acid: Stop codon
Description: Gate 12 is all about creative manifestation. It is here to teach you how to embrace the
ecstatic within your heart. It is deeply emotionally in tuned to the world
around it. In times of darkness this Gate is capable of turning emotional turmoil
into creative masterpieces. It has a tendency to view itself as being different
from the rest. This is because it is different, it has an incredible capacity to
accept emotions into its heart so that its vessel can mutate it into beauty. For
Gate 12 carriers this energy can feel extreme at times, especially within relationships. It
possess one of the purest form of the human heart, it is dreamy, playful, childlike,
creative, and loving. Relationships might have felt all or nothing along its path, it's a dreamer, an
ecstatic, and definitely a hopeless romantic, with this way of expression Gate 12 will
always bring in those type of Shakespeare theatrics into its relationships. It
dreams of a romantic life with a splash of drama because the Gate 12 views life as
one big theatrical movie just waiting for its actors to preform from the pureness of
their hearts.
Leads: Right Angle Cross of Eden 2
Gate 14
Human Design: Gate of Skills
I-Ching: Great Possession
Astrology: Scorpio/Sagittarius
Behavior: The passionate creative that stops at no cost to obtain what it desires
Mantra: I posses all of the fire that I need to fuel the manifestations of what I desire
Lowest Expression: Compromise
Gift: Competence
Highest Expression: Bounteousness
Godhead: Hades
Location in Body Graph: Sacral
Channel: The Beat
Physical Location in the body: Small Intestine
Amino Acid: Lysine
Description: Gate 14 is the desire behind the allocation of resources. This gate understands why, how,
what, and where of the movement behind goods, services, and materials is needed to
make our world function most efficiently. In the highest expression of Gate 14, absolutely nothing but
wealth and power will manifest for the individuals. This wealth and power will never be meant for just
the individual, this energy give the carriers of Gate 14 the ability to manage those materials and
energy for others within the community. Gate 14 understands that it needs to the community as much
as the community needs it, so it will always be the wisest to invest into the community’s success and
future, it understands that the community’s future and the individuals future is one in the same.
Leads: Left Angle Cross of Uncertainty 2/Right Angle Cross of Contagion 3
Gate 29
Human Design: Gate of Saying Yes
I-Ching: The Abysmal Water
Astrology: Leo/Virgo
Behavior: The disciplined master who does not fear his own success because he is devoted to the
blossoming of his inner master.
Mantra: I do not fear my own power.
Lowest Expression: Half-Heartedness
Gift: Commitment
Highest Expression: Devotion
Godhead: Thoth
Location in Body Graph: Sacral
Channel: Discovery
Physical Location in the body: Sacral Plexus
Amino Acid: Valine
Description: Gate 29 says yes to things that make its heart beat a little louder. When it says yes to
things that are correct for its flow of sacral energy. It will devote it’s entire being to the new endeavor.
This gift of Gate 29 provides us with the devotion to go after our desires and see the cycle of creating
those desires through to the end. The carriers of this Gate should only say yes to things that they trust
and feel comfortable with whole heartily so that it can ignite it’s devotional passions.
Leads: Right Angle Cross of Contagion 3
Gate 30
Human Design: Gate of Recognition of Feelings
I-Ching: Clinging like Fire
Astrology: Aquarius/Pisces
Behavior: I honor my light within and remain mindful of what I am passionate about because
embracing those passion will only make my inner light brighter.
Mantra: I will always make room for the things that ignite my inner light.
Lowest Expression: Desire
Gift: Lightness
Highest Expression: Rapture
Godhead: Kali
Location in Body Graph: Solar Plexus
Channel: Recognition
Physical Location in the body: Digestion
Amino Acid: Glutamine
Description: Gate 30 understand the emotional balances that's needed to be present when attempting to
understand the present reality. It feels its internal fantasies and desire so deeply in its being while
understanding that a fantasy is only a desire for the moment. It knows that waves of emotional
upheaval will be a catalyst of what initiates desire into fate. It is necessary to accept its own pain while
never discounting what it desires because it’s the ground between Hope and Pain that the reality of
the present can be lived.
Leads: Right Angle Cross of Contagion