Human Design Gate 1 (Gene Key 1) Self Expression and Purpose
We all have a desire to know and express ourselves however, some may feel this more deeply and consistently than others. The Human Design Gate 1 is the Gate of Self Expression and Purpose. Understanding the energy of this gate can open you to the beauty of life and what it is to be human.
The Gate of Self Expression is defined by traditional Human Design as “Creation as a primal force. The energy potential to manifest inspiration without limitation.”
Karen Curry Parker, the founder of Quantum Human Design renewed the name to be Gate of Purpose and defines it as “The ability to know the Authentic Self and a deep connection with a Life Purpose.”
In this article, we draw on quantum and traditional human design to delve into some of the key traits and attributes; shadows, gifts and tripwires, and; core needs of those with a defined Human Design Gate 1 energy.
What does Gate 1 mean in Human Design?
If you have Gate 1 defined, you have an enormous capacity for creativity and an inherent desire to cultivate a deep connection with yourself and your purpose for this life.
The keywords associated with the Human Design Gate 1 energy include:
- Self-expression
- Creative genius
- Natural leader
- Unique being
- Self-motivation
- Independence
It is also linked to Scorpio energy which is the sign of depth and transformation. Those experiencing higher frequencies of this energy are not afraid of the shadows and undergoing cycles of regeneration.
If you have this energy defined you are likely to find motivation by deepening your trust in the timing of the universe.
Other key traits and attributes include:
- Being a clear vessel for creativity
- Bringing new and fresh perspectives and forms of expression
- Infusing life into groups, projects and endeavours
- Empowering others with your creations
- Knowing your authentic self and purpose for life
The Gate 1 energy is always looking for Gate 8 energy (its harmonic gate). Human Design Gate 8 energy is the Gate of the Influencer. Those with Gate 8 energy know how to market your creative pieces and draw people’s attention to the truth.
What are the shadows and gifts of the Human Design Gate 1?
To understand the shadows and gifts of the Human Design Gate 1 energy, let’s look at the Gene Key 1 frequencies.
The shadow frequency is ‘entropy’ which in simplest terms means to lack order or to be experiencing disorder. In this state you may feel numb, depressed or frenetic. It can look like:
- Panicking about failing
- Trying to create from the mind
- Hiding from your power
- Resisting your creative cycles
It’s important to know that we all have shadow sides – we are not trying to remove these parts of ourselves, but rather love and embrace them as part of the human experience. Once we do this, we are able to unlock the gift and embody the Siddhi (divine gift) with grace and ease.
The gift frequency of Gene Key 1 is ‘freshness’ and the siddhi is ‘beauty’. Take a moment and contemplate what these two words mean to you in their fullest expression.
What does the Human Design Gate 1 need?
Here are my top tips for those with a defined Human Design Gate 1 energy.
- Connect with your creative cycle – don’t try to force or control it. Learn the phases and what you need in each.
- Lean into the darkness so your internal spark your internal light when the time is right.
- Notice the narrative you tell yourself – make sure it aligns with who you really are and what you are here to gift the world simply by being your unique, authentic self
- Learn how to nourish and nurture yourself through the low periods – melancholy moods are part of your creative process – work with them, not against them.
My personal contemplation of Human Design Gate 1 (Gene Key 1)
The energy of the Human Design Gate 1 plays out in my unconscious south node. It has only been the last couple of years that I’ve been able to really see this part of me and how I can work with my creative genius as opposed to leaving it laying dormant or running low-frequency narratives within my mind.
If I look back on my life there are little sparks of genius that are marked in my memories, however, I locked these away sometime in my teens and twenties, rarely allowing them to show.
My inner Mrs Killjoy emerged over time thinking she was protecting me – fighting off depressive and low moods, fighting off the panic about failing at life, feeling the pressure to ‘be someone’ and trying to figure it out with my mind. She was so afraid of the dark that she did everything in her power not to go there. It took all her might to stay numb to the world, to stay safe until there was a final collapse and the shadows took me, all of me.
Before they did though, it seemed that I was following the breadcrumbs of a higher knowing (I now see this as my future self or unconscious north node gate 2: Gate of Higher Knowing and Allowing) – a testament to the fact that we don’t actually need to do anything with our human design, it happens whether we do anything or not. You see this gate is the voice of internal guidance and direction. I followed the breadcrumbs even when I didn’t understand them, it took courage but those inner whisperings of my soul were strong enough to move me forwards towards the greatest healing and transformation I have known.
When I went into the shadows, I actually found my sense of purpose – something my mind had tried to figure out for years! The more I surrendered to the darkness, the more I noticed I would be sprung back into the world with a sense of lightness, fresh perspective and a greater love and understanding for myself, others and the world. This process of going into the roots of my being and travelling the darkness and returning to the light didn’t just happen once, it happened over and over, each time I returned with greater awareness, strength and the skills to navigate it.
The ‘creative genius’ looks different within all of us, our meaning of creativity can change over time and so can our outlets. It doesn’t just have to be around art or creating something it can also be how you express yourself in the world and be authentically you and full of love, beauty and inspiration. More importantly, the questions you should ask yourself is “what does creativity mean to me?” or “who is my creative, authentic self” and “how do I express or hide this part of me?”
These questions lead me to find hidden younger parts of myself that were sitting trapped, scared, embarrassed, unloved or unsupported and parts of my mind that held on to unhelpful beliefs around creativity and self-expression. Uncovering these parts and bringing in awareness and observation I found a renewed sense of self.
In my world today:
- I no longer need to search for purpose – I know it and live it daily by just being who I am
- I’m not so afraid of expressing myself and I listen to the cues of when it is the right time in my daily life
- My creativity takes many forms it’s no longer limited by my mind
- I let my creative projects percolate, surrendering to their own timing rather than forcing them
- I honour the creative cycles and maintain the fundamentals of a healthy mindset so I can sail through them without getting lost in the darkness, procrastination (work-in-progress) or resistance.
How does the Human Design Gate 1 play out in your life?
How does the Human Design Gate 1 play out for you? Remember we all have access to this gate whether it is defined or undefined. Some questions to ask yourself (in addition to those above) include:
- What is my relationship with my purpose? Do I know what it is?
- Who are my biggest allies that support me in creative genius and self-expression in the world?
- How do I look nurture and nourish myself during the highs and lows of life?
- What do my creative cycles look and feel like? Do I honour them?
If you are having trouble seeing your own creativity:
- Use your Mercury gates for inspiration as they highlight what you are here to give and share with the world through your voice, message and teachings.
- Use the clues you left for yourself through your childhood – what did you love to do? When and why did you stop?
- Find a quiet moment and ask yourself “What is asking to be birthed by you?”
Meet The Author
Amy Doyle
Amy is a Holistic Counsellor who helps her clients move from this idea that they are broken or missing pieces of their own puzzle, to owning their story, claiming back all parts of themselves and merging together as one team to allow them to rest and be in their deepest expression.
Note
When it comes to Human Design, there are lots of readers out there – some are traditionalists sticking only to the teachings of Ra Uru Hu and others use modern interpretations that offer a simplified version of the teachings. Personally,I love to blend both because I find them valuable in their own ways.
This content comes from a myriad of sources over the years as I love to learn from others, and the intent is to share from my personal experience in order to spark your curiosity, inner wisdom and ‘ah-ha’ moments.
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