Learn about the Human Design planets and their themes, and understand how they work in relation to your unique Design.
What Are Planets in Human Design?
We may earn a small commission from the affiliate links in this post, at no extra cost to you.
When you look at your Human Design bodygraph chart you’ll notice a vertical line of 13 symbols on each side of the body graph, with the lefthand side in red and the righthand side in black.
When we talk about planets in Human Design, we’re not (just) talking about the celestial bodies you’ll be familiar with as part of our solar system.
Each glyph appears twice, once on each side, and they each represent an important aspect of the Human Design system developed by Ra Uru Hu. These are, of course, the planets.
When we talk about planets in Human Design, we’re not (just) talking about the celestial bodies you’ll be familiar with as part of our solar system – though these do make up nine of the 13 HD planets.
How Are the Planets Represented in Human Design?
The following key shows each planet represented by a specific glyph, in the order you’ll see them appear on a personal chart, starting at the top and working down:
What’s the Significance and Impact of the Planets in Human Design?
According to Human Design, the positions of the planets in relation to our birth information gives rise to our unique Human Design.
The different planets are linked to different aspects of personality, and this information determines what important role we are here to live out.
The theory is based around an area of quantum physics, known as neutrinos. Neutrinos are electrically neutral particles with a tiny mass which are produced by the sun and stars in distant reaches of space, which typically pass through matter undetected.
The idea behind Human Design is that as these particles pass through the body, neutrino information is imprinted within as life force energy, which is directed back out to the outside world.
In order to live correctly, Human Design provides practical tools for us to follow: our individual strategy and inner authority.
The different planets are linked to different aspects of personality, and this information determines what important role we are here to live out, and how we can most effectively fulfil those functions. Due to the continual movement of the sun and planets, the imprint of information is always unique.
In order to live correctly, the main thing to be aware of and implement is following our individual strategy and inner authority. All of this can be intuited by reading our Design, and following its energetic blueprint for our energy type and profile.
Order Your Human Design Report!
If you’re intrigued by what you’re reading and would like to delve further into your Design, why not order a thorough Human Design reading report for yourself or a loved one?
Hot tip: Use code HD963K2 for a 25% discount when you purchase two or more reports!
Child reports, unique to the market, are now also available to help strengthen your connection with your child, and support their wellbeing.
Unlike the free reports typically available online, the offering from Supernatural Coaching is a 120+ page comprehensive deep-dive into your unique Design and type, also covering profiles and themes and providing a quick reference guide and workbook.
Themes of Each Planet
Now that you understand the fundamentals of planets and how they relate to Human Design, let’s take a closer look at the themes, flavours, and energy associated with each individual planet.
Sun
Our role in life – what you are here to put out into the world and share with others.
Earth
What grounds us – what you need to feel stable and physically supported in reality.
North Node
Life direction post Uranus Opposition (approx. age 38 – 42) – the theme and lessons for the second half of life; time for breathing out.
South Node
Where we came from – the theme for the first half of life, pre Uranus Opposition; time for breathing in.
Moon
What drives us – governs instinct, intuition, and unconscious compulsions; explains why we behave in the ways we do.
Mercury
What we are here to communicate – the things we’re here to share with others, and our preferred style of communication.
Venus
What we value – themes of love, and our needs and ideals in relationships.
Mars
What moves and motivates us – can manifest as immaturity until lessons are learned and heeded.
Jupiter
Our gifts and blessings – where we experience rewards and expansion if we follow the authority and strategy for our Human Design type in order to make a correct decision.
Saturn
Our challenges and life lessons – what we are here to learn and grow from, Saturn guides us into alignment. Saturn Return (when Saturn returns to where it was when you were born) occurs around age 28.
Uranus
Our tenacity and true nature – the areas and times of life where we transition and evolve into our true self.
Neptune
Our spirituality – the journey towards growth and purpose.
Pluto
How we grow and evolve – the potential for epiphany, transformation, and spiritual rebirth.
Now we’ve looked at how you can identify the planets on a body chart and the themes of each one, let’s dive into a deeper understanding of exactly how they work in the context of your Human Design.
Planets and Gate Activations in Human Design
On all Human Design transit charts, there are 26 planetary activations.
The particular transit of the planets at your birth date and time and 88 days prior, activates or defines the gates and channels in your Design and corresponds to the energy of the location.
Beside each planet are two numbers representing a specific gate. These are associated with the zodiac signs and the lines of the hexagram, which can be seen around the outside of a Human Design mandala.
Each gate essentially tells you the precise location of the celestial body at an individual’s time of birth, and 88 days prior, with the energy of that gate being the driving force behind how we express ourselves in the areas laid out above.
While an astrological natal chart shows the planetary positions at the moment of birth, the combination of the additional data, unique to HD, activates or defines the Human Design gates and channels in your Design.
The gate numbers shown next to each planet in the Design line and the Personality line correspond to the colored definition on a Human Design chart.
The red line on a body chart is known as the unconscious Design line or the body line, and represents the position of the planets 88 days prior to birth. The Design line is expressed unconsciously, meaning you may be less aware of these traits in yourself.
The black line is known as the conscious Personality line or the mind line, and represents the position of the planets at the moment of your birth. The Personality line is expressed consciously, meaning you are likely aware of these inherent attributes.
The colored energy centers and filled channels running between them, show activations on a body chart.
The unconscious gates of the mind are also where the not-self theme may show up in your Design, while it cannot be manifested through the body line.
The gate numbers shown next to each planet in the Design line and the Personality line correspond to the colored definition on a body chart.
If you look at the colored energy centers on your own chart, you’ll notice filled channels running between them, showing activations and allowing the free flow of energy.
White centers on the other hand indicate an undefined center. They may have a defined gate, but that definition extends only halfway across a channel, rendering these open centers.
For example, on my chart you can see that the Ajna, Throat center, Heart, Spleen, Solar Plexus and Root center are defined, because they all have defined channels. However the Head, G, and Sacral are open white centers because they only have defined gates.
Note: If you’re interested in understanding compatibility between yourself and a partner, consider looking into composite charts, which map out definition for you both on the same chart, enabling you to see shared definition at a glance.
Ready to Order Your Report?
Curious to find out more, or order a reading for yourself or a loved one?
A comprehensive report can be an excellent tool to help deepen your relationships. And, newly unique to the market, child reports are now also available to help strengthen your connection with your child, and support their wellbeing.
Hot tip: Use code HD963K2 for a 25% discount when you purchase two or more reports!
Unlike the free reports typically available online, the offering from Supernatural Coaching is a 120+ page comprehensive deep-dive into your unique Design and type, also covering profiles and themes and providing a quick reference guide and workbook.
What Does the Science Say?
As I’ve covered in more detail in other posts, despite the fascinating New Age philosophy, there is no evidence that any aspect of Human Design holds any validity, neither as a whole nor in terms of its various elements.
Nonetheless, many people find comfort from all kinds of faith and spirituality, and there is value in that, as evidenced by a study conducted in 20201.
Sources
- Bożek A, Nowak PF and Blukacz M (2020) The Relationship Between Spirituality, Health-Related Behavior, and Psychological Well-Being. Front. Psychol. 11:1997. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01997