The Deep Well vs. The Hunter: Integrating Polarities #3
October 3-7: Sun in Human Design Gate 48 opposite Earth (and Full Moon) in Gate 21
Welcome to the 3rd installment of Integrating Polarities, my new series here on Cycles of Time.
In an era of far too much divisiveness, this series focuses on practicing the art of wholeness - weaving opposites, moving beyond the binary, and bridging the divide.
Every 5–6 days, as the Sun enters a new gate in the Human Design Mandala, I’ll share a timely transmission you can read like an integrative horoscope for the days ahead.
To learn more about the background of this project, read the first transmission.
This week the Sun in Libra shines through the Gate of Depth (48), reminding us that our true wealth comes from the inner well we draw upon.
Opposite, the Earth in Aries grounds us in the commanding energy of the Hunter (21), pushing us to claim authority and steward our resources with clarity.
And on Monday, October 6, the Full Moon also rises in Gate 21, intensifying the call to take decisive action and adding emotional weight to our drive for authority over our circumstances..
Transit Report: Friday, October 3 - Tuesday, Oct 7
☉ The SUN is Libra, in the Gate of Depth (48), opposite from
⨁ The EARTH in Aries, in the Gate of The Hunter/Huntress (21).
🌞 Sun in Gate 48: “Depth”
I’Ching: “The Well” (Water over Wind)
Gene Key 18: Inadequacy → Resourcefulness → Wisdom
Zodiac: Libra
🌍 Earth in Gate 21: “The Hunter”
I’Ching: “Biting Through” (Fire over Thunder)
Gene Key 17: Control → Authority → Valor
Zodiac: Aries
Integrating this Week’s Polarities
For the next 5 days, the sun is nearing the midway point of the sign Libra, moving through the Human Design Gate of Depth. Known as “The Well” in the I’Ching, this energy expresses the resourcefulness and wisdom that we can pull up when we dare to drop a bucket deep down into the limitless darkness. It is a symbol of inexhaustible depth, the source that nourishes all who draw from it.
The Gate of Depth is in the Spleen Center in the HD Bodygraph, meaning that it’s the kind of energy that reveals itself instinctually and in the present moment. In it’s shadow frequency, people with gate 48 tend to analyze things in great depth because they are always afraid they won’t know enough, believing what they already know is inadequate for the situation at hand. This can lead to being over-prepared and even anxious. But it can also lead to a profound wisdom that comes only with the drive to go deeper than the surface level of things.
Across the sky from The Well sits the earth in Aries Gate 21: The Hunter. The moon will enter this gate on Monday, so this year’s Full Moon in Aries is in the Gate of the Hunter as well. This energy is known as “Biting Through” or “Cutting Through” in the I’Ching, and it is all about the themes of taking initiative, being in control of a situation, and the valor that comes with this type of leadership.
This is the vibe we’re grounding into this week: when the depths of the moment feel too exhausting and unconfined (and you feel like you can’t get and adequate grasp on the complexity of it all), you still have authority over your decisions. Like a talented hunter or huntress, you can scan the periphery for resources in addition to going deep to find them. It’s not always essential to “get to the bottom of something” (i.e. a well!) before taking action.
(Want to know which of these gates you have active? Download your Human Design Chart here to follow along with this series.)
The Gate of the Hunter is in the heart center in the bodygraph, the center that focuses on our individual willpower. During this week’s transit we might feel a desire to ground into independence and be our own director instead of being managed by others. People with gate 21 defined typically do not like to be told what to do or to have people looking over their shoulder (a classic Aries stereotype, to be sure.) But those with this gate also must recognize that any attempt to assume power, or to control others without their buy in will face forceful resistance. Control and authority must be earned and invited based on acts of valor, not simply taken.
The sun in Gate 48’s Well represents depth without limit, yet it cannot regulate itself or know when to stop searching for meaning and answers at the bottom of the well. The earth in Gate 21’s Hunter is an authority that creates structure in order to protect- but without depth it risks becoming overly controlling.
The integration of the two is the union of wisdom and valor. This week, and during the full moon particularly, we benefit from trusting that the well within us will never run dry, as long as we exert our own authority in service of what is life-giving. This polarity asks us to recognize that true valor flows from inner resourcefulness, and that our work becomes sacred when it channels the infinite depths rather than trying to hoard them.
Personal Note: My dad’s sun gate is 21: The Hunter, and it truly feels like a perfect fit for him. His life’s career was built out of hunting for elusive, rare objects, scanning antique stores and basements and attics for beauty and quality works of art. As a child, he likes to remind me that he was a collector/hunter of frogs, snakes, and lizards while out fishing around the countryside where he grew up. This innate tendency to look for value in his environment to led him looking for rare, valuable coins at coin expos, and he started earning his way as one of the youngest coin dealers in the nation at age 5- and then never worked for anyone but himself for the rest of his life. Now in his later years, he has become an avid (aka obsessive) birdwatcher, hunting with his binoculars for the rarest birds on a daily basis.
My dad was born on a full moon, so both his moon and his earth are in Gate 48, opposite his sun in 21. In his conscious expression, The Hunter is a fitting representation of his entrepreneurial energy. But emotionally (his moon) and practically (his earth) he’s also definitely very influenced by Gate 48- always wanting to get to the bottom of things, feeling like there is “more to the story”. He is an avid reader and nature lover, and there is a profound and timeless depth to his knowledge when he’s not feeling like he needs to go and “hunt” for the next thing.
Sometimes I see the inherent tension between this polarity, a push-pull between deep, intuitive wisdom of the natural world in a balancing act with needing to exert authority over the material world of resources. Integrating depth of meaning with breadth of experience is a key contemplation if you have this polarity in your chart and during this transit as well!
THIS WEEK’S ASSIGNMENT (Oct 3-7):
Trust the Deep Well of Wisdom within you, even if your mind whispers that it isn’t enough. Draw from your inner depths, share your resourcefulness, and remember that the waters of Gate 48 do not run dry when they are offered to others.
—AND ALSO—
Honor the Sacred Authority of the Hunter’s valor in yourself. Take responsibility for what you steward, to manage your resources with clarity, and to exercise power as an act of valor rather than control. Lead by channeling wisdom into right action, so that your authority serves life and community instead of constraining it.
Is Gate 48 or 21 defined in your chart? Let me know how it shows up for you in the comments!
The next gate the Sun will enter on Wednesday, Oct. 8 is Gate 57: The Gate of Intuitive Clarity (Wind over Wind in the I’Ching). It is across the wheel from the Earth in Gate 51: The Gate of Shock (Thunder over Thunder). This polarity will remind us that there is more than one way to achieve insight - either carried on a gentle breeze or delivered with the intensity a lightning strike.
Until then, may you find balance between the infinite depths and your own authority, remembering to drink from the well of wisdom before exerting your willpower for the best results!
xo,
Alison
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Want to deepen your understanding of the 64 gates?
My new deck is available for preorder!
Mandala 64: A Human Design Learning & Oracle Deck
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I made a hand-drawn version of the deck over the past couple of years, and it was SO helpful to learn and understand the interconnected wisdoms of the 64 human design gates, gene keys, and I’ching hexagrams, as well as their place in the wheel of the year/Zodiac. In addition to the 64 Gate cards, also included are 14 Celestial Bodies cards, so you can match your planetary energy with the gates.
I’m so excited to bring you this finished version- there are so many ways to play with it!
Loving your "integrating polarities" series. Gate 48 is one of my "bridge gates" — connecting to my Gate 16 Personality Sun. This is always an interesting week in the solar year, when I am invited to applying my skills enthusiastically while touching the tasteful depth of my intuitive well. Thanks for sharing. Sat Nam 🙏🏼
I love this new format💜 Thank you Alison, I hope everyone has a wonderful week 🌞🍁