From the 1 to the 6 ䷀
a crisp overview of the qualities of the six lines
Today I would like to give you a brief overview of the 6 unique lines we see in the Human Design System. Understanding these basics will help you to better understand many other things in your Bodygraph. I originally wrote these texts for an NFT project which unfortunately was not published. Attached is one of the finished but unpublished NFTs. Enjoy it, like it, share it ❤️
BTW: If you are more interested in the lines or want to go a little deeper, I have already written another article on this:
Example of one of the NFTs that have not been published:
The 1st Line
The first line is the foundation of the hexagram. Thematically it is receptive and takes things in. This is lower trigram and very much self-absorbed - it's interested in its own process - it is the research department. Some keynotes for this line are: introspection, investigation and specialising.
The 1st lines needs to study because it is insecure. They can even feel inferiority if they can't investigate. They want to become an authority of their specific hexagram. And that's why every first Line has the drive to penetrate things, so they can overcome that insecurity - to finally establish a solid foundation. These keynotes can be used to differentiate every Gate. So, somebody with the Gate of Opinions in the first line will for example investigate to have a solid Foundation in their opinions. But they will feel insecure about them for a long time.
The 2nd Line
The second Line is the line of Projection. Thematically it is creative and takes nothing in. This is lower trigram and very much self-absorbed - it's interested in its own process - it is the research department. This Line wants to be left alone to do its business. But the 2 projects outward like one of those real film projectors does. People will see this and think they will see something in this second line. Some keynotes we have are: hermit, shyness, unaware natural.
These keynotes can be used to differentiate every Gate. Somebody with the Gate of Opinions in the second line will project outwards. So people will come and want to have their opinion but the 2 doesn't want to tell it because it is not really sure about it and they don't even know why they have this opinion. The moment they share the opinion and the other asks how they got to this opinion is when the 2 feels uncomfortable as it doesn't know.
The 3rd Line
The third Line is about Adaptation. This is lower trigram and very much self-absorbed - it's interested in its own process - it is the research department . Thematically it is receptive and takes things in - it can hurt so to say because of the theme of failing as adapting is a process. This line is very material and here we have this kind of law that says: if anything is going to go wrong it will. Some keynotes for this Line are: trial & error process, bumping into things and mutation.
These keynotes can be used to differentiate every Gate. So somebody with the Gate of Opinions in the 3rd Line before they trialed&errored it is better not asked about their opinion because nobody really knows what mutation comes out of that or what could go wrong. It could be a mistake after all. But when the three went through their process it can for sure tell you what doesn't work.
4th Line
The fourth Line is about Externalisation. This is upper trigram and concerned about the other; we call it transpersonal - it's looking across, so to say - it is hexagram propaganda. Thematically it is creative and takes nothing in. Where the 1st Line harmonic is there to investigate the facts, the fourth line just get the facts across to the other. Some keynotes for this Line are: Friendship/Network, Opportunities and Communication
These keynotes can be used to differentiate every Gate. So somebody with the Gate of Opinions in the 4th Line is not really about the opinion anymore it is about how get the opinion across to the other. The other asks about their opinion and in that moment there's this opportunity to externalise it. The 4 tries to get the essence of the hexagram out and across but only to their network or potential friends.
5th Line
The fifth Line is about Universalisation. This is upper trigram and concerned about the other; we call it transpersonal - it's looking across, so to say - it is hexagram propaganda. Thematically it is receptive and takes things in that gives it the capacity to universalise. Where the 2nd Line harmonic is projecting outwards, the fifth line attracts and is projected on, so that the practical, how the world sees the foundation of the hexagram, can be spread. This brings a lot of wary with it because if it is not practical and as expected the reputation will shrink - the heretic will be punished. Some keynotes for this Line are: Projected upon, Seducing and Practicality.
These keynotes can be used to differentiate every Gate. So somebody with the Gate of Opinions in the 5th Line will automatically attract people with high expectations about their opinion as people assume the 5 will share a practical application for their problem. That's why 5s don't spread a lot and are often paranoid even though they are here to get universal influence across to everybody, in best case strangers.
6th Line
The sixth Line is about Transition. This is upper trigram but it is not really part of the hexagram process even though it's also the last line. This Line sits above it and doesn't care about the lines it sits on. It is transpersonal and the keynote Transition is because it looks for the whole circuitry; not just the hexagram. Thematically it is creative and doesn't take things in. It is looking to move to the next stage. The special thing about the 6th Line is that it starts its process on a 3rd Line stage, then moves to the roof and is aloof and lastly move into the stage of being the Role Model, post kiron. So until the Saturn return this line lives in a 3rd line thematic even though it's not equipped like it's harmonic 3rd line. Some other keynotes for this Line are: Transcending, Optimistic, Objective.
These keynotes can be used to differentiate every Gate. So somebody with the Gate of Opinions in the 6th Line don't even care or know about that potential as it is the furthest thing away for them. So the first stage is important so they can get to know their hexagram; otherwise they would never recognise it and can't show us the transition from where we go to the next thing.
Which line do you have most often in your Human Design Chart? For me it's the first and third line with 8 each. Let me know in the comments.
May it inspire you!
Love Love
Talis