The Human Design Body Graph Explained: Centers, Channels & Gates

A complete visual guide to the body graph — understand every center, channel, and gate in your Human Design chart.

The body graph is the visual centerpiece of Human Design — a diagram that maps your unique energetic blueprint. Whether you call it a body graph, chart, or rave chart, it's the same thing: a schematic of nine centers connected by channels, activated by gates, that reveals how energy flows through you. This guide explains every component so you can decode yours completely.

What Is the Body Graph?

The body graph is a stylized diagram of the human form containing nine geometric shapes (centers) connected by lines (channels). It was received by Ra Uru Hu in 1987 as part of the Human Design revelation and synthesizes:

Your personal body graph is generated using your birth date, exact birth time, and birth location. Two sets of calculations are performed:

1. Personality calculation (black): Planetary positions at your exact birth moment — what you consciously identify with 2. Design calculation (red): Planetary positions approximately 88 days before birth — your unconscious, genetic inheritance

The Nine Centers

Each center governs a specific aspect of your energy. Centers are either defined (colored, consistent energy you broadcast) or undefined (white, where you receive and amplify energy from others).

Head Center (Top Triangle) - Function: Inspiration, mental pressure - Biological connection: Pineal gland - Defined: Consistent source of inspiration and questions; you may inspire others to think - Undefined: Open to many different inspirations; pressure to think about things that don't matter to you - Question it processes: "Does this inspire me?"

Ajna Center (Second Triangle) - Function: Conceptualization, mental processing - Biological connection: Pituitary gland (anterior) - Defined: Fixed way of processing and conceptualizing; reliable mental patterns - Undefined: Flexible thinking; can see things from many perspectives but may feel mental uncertainty - Question it processes: "Am I sure about this?"

Throat Center (Square) - Function: Communication, manifestation, metamorphosis - Biological connection: Thyroid and parathyroid glands - Defined: Consistent voice and mode of expression; reliable access to communication - Undefined: Variable communication style; may try to attract attention or force speech - Question it processes: "Can I express this?"

G Center (Diamond) - Function: Identity, direction, love - Biological connection: Liver, blood - Defined: Fixed sense of self and direction; you know who you are and where you're going - Undefined: Fluid identity; can be anyone anywhere, but may feel lost or search for identity - Question it processes: "Who am I? Where am I going?"

Heart/Will Center (Small Triangle) - Function: Willpower, ego, material resources - Biological connection: Heart, stomach, gall bladder, thymus - Defined: Consistent willpower and ability to make promises; natural competitiveness - Undefined: Inconsistent willpower; may over-promise or try to prove worth; heart health implications if you push - Question it processes: "Am I worthy? Do I have the will?"

Sacral Center (Lower Square) - Function: Life force energy, sexuality, work capacity - Biological connection: Ovaries, testes - Defined: Sustainable energy for work and life; gut response for decisions (Generators and MGs) - Undefined: No consistent life force; must manage energy carefully and not overwork - Question it processes: "Do I have the energy for this?"

Spleen Center (Left Triangle) - Function: Intuition, survival, immune system, time awareness - Biological connection: Spleen, lymphatic system - Defined: Consistent intuitive awareness; strong immune system; alertness in the moment - Undefined: Inconsistent intuition; may hold on to things/people/habits that aren't healthy out of fear - Question it processes: "Is this safe? Does this feel good right now?"

Solar Plexus Center (Right Triangle) - Function: Emotions, feelings, desire, spirit awareness - Biological connection: Kidneys, pancreas, lungs, nervous system - Defined: Emotional wave; your mood moves in cycles; emotional authority means waiting for clarity - Undefined: Takes in and amplifies others' emotions; may avoid confrontation or truth to keep the peace - Question it processes: "How do I feel about this?"

Root Center (Bottom Square) - Function: Adrenaline pressure, drive, stress management - Biological connection: Adrenal glands - Defined: Consistent pressure and drive; your own internal engine; can handle stress - Undefined: Amplifies external pressure; may rush to get things done to relieve stress that isn't yours - Question it processes: "Am I under pressure? Is it mine?"

Understanding Channels

Channels are the 36 pathways connecting two centers. A channel is defined when both gates on either end are activated in your chart. Defined channels:

Channel Categories

Channels are grouped by circuit:

Hanging Gates

The 64 Gates

The 64 gates correspond to the 64 hexagrams of the I Ching and the 64 codons of human DNA. Each gate sits within a specific center and carries a unique energetic theme.

Gates are activated by planetary positions:

Gate Lines

Each gate has 6 lines (corresponding to the 6 lines of an I Ching hexagram), adding further nuance. Your specific line determines the flavor of how you experience that gate's energy.

How to Read Your Body Graph

1. Start with color: Which centers are defined (colored) and which are undefined (white)? 2. Identify your type: Determined by which motors connect to the throat and sacral definition 3. Find your authority: Based on the hierarchy of defined centers 4. Trace your channels: Which centers are connected? What circuits are you wired into? 5. Note your gates: Especially your Sun/Earth gates (conscious and unconscious) 6. Check your profile: The lines of your conscious and unconscious Sun gates 7. Discover your cross: Your four Sun/Earth gate positions form your Incarnation Cross

Defined vs. Undefined: The Key Distinction

The most practical takeaway from your body graph is understanding where you have consistent energy (defined centers) and where you're open to conditioning (undefined centers):

This single distinction — knowing what's yours and what isn't — can transform your daily experience.

The Body Graph as a Living Map

Your body graph doesn't change over time (it's fixed at birth), but your relationship with it deepens as you experiment. Planetary transits temporarily activate gates and channels, creating conditioning that affects you day-to-day. This is why you may feel different energies on different days — the cosmic weather activates different parts of your open centers.

Understanding your body graph is a lifelong journey. Start with the basics — type, strategy, authority — and let the deeper layers reveal themselves as you experiment.

See this in your own chart

Reading about the mechanics is one thing — seeing them mapped onto your own bodygraph is what makes it click. Your free Human Design chart shows your type, strategy, authority, profile, defined centers, channels and gates in under a minute.

Get your free Human Design chart · Explore the HD Flow Academy