Gate 40 — Aloneness

Meaning of Gate 40

A Heart (Ego) gate tied to the balance between working for others and resting. It gives a readiness to provide for loved ones; in the system, it is important to get recognition for your work and time to be alone.

In the system, a gate is always at work if it is active in the chart — at the moment of birth (Personality) or about 88 days before it (Design). If the other gate of its channel is also active, the channel is defined, and the theme of the gate becomes part of the person’s consistent energy.

Where the Gate Sits

• Center: Heart (Ego).
• I Ching hexagram: hexagram 40, Jie.
• Position on the wheel: from 5°45′ Virgo to 11°22′30″ Virgo.
• The Sun in Gate 40: roughly from August 29 to September 3 (the dates shift by a day from year to year).
• Neighbors on the wheel: Gate 59 comes before it, Gate 64 after it.

The Six Lines of Gate 40

Each gate is divided into six lines. The line shows how the gate's theme plays out in a particular person; in the chart it is written after the dot — for example, 40.4.

• Line 1: Quiet After the Resolution. After finishing a piece of work, the first line needs a calm interval to understand what has changed. It is thought useful for it not to grab new obligations right away but to strengthen its foundation first.
• Line 2: Not Falling for Flattery. The second line can recognize those who want to take advantage of its work and politely step away. In the system, others notice its honesty in such matters; the trap is putting up with freeloaders for the sake of peace.
• Line 3: Not Pretending to Be More. The third line learns from experience that showy self-importance and roles that aren't its own attract trouble. It is thought useful for it to take on work it can really deliver and not promise beyond its strength.
• Line 4: Releasing Unneeded Ties. The fourth line values its circle but over time notices who in it only uses its work. In the system, when it lets such ties go, people it can really rely on appear nearby.
• Line 5: A Decision From Within. It is important for the fifth line to decide by itself, without outside pressure, what it is giving up — then others understand it is serious. Firmness is expected of it; the trap is hesitating for a long time and giving people false hope.
• Line 6: A Precise Final Step. The sixth line can remove the main obstacle with one precise action when the time has come. In the system, its example is decisiveness without fuss, and after such a step it is important for it to allow itself rest and solitude.

Channels

Gate 40 is one half of a channel. A channel is defined when both of its gates are active — in one person or, in a couple, across two people.

• Channel 37-40 “Community” — the partner gate is 37 “Friendship” in the Solar Plexus. The channel gives the ability to build relationships on agreements: I invest in the common good, and the common good supports me. In the system, an honest balance between work and rest matters here.

All the channels are on the channels page, and Human Design compatibility shows what arises between the charts of two people.

An Honest Look at the Method

Human Design was created in 1987 by one man, Ra Uru Hu, and its claims have never been scientifically tested. We describe the rules of the system as they are and write the interpretations in our own words, not as knowledge about you.

Related in This Section

• Gate 39
• Gate 41
• All 64 gates
• Channels
• Centers
• Profiles

Frequently asked questions

What does Gate 40 mean in Human Design?

The name of Gate 40 is “Aloneness.” A Heart (Ego) gate tied to the balance between working for others and resting. It gives a readiness to provide for loved ones; in the system, it is important to get recognition for your work and time to be alone.

How do I know if I have Gate 40?

Build your chart in the Human Design calculator: in the list of activations, each gate is written with its line after a dot — for example, 40.3 means Gate 40, line 3. If Gate 40 isn't on the list, it is open in your chart.

How is Gate 40 related to the I Ching hexagram?

The gate number matches the hexagram number: Gate 40 is hexagram 40, Jie. The image is the same, but in Human Design the gate has its own short name and an interpretation tied to its center.