Gate 48 — Depth

Meaning of Gate 48

A Spleen gate tied to depth of knowledge and talent. It gives the potential for thorough understanding; the trap is fearing that your knowledge isn't enough and endlessly putting off getting started.

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: Spleen.
• I Ching hexagram: hexagram 48, Jing.
• Position on the wheel: from 9°30′ Libra to 15°07′30″ Libra.
• The Sun in Gate 48: roughly from October 2 to 8 (the dates shift by a day from year to year).
• Neighbors on the wheel: Gate 18 comes before it, Gate 57 after it.

The Six Lines of Gate 48

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, 48.4.

• Line 1: Renewing the Foundation. The first line risks relying on outdated knowledge that is no longer of use to anyone. It is thought important for it to renew its foundation regularly and check its sources; the trap is freezing at its old level of understanding.
• Line 2: Talent Wasted on Trifles. The second line has a depth that is easy to waste on secondary tasks. In the system, others see its potential and call it to serious work; it is important for it to respond to such invitations rather than hide in trifles.
• Line 3: An Untapped Source. The third line may accumulate knowledge that nobody uses yet and worry about it. Recognition is thought to come through trial: it finds out who really needs its depth and in what form.
• Line 4: Putting Itself in Order. The fourth line uses periods when it is rarely called on to deepen and organize its knowledge. In the system, such work on itself strengthens the trust of its circle of acquaintances, through whom opportunities later come.
• Line 5: A Clear Spring. The fifth line has knowledge that can really help many people, and others sense it. It is thought important for it not to keep it to itself: the value of depth only shows when it is used.
• Line 6: An Open Well. Over time the sixth line becomes a source anyone can turn to, without conditions or limits. In the system, its example is sharing its accumulated understanding generously, without waiting until its knowledge is “enough”.

Channels

Gate 48 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 16-48 “The Wavelength” — the partner gate is 16 “Skills” in the Throat Center. The channel gives depth and mastery that grow through repetition and practice. In the system, the talent here doesn't unfold at once: it takes enthusiasm and long work on the details.

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 47
• Gate 49
• All 64 gates
• Channels
• Centers
• Profiles

Frequently asked questions

What does Gate 48 mean in Human Design?

The name of Gate 48 is “Depth.” A Spleen gate tied to depth of knowledge and talent. It gives the potential for thorough understanding; the trap is fearing that your knowledge isn't enough and endlessly putting off getting started.

How do I know if I have Gate 48?

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, 48.3 means Gate 48, line 3. If Gate 48 isn't on the list, it is open in your chart.

How is Gate 48 related to the I Ching hexagram?

The gate number matches the hexagram number: Gate 48 is hexagram 48, Jing. The image is the same, but in Human Design the gate has its own short name and an interpretation tied to its center.