Human Design Incarnation Cross Meaning

This post is part of the Human Design Basics series and I’ll be covering the Human Design Incarnation Cross meaning and the significance of the four gates that make up the cross. Be sure that you have your chart nearby before you dive into this post. If you don’t have your human design chart yet, you can get one for free here.

Introduction to your Human Design Incarnation Cross Meaning 

Look at the left-hand side of the Human Design Chart below of the "Magical Unicorn" and you’ll see something called an 'Incarnation Cross'. Here in this chart the human design incarnation cross is LAX Dedication 2 (43/23 | 29/30).

The meaning of your Human Design Incarnation Cross is, essentially, your life’s purpose.

How Are Incarnation Crosses Derived? 

Your Incarnation Cross, in your Human Design chart, is formed by the top two black numbers and the top two red numbers listed on your chart. These numbers are called “Gate energies,” and they represent the energies we carry with us from birth. They’re like the building blocks of who we are.  

Now, here’s an interesting tidbit: out of all the Gate energies in our charts, these top four numbers have the most influence on us. They represent about 70% of the personality characteristics we’re designed to express in life. They’re pretty important!  

When these four numbers come together, they create an Incarnation Cross, which is like a name that tells a major part of our life story. It’s unique to each person and has a special meaning. There’s no one-size-fits-all interpretation for an Incarnation Cross because it’s a combination of the four Gate energies that make it up.  

The Gate energy in the Conscious Sun position, which is the top black number, holds the most significance among the four. This energy is the key to understanding how all the other energies in your Cross, as well as your whole chart, are expressed. So, pay attention to that Conscious Sun Gate energy because it holds a lot of insights about who you are and how you can express your unique qualities in the world.

Your Human Design, especially the meaning of your incarnation cross, is a tool to help you remember. 

In the HappyNEST™ By Design Map, you receive lots of information including going in depth about your incarnation cross. I describe it like "a permission slip" which is actually a very healing thing. It’s like the pressure releases and a deep sense of permission washes over you. You can finally stop fighting with what you already know and just LIVE. Instead of something you need to aim for, your incarnation cross (aka life’s purpose) is something that you already ARE. You will be THAT no matter what you do in your life.

Each gate that make your incarnation cross are like a specific set of tools, practices, and boundaries to help you remember your Divinity.  They are “the gifts” GIVEN TO YOU to make your game of life more fun and meaningful. And, as a bonus, mastering your specific set of tools will benefit others by default. But they are for you, FIRST.  

Each gate has a specific purpose within your incarnation cross.

The four gates that make up the Human Design incarnation cross are:

Conscious Sun
The number in the first black square on the right-hand side of the chart. On Magical Unicorn’s chart, its human design gate 43.

Conscious Earth 
The number in the second black square on the right-hand side of the chart. On Magical Unicorn’s chart, it’s human design gate 23.

Unconscious Sun 
The number in the first red square on the left-hand side of the chart. On Magical Unicorn’s chart, it’s human design gate 29.

Unconscious Earth 
The number in the second red square on the left-hand side of the chart. On Magical Unicorn’s chart, it’s human design gate 30.

And each one reveals specific tools, practices, and boundaries that will help Magical Unicorn live their best life. Here is what they each represent: 

The four gates that make up the Human Design incarnation cross are:

The Conscious Sun
The gate of your conscious sun is the most potent gift and purpose in your life. You are here to embody the wisdom of the gate in the way that only you can.

It is like a magic wand that the Divine is inviting you to harness throughout your life.

When you accept the invitation and consciously use the magic wand in your life, it aligns you with a life of magical synchronicity. Anytime you feel “stuck” or “blocked” or in your not-self theme, the self-care practices and energy boundaries for your conscious sun gate will hold powerful clues to creating movement. It is your most potent source of inner and outer transformation.

(I share all of the self-care practices and energy boundaries for all four gates on your incarnation cross in the HappyNEST™ By Design Map.)

You can always come back to your conscious sun and trust that it’s the “right” place to put your faith and your deeds.

As you master the energy of your conscious sun and step into its full potential, it will lead you up the spiral of transformation. It will polish the mirror of life and reveal the Truth of your Divinity (aka heal your being-ness).

Everything else in your chart (and your life) supports you in the mastery of your conscious sun gate.

Life always will come down to this potent question:

Am I honouring my conscious sun?

The Conscious Earth 
Your conscious earth gate shows you the practices that will bring you back to your center. Embodying the wisdom of the gate serves as the ground under your feet and empowers you to do your “work” in the world.

The more stable and robust your foundation with your conscious earth, the more easily you will be able to Gracefully accept the gifts of your conscious sun.

Likewise, if you are embodying the “negative” frequency of your conscious earth, you are likely to feel off-kilter, insecure, and unable to do what matters most to you.

In addition to creating stability and balance in your everyday life, the practices of your conscious earth gate will also be just what the doctor ordered during times of chaos, restlessness, and pivotal moments.

In these times, there is an opportunity to transform something in your inner world and you can seize that opportunity by aligning your thoughts, feelings, and actions with those of your conscious earth.

(I share the empowering beliefs and aligned practices for each gate of your incarnation cross in the HappyNEST™ By Design Map.)

In doing so, you create a stronger foundation, more stability, and more resilience in your life. You become rooted. Grounded. Strong. With the magic of your conscious earth, you have everything you need to continue on your path.

When life feels unstable, ask yourself this question:

Am I grounded and stable in my conscious earth?

The Unconscious Sun 
Your unconscious sun gate is the trigger that invites you into deeper levels of self-acceptance, forgiveness, and unconditional love for yourself. It will be your guide as you navigate your shadows and polish the mirror of life.

Throughout your life, you will likely find yourself returning to the “negative” side of your unconscious sun’s spectrum. It will awaken your deeper fears of inadequacy and “not-enoughness. ” It will open deep wells of shame.

You may even tell yourself that if you could be more in tune with the energy of your unconscious sun, then you will be enough. Then you will have everything you need. Then you will be worthy.

But the poison is the medicine.

Your unconscious sun is the blaring sign that it’s time to expand your self-concept. It is showing you that you aren’t seeing yourself clearly and that are holding yourself back.

It is showing you that you have forgotten your Divinity.

You can use the magic of the unconscious sun to remember. The practices become your healer. The revelation. The stainless mirror.

By observing your unconscious sun in action and using it as a gateway for healing your shadow, your aura will become “purified.”

Your energy will radiate out into the world and become incredibly magnetic. Your fractal will be drawn to you and your magic, like a moth to a flame.

And even still, your Unconscious Sun will continue to taunt you with these questions:

How can I love every part of me, even the places where I feel inadequate? In what ways can I use my unconscious sun as a gateway into radical self-acceptance?

The Unconscious Earth 
Your unconscious earth gate reveals the practices that ground and connect you spiritually. Embodying the wisdom of your unconscious earth is your unique path to that thing that some call God.

(I share the practices for each gate of your incarnation cross in the HappyNEST™ By Design Map.)

It builds your spiritual foundation and creates a connection with yourself, your community, the collective, and the cosmos.

By calling on the strength and wisdom of your unconscious earth, you will be able to navigate the shadows of your unconscious sun with Grace. Tapping into the energy of your unconscious earth will be a soothing balm to your spirit and will heal the wounds that hold you back.

In that healing clarity, your unconscious sun gate radiates even brighter, making your aura fiercely magnetic to those who are on your spiritual fractal.

And, most importantly, surrendering to the practices of your unconscious earth will lead you to the greatest discovery you could ever hope for — the experience of Unconditional Love.

When you’ve lost your way spiritually speaking, ask yourself:

How can I devote myself more to my unconscious earth?

That’s a wrap on the four gates of the incarnation cross!

I hope that you have found this post useful in learning about your incarnation cross.

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