I have gate 20 three times in my human design chart, which tells me it's a prominent energy in my life!
Gate 20.2 is my Personality Moon.
Gate 20.1 is my Personality South Node.
Gate 20.3 is my Design South Node.
Gate 20 is located in the Throat Center, which is the location of the Thyroid gland. Gate 20 is all about expressing yourself in the moment, and I have never been great at expressing my inner feelings (unaligned undefined Solar Plexus!). My throat closed off to emotional expression at a very young age, and stayed that way through my teens, 20's, and 30's.
When I had my first son, he was seven months old and I found out I was pregnant again! I didn't express anything about this life-changing event to anyone, and I was soon diagnosed with hypothyroid (low thyroid function). I believe the massive physical stressor of back-to-back pregnancies, plus shutting down my throat chakra, triggered low thyroid function.
If you have gate 20 and thyroid issues, where are you shutting down your verbal expression?
About Gate 20
Name: The Gate of the Now or the Gate of Metamorphosis
Center: Throat
Circuitry: Integration (channels 20-34 & 20-10) and Knowing circuitry (channel 20-57)
Gate Physiology: Medulla Oblongata of the Brainstem
Throat Physiology: Thyroid Gland
Amino Acid: Leucine
Gene Key Shadow: Superficiality
Gene Keys Gift: Self Assurance
Gene Keys Siddhi: Presence
Archetype: the Tranquil
Gate 20's Inherent Energetic Traits
The throat is the center of metamorphosis, communication, and manifestation. It's function is to communicate what's coming from the Ajna, Solar Plexus, Identity Center, Spleen, and Sacral, depending on which channels you have.
Gate 20's gift is recognition and awareness in the now which transforms understanding into right action. It does not consider the past or the future. It's the verbal expression of your individual, authentic self, and your knowing in that moment. To be awake and aware, and to survive, you must be fully present to the moment and authentically yourself.
Your self assurance is directly related to your ability to escape being a victim of your mind.
Gate 20's Shadow is Superficiality
The shadow of gate 20 is Superficiality. This expression occurs when the full potential of life remains unexpressed, resulting in a very watered down verbal expression. This keeps you in a superficial existence, preventing the exploration of life's richness. This also throws the throat chakra out of alignment, and this is when "off" energetics can start effecting thyroid function.
Living superficially means living in false mental illusions. When you are dominated by your thinking, it interferes with true consciousness. When this shallow energy drives action, it leads to blind, purposeless busyness lacking presence and awareness.
The Voice of Gate 20
The "flavor" of what's expressed can depend on which of the three harmonic gates it connects to, which can be gate 57, 34, and 10.
The voice of gate 20 says “I am now” or not. I am present or not (presence is the gift). The voice will be consistent with a Defined Throat Center or inconsistent with an Undefined Throat Center.
Gate 20 is known to express quirky, humorous exclamations. You never know what it's going to say in the moment. The voice finds words to express the moment, or speak about your own perception of the moment. It can speak profound insight or be 'silly.' It may speak about be a personal truth you didn't even know you knew existed in you.
If gate 20 connects to gate 57, it gives a voice to the Spleen's intuitive survival awareness.
If gate 20 connects to gate 10, it gives a voice to the G Center's behavioral patterns of self-love and commitments to higher principles grounded in love and direction.
If gate 20 connects to gate 34, gate 20 can manifest gate 34's sacral power through action toward individualism. The themes in the Channel of Charisma apply. This channel has a tendency to make sounds that pop out of your mouth before your conscious mind can stop them :) Listen to the intonation of what is expressed and hold it in your awareness for a deeper clarity of its meaning. If you are involved in something that really isn’t correct for you, there may be a ‘groan’ or an outbreath you notice as being really true for you. These primal sounds can be a clue that whatever you are involved in, or whoever you are dealing with, is not nourishing for you.
Thyroid Health and the Throat Center
Gate 20 is located in the Throat Center, which is linked to the Thyroid gland. This is also a very important area of the body to examine if you have gate 20. Where are you blocking your expression? Why are you not expressing yourself (ie: people pleasing, not wanting to discusses emotionally-driven topics, downplaying your desires, fear of rejection, self-doubt, being in your mind vs your body, etc.)
If you have channel 57-20, the brainwave, gate 57 is associated with gut health. Since gate 20 is in the brain, there's a gut-brain connection that's crucial with this channel.
Medulla Oblongata and Gate 20 in Human Design
Gate 20’s physiological connection in the body is the medulla oblongata. It connects the brain to the spinal cord and is responsible for critical functions necessary to maintain life.
Some Key Functions of the Medulla Oblongata:
1) The medulla oblongata controls the rate, depth, and rhythm of breathing, including the breath needed for speaking. It coordinates the muscles involved in controlling inhalation and exhalation.
Any type of breathwork is medicine for gate 20! I love yoga because there's so much focus on simply breathing.
If you have gate 20, I strongly encourage you to bring attention to your breath. Pause and breathe 3 deep breaths as often as you remember to. Presence is all about how deeply and rhythmically we are breathing.
2) The medulla oblongata coordinates the motor movements required for speaking. It's involved in the control of muscles involved in respiration, sound production, and articulation which is the formation of speech sounds (throat chakra). People with an Undefined Throat Center are really good at changing their sound and articulation, depending who they're around.
3) The medulla oblongata regulates heart rate and blood pressure.
4) Coordinates the complex movements involved in swallowing, and the reflexes of coughing, sneezing, blinking, and vomiting (throat chakra).
Three Nutrition Tips for Gate 20 and the Medulla Oblongata in Human Design
It's helpful to know how to support gate 20's nutrition needs as part of a deeper understanding of your human design. Here are three tips for supporting the Medulla Oblongata in the brainstem.
1) Support Brain Function
Overall brain health relies on specific essential nutrients. Nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals like magnesium and zinc are known to support brain function and may indirectly benefit the medulla oblongata. Here's why I take omega-3 fish oil every morning, plus my favorite brand.
2) Reduce Inflammation
Chronic inflammation can negatively disrupt the normal function of the medulla oblongata. Eating foods high in antioxidants helps reduce inflammation by neutralizing harmful free radicals, which are molecules that stress the body and damage tissues and cells.
Antioxidants come from brightly-colored foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds, and these indirectly benefit the health and function of the medulla oblongata.
3) Hydration
Proper hydration is essential! The brain is 75% water, and dehydration can have adverse effects on its functioning. In addition, the medulla oblongata plays a role in regulating fluid balance, so staying well-hydrated is essential for maintaining optimal brain function.
Follow Your Determination Diet Type
In addition to prioritizing healthy fats, eating a diet high in antioxidants, and staying hydrated, also consider following your Primary Health System (PHS) Determination Diet type. This is a way of eating that supports your thinking.
For example, if your Determination is Alternating, this means your body digests food and information best when you eat one item completely before moving to the next food item in your meal. Try slowing down while you eat in order to have a singular and clear mental awareness of what you're eating. Experiment with having lighter, smaller meals instead of big meals.
Questions for Inquiry
Do you have gate 20? Is it hanging or connected via a channel? Is your throat defined or undefined? Do you have thyroid issues?
I would love to hear from you.
Much love,
Kelly
Human Design Appointments
Moving from where you are now to where you want to be requires long-term dedication to learning and experimenting with your human design. I've learned so much through the process of researching, observing myself and others, experimenting, and repeating that cycle over and over.
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