Resources: Understanding the Glyphs
In the eternal quest for understanding, humans have always looked to the sky for answers. Astrology has fascinated humanity for centuries, with its roots dating back to the most ancient civilizations. A key part of astrology lies in the study of the astrological or zodiacal glyphs: the symbolic representations of celestial bodies and points in the heavens. These glyphs hold historical, mythological, and esoteric meanings that offer insight into our connection with the cosmos.
This blog post dives into the meanings behind the glyphs of: the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Chiron, Neptune, Uranus, Pluto, as well as the Moon’s North and South Nodes. In the Human Design System, the positioning of these celestial bodies determines the gate activations of an individual’s bodygraph; this information is consolidated on the Dual Chart, breaking it down by conscious and unconscious gate activation. By understanding the metaphysical significance of the glyphs, we can find answers to how our Design’s activations express themselves energetically and in what ways they may manifest in our lives.
The Glyphs + Their Associations
The Sun ☉
The Sun glyph appears as a circle with a dot in the center, symbolizing wholeness and the singular source of life. The Sun represents the self, creativity, and vitality in traditional astrology. Historically, the Sun has been associated with various deities, such as the ancient Egyptian god Ra and the Roman god Apollo. In esoteric teachings, the Sun is considered a source of spiritual illumination, and its glyph is a reminder of our divine inner light. In Human Design, it is the source of 70% of neutrinos that penetrate Earth, representing the primary life force and the core essence of an individual. It also contributes to one's overall life purpose by dictating an individual’s Incarnation Cross with its conscious gate. Generally, its gate activations reveal personal qualities and characteristics that define a person, determine their strengths and the gifts they possess in their life.
Mercury ☿
The glyph for Mercury appears as a combination of the crescent moon, the circle of spirit, and the cross of matter. It symbolizes Mercury's role as a messenger between the spiritual and material realms. Mercury governs communication, intellect, and travel in traditional astrology. The Roman god Mercury, known as Hermes in Greek mythology, was a messenger of the gods and the patron of commerce, travelers, and thieves. The glyph has also been known to represent the Caduceus, a staff entwined with two serpents and the symbol of healing and transformation in modern medicine. In Human Design, Mercury signifies communication, expression, and the sharing of ideas. It influences how one processes information and interacts with others — the overarching message(s) one is meant to convey in their life.
Venus ♀
The Venus glyph appears as the circle of spirit atop the cross of matter. It signifies the harmonious union of spirit and matter, reflecting Venus' association with love, beauty, and harmony. Venus was the Roman goddess of love and beauty, the counterpart to the Greek goddess Aphrodite. In esoteric teachings, Venus represents the principle of divine love, embodying the balance between the spiritual and material aspects of life. In Human Design, Venus governs both the establishment of and adherence to values, relationships, and the expression of love. It is the morals and ethics filter of an individual’s Design, helping to draw in others who share one’s principles and personal code.
Earth ⊕
The Earth glyph appears as a circle with a cross inside, symbolizing the four cardinal directions and the physical plane. Earth represents balance, stability, and grounding in traditional astrology. In mythology, the Earth is often personified as a goddess, such as Gaia in Greek mythology or Terra in Roman mythology. Esoterically, the Earth glyph serves as a reminder to stay connected to one’s physical existence and the natural world. Similarly in Human Design, Earth symbolizes grounding, stability, and the practical aspects of life. The Earth's activations in an individual’s bodygraph can indicate areas of life where possesses balance and grounding — it moderates the Design.
The Moon ☽
The Moon glyph appears as a crescent, symbolizing the ever-changing nature of emotions, intuition, and the subconscious mind. In traditional astrology, the Moon rules our emotional nature, instincts, and habits. In various mythologies, the Moon has been associated with goddesses, such as the Greek goddess Artemis, the Roman goddess Diana, and the Hindu goddess Chandra. The crescent shape of the glyph signifies the waxing and waning of our emotional states and the importance of listening to our intuition. In Human Design, it represents an individual’s driving force and life movement, playing off its celestial role as a gravitational force upon the Earth and as a reflector of the Sun’s light. Its gate activation in a bodygraph adds an element of reflection, protection, and direction to one’s Design.
North Node ☊
The North Node glyph appears as two interlocking circles with a curved line facing upward, symbolizing the person’s evolutionary path and destiny. In traditional astrology, the North Node represents the lessons we must learn in this lifetime to grow spiritually. The glyph reminds one to focus on their soul's purpose and embrace the challenges that lead them to their highest potential. In Human Design, the North Node signifies one's future direction and the environment yet to be tread. Its gate activations in the bodygraph can demonstrate areas of life where one may need to develop new skills or perspectives as well as apply one’s maturity and wisdom.
South Node ☋
The South Node glyph is similar to the North Node’s, but with a curved line facing downward, representing the person’s past-life experiences and ingrained habits. In traditional astrology, the South Node signifies the traits and tendencies we have developed in previous lives; those things that may hold us back in our current incarnation. The glyph serves as a reminder to release these patterns and move forward on the spiritual journey. In Human Design, the South Node represents one’s past direction and the environments already trodden. Its gate activations in the bodygraph can indicate areas of life where one may need to release old patterns, attachments, and where one must foment a degree of self-reflection in order to overcome and grow.
Mars ♂
The Mars glyph appears as the circle of spirit and an arrow pointing outward at an angle, representing action, drive, and assertion. In traditional astrology, Mars rules energy, passion, and ambition. Mars was the Roman god of war, the counterpart to the Greek god Ares. The glyph's arrow symbolizes the warrior spirit and the ability to take action in the face of adversity. In esoteric teachings, Mars represents the principle of dynamic energy and the need to channel one’s inner warrior to overcome obstacles. In Human Design, Mars represents immaturity, energetic dynamism, and the unfettered exploration of youth. Its gate activations in the bodygraph play a role in the way an individual begins to develop their understanding of the world by way of their experiences in childhood.
Jupiter ♃
The Jupiter glyph appears as a crescent moon atop a cross, symbolizing expansion and growth. Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system, and rules abundance, wisdom, as well as higher learning in traditional astrology. The Roman god Jupiter, also known as Zeus in Greek mythology, was the king of the gods and the god of the sky and thunder. The glyph represents the expansive, benevolent qualities of Jupiter and serves as a reminder to embrace wisdom and growth. In Human Design, Jupiter represents order, protection, and the foundation for the structure of an individual’s life. Its gate activations in the bodygraph can display areas of life where one’s internal sense of order and understanding is to be applied — it helps develop the personal philosophies that orient one’s life.
Saturn ♄
The Saturn glyph appears as a crescent moon attached to a cross, reflecting the planet's association with structure, discipline, and limitation. In traditional astrology, Saturn governs responsibility, maturity, and hard work. The Roman god Saturn, equivalent to the Greek titan Cronus, was the god of agriculture, time, and cycles. The glyph symbolizes the need for structure and discipline in life, as well as the cyclical nature of time and growth. In esoteric teachings, Saturn represents the principle of crystallization and the process of refining one’s spiritual nature through earthly experiences. In Human Design, Saturn similarly represents discipline, restraint, and limitation. Its gate activations highlight areas of life where one may encounter the need for maturity and responsibility, typically attained through the imposition of artificial barriers in one’s life.
Chiron ⚷
The Chiron glyph appears a circle with a “key” shape extending vertically from it, symbolizing the unlocking of inner wisdom and healing. Chiron is known as the "wounded healer" in traditional astrology and represents one’s deepest wounds and the process of healing them. In Greek mythology, Chiron was a wise, immortal centaur who mentored many heroes, including Achilles and Hercules. As his tragic story goes, he was accidentally wounded by a poisoned arrow, and despite his vast knowledge of medicine, he could not heal himself. The glyph represents the journey of self-discovery, healing, and the sharing of wisdom gained through personal experience. In Human Design, Chiron represents healing and personal growth through suffering. Its gate activations reveal areas of life where one may have wounds needing to be healed, typically from childhood; on should note that these activations will take a stronger precedence later on in an individual’s life.
Neptune ♆
The Neptune glyph appears as a trident, symbolizing the planet's association with spirituality, dreams, and intuition. In traditional astrology, Neptune rules illusions, spirituality, and the subconscious mind. Neptune was the Roman god of the sea, equivalent to the Greek god Poseidon. The trident represents the power to delve into the depths of the subconscious mind and to explore the mysteries of the spiritual realm. In esoteric teachings, Neptune symbolizes the dissolution of boundaries and the union of the individual soul with the divine. In Human Design, Neptune represents spirituality, dreams, and illusion. Its gate activations in the bodygraph reveal areas of life where one may experience confusion and uncertainty as they develop the acceptance necessary for transformation — the breaking of illusions yields an acceptance that empowers on to respond in life with full understanding.
Uranus ⛢
The Uranus glyph appears as a circle with a dot in the center, representing spirit, with an upward-facing arrow, symbolizing progress and innovation. This unique representation emphasizes the planet's association with rebellion, change, and forward-thinking ideas. In traditional astrology, Uranus rules change, freedom, and individuality. Uranus is named after the Greek god Ouranos, the god of the sky and the heavens. The glyph embodies the planet's revolutionary energy and the breaking free from limitations and conventions. In esoteric teachings, Uranus represents the principle of cosmic consciousness and the awakening to higher dimensions of reality. In Human Design, Uranus represents change, chaos, and peculiarity. Its gate activations in the bodygraph can indicate areas of life where one may experience sudden shifts and breakthroughs in addition to providing insight into one’s idiosyncrasies and quirks.
Pluto ♇
The Pluto glyph appears as a the letter “P” with a stylized line extending from the base toward the right, symbolizing transformation, rebirth, and the interplay between the spiritual and material realms. In traditional astrology, Pluto governs power, transformation, and the underworld. Pluto was the Roman god of the underworld, equivalent to the Greek god Hades. The glyph represents the process of death and rebirth, as well as the uncovering of hidden truths and the transformation of one’s consciousness over a lifetime. In esoteric teachings, Pluto embodies the principle of regeneration and the journey of the soul through its many cycles of evolution. In Human Design, Pluto represents transformation, rebirth, and the power to uncover hidden truths. Its gate activations in the bodygraph reveal areas of life where one may experience deep transformation and growth — the ultimate understanding from life’s wisdom.
Astrological glyphs hold a wealth of historical, mythological, and esoteric meanings; they offer valuable insights into the nature of the celestial bodies and their significance in the human condition. By exploring the symbolism behind these glyphs, we can expand our understanding of astrology, the roles they play within the Human Design System, and the way they influence our connection to the cosmos at large.
To download a quick reference on the astrological glyphs and their associations, click here.