What does it mean to be authentically you?
There were several events recently that I start to notice this desire and deep fear associated with this.
I’ve noticed it in branding conversations. In the tension people feel when they want to express more of themselves but worry how that will land. The subtle instinct to edit, to polish, to wear a version of ourselves that’s just a bit more… acceptable. Even with those we call friends.
Sometimes it’s a conversation that lightly touches on appearances—not in a judgmental way, but in a way that hints at difference. Something ‘other’. And immediately, I see the scramble to justify it with science, logic, credibility -whatever makes it make sense in a palatable way.
My own experiences as I began the process of separating our offer and business consultation work (to create space to brand, message and market more clearly on LinkedIn), while making space for Authentic Awakenings, this new container to fully express this side of me more freely.
The question I’ve been sitting with: When does the border stop between bringing your message closer to the market, and compromising or diluting your true authenticity?
The gate of today I’ll be speaking about today is..
Gate 8… be the weird. Or known in the Gene Keys – as the gate of Style. (The gift state of Gate 8).
Or as I like to call it – the pure Artist.
And what happens when you boldly lean in.
Personally, Gate 8 is a key one in my chart. It sits in my conscious North Node—and I’ve come to understand just how deeply this gate plays out in my life and in the work I do.
My south Node is the Gate 14 – the capable prosperity generator, with the shadow of compromise. And it feels right on track with the evolutions happening (in my 40th year around the Sun), as I move with more certain steps into my Gate 8.
(The timing with South Node growing more and more into the North Node according to Human Design normally culminates around age 40-42).
Some of my most successful clients have this gate too. And honestly, even without knowing their charts I would have been able to guess exactly who they are. You can feel it.
And I can also see how their success began to flourish when they fully leaned in, boldly, and stepped into expressing – their weird.
The signature of this gate, is that your style will be unique. It will shock and either push away or magnetise. People will either love or hate the way you show up.
Whatever it is, whatever you do – it won’t be common. And it won’t be the middle ground, average or mediocre.
Gate 8 is the space where bizarre and weird creative expression thrives. And to know, that you are not meant to attract everyone.
In fact, diluting yourself to be more acceptable… is exactly what will cause you to fade into the shadow, and lose that acceptance you so deeply crave.
This is a gate that is not about pleasing everyone, or connecting with everyone. It is a gate about Finding YOUR tribe.
(Side note: It’s not that I can’t bring my full self into the work we do in our main business—it’s just that the container can’t fully hold it all. Especially within a partnership. That’s why this needed a spillover—a space where I could be all of it. Where I could play in both worlds.
See also: my post about giving yourself permission to be a Manifesting Generator.)
It is in realising it is not about constantly shoving yourself fully through the door that doesn’t fit, but realise that you don’t need to limit yourself to that one door.
And that once you know your full self, you can shine in so many ways that brightly and boldly penetrates whatever door you go through.
With an inner certainty that anchors you in every space. Without the need to have to “perform” or “prove” yourself.
A knowing, that you know, and deeply trust yourself.
The biggest hurdle that I have seen of people stopping themselves from expressing themselves authentically and as their full self, is the fear of losing success.
Losing reputation. Losing credibility. Losing acceptance — Losing, love.
As herd animals at the core, as humans our deepest and primal fear is the rejection from love. Being cast out. Because in the most primal sense, that would have meant death.
My decision to start Authentic Awakenings through this blog and Instagram, wasn’t because of desire to separate. It was to create the safe space for this little flame to slowly flicker and come alive.
I know the two pieces will join themselves naturally at some point, and there is no need to rush, as I discover this side of myself.
There is a nurturing that is needed in the early stages (and what we also teach and guide through in our offer work), where encouragement is what is needed and the strong voices of critique may be more harmful in squashing dreams than useful in the early days.
Once the identity is cemented, there is the capacity to take the challenge and everything that comes, knowing it will make you stronger, but the ability to stand, starts with giving “it” love from within.
“It” being your authentic YOU.
The True Self workshop in May is now fully booked. And I couldn’t be more excited for this next evolution.
8 beautiful individuals ready to discover their full selves, through the walking through of 4 doors of awakening.
True Self workshop will be soon opening to the public, including online versions.
So if you feel the spark, stay tuned for this.
And if you have Gate 8 defined in the chart, remember to let the wild in.
The world doesn’t need another filtered version – it needs the wild, raw, energy of YOU.
So with all that, here are the core details about the Gate 8:
Official name: The Gate of Contribution (Gene Keys: The Diamond of the Self)
I-Ching Hexagram: Holding Together
Bodily Location: Sacral
Shadow State – Mediocrity – suppressing or filtering yourself to be mediocre or average, keeping your head down and among the rest.
Reactive state – Superficial – showing success on the surface level, but knowing that their spirit is compromised somewhere within.
Repressed state – Wooden – where life becomes stripped out due to suppressing, and completely loss of hope for dreams.
Gift – Style – the unapologetic owning of your rebel side, and letting that creatively flourish – without fear or concern for what others think. Knowing, and trusting, that this will be your most magnetic nature. And far surpass in power compared to diluting, or suppressing yourself in any way to fit others’ mould.
According to Richard Rudd: “This 8th Gift catches people’s attention because it brings something fresh into the world.
The Gift of Style has little to do with our popular interpretation of this word — it has more to do with following your own unique rebellious spirit out into the world.
True style cannot be measured by materialistic trappings nor can it be faked. It is the natural flowering of your individuality. To find your own style is to be yourself without concern about what others may think.”
Siddhi – Exquisiteness – your exquisiteness, is the feeling and experience when your diving essence begins to shine fully through your individual.
It is no coincidence that the core of our work has been to help people uncover, claim, then express and shine ‘their inner diamond’
It is in knowing, that your true nature, is wildness. And that can be no taming, nor should there be.
Mantras for the Gate 8
“My authenticity is my artistry — I don’t perform, I express.”
(Let this ground you when you’re tempted to filter or polish your expression.)
“The more me I become, the more magic I create.”
(A permission slip and energetic reminder to lean in, not out.)
“I do not dilute to be digestible — I express to be undeniable.”
(This one is especially potent for marketing, branding, or any visible creation.)
“My weird is a compass, not a compromise.”
(A reminder that your uniqueness leads the way, even when others don’t get it yet.)
“I create for the few who truly see me — not for the many who only look.”
(Perfect for aligning your work with your true tribe — not the crowd.)
What has been your experience with the Gate 8? Do you have it defined or undefined – and how does it show up? Have you across people in your circle that you may be certain they have this?
I am a 5/1 Sacral Manifesting Generator. This blog and the articles contained within represent my true experience with Human Design (and work I do with clients), as well as other Identity Psychology toolsets used within my work.
In the meantime, if you would like to start your own journey – I invite you to book a private 20 minute discovery session with me.
@authentic.awakenings
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