Human Design Connection Channels and Partnership Charts
When our auras combine with other people’s auras, each person experiences something new as well as creating a third energy that is bigger than any of us!
From a Human Design perspective, we can view how our energy interacts with another person’s energy by generating a partnership chart.
There are four different kinds of connections we can have between channels and gates and each type of connection has its own dynamic and way of interacting—this is what we will cover today!
HOW TO GENERATE A PARTNERSHIP CHART
If you’d like to view a partnership chart between you and another person, you can use my free chart calculator. Start by calculating one chart, and then you can click “Create new relationship chart” in the top left to add the second person’s details.
Here is an example of a partnership chart. This is me and my partner:
As you can see, his channels are shown in blue, and mine are in yellow. You can also see our separate charts off to the side. Together, we have all nine centers defined. Below, it lists the connection channels - compromise, dominance, friendship, and attraction (or electromagnetic).
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TYPES OF CONNECTION CHANNELS
There are four types of connection channels:
Compromise Channels
Compromise channels occur when one person has an entire channel, and the other person has only one gate. These are called compromise channels because there is a natural push and pull. One person will always have the entire channel, which is a very different energy from having only one gate. The person with the channel will naturally try to pull the person with one gate into their energy, and the person with the gate will need to understand that they operate differently and that “giving in” to the energy of the entire channel will never feel quite right.
With a compromise channel, there is an aspect of “agree to disagree.” You can both be understanding, give each other space, and not expect the other person to be just like you in that aspect. Awareness and compassion are key when dealing with compromise channels!
Dominance Channels
Dominance channels occur when one person has an entire channel, and the other person is undefined in that channel. When the two auras are together, the person with the dominance channel will naturally condition the other person by lending their defined energy. Dominance channels are a great opportunity for two people to learn from each other and about the other because that energy is consistently there.
It’s healthy for the person with the dominance channel to be the leader in those aspects, guiding the undefined person and lending them their energy. In a relationship, I see dominance channels as a great way to acknowledge one person’s built-in strengths. For instance, my partner and I have a lot of dominance channels. The way we work with this is that we do teach each other many things but we also don’t ever expect the other to become an expert. Sometimes we collaborate and sometimes we divide and conquer. The important thing is that we acknowledge that we have very different energy and strengths and that it’s beautiful to be able to observe and learn from each other.
Friendship Channels
Friendship channels occur when both people have the same defined channel. Friendship channels lend comfort and stability but lack the dynamism and growth potential of other types of channels. Friendship channels place people on the same page, with the same strengths and weaknesses.
When we share friendship channels with another person, that person (or that aspect of a person) may not feel very interesting or attractive to us energetically. The person or aspect may remain slightly “invisible” to us since we share so many of the same energies.
Attraction/Electromagnetic Channels
Attraction channels occur when one person has one gate (half the channel) and the other person has the other gate. Together, these two gates activate the third energy of the channel. Attraction channels are literally like a spark that occurs when the two people come together. Attraction channels create an intense magnetism between two people, particularly at first.
When two gates are coming together, it means that each person is carrying a completely different “side of the story.” If we can honor what each person is bringing and harness the third energy that it creates, these can be beautiful experiences. Attraction channels can also be challenging - often the energy that we are so attracted to (since we feel we are missing it and want to complete our channel) can also feel annoying or “other” to us.
HOW TO USE THIS INFO?
Partnership charts are an advanced aspect of Human Design. It’s important to have a deep knowledge of gates and channels if you’re going to draw specific conclusions from this information. You can also have a partnership chart reading done.
It’s also important to view a partnership chart with an open mind. What Human Design has taught me is that compatibility has more to do with knowing yourself and accepting other people’s differences than something you’re born with; there are no relationships that are doomed from the start just because of what you might find in a Human Design chart.
What we do see are different relationship dynamics and things to be aware of. If a relationship feels right to you, helps you grow, and supports the healthiest version of who you are, then that’s what matters.
Hopefully this can bring you more clarity and compassion in your relationships!
Love,
Rachel
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