skillful expression

The gifts of Gate 16

I am a little late to the party this week and then sun is already transiting into another Gate today (stay tuned for that post coming veryyyy soon!). But this is still a great time to reflect on the week that just passed, enjoy and I will see you again soon 🫶🏼

We are still here working our way through the gifts of the Throat Centre 🗣️Gate 16 brings this magnetic energy of enthusiasm, talent, and devotion to practice. This isn’t just about being naturally skilled (though you might be), it’s about falling in love with the process of developing your gifts. Repetition, refinement, showing up again and again until what you share feels like an extension of who you are.

It’s the energy of the dancer who’s spent years rehearsing, the coach who’s honed her voice, the speaker who feels every word she says. But here’s the thing: Gate 16 isn’t about mastering everything, it’s about dedicating yourself to the right thing. That thing that lights you up. That you want to practice. That you can’t not share.

If Gate 16 is defined in your chart, you likely have this steady pulse of “I want to get better at this.” Whether it’s your craft, your work, or your self-expression, you’re wired to develop your skills and share them with confidence. You might feel restless if you don’t have something to pour your energy into or improve on. But here’s the key: your energy shines when you’re focusing on something that feels aligned. It’s easy to fall into the trap of trying to master things just to prove yourself or gain external validation. Instead, this gate asks: What skill feels joyful to repeat? What feels like an extension of your identity—not just a thing you do, but something you are? When you're lit up, your enthusiasm is contagious. People feel your confidence. Your voice becomes a powerful tool for inspiring others with your devotion and passion. Your talent is something to own and share, not shy away from.

If Gate 16 is undefined, you might find yourself drawn to people with polished skills or strong voices. You could feel pressure to sound confident or “perform” your expertise, even when you're still learning. That’s okay. This week, you may feel that pull to explore different talents or wonder what you're “meant to be good at.” Don’t rush it. Play. Try things. Notice what feels energizing versus what feels like you're forcing it. You might find that your gifts come in waves or evolve over time. Instead of chasing mastery in everything, let yourself dip in and out of interests. Trust that the right skills will stick when they’re meant to.

My contemplation’s:

Gate 16 is undefined in my chart and I can definitely feel that pressure to “be confident and perfect”, even when I’m not. It feels like that pressure to prove I’m good enough at something before I share it. Mixed in with my 3/6 profile and the instinct to do the thing messy, this can be quite the catch 22. At times I stop myself when things aren’t perfect, because I see others who appear so put together, so good at what they do and I wonder, “why can’t I be that way?”. And then I remind myself once more, it’s because it is not who I am here to be. I am here to be the person who steps directly into the fire, who experiments for herself, who fails often, but who learns from every single thing I do. It’s not always easy, but if I allow it to be, it’s most often really fun.

I’ve learned that some of my favourite things in life—the ones that have brought me the most joy—started as tiny, imperfect baby steps. I didn’t wait to be perfect before I started speaking, teaching, creating, nursing. I just kept practising. Kept sharing. Kept letting it evolve. And I keep going. I am far from perfect, I am messy and I do not always have it all put together. But the right things always seem to fall into place, and I know they will continue to if I keep surrendering to the process.

Ways to work with Gate 16 this week:

1. Use your voice to share your enthusiasm – Whether it’s your favourite tool, a recent lesson, or something you’re working on, let yourself talk about it! Gate 16 shines through expression and communicating to others what you love is the perfect way to embrace this.

2. Practice for the joy of it – Instead of grinding toward perfection, notice what skills you enjoy repeating. Talent often follows joy.

3. Own your strengths – This week is a great time to claim the things you’re good at. Don’t downplay them. Don’t shrink. The world needs your gifts!!

4. Get curious about support – Gate 16 can sometimes struggle with “I just need more time/money/resources to focus on this!” If that’s coming up, ask: What support would help me go deeper into my gifts, and how can I begin asking for it or creating space?

5. Pair it with Gate 48 – If you also have Gate 48 (in the Spleen), you’ve got a full channel of depth and talent. You may feel a strong pull to apply your skills in deeply impactful ways. Just remeber, don’t get stuck in “I’m not ready yet.” Share your gifts as you grow, not once they’re perfect.

Journal prompts to explore:

• What’s a skill or talent I’ve been developing that feels like mine?

• Where am I still holding back from sharing my gifts?

• What would it feel like to be fully seen in my talent, even if it’s still evolving?

• What kind of support or spaciousness would help me deepen my practice?

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This week’s reminder? Your skills are worthy of being seen, even while they’re still growing.

So go ahead and practice, repeat, and share your joy. Let people feel your love for what you do. That’s the real magic of Gate 16. And book a Human Design reading with me to dive into your gifts and talents!