Environments
variables
color, tone + base
Variables are part of a more complicated piece of the Human Design. They are calculated using your Nodes and your Personality/Conscious Sun + Earth and represented by one of the four arrows on your bodygraph, in this case the bottom left arrow. The Variables encompass more specifically how we are designed to interact with the world and our cognitive potential. When in our correct environment and eating according to our determination we have access to greater clarity.
This is determined by frequency. Like everything in the world we are energy, we are emitting a frequency. The more we are aligned with the life we’re meant to live in this incarnation through understanding our Design, following our Strategy + Authority, the more aligned our frequency. As this happens we get access to our cognition that lies below the surface. And the more aligned we are with our true frequency, our authentic self, the easier our life flows because we are tapped into to our own unique potential.
Ra Uru Hu believed our Environment was very important. Whether or not where we are is correct for us, is either supporting us or making things more challenging. (Side note: this is also why I love Astro*carto so much.) Our correct environment helps us find our correct perspective and therefore much fore ease + alignment in our lives.
environment
Our ideal environment according to our bodygraph shows us the place our energy feels most comfortable and cozy. With environment, we find a way to nourish ourselves outside in. And when we're in our correct environment, we have a healthier aura. There is less resistance which leads to a more easeful and ultimately longer life. When we are not in our correct environment it becomes hard to see clearly (including seeing through our correct Perspective), we are more likely to get caught up in our conditioning, in contraction rather than expansion and therefore it can be harder to realize our potential. As with all of the Variables, there can be a lot of abstract interpretation, therefore it’s important to experiment and find the meaning that resonates with you, what the environment means uniquely to you and how to embrace elements of it in your life.
This may not fully come into play until after our first Saturn Return (late 20’s/early 30’s), when we are ushered into adulthood. However I believe it’s helpful for everyone, and for kids and folks pre-return it’s great to incorporate elements of their correct environment, even if it should not be the sole focus as they are still developing their awareness. As a parent, if it comes between honoring your Environment as the parent and honoring a young child’s, honor yours. But this does not mean we can’t take this wisdom and lean in in the ways that work now for support. For instance if you have a Mountains environment kiddo and a Caves environment kiddo in a two level home, when possible, put the Mountains kid upstairs and give the Caves kid the room on the ground floor with only one entrance. Let your Mountains kid disappear to their room when needed to regroup. Tell the teacher at your Cave kid’s school to let them sit at the back of the room or in a seat where their back is to the wall. Teach them to follow their Strategy + Authority so they will naturally align with what is correct for them + also take notice of the ways you see them lean in on their own early in life.
I think it is also important to note for anyone that this is part of our Body or Unconscious Design which means it may take some effort, intention and increased awareness to notice as conditioned adults how this truly affects us. For example you may not realize that you are in fact experiencing some low level anxiety or having trouble sleeping when you sleep with a bunch of doors open as a Caves Environment person, or that working in the middle of an open work space with your back exposed is actually affecting your ability to think clearly or unsettling you in some way. Human Design is an experiment. I encourage you to begin to tune in with greater attention as you explore your environment.
Our Environment can be found by looking at the bottom Body/Red Arrow. The number in the yellow circle tells you which Environment (your Color) and whether the arrow is facing left or right determines if you are a Left or Right Environment. So, the bodygraph above would be Passive Mountains. The number in the green triangle will tell you the Tone, more on that below.
Caves - Left/Selective, Right/Blending
Markets - Left/Internal, Right/External
Kitchens - Left/Wet, Right/Dry
Mountains - Left/Active, Right/Passive
Valleys - Left/Narrow, Right/Wide
Shores - Left/Natural, Right/Artificial
If you don't know this piece of your chart and want to find out your ideal environment according to your Variables in Human Design, you can get this software if you want to get into your friends and loved ones as well. We'll continue to unpack our charts inside The Collective.
YOUR IDEAL ENVIRONMENT
The first three environments (Caves, Markets + Kitchens) are considered Hardscapes and are part of the lower trigram. The following three (Mountains, Valleys + Shores) are part of the upper trigram and are considered Landscapes. Hardscapes are looking more to their immediate surroundings and what is available to them from the space around them as well as creating spaces aligned with the archetypes, whereas landscapes (is less about a scenic landscape as the name, and their names, imply) and more about the transpersonal energy of their surroundings, including the general vibrations and how one interacts with them. The landscapes can feel more nuanced and poetic.
Left facing arrow
You can also get some info just by looking at your free chart. If your bottom left arrow points to the left you are more comfortable in a stable environment with some structure and consistency. It's good for you to find “go to” places you love that you can visit + revisit. You will feel energized in your correct space. Your ideal environment actually calls out action. You are here to be an active participant in your environment and therefore to be observed when you're in your correct space.
What improvements, changes to your environment, might create a more stable vibe, might ultimately serve how you want to feel there.
Right Facing Arrow
If this arrow points to the right then you are more suited to a changing, malleable environment, one that inspires you and feels creative. You would most likely be more comfortable than a left facing with a nomad vibe. It's important for you to listen to your intuition about what feels right for you, when it's time to move, where to, or when even just a rearranging of the furniture will serve you. Think about how you want to feel in your environment and seek that out. You are here to observe and need to feel relaxed in your environment in order to be observant. You are essentially a passive recipient, sitting back people watching. Absorbing different environments and cultures really serves you as well.
Possible environments:
1. CAVES - Selective (Left) and Blending (Right)
Caves is really about feeling safe. Start to notice when you feel or don’t feel safe in your surroundings, how are you oriented? These are indoor people who usually dream of being outdoors or having a place in the country but who thrive indoors in cave like environments. It may be about not working in an open office floor plan (if you do, get the cube with your back to the wall), or having your home environment be one you completely control, hosting rather than attending, and/or needing a cocoon like environment to sleep well. You might find the floor of your walk-in closet a cozy place to do some thinking or decompress. Experiment and bring awareness.
Splenic Binary - Primitive/Survival Based
Selective = energized by your environment; cool, dim, single entrance, very private about space, choosey about who comes into it.
Blending = relaxed by your environment; multiple entrances may be ok, less windows the better but more people and energy can be ok like maybe a basement night club or movie theatre.
2. MARKETS - Internal (Left) + External (Right)
For Market environments it’s all about selection. When we think of Markets we think business, commerce, information exchanges, online, busy with lots of energy, an urban environment. And all of these things can be true and/or it can be about really knowing what’s right for you. Market folks are meant to be selective and can be picky AF. They are looking for something specific that resonates. Let them pick where to sit, let them decorate to their desires, let them find places to explore, give them options and allow them to indulge in all the details.
Splenic Binary - Primitive/Survival Based
Internal - energized by your environment, maybe they work from home office, indoor space, working online, invite people in from outside world.
External - relaxed by your environment, head out into marketplace with specific goals.
3. KITCHENS - Wet (Left) + Dry (Right)
This is really about any creative space where gathering + transformation happens. This could be an actual kitchen (like working from the island) or an art space or recording studio, etc.. any place of alchemy. These folks want to be in the “the place to be”. They are comfortable where everyone is gathering, in places that feel inspiring to them. This can vary depending on your unique interests but creating/having community is vital to your well-being.
Ajna Binary - Mutative
Wet = energized by your environment, a more humid climate
Dry = relaxed by your environment, no to low humidity
4. MOUNTAINS - Active (Left) + Passive (Right)
For these folks it is about elevation, oxygen, and a vantage point; think high rise, seats in the nose bleeds, an SUV over a Miata. They need solo getaways in nature to tap into their correct perspective. And they need to BREATHE. Mountains folks see the big picture + have expansive viewpoints but they need to get outta town to recalibrate. Similar to a 2/4 it’s often about balancing time in resonant community and retreat.
Ajna Binary - Mutative
Active= energized by your environment, active environment
Passive = needs to be more relaxed + grounded in correct environment
5. VALLEYS - Narrow (Left) + Wide (Right)
This is about being on the ground level, watching and connecting with the world around you and acoustics. These folks are the true people watchers of the world. Like the 5 Line of Sound in Determination they may learn better audibly or take in info better when listening. They need good communication, good flow of information and to foster intimate connections with their community; quality over quantity.
Solar Plexus Binary - Sensitive + Modern
Narrow = energized by their environment, narrow spaces, hallways or alleyway, railroad apartment, narrow streets, places where sound + meaningful connections are close by
Wide = relaxed by their environment, more expansive, more partial to natural landscapes and actual valleys, places where you’re taking in sounds that are far away.
6. SHORES- Natural (Left) + Artificial (Right)
Comfortable where there is a transition in landscape or some type of perimeter or boundary they are on or are crossing and returning from. Shores can be nourished by living on the edge of Central Park, getting lost in another world (like an actor or avid fantasy reader), exploring something new or a different culture, spending time gazing or studying the stars. Tend to the areas of your home that are thresholds from the outside in like your patio or mudroom.
Solar Plexus Binary - Sensitive + Modern
Natural- energized by correct environment, can be time on an actual shore like a lake, ocean, river, stream, beach is especially beneficial or places where there is contrast
Artificial = relaxed when in their correct environment, anywhere where there is contrast or a border between one type of landscape and another (like NW Portland on the edge of Forest Park or the boundary between NE + SE)
tones
In addition to “color”, we have six senses associated with both our PHS arrow + our Environment arrow. The Cognition associated with our top left (PHS) arrow is ultimately our Spidey-sense and it can be beneficial to bring awareness and focus to it when it comes to all areas of our life. This is our heightened sense, kind of like our superpower.
We also have a sense associated with our Environment arrow which is referred to as our Environment Tone. This gives us additional information about what we need when in our correct environment. These are the 6 tones:
Smell
Taste
Outer Vision
Inner Vision
Feeling
Touch
Our Cognition would be the number in the green triangle under the top left PHS arrow associated with our Diet Determination. The Environment Tone would be the number in the green triangle associated with our bottom left Environment arrow. So the above bodygraph would have a number 2 Cognition which is Taste and their Environment Tone would be a 4 which is Inner Vision. The Cognition is obviously more influential but both offer us information.
Members can read about these senses + tips for integration and amplification, thinking about them from both perspectives inside the Cognition module.
last thoughts
When it comes to all Variables there is a lot of abstract interpretation and I think it’s important, as with anything, to sit with it and see what it means to you (as well as follow your Strategy + Authority first and foremost). Think about how the label of your environment hits you. When you think of the word CAVE what does that mean to you? Also experiment with different ways of embracing this archetype to see what fits for you.
For environment we can look at them through the lens of what we need in correct surroundings. We will break these down as well as diet/determination, perspective, motivation, all the Variables inside The Collective. As Environment is tied to our nodal axis, it reiterates how important our nodes are when it comes to alignment. Find those Field Guides here. And, looking at the gates of your North Node will bring more information to this topic, as well as the North Nodes of your Solar Return chart for information on aligned environments for the year ahead for those 40+ or South Node for those younger.