The Line 6, the Role Model, in Human Design Profiles

Line 6 in Human Design is one of the six Profile lines we can have. The Profile in Human Design indicates the kind of role we play in life. We all have two lines: one conscious and one unconscious. That means one is more visible to others, and the other is more visible to ourselves. There are six types of roles, also known as archetypes, which combine to form our Profile. These Archetypes are the lines of our Sun and have specific characteristics that illustrate our life story. (If you don’t know your Profile yet, check your Human Design Chart here.)

Line 6 is possibly one of the most interesting because it tells a more detailed story of your entire life, unlike the other lines that refer more to consistent themes throughout life.

Also known as the Role Model, Line 6 is a transpersonal line, just like Lines 4 and 5, and it focuses heavily on the relationships we build with others or how we live our life outwardly. If you have a Line 6 in your Profile, then it will come with either a Line 2 (if you’re a 6/2), a Line 3 (if you’re a 3/6 or 6/3), or a Line 4 (if you’re a 4/6). Line 6 harmonizes with Line 3 but is dissonant with Lines 1 and 2. This means 6/2s face more complex inner challenges as they must navigate two very different aspects of their life roles.

When someone has a Line 6 in their Profile, the life path they follow will ultimately place them in a role of being a model or example for others. Line 6 people, in the final phase of life, are admired for their wisdom, for what they’ve accomplished, and for everything they’ve overcome. They’re respected and cherished: the patient grandmothers who stay calm through everything, the corner store owner who always has solid advice, or the school principal everyone praises for her strong leadership.

However, Line 6s aren’t born into this role—quite the opposite. These people who are admired in their later years are often the very ones people assumed wouldn’t turn out well in their youth. All the final wisdom of Line 6 comes from earlier life phases that looked and felt very different.

The Three Life Phases of Line 6

The life of someone with Line 6 in their Profile, regardless of the combination, is divided into three distinct phases. This process happens the same way across all Energy Types.

The First Phase

The first phase takes place from birth until around age 30, during Saturn Return, which marks our first major “identity crisis,” often involving one or more turning points in life (such as changing jobs, marriage, divorce, motherhood, changing habits, etc.). Up until this time, Line 6s behave just like Line 3s. The Martyr, or Line 3, lives through experimentation. Everything in life must be lived through firsthand experience, even when they’re warned the results could be negative. So, in this initial phase of life, both Line 3s and Line 6s learn through trial and error.

Line 6s are the kids with perpetually scraped knees, always getting into things they shouldn’t and wanting to try everything at least once. As teens, they often explore different styles and trends without committing to just one. Sometimes they’re the kind of teenagers who worry their parents a little more—maybe due to questionable friendships, drinking, or having experimented with various substances.

As they reach adulthood, their path still feels undefined. Romantic relationships often come and go or end dramatically. They may switch between multiple courses or jobs, always feeling like they’ll never find something they truly enjoy.

This first phase of a Line 6 may seem like a series of mistakes, but for Line 3s—or Line 6s in this early phase—there’s no such thing as failure, only opportunities for learning. Even experiences with serious consequences become valuable lessons. Learning what’s not right or what you don’t want is just as important as knowing what you do. Not everyone is born with pre-made plans or clarity on their life direction.

The Second Phase

The second phase spans from age 30 to 50, and during this time, life tends to settle. The era of wild experimentation fades, giving way to a period of recovery and reflection.

Line 6s often blame aging for their lack of energy or desire to do what they once did, but this shift is actually a natural part of their journey. This is the time to slow down. During this phase, many Line 6s dive into study or seek out quieter, more solitary activities.

This phase is commonly known as the “roof phase”, because much of the time is spent observing life and others. It’s a great time to start a business or focus on personal development, but it can be a challenging period when it comes to relationships due to a strong inward focus and a desire to be alone.

The Third Phase

The third phase begins at around age 50 and lasts for the rest of life. It’s the phase of integration, and coming down from the roof doesn’t always happen peacefully. Some themes from childhood and adolescence may resurface, but this time they are processed through the lens of the experience gained during the first phase and the contemplation developed during the second.

This is a phase of confidence and maturity in which even bold decisions come from a place of deep connection with the Authentic Self.

A Line 6 in their third phase as a Role Model is that person you know who, after raising their children, sold everything and bought a camper van to become a nomad, travel, and enjoy life. At the time, it might have seemed reckless or irresponsible to leave everything behind like that, but now everyone looks at that person with admiration because they’re living a joyful and aligned life. That’s the Role Model phase—inspiring others.

The Role Model doesn’t act a certain way to become one, nor do they make choices based on how others will perceive them. Line 6 reaches this phase simply by being themselves and following the course of their life. However, when this third phase begins, the Role Model quickly realizes what they want from life and what needs to be done. And if, for some reason, there’s still doubt, life will naturally take Line 6 where it needs to go—because that’s their purpose in this lifetime.

The Importance of Trust for Line 6

The most important thing for a Role Model is to trust the path of their life—even during the first phase, when it may feel like nothing is going right and they seem lost, or in the second phase, when they may feel out of place or even depressed.

Line 6 individuals need to believe that every stage of their life is essential to fulfilling their destiny. Living with courage and vulnerability smooths the journey, as it allows them to open up to each phase without resistance and honor their own rhythm. Looking at the neighbor who, at 35, is already a CEO with a house and three kids won’t help. The path of a Line 6 is unique and highly susceptible to life’s flow—but it is a path worth walking.