Decision-Making Advice for Defined Sacrals
Your Human Design chart shows YOUR configuration of the nine energy centers—the triangles, squares and diamond shape on your bodygraph. Usually, they are a mix of some colored in and some white.
Those centers represent the different types of energies we process as human beings, including communication energy, emotional energy, and life force energy.
Of the nine centers four are MOTORS, which provide energy for taking action.
Of those four motor centers, the SACRAL CENTER (second square up from the bottom) is the most powerful. It provides sustainable life force and workforce energy when it is colored red. It is designed to RESPOND to life.
Only Generators and Manifesting Generators have a colored (“Defined”) Sacral Center. Their correct decision-making Strategy is to wait for things to show up in life and then respond to them. Their response lets them know whether to take action or not.
Using Sacral Sounds
The Sacral Center is the internal navigational tool that allows Generators and Manifesting Generators to make powerful life choices with clarity and correctness.
Just like a car needs a key to turn it on, the Sacral Motor is turned on by two sounds. These are sounds that many of us made instinctively but were trained away from—especially if we were raised in the South—because the sounds are not considered “polite.” The sounds are “uh-huh” (indicating “yes”) and “uhn-uhn” (indicating “no”).
These two sounds allow the Defined Sacral Types (Generators and Manifesting Generators) to access their inner truth.
Imagine two young generator children having a fight. If you were listening, you would probably hear a lot of:
“Uh-HUH!”
“Uhn-UHN!”
“Uh-HUH!”
“Uhn-UHN!”
Now imagine these same two children fighting and saying “yes” and “no” instead. The words “yes” and “no” do not carry the same degree of power as the sounds “uh-huh” and “uhn-uhn.”
The Truth
Generators and Manifesting Generators lose their power when they don’t use their Sacral sounds, and instead try to make decisions from their mind.
Through responding with their sounds, Generators and Manifesting Generators can reach a deep level of self-awareness and truth about themselves in that moment. Their responses let them know exactly what is correct for them and what is not. Those responses are their life force energy rising to engage in specific opportunities (un-huh) or not wanting to engage (uhn-uhn).
The Sacral response never lies, and sometimes it reveals answers that may be disconcerting. The Sacral response is always true in the present moment though it can sometimes change its response at a later time or as a person’s life circumstances evolve.
If the Generator or Manifesting Generator has a Defined Emotional Center (large triangle on right side of chart, colored brown/gold), they must wait through their emotional wave and access their Sacral “truth” at various points on their wave in order to make correct decisions. These people are not designed for spontaneous decision-making.
Accessing Decision-Making Guidance – for Defined Sacrals
As Generators and Manifesting Generators, you have two ways to access your Sacral guidance. You can respond to everything and anything in your “outer reality,” and you can answer “yes or no” questions.
You are natural responders and are always responding to everything around you. When you consciously tap into your Sacral sounds to access those responses, you have ever-ready inner guidance about what is correct for you to pursue and what is not.
A more focused way for you to reach clarity is simply to have someone ask you “yes or no” questions. By using Sacral sounds in response to these questions, you learn the truth about yourself, your life, and any opportunities you may be considering. It is an amazing process that can cut right through confusion and complexity and get right to what is specifically correct for YOU right NOW.
Whether the question is “Do you want to go to a movie?” or “Will you marry me?”, your Sacral response will reveal YOUR truth. With skillful questioning by someone else, you can even access what the correct timing would be for you—with everything from health and relationships to career, prosperity, and personal fulfillment.
How to Ask Sacral Questions – for Open Sacrals
This section is addressed to Open Sacral people (Manifestors, Projectors, and Reflectors) and anyone who wants to help a Defined Sacral person make better decisions.
When asking “yes or no” questions to the Defined Sacral person, remind them to leave their mind out of the process. You might suggest that they pretend their head isn’t attached to their body and they can just let their body respond—without any thinking or judgment.
Sacral sounds come from their “gut” and not just from their throat.
If they are not able to make a clear “un-huh” or “uhn-uhn” sound in response to one of your questions, then that question is probably not specific enough.
The Sacral is very literal, so the wording of questions is important. For example, “do you want to do ____?” is different from “would you be willing to do ____?”
Start with simple questions, like “do you like coffee?” and “do you like brussel sprouts?” Once they experience what their Sacral response feels like, then progress to more significant questions.
Choose your next questions on the same subject based on their responses, and “drill down” to get to the heart of the issue and the correct timing for it.
It’s okay for them to give you questions they want you to ask, but change the wording, mix the questions up a bit, and ask specific follow up questions based on their answers and your sense of where to go next with each topic.
This question-asking may feel a bit awkward at first, but with a little practice you’ll master the art of asking great Sacral questions and will provide an invaluable service to your Generator and Manifesting Generator friends and loved ones.
Evelyn, I have been using this Sacral Sound since meeting you many months ago now.
I was always intuitive and followed my intuition, which spoke to me in this manner until it was “pushed down” by society’s teachings. Think things through! Anyway, I am now getting in touch again and receiving really clear responses.
Thank you so much for bringing clarity back into my life. I excitingly await the time that I will be able to pursue a more indepth look into the Human Design.
Blessings of Love and Light, Alea
Is it possible for the generator and/or emotional generator to ask the clarifying questions to themselves? Sometimes it isn’t always easy to find someone else who has the willingness or skills to ask good clarifying questions. If it is feasible to do this, what would be the best approach?
Hi Kary, thanks for this question. Usually, when you’re learning to use your Sacral it’s best to have someone else ask you. It provides that “external stimulus” that allows your Sacral to give a clear response. But I have some clients who are able to ask themselves the questions–even from the very beginning–and get clear responses. So, it depends on the person. Some ask the questions out loud to themselves, and say that helps. Other clients don’t seem to ever get comfortable asking themselves Sacral questions…their mind gets in the way of the response too easily. I encourage you to experiment and see what works for you! And let us know what you discover. 🙂 ~Evelyn
Hello Evelyn,
Thanks for this article. I’m a manifesting Generator & tend to look for things to respond to. For example for a career choice I can start searching for career options online & respond to these. I’m not sure if I’m initiating or responding in those cases. Thanks. Carl
Hi Carl, when you research career choices, you’re not initiating a career move you’re just doing research. And it gives your Sacral things to respond to, which is great. So keep going, and keep using your Sacral to guide you. Also remember that as a Manifesting Generator you still may change your mind after your Sacral responds and you start down a particular path, so give yourself lots of “wiggle room” to back out and chart a different path. In other words, don’t lock yourself in as you move forward. Try it and see how it goes. 🙂
Evelyn, this reply was so helpful so I’m curious then…are we initiating when we APPLY to these jobs we are researching? In a similar way, say we are in sales and our job requires direct outreach to “cold prospects” …people we have never known before but maybe good candidates for our services…isn’t picking up the phone or sending emails initiating???
Taking action is not the same as initiating. Generators and Manifesting Generators should take action after getting a positive sacral response. If you hear of an opening, and your Sacral says, “Yes! ” that’s a sign that sending in an application is in alignment for you. If you’re sending out twenty applications, because they’re all on the job board, that’s initiating, and you may not be pleased with the results. Hopefully, your sacral says “yes” to doing cold calls, since your job requires it. If your Sacral says no, but you make the calls anyway…. that’s initiating. Or perhaps you could use your sacral response to choose who to call next on the list!
Hi! I just had a chart read and am so excited to discover all of this. I am indeed a Manifesting Generator with my inner authority a Sacral Expressed Generated. Though this proves a clear explanation I can’t help but still be very confused. I’m not getting it. Is It something I feel? Can you provide an example where my head/thoughts don’t get in the way? And as far as the uhh huh – not understanding that either. It’s if I say It out loud? Thank you for helping!
Learning to connect with the Sacral response is crucial to learning to follow your Strategy. When you’re new to using your Sacral, definitely speak the sounds out loud. Because you’re “responding”, it can be helpful to have someone else ask you Yes/No questions. Are you sitting down? (you answer UN- unh for No, or unh-HUNH for Yes). Is your shirt blue? Is it raining outside? Do you like coffee? Get the sacral good and warmed up before getting to more involved questions. Your Sacral response will pop in before your thoughts get in the way. If there’s a lag between the question and your response, you’re probably thinking, and go back to simple questions. Eventually, you will learn to feel the Sacral response in your body, but when in doubt, or just learning, speak out loud. Note: if you have Channel 34-20 defined, from the Sacral to the Throat Center, you may not have the typical UN-unh/unh-HUNH sounds. Manifesting Generators with this channel may process more quickly, and have their own individual word for their Sacral response, like Nope/Yep. Hopefully, this is clear to you. If not, you may want to schedule a “Sacral Session” with a Human Design Professional to get your Sacral up and running.
Hi Evelyn,
I’m a Generator 3/5. I’ve been stuck my entire life between being a singer/ performer, (trying and failing) or just letting it go and commencing a new career, in helping others or being a guidance counselor or working in marketing. Am I able to create my own business? My own brand? Or should I just work for someone else, which I never wanted to do!
The thing is, I never know what my instinct or sacral is saying, or if it’s my head. I don’t know how to say the uh huh or uhn uh , or how to hear guttural sounds within me. Is it something felt or is it heard?
I don’t know if music is really my passion or if I’m there because of the outside world expecting me to be there and my ego not wanting to resign ?
I feel so confused about where to go or what is “right”. How do I better listen to my sacral or discern between it and my thoughts?
Thank you. Luisa.
Most Generators need help getting connected with their Sacral response. A “Sacral session,” in which you are asked simple Yes-No questions, can help you with this. A Human Design professional or a friend who understands Human Design can do this with you. A Facebook Group for Generators might be one way to connect with someone willing to trade sessions. If you’re interested in a Human Design Reading that includes a Sacral session, you can learn more here: https://www.humandesignforsuccess.com/human-design-services/initial-human-design-reading/
In general, if there is a delay in your answer, and you’re using words instead of sounds, you’re “in your head.” The Sacral responds with sounds, but with time and practice, Generators may learn to feel it in their bodies as well. Focus on the sounds first!
Hi Luisa! You sound like my twin! Same design and profile! I see this is almost a year old, I would love to know where you are now in reference to life and your design. Have you tapped into your sacral responses?
Same !!! I’d be open to connecting. Am at a bit of a crossroads professionally, have always felt split, and would love to trade a question asking period with another human I don’t already know.
Hi Evelyn. What if I don’t have any gut sounds or physical feelings when the questions are asked? And I do have this connection 34-20.. could there be any other feelings instead? So far I’ve been “guiding” myself with kind of an emotional sensation, but my chart shows that my emotional center is not defined and has no any gates open. But when there’s any proposal from the outer world along with thoughts sometimes I also have this feeling of either excitement or something like a depression/pressure/negativity… Should I focus on these sensations or are they coming from my mind and misleading? Thank you.
As a 34-20 Manifesting Generator your Sacral response may be unique to you, and not the standard “un-hunh” “un-unh” of other Generator types. Your sound could be something like ja, da, yep, or nay, nah, nope. You could try having someone ask you yes-no questions that are easy to answer, and see how your voice responds. Questions like: “Are you sitting down?” “Are you wearing a red shirt? “Do you like coffee?” “Is the sun shining?” I recommend you look for (sense) any physical sensations that come with the response. Don’t worry if you don’t sense them at first… just keep paying attention. These will be similar to the ones you describe but distinctly physical–not just a feeling. They will help you distinguish your Sacral responses from your mind’s input. Some Manifesting Generators even have a physical response that feels like the impulse to physically move. Does that resonate with you?
Hi! My son is a MG, has defined Sacral to Throat, but no channel 33-20, should he say yes or no?
All Manifesting-Generators who do not have the 34-20 channel defined should use the sacral sounds: “uh-huh” and “uhn-uhn”, not yes or no.
Hi Evelyn,
I’m a Generator and only have 2 defined in sacral and root. I’m trying to figure it out what does my body’s signal of “uh huh” and “nuh uh” feels like? Does it benefit for a deaf person to practice on sacral sound?
Thanks!
Hi Evelyn,
I’m a Manifesting generator 4/6. I am currently in the process of separation from my twin flame and going back to school for marketing and I don’t know if that is right. I have this feeling that I should go into herbal medicine but I am scared to pursue it. Do you have any advice for me?
Warm regards ~
Hi Niza, the best advice would be to develop your relationship with and trust in your SACRAL response. That is your internal guidance system which knows who you are and where you’re going, and it will help guide you to get there. If you need help with your Sacral response, I recommend a Reading so you understand the key aspects of your chart and decision-making process and we could include a Sacral Session so you can directly experience using your Sacral and can pay attention to the physical sensations that accompany your response. Best wishes to you!
Does the sounds literally come from the gut or is it sounds that you literally make with the uhn huh or un un ?
It is an audible, vocally produced sound, uhn huh for yes or un un for no. The impulse and vibration for the sound come from the Sacral Center, deep in the gut.
Hi Evelyn, thank you for this helpful info and website!
Quick question, I’m looking to move, and going to see many apartments. And I’m using my list of “must haves,” to decide what places are a yes or no. As a manifesting generator, am I not to supposed to let a list of my personal deal breakers inform my yes or no when it comes to this decision of where I live? Would that be considered allowing my mind to play a part in the decision? Also for clarification, a sacral response has nothing to do with “having a peace” about something, or just having a really good “feeling” about something?
Living according to strategy does not require totally disregarding the power of our minds. I think it’s correct to define what you’re looking for – your personal intention list. Then that list acts as data to inform your Sacral response. So yes, your mind plays a part in the decision…. But it would be incorrect for your mind to override a Sacral response. A Sacral response points you in the direction of the next correct action. And as you say, it’s not about “peace” or acceptance or good “feelings.”
Hi, I’m a Manifesting Generator and have recently made some HUGE life moves that aren’t feeling so great. I’m only now learning about my HD and practicing using my Sacral response. I’m wondering if I am able to ask my sacral definitive yes or no questions about the past and past choices and if that would work. Any experience with asking questions about the past instead of present moment?
Hi Kat, great question. The Sacral response is always about “right now” and “is this right for ME right now?” If someone is asking you yes/no questions (as in a Sacral Session), you can get some indications about future timing (“would this be right for me 3 months from now? 6 months from now?”) but I’ve not tried this for past choices. My sense is that it would be much more useful to get Sacral guidance about what is the right next move right now, rather than re-hash the past. Also, sometimes things feel like they’re not working out well but they actually ARE correct because there is something for you to learn, someone to meet, a skill to acquire, etc. So I invite you to not be hasty in judging things, and pay attention to Sacral guidance moving forward. Especially as you get used to using your guidance, it’s best to respond to things around you and to yes/no questions that someone asks you, instead of trying to ask those questions to yourself. I hope that helps. If you are emotionally defined, you’ll also need to wait through your emotional wave. For a detailed personalized explanation and a practice Sacral Session (so you really get the feel of it), I recommend a Reading. https://www.humandesignforsuccess.com/human-design-services/