Introduction to Giraffe and Jackal Communication

Marshall introduces two very different ways of communicating, which he calls Giraffe and Jackal.

Pointers

• 00:00 Introduction to my Jackal mother tongue
  • 00:30 Jackals find it difficult to resolve differences peacefully and they find it difficult to share resources in a fair and equitable manner
  • 01:02 Examples of Jackal thinking, when faced with a ‘difference’
  • 02:51 Jackals want to be right, always
• 03:10 Marshall’s reason for learning Giraffe – I wanted to live in harmony with my values – and Jackal interfered with that goal
  • 03:46 The song ‘Given To’ illustrates well the intention behind Giraffe – to live in a place, where giving and receiving cannot be told from one another
  • 05:51 Marshall was curious about people who not ony wanted to live that way, but were also able to practice this way of life
• 06:29 Marshall found that people who lived more in harmony with their values spoke a different language. Hhe studied and learned their language. Technically he calls this way of speaking the process of nonviolent communication, but he likes to play with the image of ‘Giraffe’ – The giraffe practices a language of the heart, a language of compassion.
  • 07:14 First reason why he likes Giraffe – giraffes are honest to others, without criticizing, judging or blaming – it is a new kind of vulnerable honesty from the heart
  • 07:58 When a person wears jackal ears, the chances that we get our needs met are close to zero
  • 08:49 Second reason why he likes Giraffe – giraffes can see better into the future – any motivation other than joy, creates ecologically unsafe conditions. In particular motivation by fear, guilt, shame or depression.
• 09:30 Marshall relates his personal story
  • how he grew up as a street jackal in Detroit and then turned into a professional psychotherapist jackal at university.
  • 10:48 Song ‘Shrink’ speaks to the missing heart connection in psychiatry

More from this workshop – see here.

I like to see Jackal not at the root of ‘violence’ on the planet, but at the root of ignorance and suffering.

Jackal is based on wrong perceptions, many of them stemming from an inability to embrace out intense emotions with care for ourselves and others. We have a hard time understanding the deep truth of our interdependent lives on this planet. We cannot be entirely unhappy, when others are happy – if we can see that our lonely self is an illusion. And vice versa. We share this planet with other human beings, animals and plants. Compassionately, we can touch the spirit in everything, the kingdom of God.