1. You know you’ve always wanted to be an elephant whisperer....
Riding the Elephant
You know you’ve always wanted to be an elephant whisperer....

2. J. Haidt’s Elephant Metaphor

4. The Rider Rational self Will
Slight awareness of the elephant (those parts of the elephant that we are conscious of)
(very small in relation to elephant)

5. The Elephant Bodily needs and responses
Emotions and their causes (in all of their joy and messiness – need for safety and belonging)
Relationships and unfinished business
Desires and expectations (incl. addictions)
Stories/symbols/roles/identity
Imagination and belief
Basically all of our unconscious, “automatic” selves

6. Law of Reversed Effect
“When the will and the imagination/belief are at war, the imagination/belief always wins.” - Emile Coué
Agnes Sanford (“mother” of inner healing prayer) was a big fan of Coué – she felt prayer was convincing your heart/spirit of truth (elephant whisperer)

7. Paul and the Elephant (a paraphrase of Romans 6-8)

9. Elephant whisperer
Jesus (H. Spirit):
“master elephant whisperer”

10. Becoming an Elephant Whisperer
You can’t force an elephant
Soothe – speak language of love and trust
Healing and forgiveness
Connect with other elephants (more later)
Make responsibility real (face truth)
Feeding the elephant
Listen to the elephant (grace to hear)
Conversion (new story – new emotional ‘formula’)
All of above is one way to understand prayer/contemplation

11. Conversion: a new formula to play the game

12. The Path
The patterns, practices, and habits that you pay attention to

13. The Social Path (The Herd)
What path (tradition) are you following (devoted to)?
What social systems are you most oriented to?
What herd(s) do you hang out with? (leading/following? – helping/hindering?)
None of us can steer our elephant alone