Elephant meaning and symbolism are rich in mystical knowledge and power. These clever creatures pique our interest.
Do you have a long, arduous trip that you need to complete? Do you need help caring for friends or family members who are having a difficult time? Elephants may assist as Spirits, Totems, and Power Animals. Elephant teaches you how to fuel your mind, body, and soul to stay strong in the face of adversity.
Explore Elephant symbolism and meaning to learn more about how this Animal Spirit Guide may help, guide, and empower you.
Elephant Symbolism & Meaning
What do elephants represent?
Elephant, a kind and intelligent Spirit animal, represents concentrated Power and power. Elephant indicates a fresh, enhanced connection with the Sacred Feminine in all of Her facets when it first appears in your life.
Elephant, according to Shamans and Lightworkers, leads us to a better knowledge of the Maiden, Mother, and Crone, as well as helping us reconnect with our good feminine qualities.
Elephant, like the Goddess, places a strong emphasis on family, including past and future generations. “Family first” might very well be Elephant’s motto.
Elephant tests your ability to defend your tribe’s young and vulnerable while also understanding the incredibly extended family unit and how powerful love and devotion can be when shared. Elephant, on the other hand, instinctively understands that not every “family” is related by blood.
People who energetically occupy that sacred function sometimes enter our life. Keep an eye out for a new partnership that may endure a lifetime or several incarnations.
The elephant is drawn to searchers and students and typically appears while you’re pursuing those objectives in your life, whether ordinary or spiritual.
The Order of the Elephant is a religious organization in Denmark. An elephant represents piety, gentleness, and temperance in this context. Meanwhile, Elephant Spirit is linked to sorcery and magic in Sicily. According to legend, a strong wizard named Heliodorus was capable of transforming himself into this magnificent beast.
The Elephant was also revered by Africans, who saw it as a symbol of collaboration, mental acuity, long life, perseverance, and loyalty. When strolling with Elephant, consider these extra connotations. She may have many messages for you.
Pliny the Elder said that the Elephant was the creature that most nearly reflected human sensitivity, which is an intriguing remark in Elephant’s history.
Elephants are said to be the Chieftains of the Forest, having been reborn from ancient human leaders, according to African legend. Their job includes resolving conflicts among the local species. Who’s going to argue with them, after all? Joy, luck, leadership, fortitude, and poise are some of the other local symbols.
The elephant is the spirit animal of elephants.
As a Spirit Animal, what does Elephant represent?
When the Elephant appears as a Spirit Animal and Guide to you, the message is usually one of belonging. Have you lost touch with the people you live with? Have you neglected to communicate with your family?
Have you meditated and honed your empathic/telepathic abilities to the point that you’re tuned in to your tribe on the deepest levels of your “being”? These are the concerns that Elephant raises.
During droughts, a mother Elephant is so altruistic that she would chill her young with water regurgitated from her stomach. Is it time for you to reconsider your devotion to your family?
The elephant may appear as a transformational companion for those dealing with sexual troubles. Elephant helps you become more aware of all of your senses (and sensuality). This lesson starts with a foundation of genuine love and builds on it with trust and compassion.
Elephant may also opt to be your Animal Spirit Guide if you’ve begun a cerebral workout such as study or a job in the sciences. Elephant Spirit is drawn to those who have a sharp mind and a quick wit, and it appreciates working together to achieve intellectual objectives.
Totem Animal Elephant
As a Totem Animal, what do elephants represent?
Those who are born with an Elephant Totem are responsible and accountable from a young age. You’ll find yourself pulled to caring for your tribe’s elderly as well as the youngsters, especially if anything triggers your defenses.
When an Elephant herd member is hurt, the others will put their lives on the line to rescue their fallen buddy to safety. If you’ve picked Elephant as your Totem Animal, the enormous animal’s sense of responsibility may aid you in surviving, as well as those to whom you’ve devoted.
Being sociable is crucial to your well-being when you have an Elephant Totem. Not just with humans, but also with animals, you are wired to be connected. It’s important to note that this isn’t your typical “butterfly” social interaction. Elephants are sensitive, determined, and devoted to the people they surround themselves with.
The capacity to plow through problems and blockages with those massive tusks is one of your Elephant Totem’s greatest abilities. Elephants utilize their tusks not just for moving through the bush, but also for digging out food.
You, like your Totem, are a natural provider who employs confidence, perseverance, and devotion as instruments for “bread-winning,” which includes Spiritual nature feeding.
Elephants are powerful animals. As a Power Animal, what does the Elephant represent?
There are a variety of circumstances in which you would wish to contact an Elephant as a Power animal. One is when there is family discord and squabbles. Elephant gives you the empathy you’ll need to see both sides and construct a peaceful bridge.
Elephant energy may also be used to assist you in tracing your ancestors. Your family tree and your Ancestors are part of what shapes your reality and tribal dynamics on this planet.
In the spiritual realm, your former incarnations may include teachings that might help you answer present issues, solve problems, or make choices. Allow Elephant to assist you on your journey.
Finally, call on Elephant as your Power Animal when you need assistance summoning ancient knowledge and Divine teachings. Elephants have long been compared to clouds due to their size and grey appearance. Elephant energy may assist you in unlocking the mysteries and esoteric wisdom that lie under the heavenly mists.
Elephants, as a Power animal, may be the patient, compassionate, and motivating force that helps others get back on track. This is because elephants are thought to assist people in navigating through the jungle and finding their way.
How are you being guided through a befuddling maze of options? The elephant could be attempting to assist you in finding your path.
Elephants may also represent desire and vigor in certain cultures. You could be compelled to consider your power, stamina, and even your prodigious inventiveness.
Elephant Symbolism in Native American Culture
In Native American societies, what does an elephant represent?
It’s important to remember that elephants aren’t native to North America. Rather than looking for a direct meaning in this culture, we may go to a comparable monster, the Wooly Mammoth, as well as a legendary creature that resembles the Mammoth in certain aspects.
The legend of Mammoth is convoluted in Native American folklore. Many cultures have traditions about a “Stiff-Legged Giant Bear,” which is often linked to Mammoth and therefore Elephant global meaning.
When Southeastern American tribes first met African Elephants, they used the same phrase to describe them as the Stiff-Legged Giant Bear.
According to legend, the Stiff-Legged Giant Bear was a carnivore that ate humans. The elephant is a vegetarian and does not devour humans, thus this is where the link to Elephant is less evident. According to some reports, the fabled monster from Native tradition lacked a trunk but otherwise resembled a Mammoth/Elephant in look and stride.
Stiff Leg, Giant Bear, Man Eater, Hairless Bear, and Naked Bear were some of the titles given to this beast.
The meetings between Stiff Leg/Big Bear and Rabbit are mentioned in several of the legends regarding this beast. Rabbit utilizes their cleverness and trickster spirit to detour Big Bear and save the lives of the people in these tales.
While there are some similarities between Mammoth/Elephant and these references to Stiff Leg, it’s unclear whether Native people were describing the symbolism associated with Mammoth or if they were using stories based on Mammoth remnants discovered much later or drawing on collective Ancestral memories. Mammoth is also linked to Ancestral knowledge and the past, according to some.
When working with Elephant or Mammoth, you may be channeling ancient powers or being prompted to mend old wounds or losses. You may be interacting with Ancestral archetypes and need to repair epigenetic scars and traumas.
You may be required to deal with losses or traumas suffered by prior generations, much as the demise of the Mammoth predates many Native cultures. What kind of insight can you get from communal and ancestral memories?
Parts of a Mammoth’s bones were thought to be related to strength and fertility, according to some. Cheyenne people utilized a plant known as “Elephant’s Ear” as a medicinal tea as language and civilizations progressed and knowledge of Elephants spread over the seas.
The symbolism of Elephants in Christianity
In Christian art and legends, what does an elephant represent?
In Christianity, elephant symbolism and connotation are linked to patience, wisdom, grace, and temperance. Elephant Spirit Animal is also associated with Christian chastity and purity.
Elephants may represent the kindness and power conveyed by Christ and Christ-like personalities since they are gentle giants. Elephants are enormous enough to do a lot of damage, yet they aren’t very destructive. They are not aggressive toward other animals, and despite their size and strength, they possess the ability to be helpful and sensitive.
They are linked to knowledge and wisdom, and their strength is linked to the power of prayer and confidence in God. Elephants are thought to have overindulged during their trip on Noah’s Ark, resulting in their massive size, according to legend.
The Elephant and the Mouse, a classic children’s fairytale, is also linked to an Israeli folktale. The Elephants refused to move in this narrative, and by standing firmly stuck before entering the Ark, they were causing all the other animals to be delayed. Noah pleaded for help and was granted a dream in which God told him to tickle the Hyena, which set off a series of events that resulted in a mouse coming from hiding. The elephant was shocked by the sight of the Mouse and rushed forward, breaking the congestion.
Though the narrative is lighthearted and mocks Elephant for being afraid of a little Mouse, the deeper spiritual message is that even the most powerful and imposing look does not make one indestructible.
We all have anxieties, yet those fears may also push us to act. This also serves as a reminder that “pushing” people ahead does not need the use of violence or intimidation. We can inspire people to take action by finding the perfect incentive to get them started.
The elephant is often used as a symbol for everything massive, vast, and enormous—a struggle or a gift. As a result, elephants might be associated with God/the Universe.
To realize the grandeur of your relationship to all creation, including the Divine, you may take a step back and enjoy the big picture of a situation.
African Elephant Symbolism
In African civilizations, what does an elephant represent?
Although African civilizations are not homogeneous, we may deduce some common Elephant symbols. Elephants are often shown as powerful animals, having the rank of King or Queen due to their size. They are also thought to act as mediators, assisting other animals in resolving conflicts.
Elephant’s link to battle success stems from its association with aristocracy, power, and money. Even though elephants are not aggressive, they are associated with battle as a symbol of triumph rather than as aggressors.
Elephants are associated with power and vigor because of their large size and long longevity. Elephants represent knowledge, intellect, victory, as well as cooperation, and teamwork.
The elephant is a reminder that although you may be enormous, powerful, and terrifying, your genuine strength can come from behaving gently and not utilizing your entire might just because you can.
Elephants were regarded to be reincarnations of Ancestral Souls, particularly great Ancestral leaders, by the Ashanti people. Elephants are so associated with elegance, strength, and majesty in this culture.
People in Yoruba cultures often use metaphors to refer to domestic and wild animals, associating the animal’s characteristics with themselves or other people. Referring to someone as having a relationship to the Elephant (or even a portion of the Elephant, such as the Tusk) implies a link between that person and Elephant’s wealth, power, or wisdom.
There is a legend among Ghana’s Akan people, who believe in a god named Nyame, who created the universe from nothing. Elephant, Leopard, and Monkey were his next creations. According to this belief, these three creatures combined their strength to create life on Earth.
Another story talks of an elderly man who sought assistance from Ivonya-Ngai, who provided him with food that transformed his wife into an elephant. She then moved into the wilderness with her kid, who was also an Elephant. This is the creation tale of this incredible species, and how, despite their looks, they can be so human-like in their feelings and intellect.
It was also thought that shapeshifting between human and elephant forms was feasible, as it is in many other civilizations. This represents mankind acquiring Elephant’s power, knowledge, memory, and compassion, as well as Elephant engaging with humanity as a mentor and leader.
Elephant Symbolism in Celtic Mythology
Except for a fight in which Antiochus I of Seleucis utilized elephants in warfare, there is little nothing about the Elephant in Celtic texts (275 BCE). The Celts, who were unfamiliar with the beast, were naturally horrified. An elephant represents an unplanned surprise (and it’s a big one) because of this historical fact.
Dreams of Elephants
When Elephant appears in your dreams, it usually represents conquering a challenge, especially in relationships. You could also have to take on a new task in your household.
Dreams about elephants may have a variety of meanings based on your cultural associations with this magnificent animal. Elephants may represent virility and power. Elephant symbolism is related to luck and manifestation in various cultures, as well as overcoming barriers and obtaining prosperity.
In dreams, what does an elephant represent in different cultures?
Depending on the ethnic group, anything from good fortune to overcoming adversity to the death of a leader is considered. Dreaming about an Elephant with a Saddle was formerly thought to be a favorable omen that something wonderful was about to happen in various Hebrew communities. The Elephant, according to Carl Jung, was a symbol of the Self in dreams.
Read Elephant Dream Meaning on WhatIsMySpiritAnimal.com to learn more about Elephant Spirit!
Elephant Symbolism in the Far East
In eastern civilizations, what do elephants represent?
Elephants have great value and symbolism in China, India, and Japan. Elephants have a spiritual and cultural significance due to the stories and tales surrounding them.
Elephants appear often in Far Eastern symbology, with religious overtones being the most prominent. Elephants mix with other Divine figures and Elephants who live in each of the four directions maintain the earth.
Elephants have been featured in art and stories in Japan since the 16th century. Elephants are often seen in Shinto art alongside creatures such as leopards or even dragons. The Makara is a legendary figure with the head of an elephant and the lower body of a dolphin or fish. Some people relate this with the Capricorn zodiac sign’s emblem or the creature that is half goat, half fish.
Their water connection may also represent a relationship between the Elephant and the attributes of the water element, such as family, emotion, caring, and compassion. Because of the connection between elephants and water in Japan, they are connected with fire prevention.
Because of this relationship to Water, elephants are also supposed to be related to rain.
In China, there is also a link between nobles and elephants. Elephant statues might be seen marking the way to the Ming Emperors’ palace. These sculptures were thought to be related to fertility, and ladies seeking assistance in getting pregnant would lay stones on the backs of the statues as a fertility rite.
In many civilizations, elephants are revered as holy animals, and Buddha is no exception. Maya, Buddha’s mother, is said to have dreamed of a White Elephant before Buddha’s birth.
Consider Ganesh, possibly the most well-known Hindu god. Ganesh is shown with an elephant’s head, and when coupled with Lakshmi, the duo is known as the “openers of the road.” This “path” may take several forms, ranging from job search to personal development. Ganesh is a deity of riches, blessings (particularly for new ventures), long-term success, and protection.
Speaking the name of Ganesha, the Elephant-Headed God of Prosperity and Opportunities, when you need to summon the strength of the elephant to conquer obstacles and clear your way is a frequent ritual. One hundred and eight times, repeat the name like a mantra. For individuals who are disenfranchised or in need, Ganesha is seen as a defender and provider.
Elephants were used as “vehicles” for soldiers riding into combat, according to ancient Indian legends. Elephants were also thought to be good luck omens before the war. Elephants lifting their trunks were thought to be a positive omen. Elephants fleeing or dispersing were thought to be terrible omens.
An Elephant displaying indications of disease, such as spewing blood, was also thought to be a negative portent for a King or leader’s illness or death.
A White Elephant with crimson eyes is a rebirth of Shakyamuni, or Buddha, in Japan.
Baku is a creature with the head of an Elephant and the body of a Lion, as seen in Japanese culture. “Dream Eaters” is the name given to these mythological monsters. They’re claimed to “eat” nightmares, so they’re thought to keep you safe while you’re sleeping.
The Achdequedjam are eight huge elephants that support the Earth-like pillars in Hindu mythology. There are legends of a little “Water Elephant” with tusks in Burmese folklore. Elephants appear in art and legends from civilizations all across the East.
Wisdom, intellect, and sensitivity, as well as health, memory, and strength, are usually linked with these animals.
The elephant is connected with hope, plenty, and prosperity, as well as money, good fortune, and fun. This is due in part to the lively and carefree character of the young Elephant. Elephant babies love to play in the dirt and gallop about aimlessly. The spiritual significance of a Baby Elephant, according to many Eastern cultures, is reconnecting with your lively inner nature and remembering how to have fun and frolic in the sun.
Meaning of Elephant Tattoo
When you see an Elephant tattoo, it might symbolize a lot of different things to you.
Perhaps the carrier of such art just admires Elephants’ beauty and wants to pay honor to this beautiful creature. It might also be a tattoo that connects the bearer to their Ancestral connection or their personality’s power, nobility, strength, and kindness.
An Elephant tattoo may also represent community, kindness, healing, and love, which are all cultural virtues. Elephants are commonly connected with sadness because they grieve their deceased in a ritualistic manner. An Elephant tattoo is one method to commemorate a significant loss.
If you want to stay linked to your power, wisdom, and sense of grandeur, consider getting an Elephant tattoo to act as a reminder of these qualities.
Additional interpretations may be derived from a tattoo of various Elephant-related deities. When you need to navigate through problems, a tattoo of Ganesha, for example, might remind you of your capacity to break through barriers and clear the path. Having a tattoo of this revered Elephant-headed God will also boost your luck and boost your chances of success.
A tattoo of a Baku, a mythical monster with the head of an Elephant and the body of a Tiger, may serve as a reminder that you are traversing both the intellectual, esoteric, and intuitive realms of dreams as well as the prosaic realm of the physical realm.
An Elephant tattoo may have a profound spiritual significance for certain persons of African origin, letting them feel connected to their Ancestral culture.
Spiritual Meaning of Elephants
Many parts of yourself or your journey might be represented by the elephant spirit animal. Because of their slow and lumbering speed, elephants were formerly linked with sloth or sluggishness.
Elephants are symbols of love, loyalty, and healing. Elephants are known to be faithful to their matriarchal social groupings, hence elephants might be linked to the Divine Feminine and your matrilineal ancestors.
Elephant may contact you to encourage you to expand your network and community. Are you attempting to mend past wounds and help people close to you who need your strength and patience?
Are you being asked to serve as a wise keeper? Elephant’s spiritual connotation may include using your memory and intellect to retain the stories and knowledge of your ancestors and elders.
Elephants are connected with big parades and demonstrations of wealth and power since they were formerly employed to transport influential individuals such as cultural leaders and monarchs. Elephant symbolism may be used to signify rank or humble servitude spiritually.
Elephant Spirit Animal may also symbolize being a tower of strength for others, according to this tradition. Who are you proudly carrying on your shoulders? Are you a rock of support and strength for the people that matter most to you?
When you work with Elephant, you may be asked to help those who are granted importance and respect in society, and your ideas or abilities may “carry” powerful individuals. The elephant isn’t the center of attention. Elephant, on the other hand, undertakes hard work for the benefit of others.
Elephant spiritual significance and symbolism are also linked to perception, namely the ability to perceive multiple parts of a situation according to your current vantage position. This is shown with a tale of two blind guys touching separate portions of an elephant and describing a new beast.
Is there anything you’re dealing with that’s so big and complicated that you can’t absorb it all at once? Perhaps the trunk or leg of the gigantic Elephant is all that matters to you right now.
If you choose to be patient, the situation may turn out to be entirely different from what you first thought. This might serve as a reminder that perception is crucial, as is maintaining an open mind.
Elephants are known for a variety of things, one of which is their communal grieving process. Their bereavement rites are intricate. Elephants will respectfully and quietly touch the departed’s body. In a makeshift burial, they will cover the deceased’s corpse with leaves. They’ll also stay nearby for a long period, as though keeping watch for their loved ones who have passed away.
Is there a lingering hurt or loss that needs to be addressed? Elephant can support you through the process of sorrow and loss if you’ve had to cope with it. The elephant might tell you that rather than glossing over or diverting yourself from the loss, you may need to confront it with honor and bravery.
Elephant Symbolism Is Important
- Confidence & Authority
- Awareness
- Love for your family
- Patience
- Pride
- Stamina
- Strength
- Dream Work and Dream Time
- Intention and Will
- Environmental stewardship and protection