Being an Elephant

The dream this morning was a brief, but interesting, experience. I saw the world through an elephant's eyes. My consciousness merged into an elephant's body. It was a strange sensation having such a massive lumbering body. The trunk is enormous; it works as a counterbalance. It was definitely an odd sensation having such a huge protuberance that flexes and that you can breathe through. I found myself examining every aspect of the trunk. I raised it up and twisted it and pinched the end of it. The tip can grasp like a finger and thumb. It was moist inside the nostrils.

After several minutes of examining my new body I turned to look at my surroundings. I am on the African savannah. I see a vast area of tall grass dotted with scruffy looking trees. My long distance eyesight is not great, but up close, I see perfectly. I go shuffling along. I reflect on what it must be like to live the life of an elephant. Elephants in the wild are constantly on alert watching for poachers. The stress they experience in life is tremendous. All the surviving elephants have seen family members killed. They all have been traumatized. All elephants in Africa have been affected by the slaughter for their ivory. They experience post-traumatic stress just like humans do. They all live in a constant state of fear and anxiety, and it impacts them both physically and emotionally. Elephants are remarkable creatures. I feel a great sympathy, and  now, intense empathy for them.

The dream ends here, but it's effects, linger on. This was not my typical dream. This dream was of a different sort of category all together, and was it truly a dream? It was another of those odd dream like experiences that I am left wondering if it was reality or fantasy. Did I astral travel? Did I have an out of body experience and merge my consciousness with a real elephant in Africa? Was it all just a fanciful dream?  Proof of this experience would be impossible to provide. All I have to go on are my convictions and intuitions, and these won't stand up in a court of law.

Whatever, the reality or unreality of this experience, we can still examine what it means for me, and gain some useful insights. First, let's examine the elephant as a symbol. The elephant symbolizes: strength, honour, stability, patience, reliability, protection, luck, good fortune, bull dozing obstacles, dignity, power, pride, royalty, leading others who are dependent from the young to the aged, elephants are conscientious about how they conduct their lives right up to finding a select place to die and they are renown for their long memories. Overall, elephants have a lot of good qualities!
I can see why the American Republican party adopted it as their symbol.

Elephants are regarded as introverts and not overly expressive by nature. Many dream dictionaries would say that I have a pent up need to speak my truth and should express my opinion. I tend not to put my faith in these and prefer to go with what my own instincts, and intuitions say on these matters. Elephants are known to keep their feelings subdued and will explode if they become frustrated. I have much in common with elephants.

I am now pondering a previous blog I did on spirit animals. Elephants are herd animals and are known for being very telepathic. In my view an elephant spirit should be very adept at astral communication and travel.  Elephants have a long history of working with humans in construction, logging and even in war. In Hinduism, Ganesh, is the elephant head god with a human body. He brings good fortune and busts through obstacles. I am at a point in my life that I could use just such an ally. I need a wealth blessing and someone to break through all the barriers I am encountering in getting a visa for my girl, Hakima. My own family herd  of origin is a bunch of misfits and crazy people, who are not getting along, maybe elephant spirit can help with healing that as well.

Well, being an elephant was sure an enlightening experience. I am seeing things about myself from a different point of view. Perhaps, if I commune with my inner elephant, I can get some deeper understanding about my own unconscious brute nature and reach some higher level of vibration. I sure hope so. Many thanks to my elephant teacher.