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Keynote: Ancient Power, Strength, and Royalty Cycle of Power: Year-round The elephant is the largest living land mammal. It has ancient ancestry in the mammoths. There are two types still in existence, the Indian and the African. The African is larger and the shape of the ears differ. There elephant has a tremendous amount of myth and lore surrounding it. Of all elephants, the white elephant is considered the most sacred. This is similar to the sacredness often reflected in Native American traditions associated with the white buffalo. It is said that mothers of great teachers and masters will dream of white elephants. One store of Buddha's mother tells how she dreamt a white elephant had entered her womb. In India and southeast Asia elephants are venerated, and the symbolism of the elephant is multiple. It is a symbol of royalty and fertility. The Hindu god of wisdom and success, Ganesha, is usually depicted with an elephant's head. The god Indra held several roles in which an elephant played a part. As the king of gods, the elephant was the royal mount. As the god of warriors, the elephant was Indra's super weapon. As the god of rain, Indra used the gray elephant to bring forth monsoons. The elephant is both strange and terrifying to those unfamiliar with it. Much of what the average person believes about elephants is fallacy. Mice do not scare them. They respond to sound, not to the movement of the mouse. Although they do have good memories, the idea that an elephant never forgets is misunderstood. It actually refers to never forgetting someone who has caused injury. They have been known to seek revenge if the opportunity presented itself. There also are no elephant graveyards, special places where elephants go to die. These tales are very mystical and symbolic. Elephants do show interest in the dead and dying, even going so far as to display sorrow. The elephant has a most auspicious symbolism. They embody strength and power, especially the power of libido. Male elephants are more likely to rage out of control when in rut. Because of this the elephant is seen as a symbol of great sexual power. Because of their size, color, and shape, elephants and clouds have been linked together. They were seen as symbols of clouds, and many believed that elephants created the clouds. Those with an elephant totem should study the symbolism and significance of clouds. In general, they are symbols of the mist that separates the formed worlds from the unformed. They have been associated with Neptune, prophecy, fertility, and even family. Because they are always in a state of metamorphosis, they can reflect the same for those with the elephant totem. One of the most outstanding features of the elephant is the trunk. Because the elephant has relatively poor eyesight, it relies heavily upon its sense of smell. It breathes smells in through the trunk and discerns from the smells. The sense of smell is a long time symbol for higher forms of discrimination. Those with an elephant totem should pay attention to what smells good ad what smells bad. Are you not discriminating as you should? Are others? Does something smell funny? Are you not responding, even though things don't smell right? For those with an elephant totem, working with incense and fragrant oils can be a powerful and effective tool. Aromatherapy should be studied and used. Oils and fragrances will enable you to shift your consciousness most effectively. The sense of smell is also strongly connected to sexual drive. It is one of the most powerful stimulants. Smells may become an aphrodisiac for those with this totem. It can be powerful means of seducing or being seduced. This further enhances the symbol of the elephant as a sexual symbol. The trunk is very versatile, and it is used for drinking, showering, and defense. Elephants even greet each other by touching trunks. The trunk has two fingerlike extensions. This specialized nose and upper lip combination makes it work almost like a hand. With it they can feed upon twigs, leaves, and grasses that it would not otherwise be able to reach. Again it reflects that through the increased sensitivity of smell that elephant stimulates, you can open to energies and worlds otherwise inaccessible. The tusks are another important part of the elephant. Unfortunately, poachers kill an outrageous number of African elephants, simply to cut off the tusks of ivory. For anyone with an elephant totem, the significance of ivory from a spiritual and metaphysical aspect should be examined. The tusks are used as weapons and as tools for digging edible roots. This gives the elephant links to things beneath and above the earth~ a knowledge of plants and roots. The elephant society is divided by age and gender. Cows and calves live in all female herds, led by a wise old cow. This reflects the ancient tradition of three forms of the feminine energies in life~ the child, the mother, and the old wise woman. These three forms have been found in most societies in which mystery teachings of life and the universe exist. Bulls occasionally join the female herds. This is usually just for mating. The rest of the time they usually live in bachelor herds which are run by an older tougher bull. Again this has been duplicated in many societies around the world. Both men and women had their societies and their sacred teachings about elephants. Elephants show great affection and loyalty for each other. Older calves will help younger siblings. Grown elephants will help sick or wounded comrades. In the elephant are the ideals of true societies. Those who have elephant as totem will usually find themselves in a position where the opportunity to reestablish powerful family and societal ideals will occur. Mutual care of the young, respect for the elderly and the sick, being strong in your own self~ these are the foundations of a great person or a great society. If the elephant has come to you, prepare to draw upon the most ancient of wisdom and power. You will have an opportunity to either help yourself or others reclaim your most primordial royalty.
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