Elephant Dreams

Throughout history and religion elephants symbolized immense power, wisdom and strength. The world’s largest mammals hidden deep in the tropical forest connect us to mother earth, to our higher self. When they emerge in our dreams they come to deliver us a powerful message unique to the dreamer.  The elephant will present itself as a metaphor, symbolic to your culture and how you view the enormous creature.  In order to properly decode you need to understand the basics of an elephant.

Elephant Dreams

Understanding the true meaning of the elephant directs your attention to profound inner power; or lack thereof. The symbol has chosen to come to you for a reason indicating the connection with your unconscious. However the elephant is displayed in your dream may alter the meaning of the dream. The elephants enemy is the snake, could this be related to a fear of healing?

Remember that elephant are thick skinned animals hinting at people who might have destructive powers. Could this be the powers you possess? Consider the tusks as well that might be associated being phallic symbol.

Traits:

Acceptance
Awareness
Confidence
Aware/Listening
Love
Patience
Pride
Stamina & Perseverance
Strength
Peace and Stillness
Noble
Protection and Guardianship
Uncontrolled Rage

Understanding The Elephant:

  • Elephants are extremely intelligent species, they are known to do advanced problem solving
  • They have the ability to mourn the loss of their family and visit where they died years later
  • According to researchers they are self aware and very sociable
  • The elephant trunk is used for  grasping, breathing, feeding, dusting, smelling, drinking, lifting, defense, sensing and communication.
  • Elephant ears are used as a cooling mechanism as it is one-sixth size of their body
  • Elephants eat a wide range of plant material, including grass, leaves, woody parts of trees and shrubs, flowers and fruits when available
  • Elephants may be able to detect a thunderstorm from 280 km away
  • Like humans their strength and affinity for rage make elephants one of the most dangerous animals in the world. Such acts is often preceded by a rocking motion. This is true of both wild and captive elephants in stressful situations
  • Popular culture Dumbo

Common Elephant Symbols

Elephant Trunk – If you noticed the elephant truck in your dream what direction was it pointed? According to Feng Shui an elephant with its trunk raised up represents good luck, while fertility is symbolized when the trunk is down. If the trunk was non threatening in your dream suggests its a positive omen.

Elephant Ears – The ears are associated with listening. Like the Buddha his ears are depicted big because he listened more than he spoke.

Baby Elephant – New life, joy  and beginnings are heading your way. A need to be protected by family connecting with a strong bond.

Elephant Attack – The immanence power mixed with rage has the ability to do a lot of damage to others.  Possible aspects you inherit has the capabilities to trample over others. Could this be an internal unrecognized force that has been neglected and stressed for too long?  These dreams are a warning for something once out of control can be very dangerous.

Elephant In Water – These dreams connected with the emotional side of the dreamer.  If it is in mud it might be connecting to grounding your energies.

Elephant Feet – Depending the context it could be a idiom for filling in big shoes, or a lot of responsibility.

Elephant Stampede – These dreams might suggest disturbance; going against the grain.  If you are in harms way suggests how close you will be in this dangerous situation.

Elephant In A Room –  If you noticed an elephant in a room translates to being the odd on out.  The person that sticks out the most any where they go.

Elephant Tusks – According to some dream sources anything with the ability to penetrate could be a phallic dream.  The pure ivory tusk is a symbol of rarity, strength and power as it moves anything in its path away.  Desired by others but at risk of being hurt.

Captive Elephant – These dreams seem to be associated with internal mental struggles you could be facing.  Your wonderful qualities are are caged and need to be set free.  A starved elephant is linked to person neglect (self transforming)

Killed Elephant – Usually death acts as a rebirth, however depending on the context and how you view the elephant can be negative.  A loss of something big and unique.  If you or someone else killed the elephant will decipher if if the attack was your own destiny or someone else.

Riding Elephant:  These are positive omens that suggest you have your emotions under control.

Elephant In Religion/Spirituality

Biblical: Protection against evil spirits and the enemy of the snake.

Buddhism: In Buddhism the Elephant is seen as an expression as Siddharth Gautama (Buddha) himself. The elephant symbolizes enlightenment and as well as the ability to control the wondering mind. According to the story of Buddha when his mother became pregnant, she dreamt of a pure white elephant that delivered a lotus flower on his his trunk. Circling around her three times the white elephant entered her womb. She understood from this meaningful vision that the baby will be pure and powerful.

The elephants characteristics mirror that of the Buddha depicting a calm, alert, gentle, noble, mindful and harmless being. These gentle giants are unwavering obedient to their companions, loving to their families, big ears for listening and think skin as nothing hurts them.

Buddha observation of the elephant traits are akin to the ones who seek enlightenment.  “If you cannot find a good companion to walk with, walk alone, like an elephant roaming the jungle. It is better to be alone than to be with those who will hinder your progress.”

Hinduism: In Hinduism image of elephant deity Ganesha radiates throughout India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Fiji, Thailand, Indonesia and Bangladesh. Ganesha is widely revered as the remover of obstacles, the patron of arts and sciences and the deva of intellect and wisdom.

Highly worshiped by his followers before they start anything new in life; hence the removing obstacles.  However he is also known to be the destroyer of vanity, selfishness and pride. Pertaining to mediation practices it is said that Ganesha resides in the first chakra, called Muladhara.

This chakra connected to the principle on which the manifestation or outward expansion of primordial Divine Force rests. The first chakra or energy wheel, which depends all of the other chakras and represents communication, survival and material well-being.

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Sam Deep
Sam Deep
5 years ago

I dreamed a total of 3 elephants, character was mom baby and boss of the baby. So i see that mom sends of the baby to work, the baby cuts tree branches and is being hurt by the boss near the ear by snatching one of the branch. The mother sees the wound of the baby elephant and goes to the boss and talks. That’s it. What’s the interpretation of this?

Amanda Smith
Amanda Smith
5 years ago

I had a dream where I was riding on an elephant and I was in the clouds. I would come down on his trunk as I free fall being protected. I saw baby elephants below that made sure I was going to be safe. I had another dream where I saw a snake and and elephant jumping not trying to get bitten. I have no idea what that means.

Interpret Dreams
Interpret Dreams
5 years ago

I had two very significant dreams about elephants. The first one I was in India on a bus filled with so many people and I was on the top heading off to go somewhere unknown. We reach our destination and two young elephants charged at me as I ducked out of the way. They came directly at me I wasn’t that scared just moved very fast. I remember after I saw a mural of two elephants heads facing each other as if it there where there for years. The second one was two elephants chained up and one escaped. There… Read more »