The Lure of the Elephant

Many people were raised with elephants in their homes believing that they will bring good luck. There will be arguments about whether the trunk should be up and facing the door or if it should be down and facing into a room. Eastern and Western Hemispheres have different opinions all around.

Elephants are the largest land mammal. The female will often stay with their mothers their entire lives so elephants often become great grandmothers. Elephants are highly sensitive and caring animals, much like humans. If a baby elephant cries, the elephants surrounding it will caress it with their trunks to soothe it.

To most people an elephant symbolizes protection, good fortune and wisdom. White elephants are considered auspicious. It is said that the Buddha’s mother dreamt of a white elephant before she gave birth to him. An elephant brings home strength, good luck and harmony in family bonds when placed in a pair by your front door.

An elephant has also symbolized sensitivity, wisdom, stability, loyalty, intelligence, peace, reliability and determination. These are all seen in the animal’s nature when observed in the wild. Elephants are thought of as gentle giants, who show great care toward their herd, their offspring and their elders.

In Christianity, an elephant’s symbolism denotes restraint, chastity and patience. They are depicted in many ancient art pieces and are thought to represent Adam and Eve in their male and female forms. A fallen elephant would represent a person who had fallen into sin. Elephants are often mentioned in the Bible.

The elephant is truly a peaceful warrior, an herbivore, and family-oriented. They are always protective of their kin. Their recognizable appearance and gentle demeanor makes the elephant a beautiful symbol to adopt in your life. If the elephant is your spirit animal, you are considered to be very intelligent as well. You are wise and intuitive and you don’t need everything spelled out for you. You feel things deeply and you respond to things using this depth of emotion. A spirit animal is characterized as a teacher that comes in the form of an animal. You can have one or several spirit animals throughout your lifetime.

Many people, including myself, use elephants as part of their décor. I have a herd of them on my fireplace mantel and at least one in every other room. My daughters were both given elephants to place in their homes when they left the nest. They also love elephants as they were surrounded by their peacefulness throughout their childhood and often heard the tales from grandparents of what they symbolized.

In Feng Shui, elephants have a great significance in home décor. A Chinese practice of positioning things in your surroundings, Feng Shui’s balances the yin and yang and maintains the flow of chi. An elephant symbolizing Buddha and the Lord bring the home strength and good luck. Adding an elephant to your home décor can bring positivity to your home. However, this is only achieved if an elephant’s statue is placed in a certain manner. Some believe that if an elephant is to be a protector, the pair of elephants should be facing outwards. This would prevent the loss of chi, and maintain balance.

In an Indian home, the elephant is thought of as an animal of honor and respect. For their celebrations, Indian artists use different colored pigments to pain patterns on the elephants before they parade in their processions. This culture believes that the elephant represents strength and good fortune in the home both inside and out.

Many people (myself included), include elephant décor throughout the home to encourage luck in different areas of your life. Elephants in bedrooms encourage love and commitment. In a study room or den, the elephant symbolizes wisdom. In the living room they promote good luck to those who live in and visit your home. My elephants all assemble on my mantel in my living room to bring luck and hope to all who live and visit us and to bless our families as we celebrate life’s moments.

Whatever your reason or how you place your elephants in your home, remember the type of animal they represent and the sense of family and loyalty they have in their own herds. This is a strong spirit feeling for us to carry on in our own lives.