Elk – Spirit Animal, Totem, Symbolism and Meaning

Elks are the largest animals in the deer family. These mammals can be found in many places around the globe. Some species live in Eurasia, North America, Argentina and many other parts of the planet.

They are well-known for their large antlers and strong bodies. They don’t have many enemies in nature and they always travel in larger groups.

Elk symbolism is widely popular and known all over the world. To some cultures, elk is a symbol of power and strength and to others, this large animal symbolizes family and community. This representation depends largely on culture and nation that is portraying the image of an elk.

Elk symbolic meaning can be interpreted in many ways and all of you who are interested in knowing more about it, here is a chance to do that.

Spirit Animal and Totem

Spirit animals and totems protect us and guide us through life. It is not unusual to see yourself in an animal you are protected with, especially some characteristics and traits. Our lives are influenced by the power of a certain animal and we are guided through life with their traits and flaws.

Spirit animals are almost accurate representations of our own character and we can learn a lot about ourselves from animals. Unlike the human, their behavior is simple and easily noticeable, so we can always know what they are like.

As a spirit animal, elk is best described by these words:

  • Nobility,
  • Respect, strength,
  • Wisdom,
  • Energy
  • Agility,
  • Passion,
  • Relationships

People who have an elk as their spirit animal can consider themselves very lucky. They are people who know how to approach others and how to go through life with their heads up high. You will rarely see this person acting irresponsibly and childishly.

Their energy is almost always positive and pride is one of the most important things in their life. You will always be respectful to other people and never take their capabilities for granted. People love spending time with you, since they learn so much about life and the world.

As a spirit animal, elk is also a symbol of nobility. This animal was often used as a symbol for royalty because of its stature and strength. Elks are very graceful creatures and unlike other animals, they roam through forests with a sense of style with their heads up high.

Their antlers were also seen as crowns and they were respected by people for their beauty and unique appearance. Elks were often considered to be kings of the forest and their energy is surely more powerful than in other forest animals.

Elk as a totem is giving you a unique sense of sensuality and passion. You are someone who goes through life following your heart and emotions. You will never do something if it doesn’t feel right in your heart. This is against your beliefs and you would never allow for that to happen. Elks are symbols of relationships and they are always traveling in herds.

They don’t like being alone, so people guided by this spirit animal are always a part of a group. No matter how hard the life gets they will always keep their partner by their side and fight everything together.

As a totem, elk is also a symbol of endurance and agility. These large animals are known for their ability to persevere through some hard situations and conditions. They are strong and stable, and always take care of themselves and the ones around it. People guided by this spirit animal are highly protective of those who are close to them. They would never attack first or cause pain, so they need to be provoked in order to do so.

Even though you are a peaceful person, some situations can cause rage in you. They are usually extreme situations that you can’t handle with peace and grace as usual. When someone touches something dear to you or hurts a person you love, there is no limit to what you can do in order to seek revenge. These are, of course, rare situations and you are almost always able to control your actions.

Overall, elk as a spirit animal is a symbol of strong and powerful character. You are a confident person, very much aware of your capabilities but you always know how to show respect to those who deserve it. Family and friends are very important in your life and they are certainly your biggest strength.

Symbolism and Meaning

As a symbol elk has a very important role. Since this large mammal inhabits big parts of our planet, we can find different examples of elk symbolism around the world. To some cultures, elk has a completely different symbolic meaning, but many cultures have similar symbolic representations of an elk.

In the southwestern parts of the United States, carvings of elks have been made thousands of years ago. The Ansazi people were responsible for some of the first images of elks carved in caves and stones. The Native American tribes Cree, Blackfeet, Pawnee and Kootenai made robes and blankets out of elk hides. The Lakota people had a special connection with elks and considered them symbols of long life and protection.

They used to give male tribe members elk teeth in order to prolong their lives because elk teeth were the last things that would be visible after the elk flesh disappears and rotten. Lakota tribe members would also consider dreams about elks to be very important because elks were considered as potent and strong. When they had dreams about elks courting coats, it was seen as a representation of male sexual prowess. To the Lakota people, the elk was a symbol of male power, courage and strength and they highly worshipped them.

Images of elks can also be found in Asia. Petroglyphs show female elks that were symbols of sustenance and rebirth. As years have gone by, elk symbols started to appear less in caves and in stone, due to a cultural transformation away from hunting.

Rocky Mountain elk has become the official animal of the US state Utah. Elk antlers were considered to have big power and were often used as trophies that would be represented in people’s homes. Elk symbolism is extremely important to many cultures around the world and with its beauty elk remains to be one of the most powerful symbols.

Dreams about elks

Dreams about elks can only be interpreted if we take all other symbols into consideration. Elk dreams, in general, are representations of strength and masculine power. This dream can also announce an important event that will soon take place in your life, such as marriage or even starting a family.

As I mentioned earlier, some ancient people believed that dreams about elks were symbols of male power and dominance. If you were hunting an elk in your dream, you could get into some kind of trouble. Things will definitely be going badly for you, so be extra careful and watch your every step.

Dreams about killing an elk are symbols of rivalry and enemies. This dream is telling you to watch out for people who have the intention to hurt you or do something bad to you. Be careful what you say to others and how you act in certain situations, because your enemies could use that in their advantage.

If you had a dream about an elk running away from you, this can be seen as a positive or favorable sign. You will be able to achieve something you have been working on and things will start to look much better for you. This dream is also a symbol of finished projects and plans that have been completed successfully.

When there were several elks in your dream, this dream is a symbol of friendship and community. You are being told by this dream, that the people who are surrounding you are honest and genuine in their intentions. You have faithful friends and they would do everything to help you out. This dream is also telling you to take care of them and to give them the same amount of respect and love in return.

Elk antlers in a dream are a symbol of marriage and relationships. This dream is bringing love to those who are single and marriage to those who are already taken. Either way, be prepared for something magnificent and romantic that you have been waiting for a long time.

Conclusion

Elk symbolism is one of the most important ones in the symbolic world. Every person guided by this powerful spirit animal is a strong and confident person with a lot to offer.

People love you because you treat them with respect and you genuinely care about your friends.

As totems, elks are symbols of male energy and agility, therefore everyone protected by this totem is surely strong enough to persevere through even the hardest moments in life.

Elk symbolism is one of the oldest known and it still remains to be one of the most important. His magnificent and graceful appearance keeps amazing us and will continue to do so in the future.

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