Were Elephants Engineered As Living Metaphors of Grace And Patience?

Along this line of thinking, let’s look at the elephant. Its brain usually weighs around 11 pounds. This is 2-3X larger than the average human’s brain, and is also much larger and more functional than those of rhinos, hippos, and others. 

This graceful and friendly mammal has a long pregnancy, at almost 22 months. Some say this gives baby elephants enough time to build a strong connection within themselves. It also makes them more self-sufficient, less anxious, more creative, and less competitive. This length of time inside of their mothers might even make them more nurturing and peaceful. What better attributes for us to adore and worship?

Upon birth, elephants are immediately curious, exploratory, and creative, able to successfully utilize objects they’ve never seen. When elephants are reprimanded for doing something incorrectly, they can later be seen practicing the required exercises, in private, to improve their skills. 

An elephant’s trunk utilizes over 4000 muscles. Imagine the brain impulses required for this activity. Elephants can also recognize themselves in the mirror and with affection. This type of self-awareness can only be found in humans, apes, and dolphins.

The Stunning List of Elephant Attributes

Elephants have outstanding social abilities, as represented in their exemplary levels of gentility, empathy, and altruism. At the very least, we should be protecting this precious species from recognizing it as eternally sentient. 

African tribal leaders see the elephant as a conscious Chieftain of the forest. They respect the high level of consciousness that elephants embody. 

If you look at an elephant’s commitment to their family, you’ll find that they will do anything to protect their young. When baby elephant bulls and cows suffer from dehydration, mother elephants will quickly nourish and cool their calves with self-regurgitated water. They draw from within their stomachs to heal their children. 

An Elephant’s Spiritual Nature

In India, Thailand, and other Asian countries, elephants are revered as spiritual-Beings, here to remind us of our most beautiful qualities. They are seen as living embodiments (and reincarnations) of Ganesha, son of Parvati, the Goddess of the Mountains and wife to Lord Shiva. 

In spiritual circles, the elephant, as Ganesh, has features that are seen as symbolic:

• The head represents the ability to acquire wisdom
• The ears speak of patience and the ability to listen thoughtfully and empathically
• The small eyes represent the ability to recognize the truth
• The belly is metaphoric of how we should be able to digest all attributes and aspects of creation, the good, bad and indifferent
• It is said that every obstacle and challenge in our lives can be extinguished by calling upon the love and light found through Ganesh 

“If anyone wants to know what elephants are like, they are like people only more so.”

— Peter Corneille

Whether Asian or African (Savanna or Forest), all elephants share similar attributes and are potential extensions of kindred species. All factions of the two elephant trees appear to have cross-migrated, interbred with cousins, and enjoyed spreading their DNA throughout Europe, several islands, Asia, and beyond.

We are human beings living busy lives, on an increasingly complex and challenging planet. It’s difficult for us to fathom and fully comprehend how we came to exist and why we are here. Even though we imagine ourselves as the sole reason for this planet’s existence, we’re most likely only a tiny part of a much larger evolutionary plan.

When I look into the eyes of elephants, I see eternity. I can feel the spirit of the elephant, which feels representative of an incarnated Buddhist Lama. Feeling into her spirit, I sense thousands of years of meditation. 

The elephant also feels somewhat foreign to me, as if she were placed on Earth to be a helpful fish out of water, a reminder of the attributes nestled deep within our cores. 

Peacefulness, fearlessness, acceptance, and empathy: these are the primary attributes that seem to fall from view when we’re living strained and hectic lives.  As we embark on the next chapters in our lives, let’s look to the elephant and be grateful for what she teaches us. While we’re at it, let’s give a nod to her alien engineers.

“She owned the road as an elephant owns the veldt and like a big blue elephant moved with massive grace and dignity.”

— David Drake

Mammoths, Octopus, and Beyond!

Scientists are using mammoth DNA to create elephant hybrids. While Mammoths are the assumed ancestors of elephants, they are unique. In the coming years, we’ll learn how Mammoth’s are yet another unique example of alien bioengineering. 

With almost 5X the number of brain cells, each with a unique personality, and the ability to think through intricate puzzles don’t even get me started on the octopus! They may be the Earth's first fully conscious species.