Sacred Elephant Tattoo Design for the Heart Chakra – Click on photo to enlarge

I’ve been so excited to see many of my clients having their sacred tattoo designs brought to life in the flesh this year. 2013 really seems to be an empowering opening for everyone and these Spiritual Skin symbolisms are helping the new energies to take form. I’ve enjoyed the images sent in, and shared, of finalized tattoos and tattoos in the process from my clients. It’s also been an honor to also see some of them in person.

The journey is always an individual one and based on a combination of divine and personal timing coming together synchronously. For this reason, some of the designs I helped co-create last year, are now just manifesting physically, but I’m also seeing the speeding up process, as my newest clients have all been immediately turning around their designs in ink!

This weekend I finalized the last of three sacred tattoo designs for 3 male clients I was working on this week. They have all been so powerful and really took me through quite a journey with each.

This last one is a beautiful marking point to end this energetic grouping with. It is the co-creation of  the design work I donated towards a vegan-themed tattoo to the silent auction at Farm Sanctuary’s Animal Acres in Acton, CA, which helped raise funds to continue the dedicated work Farm Sanctuary does in rescue, education and advocacy.

All three of these recent pieces were large, this one being the biggest so far at 10 inches wide by 14 inches tall in measurement. It’s intended to sit center of the chest with head at the Heart Chakra, ear to ear spanning from nipple to nipple, and then trunk tapering down to navel. Pretty powerful and offsets a sort of Yin/Yang energy to my client’s full back piece.

After much reflection on the energies and ideas presented, I felt very drawn to only focusing on the elephant that you see pictured here, as it has such a presence and strength to carry the energy of the symbolism, without a lot more. Integrating layers and aspects within the elephant, representative of a personal soul journey inwardly evolving into manifestation, rather than outside of the elephant, felt resonating. It also felt aligned to keep this design on the more organic and realism side, with some elements of magical and spiritual more subtle rather than poignant, as my client’s back piece was.

Less was more in this area of the Heart Chakra to come from a place of simplistic, yet powerful truth.

I focused on the elephant, a Swahili word, Furaha – which means joy, musical resonance (the Treble Clef), the Sun and Moon depictions, and a Gerber “Daisy” to symbolize homage for my client’s beloved animal companion that bears that name. These came through as the most important aspects to represent and convey.

The elephant depiction is an artistic representation of a beloved photograph by Nick Brandt, a favorite photographer of my client’s. The background, when inked, will reflect (as only a hint in the design template shows) will be like the background in the photo, keeping the elephant in a natural environment, and yet there is a sort of surreal aspect in the desolate plane and the clouds, with the elephant so regally and powerfully present. Darkening the shading near and around the elephant and then diminishing/softening, as it extends out so it is like something materializing, is my vision expressed for how this will come into being when inked.

I placed the Treble Clef in the trunk. You can see it, but it is also worked into the trunk to be a little hidden. I felt since the elephant’s trunk is the way it communicates through sound, this to be a mirroring place, plus the fact we often hear of the elephants “trumpeting” their sound, hence the music overlay.

In the elephant’s right ear (left when facing) I worked into the elephants folds of the ear, the Gerber Daisy in homage to the animal companion in my client’s life named Daisy. And in the elephant’s left ear (right when facing) at the bottom folds I worked in the Swahili word Furaha that was very important also this client. I wanted it not to stand out like a sore thumb, but to look like part of the design. The sun and the moon I placed at the Third Eye/Crown Chakra area of the elephant. The crescent moon supporting and cradling the sun image above and overlaying it (both worked into the folds of the skin a bit) with a infinite spiral center. This felt to be a way to bring integration into the enlightenment aspect (and the journey of ascending , evolution, and centered power) of the elephant and focused and emanating energy. I liked having the sun and moon together in a sort of Yin/Yang balancing way. It also felt to be creating a very intentful energy when you gaze upon the elephant that draws in and gives out from the center of “beingness”.

Close up of integrated symbols into the elephant – click on image to enlarge

A little more on the symbolism involved, as I love to share how very intricate things are, even in their seeming simplicity:

The daisy (a symbol of gentleness, innocence and sweetness of life) in the right ear lends its energy to that of the left brain (which is our more male/analytical/logical part of brain). So the daisy brings this softening to that aspect and lends an “ear” to listening compassionately to others. The word “Furaha” in the left ear, associated with the right brain of (female/intuitive/creative part of brain), brings the essence of joy to this process when we wisely let these aspects guide us in integrated balance with our wisdom. Here we listen to all aspects of life in presence, both within and without, giving and receiving joy in the process of embracing.

The Treble Clef trunk lends its energy to speaking, communicating, engaging, sharing, from the music of your heart and in harmony and synergy with your trueness, as well as to and with others. Understanding there is a subtle musical essence in how we speak and in everything we create and these tones are important in relaying the core essence and energy behind what is shared. So it helps to be mindful of integrating the feeling with the action and having them vibrate and harmonize as one. To speak from your truth and to share your individual song with the world.

The sun and moon help to keep that presence of mind and intention and to stay balanced, centered, integrated, mindful, and having that gentle strength that exudes from within.

Here is some information on Elephant symbolism for anyone interested:

Marveled by the Chinese, Indians and Africans as the most auspicious symbol from the animal kingdom embodying strength, dignity, virility, fertility, prudence, wisdom and intelligence, the elephant is worshipped and honored, sacred and loved. In Buddhism, the elephant is one of the eight precious holy animals and the India God Ganesha (remover of obstacles) is pictured as having the head of an elephant – signs of revered greatness.

In Feng Shui, the Elephant is considered a sacred symbol. Although it is often used to symbolize power, wisdom, strength and fertility, it can also be used to symbolize longevity and success. It can act as the grantor of wishes and as the protector of the household. For most feng shui applications, the elephants are usually depicted with the trunk up, as this symbolizes the showering of good luck, prosperity and victory.

Elephant Wisdom:

Strength
Royalty
Connection to ancient wisdom
Removal of obstacles and barriers
Confidence
Patience
Using education opportunities

There is always more than meets the eye in how I piece things together, than simply a drawing or putting things where ever they fit.

I’m excited to see this come into manifestation soon and excited that James Spooner, Los Angeles vegan tattoo artist, will again be co-collaborating on this one. Fun! James will, as he does beautifully, add his own artistic flair and tweaks to the piece and it becomes, as each sacred tattoo design does, collaborative effort of all three people together.

If you would like to partner in co-creating your own sacred tattoo design to embody the empowerment you desire, you can contact me at tania@spiritualskin.com.

For more information about the process and pricing please visit: What is a Tattoo Design Consultation

Some people have preferred to read my book, Spiritual Skin, especially if they are new to sacred tattoo designs, before embarking on this journey.

If you are drawn to learn more about sacred tattoos you can order a copy of the book here: Spiritual Skin

It is also available in Kindle and PDF formats here: Spiritual Skin