Sacred Elephants

Favorite Photos: Elephant [in graphite & watercolor]

Elephant, originally uploaded by carson kugler.
©Copyright Carson Kugler.

Carson's recent exhibitions include Telling Stories out of School: Midwest Illustrators Arthur Geisert, Kevin Henkes and Tina and Carson Kugler April 11, 2009 - June 21, 2009 at the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum in Neenah, WI, and a gallery show at Stumpjack Coffee in Two Rivers, WI from March-May 2009.

Carson has storyboarded on a number of well-known cartoons, most notably as a storyboard director for Nickelodeon's SpongeBob Squarepants and Hey Arnold. He is available for both freelance illustration and storyboards...and is currently looking for representation in illustration. If you are interested in purchasing art or setting up a gallery show, contact Carson at carsonkugler(at)sbcglobal(dot)net.

Discovering the Sacred Symbols and Powers of Ganesh

Each Ganesh temple carving, statue, or painting you see is slightly different. The elephant-faced deity Ganesha has 4 arms, showing his capable powers at helping humanity. His hands hold a wide variety of symbolic objects that show us what those powers are. His type of throne varies, as do the objects at his feet. Each symbol carries a message for you from Ganesh.

A friend was appreciating and indulging my adoration for elephants and bestowed a Ganesha gift upon me, a diminutive statuette, the kind Hindus carry with them for good luck when they travel. Immediately, I noticed that Ganesha is sitting on a conch shell with his little mouse friend nearby. I seldom see Ganesh using the shell as his throne. Looking closer with a magnifying lens, I looked to see what was in his tiny hands. What hidden meanings does this Ganesh hold?

You may or may not know that I am not Hindu. Yet since I was a very young child, I've been inexplicably drawn towards East Indian art and culture. While other preteen girls wanted Barbie dolls from Toys R Us, I wanted nothing more than for my mother to take me to Cost Plus (now World Market) in San Francisco so I could scour through their treasure chest of incense and brass candle holders, saris and bangles. It's fair to say that I was drawn by the art first and the religion second. In my thirst for spiritual understanding, I've read some books on Hinduism, but I'm not scholarly. I'm a seeker of direct experience. 

My relationship with Ganesha is a personal one. In my twenties, I visited a temple with an enormous wooden Ganesh. He was immense, standing at least a foot taller than me, and covered with flowers and coins that devotees had left as offerings. As is my way, I playfully whispered a greeting to him. Then something came over me. A warm and powerful wave of energy. I felt spiritually "hugged." Thus began our relationship. I turn to Ganesha as a father figure and friend. When I feel small and unprotected, he comforts me. When I'm taking myself far too seriously, I feel his amusement. I most definitely feel his big elephant trunk nudging and prodding me along my path. I try to listen and learn from him. The meditations I write here, Lessons from Ganesh, are borne out of that listening.

There is a marvelous book called Loving Ganesha by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami that the Himalayan Academy has uploaded in its entirety for you to read on-line. Although I haven't read very much of it yet, I like the author's writing style. It's geared towards a modern person's way of thinking and written in plain English. It's such a large body of work (592 pages) that a paperback copy is on my shopping list, but I'm grateful that the academy made it available for free on-line. 

In that book, there is a terrific chapter on Ganesha's Sacred Symbols. The following quotes are excerpts that demystify the meaning of the gift I received.

Shankha, Conch
Ganesha listens to the puja conch's loud sound, reminding Him of elephants' trumpeting happily in the jungle. He summons, "Come one and all to Me and pray."

Mushika, Mouse
Ganesha's companion, a mouse, attests to the all-pervasiveness of the elephant God. Mushika, the mount or vahana, carries Him into the mind's every nook and cranny.

Gada, Mace

Loving Ganesha is decisive and commanding, as symbolized by gada, His mace. He casts karmas back on devotees for resolution, never letting up until completion.

Pasha, Noose
Loving Ganesa's provident mind, like the noose, draws close those He loves most dearly and reaches out to encircle and save strayed ones in extraordinary ways.

I love how the symbol of the beckoning conch shell reminds Ganesh of happily trumpeting elephants! What a beautiful calling. The mouse is a good reminder that God is in the details, too. I suppose the mace is Ganesha's tough love. He is a thorough teacher. The conjures up images of being in Ganesha's rodeo. This little lamb could use tending. So very sweet. A wonderful gift!

Trick or Treat for Elephants on Halloween

 
Picture credit: TOTALLY WILD, as featured on Telegraph.co.UK

Judging by the way she's eating one and playing with another, I'd say jack o' lanterns are a treat for this elephant!

Sweet Elephant T-Shirts and Art by Karin Taylor

 
I was enjoying an email conversation with artist Karin Taylor about her work that includes a whole herd of elephant designs. I thought you might enjoy her art work, but also her answer to my questions:

What made you choose to draw elephants? What do they mean to you?

"I started drawing elephants one day when I was playing with a new medium, oil pastels.  I recall having a small sheet of yellow pastel paper available and some new vibrant pastels just purchased...I can't recall why I drew that first elephant, he just was there, I saw him in my mind's eye.  For these 7 years, I've had a love affair with adorning elephants with designs, swirls, embellishments...and the longer I sit on an idea, the more intrigued I become with the elephant. 

I watched a program where a beautiful baby girl elephant was dying from depression after her mum had died, a Steve production (from Australia Zoo) and that really moved me.  I then learned about the amazing emotional displays of elephants who are grieving, and the way they interact as a community, I love to learn, particularly about social behaviours.  Whatever it is I'm interested in from an educational or research point of view, I tend to also become interested in drawing and painting.  Or sometimes it can happen that I enjoy the image so much, that I long to draw and paint it, and afterwards, comes the obsession of learning more about whatever I'm trying to paint. 

In this case, I began painting elephants before I knew why....then learned about them, and how beautiful they are afterwards.  I was particularly interested to learn about the elephant keepers who told Charles Darwin that elephants can cry when grieving or feeling sad or under severe stress and this led me to understand that animals have feelings, just as humans do.  I am fascinated by elephants, and all creatures in fact.  The first elephant I drew was "Rainbow Elephant" and "Magic Elephant" and "The Littlest Elephant Lovelinks" would be the most recent, all in all I've painted elephants over the last 7 years, just now and then, I feel an intense desire to paint one... once painted, they become like real souls to me, I feel they are my children."

Ah! Another matriarch who heard and responded to the elephant call. I just love how Karin's inspiration moved through her to create these lovely designs.

You can view (and buy) all of Karin's art, including her elephant t-shirts, elephant framed art prints, elephant greeting cards, elephant calendars and more, over at RedBubble. 

Perky Pink Elephant Planter, Perky Pink Elephant Planter...

Try saying that a few times fast, or even saying it once after you've had a cocktail!

My dear friend JoEllen gave me this vintage ceramic pink elephant for my birthday this week. Since my birthday falls close to Easter, she filled it with foil-wrapped chocolate bunnies and cellophane grass. I think it will look lovely with a small maidenhair fern or African violet sprouting out like a basket from his "saddle."

Immediately, I noticed that its trunk is raised up, which makes this piece a "lucky elephant." The history of elephants being considered an auspicious animal goes back to Ganesha, a Hindu deity associated with good beginnings (as seen in the above photo, next to the gift on my altar.) However, the elephant with raised trunk being used as a symbol of good luck seems to be more of an American mythology. Here is a link to an article from my favorite curio store, Lucky Mojo in neighboring Forestville all about The Lucky Elephant.

I also noticed that the planter is an African elephant. You can tell by his large ears!

Then the obvious dawned on me. OH! It's a pink elephant. That started to give me an idea of what vintage it might be (there's no company stamp on the planter.) It's probably from the 40's or 50's. That was during the pink elephant heyday!

So what's the meaning of pink elephants, anyway? They seem to be tied in with alcohol somehow.

One of the most famous examples is the pink elephant scene from Dumbo (1941) where Timothy and Dumbo accidentally get drunk on champagne and start hallucinating pink elephants on parade. That scene frightened me as a child, and it still seems creepy to me now. Here's the video clip:

If you're reading via RSS or email, click here to watch the video.

Yet I wondered if the phrase "seeing pink elephants" started because of Dumbo or from something else. Wikipedia to the rescue!

"Seeing pink elephants" is a euphemism for drunken hallucination, caused by alcoholic hallucinosis or delirium tremens. The first recorded use of the term is by Jack London in 1913, who describes one sort of alcoholic in the autobiographical John Barleycorn as "the man whom we all know, stupid, unimaginative, whose brain is bitten numbly by numb maggots; who walks generously with wide-spread, tentative legs, falls frequently in the gutter, and who sees, in the extremity of his ecstasy, blue mice and pink elephants. He is the type that gives rise to the jokes in the funny papers." London may have derived his metaphor from the 1890s saying "being followed by pink giraffes."

I had no idea that phrase came from Jack London. This soon to be released version of his "Alcoholic Memoirs" looks interesting. I don't know very much about his life, except that I've read Call of the Wild and have visited nearby Jack London State Park, where he wrote and drank until he died. He was integral to Sonoma County history (where I reside.) Perhaps I'll pick up a copy and take it with me for reading on a day hike at his park.

More information on pink elephants and vintage cocktail culture can be found on Shaken & Stirred, a blog about the "Wonderful World of Cocktail Shakers & Bar Ware Collecting, Cocktails, and Booze..." The blog's author, Jimbo (reminds me of Jumbo the elephant, or Jambo! which is hello in Swahili) did a nice historical overview in a post called The Pink Elephant. He's also got some great photos of 1940's pink elephant cocktail shakers and retro graphics! I also just learned that there is a cocktail called a Pink Elephant and he gives the recipe, too.

Which reminds me...

There's a bar called The Pink Elephant in Monte Rio, a speck of a town in the Russian River resort area of Northern California. I took that photo of the sign one day. It was around 1pm, and when I peered inside I could see quite a few hard-drinking types cloistered in the dark tavern. Frankly, it looks a bit rough, although I've heard that new owners have improved it since then and it's a pretty fun place to go (when you're in the mood for a dive bar kind of experience.) Hmmm... I wonder if they know how to make Pink Elephant cocktails there? This story might have to be continued later. Oh, the things I'll do for research!

Ganesh Tattoos: Your Body as an Altar

Ganesh Originally uploaded by Gotch @ Harizanmai tattoo Studio. [Copyrighted photo. Click through to Flickr to contact the photographer.]

I think that getting a tattoo can be a powerful ritual. There is a deep level of commitment, as well as the sacrificial offering of pain-endurance involved. Done consciously, having symbolic patterns punctured into your flesh is a way of saying, "Yes. I accept and integrate this into my body and person for life." The permanant visual reminder also serves as a touch stone. Lost your devotion? Want to regain your power or meaningful quality? Look at your tattoo. Tap the body memories of it. Become it again.

Tattoos are a heretical art. Many religions expressly forbid tattoos. As far as I know, the Hindu religion as a whole does not disallow tattoos. Of course, sects will differ, and keep in mind that Hindu cultural values are rather conservative on most things. Mendhi is a beautiful example of Indian body decoration for women, but it is not the same as tattooing. Anecdotally, I have concluded that the majority of people who get body art with religious symbols are not strict followers of religious protocols. Rather, they find their own meaning and create their own rituals to access their spirituality. Even though tattoos are now commonly accepted, there is still a bit of rebelliousness and an independent streak running through most people who get them.

Do you think borrowing religious iconography from a religion you do not fully practice is disrespectful? Certainly, some of that religion's leaders and many followers would think so. But does it really matter to you what they think? It's an important ethical consideration, one that only you can truly decide.

On my wedding day, I was keenly aware of the fact that my Jewish husband's religion has some hard rules about tattoos. If you have tattoos (and I do) then you are not allowed to be buried in a Jewish cemetary. My dear (but now former) husband isn't devout, so that wasn't an issue. And my husband's adult daughter isn't devout either--she's covered in tattoos. She and I both decided to let our tattoos show that day (she was a bridesmaid.) There is so much about Judiasm that agrees with me, but being part of a religion that would not accept me as I am? Unhesitatingly, no. My devotion and intent shall not be judged by anyone but the God of my heart. And for the record, my idea of God is bigger than religion, which I see as a pathway--not the destination.

Hindu inconography is especially beautiful. Vivid. Intricate. Imbued with rich meaning. For these reasons, it's particularly well-suited for body art. And as you know, in the last couple of years there was a whirlwind of Hindi art passing through fashion and interior design. Those of you who are long-time readers of my articles on holistic business management might remember how I'm at the point that I find the plethora of buddha art to be kitschy and annoying. I have to say that I feel similarly about the glut of cheap-looking Hindi art. Yet that says more about my aesthetic--I like high-quality design. And when it's done well, I'm irresistably drawn towards East Indian design--and if there is a Ganesh somewhere in the building, I'll find myself standing in front of it. Perhaps it is drawn towards me, too? I swear Ganesh plays affectionate hide and seek games with me, reminding me that I am protected and adored by his benevolent spirit.

I've thought about getting a Ganesh tattoo. It's not a consuming thought where I'm researching and planning designs. Mostly, I notice Ganesh tattoos, hoping to find one that inspires me. Usually, they look cartoonish or it's clear that the artist was trying to make it look hip--without there being any real spiritual intention emanating from the piece. It's the same with statues. Rarely do I feel Ganesh's energy coming through the work, but when it does--wow. It's really powerful when the symbol, the design, the artist, and the medium all come together. If I ever meet the right tattoo artist, perhaps then I will get a Ganesh tattoo.

...or maybe just a little mendhi will do. In fact, I think this henna Ganesh is absolutely delightful!

close up of ganesh Originally uploaded by darcitananda.
[Copyrighted photo. Click through to Flickr to contact the photographer.]

A Gift for the Victorian Elephant Lover's Desk

The FedEx man delivered a package from my colleague Heather Gallegos today. Inside, a sweet note hoping I don't already have this gift. My elephant ears tell me there must be an elephant gift inside!

Inside the box from The Bombay Company, were four brass elephants: one mama, and and three sha-shas covered in red crystals. I don't know why I call the babies sha-shas. It was just something Mr. Jaya and I started doing one day while we were watching the littlest elephants with their mothers in Kenya. We'd observe with rapt enchantment as the mothers would move their gigantic legs, revealing a little sha-sha underneath. Awww. Ever since, sha-shas became our collective nick-name name for the babies.

One of the baby elephants is a tiny magnifying lens. When its not in use, its home is inside the mama ellie which is a box with a hinged lid. It feels very Victorian and romantic to have such an ornate miniature spy glass on my desk. I love it! I fancy that I will soon take to wearing hats and writing with a quill pen.

Underneath the Turkish ellies from Sarah (off screen) and near a painting of the woman who inspired the Taj Mahal that Mr. Jaya brought back for me from India, is the perfect place for my new gift from Heather. This is also where I keep a gift from Keith and Andre--these Deepak Chopra Success Cards. I pulled one today, as I usually do, and it says, "I am grateful for all that I have in life. (and on the back) I am instantly abundant when I show thanks for what I have." Yes. It's true. I'm deeply grateful for all these tokens of affection from people I love and that love me, too. *heart swell*

Asante sana, Heather!

7 Turkish Elephants and 1 Evil Eye

My friend Sarah returned from Istanbul with a marvelous gift for me! When she came up to The Chalet yesterday, she presented me with a pretty gift bag, bursting with hot pink tissue. Reaching inside, I pulled out a metal elephant on a chain--then another, and another, and another--until the last charm was freed, a cobalt blue "evil eye." Too fun! I love it, and especially love that she brought it all the way back from her holiday in Turkey--just for me. *heart swell*

Amused and aware that elephants aren't native to Turkey, I asked Sarah if she knew anything about the meaning. She told me that she did the prerequisite haggling for the amulet at the Great Bazaar in Istanbul, and that they are a good luck symbol there (as they are everywhere.)

I knew the common usage of the blue glass eye (to repel envy and other negative thoughts) but what I didn't know is its proper name, "Nazar Boncuk."

So thinking about this particular piece, I see that the ellies are for bringing in good luck, while the glass eye protects me from others who are envious. I'm not one to indulge in superstition, but I do enjoy the romantic notion of talismans and fetishes. But I can tell it's already working! I'm truly lucky to have a friend like Sarah.

A Surprise in the Mail

Wow! When I picked up my mail this morning, there was a suprise package from my colleague Laurie Mazzarella. The birthday card inside explained how "...the crystal is supposed to have many healing properties." I thought, what a great gift! I love crystals. But then it got even better as I unwrapped layer after layer of carefully wrapped tissue paper (that smelled softly of incense.) A CRYSTAL ELEPHANT! It's carved from real quartz with beautiful natural inclusions. I adore it!

Thank you, Laurie!
Asanta Sana! (Thank you very much in Swahili)

Favorite Photos: 2 Elephants Bathing

2 elephants bathing...
Originally uploaded by Matt, blog giik.net/blog.

This gorgeous photo was taken in India, seemingly in the same island area as the video clip of swimming elephants in my previous entry.

I would love to be there! Click on the photo, and you'll see that the photographer uploaded a large size photo with personal-use download permissions. It's been on my computer desktop all week. This might be my favorite elephant photo of all time.

[Please note this photo is copyrighted by Matthieu Aubry. You can contact him by clicking through to his Flickr profile page.]