Elk, Pagan Symbol of Stamina

Native American Wapiti and Celtic Algiz also Represents Power

Aug 7, 2008

Elk, valued by the early settlers from Great Britain and Native Americans as food and for their hides, antlers, fur and teeth, has masculine energies.

This animal is a member of the herbivorous Cervidae family as are deer, caribou, moose and reindeer. Native American legend, with its lesson, tells of Wapiti’s stamina. Celts wore amulets representing Algiz’s protective energy.

Elk, the Animal

Elk are native to North America, Europe, northern Africa and Asia. They prefer open woodlands and avoid dense forests.

Elk are social animals, living in herds with as many as 400 animals. The herds are comprised of cows, dominated by the alpha female, and bulls with the exception of the fall mating season when bulls form harems. This is the only time males are aggressive toward each other.

They are the noisiest of the cervid family. Calves squeal and bleat; females grunt and squeal. Males emit low pitched bellows or roars, called bugling, which is used to attract mates during the fall rutting season. They communicate with other by vocalization and body language. Elk have sharp senses of vision, smell, hearing and touch.

Elk graze on grasses, sedges, and forbs in summer and browse on woody growth in winter during the morning dawn and at the evening dusk.

Predators of elk include mountain lions, gray wolves, coyotes, bobcats, black and grizzly bears and humans. While calves may fall victim to predators, healthy adults are rarely preyed on. Elk protect themselves by their herding behavior, size and sharp hooves. Males also use their antlers.

Elk Celtic Symbolism

Algiz is symbolic of psychic defense. The rune of Algiz, resembling a “y” with three top prongs, is worn as an amulet to defend against evil spirits and make one brave while facing fear of the unknown. Elk represents stamina, power, pride and majesty.

Wapiti Native American Symbolism and a Legend

Elk symbolizes stamina,strength, agility, freedom, power, nobility, pace and equilibrium of energy. Because the males and females stay in herds of their gender, except for mating time, Elk has a unique type of warrior energy. They honor the company of their gender and call on the power of the sisterhood or brotherhood.

According to legend, Mountain Lion heard Elk’s bugling which alerted him that there was prey nearby. He began to circle Elk, growing closer and closer. The silence of the forest alerted Elk that danger was approaching. When he saw his predator, he ran for the timberline.

Elk’s pursuer was growing closer, but Elk continued running. Finally, Mountain Lion gave up. He had spent his energy pursuing his intended prey as he tried to take a short cut by to leaping over boulders to reach Elk who paced himself as he ran to the high country.

The lesson Elk teaches people is that stamina increases when they pace themselves during times of stress to maintain energy’s equilibrium so the body doesn’t react by fatigue.

The copyright of the article Elk, Pagan Symbol of Stamina in Paganism/Wicca is owned by Jill Stefko . Permission to republish Elk, Pagan Symbol of Stamina in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.