Discovering Love Through the Metaphor of Rumi's Elephant

Today, let us explore Rumi’s well-known poem, “The Elephant in the Dark,” translated by Coleman Barks. The image of the elephant serves as a powerful metaphor for love, especially in our journey towards connecting with our twin flames. Often, we find ourselves lost in the darkness of misunderstanding and confusion when it comes to love. This is especially true when trying to comprehend the significance of our twin flame relationship – the ultimate union between eternal lovers.

Join me as we embark on a journey alongside Rumi to unravel the mysteries of love through the metaphorical perspective of an elephant. Sit back, relax, and let Rumi’s timeless wisdom kindle a new spark within you.

Some Hindus have an elephant to show.
No one here has ever seen an elephant.
They bring it at night to a dark room.

One by one, we go in the dark and come out
saying how we experience the animal.

One of us happens to touch the trunk.
“A water-pipe kind of creature.”

Another, the ear. “A very strong, always moving
back and forth, fan-animal.”

Another, the leg. “I find it still,
like a column on a temple.”

Another touches the curved back.
“A leathery throne.”

Another, the cleverest, feels the tusk.
“A rounded sword made of porcelain.”
He’s proud of his description.

Each of us touches one place
and understands the whole in that way.
The palm and the fingers feeling in the dark are
how the senses explore the reality of the elephant.

If each of us held a candle there,
and if we went in together,
we could see it.
RUMI

As we ponder upon the symbolism of the elephant, we view love as both steadfast as a temple column and dynamic as a flowing river. Love has dual aspects: it is sacred and holy, while also possessing immense strength that constantly evolves alongside us. Sometimes, love can even feel like the cutting edge of a sword when we are too proud or believe we know better than to follow its calling.

Exploring our experiences of love while being part of a spiritual or twin flame community helps us gain insights from others’ perspectives. By sharing our individual pieces, together we illuminate the entire picture – just like collectively perceiving all aspects of an elephant. This shared understanding allows us to learn and grow from one another in our quest for deeper connections with our partners and love itself.

Learning about different facets of love does not invalidate any aspect that we have experienced thus far. Instead, such exploration expands and enriches our knowledge and appreciation for love. Embracing new perspectives on love does not mean chaos; rather, it is fear and misunderstanding that feels like chaos.

Encourage yourself to open up to new ways of experiencing love by asking how you can embrace its various aspects, lessons, and callings. Remember that immersing yourself in love is safe because love is our true essence. Uncovering and addressing our fears and blocks only provides opportunities to foster more love within ourselves.

Venturing into the unknown territory of Rumi’s Elephant metaphor can be an exhilarating, enlightening, and beautiful experience. So invite yourself to boldly explore the many dimensions of love, knowing that it is safe, rewarding, and ultimately heart healing.

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Discovering Love Through the Metaphor of Rumi’s Elephant

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