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Home » Ear Stretching Spiritual Meaning: Is It Good or Bad?

Ear Stretching Spiritual Meaning: Is It Good or Bad?

Ear Stretching Spiritual Meaning: Is It Good or Bad?

Are you planning to stretch your ears anytime soon? Some people may say that it is a cool fashion choice because of its unique and different design.

However, it also has some religious and spiritual significance that you need to take note of.

It is known to be a complex and old tradition that many indigenous people practice over the years. It has a lot of history and significance to many cultures and races.

This is why it would be interesting for you to know the meaning behind this practice before you even start doing it on yourself.

Fortunately, the many different aspects of this particular activity will be further discussed in the coming paragraphs. 

If you would like to learn more about the spiritual meaning of ear stretching, please don’t hesitate to continue reading.

What Does Ear Stretching Symbolize?

Ear Stretching Symbolize

Before understanding the related symbolism and signs regarding ear stretching, we must first understand what this particular activity is.

By defining it, we will have a basic understanding of what it actually does to the body and how it can affect a person physically and emotionally. 

Simply put, ear stretching refers to a form of body modification that involves placing ear gauges on your earlobes to stretch out the skin gently

The size of the gauges will change depending on the age and achievements of the bearer. This applies to both men and women.

This practice has been known for hundreds of years in various indigenous tribes all over the world.

Most notably, it is prevalent in Native American and Egyptian traditions.  

To further discuss, in historical Native American traditions, this particular piece of jewelry is used to signify courage and strength of character.

These tribes use ear gauges to signify rites of passage for young Native American boys and girls.

To add to this, ancient Egyptian culture uses ear gauges as symbols of social standing within this part of the world.

It is used to separate the poor from the royal Pharaohs and other Egyptian royalty. The larger the ear gauge, the higher the position.

Read the spiritual meaning of tattoo placement on body.

Spiritual Meaning of Stretched Ears

Spiritual Meaning of Stretched Ears

It is also important to note that there are specific meanings for each earlobe.

By knowing these pieces of information, you will be able to understand different cultures even more and what it means to have it done to you as well.

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Left Ear

This may signify that you would want to ward off evil spirits and bring in good luck not only for yourself but for your family.

Aside from this, during the 80s, it could be a sign of your masculinity or lack thereof if you have your ears pierced or stretched on the left.
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Right Ear

Aside from it being a fashion choice, it can be a declaration of your hyper-masculine sexuality as well.

According to some historians, straight men in the 80s usually had their ears pierced on the right.

As discussed earlier, ear piercings and stretching have different meanings for different tribes.

In Ethiopia, for example, the Mursi tribe has had their women subject themselves to ear stretching to signify a young girl’s growth into womanhood.  

At the age of 15, girls undergo the process of ear stretching and piercing of the lips.

The length of the stretch signifies the young ladies’ preparedness to bear children and start a family of their own.

While ultimately being a fashion choice, this section shows that the act of piercing and stretching your ears surely has a deeper significance. It is not something you should undertake lightly

So, you have to be prepared for the repercussions both for your health and your spiritual well-being.

Also read the spiritual meaning of a medusa piercing.

7 Spiritual Benefits of Ear Stretching

7 Spiritual Benefits of Ear Stretching

Now that you know the specific meaning of having each or both ears pierced, we can now focus on finding the spiritual significance of having your ears stretched.

Aside from deeper meanings with each ear, there is also significance in terms of spirituality if you ever decide to wear ear gauges.

The spiritual significance and benefits of ear stretching as a whole can give you a sense of purpose for your body modification if ever you decide to do it for yourself in the future.

1) Proof of Character Strength

The first one Is for the strength of character.

Having ear gauges for certain tribes and cultures signifies one’s courage and strength of characterthe larger the ear gauge the stronger the male is.

Furthermore, in line with the strength and courage of heart, the ancient Egyptians also adopted this particular practice for the same reason.

For them, it symbolizes the strength of their leader and the men in their group.  

This being said, if you want to choose this particular design for your own use, know that it will make you seem more masculine and powerful to do so. 

Of course, everything is subjective. However, if you feel good about it, it would be best for you to try it out first.

Read the complete meaning of a septum piercing.

2) Clear Evidence of the Disparity in Social Classes During Ancient Times

Secondly, it can also signify the differences in social class.

As mentioned earlier, in ancient Egypt, most of the pharaohs and other royals have ear gauges to signify that they are part of the upper social class.

It can also signify one’s status as a slave in ancient times

This will further be discussed in the next benefit and meaning.

3) Symbol of Eternal Servitude

In the Bible, if a slave does not want to leave his master, the master has the option to have the slave’s ears pierced as a symbol of eternal servitude.

This can be likened to having an ear gauge in other cultures. This applies to both male and female slaves.  

4) Declaration of Marital Status for Women

Additionally, women may undergo this form of body modification to signify their marital status.

The larger the ear gauge, may mean that a woman is spoken for or married. It depends on the size of the ear gauge as it is with men.

5) Rite of Passage for Men

It can also serve as a rite of passage for other tribes in the Native American culture.

This can be likened to some women placing rings on their necks to extend them as part of their rituals. The older the tribe member gets, the larger the ear gauge.

6) Signifies a Powerful Divine Relationship and Spiritual Awakening

This particular accessory also has religious implications so much so that some Aztec and African natives believe that the larger ear gauges you have, the closer you could get to God.

A larger ear gauge can also give you the power to communicate with spirits, ancient deities, and other similar entities.

In addition, they also see this particular form of body modification as a way to awaken their spiritual power.

They believe that once they do this, they will be able to see and communicate with the dead.  

7) Sacrifice

It can also be seen as a form of sacrifice and proof that a person is willing to do everything in his power to achieve his goal.

It shows that the person who wants to have the ear gauge would be willing to endure all types of pain and suffering just to get what he wants out of life.

Read the spiritual meaning of a nose piercing on left side.

Are Stretched Ears Good or Bad Spiritually?

woman with stretched ears

Now that we know more about of ear stretching as a practice, let us answer the question raised in the title of this section.

Is ear stretching good or bad? The answer depends solely on your own beliefs and choices regarding the matter.

In that regard, with these meanings and symbolisms attached to the act, we hope that you will be able to better understand yourself and the things that you do to your body.

It will give you a sense of importance and purpose to know the history behind these traditions.

Before you leave, read the spiritual meaning of a nose piercing on right side.

Shall We Conclude?

The important thing to remember about body modification is that it is a significant decision in life.

This is why you have to do a little bit more research before you ever decide to alter your body in such a drastic way.  By doing this, you will never have any regrets in the future.

It would also help you to consult with members of various indigenous communities apart from those already mentioned in the article to learn more about the deeper meanings of ear piercings and gauges.

This way, you will not end up offending any kind of culture or tribe in the process.

Always remember that knowledge is power.

If you know many facts about ear stretching, piercing and gauging you will find it much more fulfilling to do in the future. You may even convince others to do it as well.

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