The Symbolic Meaning of the Lotus Flower

The Lotus flower is regarded in many different cultures, especially in eastern religions, as a symbol of purity, enlightenment, self-regeneration and rebirth

The Lotus Flower

The Lotus Flower grows in the deep mud, far away from the sun. But, sooner or later, the Lotus reaches the light becoming the most beautiful flower ever. Lotus flowers are very resilient. They will grow in most soils and in most environments, so long as they have mud or water, and as long as they can float. In fact, they contain little air spaces in their leaves to ensure buoyancy, and long stems to tie them to the mud.

How the Lotus Flower is Used

Due to its symbolism, the lotus flower has a variety of uses. It’s used in food, medicine, art, and so much more.

The most common use for a lotus is ornamental. However, the roots are sweet and fragrant as well as rich in starch and vitamins. You can eat them raw, cooked into soups, brewed into teas, blended into salads, dried, preserved, and even powdered. Other parts of the lotus plant are also edible.

Petals of the lotus are often used to create unique flavors for meat and congee (an Asian rice porridge). The lotus leaves and nuts are often used for weight loss and blood pressure tea, as well as other medicines.

Lotus are unique and beautiful flowers. They have a strong will to survive and an incredible daily life cycle. This gives the lotus special meaning across the globe. In fact, we might even wager that they’ll be here long after we are gone.