The Lotus: Myths & Lore

[Agaliha]

NOTE: I'll be adding more links later, but feel free to add any or discuss the lotus :)


The Lotus flower is sacred to several traditions. Its long stem connects the lovely flower with its roots deep below the water, and is thus seen as an emblem of many deities who travel between the worlds. The Egyptians considered the lotus to be sacred and the flower was used as an offering to the gods. At night the flower closes and sinks underwater, to rise again the next day. It was thus seen as a symbol of the sun, creation and rebirth. In Hindu tradition and in Tibetan and Japanese Buddhism, the lotus is the "crown of a thousand petals" representing the ability to open, petal by petal to mystery and enlightenment, and a numerous amount of deities from these traditions have lotus associations, including Brahma, Lakshmi and the Buddha. Tou Mu, Chinese Goddess of the North Star rules the kingdom of the heavens from a lotus throne. In magick it is used for purification and protection. It is especially affective when used in conjunction with aquamarine and amber.
FROM: Lotus (http://www.tween-the-shadows.com/magick/symbols_magick/lotus.php)


Egyptian:
Ancient Egypt: the Mythology - Lotus (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkj3VA5dGoaUAIZNXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE4MGNmNWF2BHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMQRjb2xvA3NrMQR2dGlkA0Y5NDFfNzYEb ANXUzE-/SIG=11q5gd559/EXP=1184388437/**http%3a//www.egyptianmyths.net/lotus.htm)
Egypt: The Egyptian 'Lotus' Nymphaea Caerulea, the Blue Water Lily (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkj3VA5dGoaUAJ5NXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE4ZDJzYW9tBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDNARjb2xvA3NrMQR2dGlkA0Y5NDFfNzYEb ANXUzE-/SIG=1251vd8o3/EXP=1184388437/**http%3a//www.touregypt.net/featurestories/lotus.htm)
Nymphaea - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkj3VA5dGoaUAKZNXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE4dmRubzM3BHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDNQRjb2xvA3NrMQR2dGlkA0Y5NDFfNzYEb ANXUzE-/SIG=11ptoon1c/EXP=1184388437/**http%3a//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nymphaea)
Egyptian Lily (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkwxFBJdG6fAA.VZXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE5NGZvZmdvBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMTQEY29sbwNzazEEdnRpZANGOTQxXzc2B GwDV1Mx/SIG=12esk2adh/EXP=1184388549/**http%3a//www.kingtutshop.com/Egyptian-Herb/Egyptian-Lily.htm)
Lotus Flower (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkyG6BJdGDcMAYANXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE5bHNqNjRwBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMTAEY29sbwNzazEEdnRpZANGOTQxXzc2B GwDV1Mx/SIG=128mfo0au/EXP=1184388666/**http%3a//www.kingtutshop.com/freeinfo/Lotus-Flower.htm)
Lotus (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkm7ABpdGNwQAJTRXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE5bHNqNjRwBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMTAEY29sbwNzazEEdnRpZANGOTQxXzc2B GwDV1Mx/SIG=11ml0a3tu/EXP=1184389184/**http%3a//www.nilemuse.com/lotus.html)

Associated with:
Nefertem (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGki6JBJdGtT8A7nZXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE4b2FtYmVsBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMgRjb2xvA3NrMQR2dGlkA0Y5NDFfNzYEb ANXUzE-/SIG=12482bh0f/EXP=1184388617/**http%3a//www.pantheon.org/articles/n/nefertem.html)
Ancient Egypt: the Mythology - Nefertem (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGki6JBJdGtT8A8HZXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE4Y2g3MmJzBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMwRjb2xvA3NrMQR2dGlkA0Y5NDFfNzYEb ANXUzE-/SIG=11tl0lefr/EXP=1184388617/**http%3a//www.egyptianmyths.net/nefertem.htm)
Nefertem - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGki6JBJdGtT8A8nZXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE4ZDJzYW9tBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDNARjb2xvA3NrMQR2dGlkA0Y5NDFfNzYEb ANXUzE-/SIG=11plerj8c/EXP=1184388617/**http%3a//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nefertem)
Kemet.org Names of Netjer : Nefertem (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkiTPBJdGmBMAe0NXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE5Mzlnb3JiBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMTMEY29sbwNzazEEdnRpZANGOTQxXzc2B GwDV1Mx/SIG=11vir77qu/EXP=1184388687/**http%3a//www.kemet.org/glossary/nefertem.html)
Egypt: The Gods of Ancient Egypt - Nefertem (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkiTPBJdGmBMAgUNXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE5aWprZDh1BHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMTYEY29sbwNzazEEdnRpZANGOTQxXzc2B GwDV1Mx/SIG=121jfssnm/EXP=1184388687/**http%3a//touregypt.net/godsofegypt/nefertem.htm)

Hindu & Buddhism:
Nelumbo nucifera - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkw9OBZdGXZUA4ddXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE5bGk3ZjFhBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMTEEY29sbwNzazEEdnRpZANGOTQxXzc2B GwDV1Mx/SIG=121bjaaee/EXP=1184388814/**http%3a//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelumbo_nucifera)
Lotus - Hindu Symbols - ReligionFacts (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGklOYBZdGrosAbdtXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE4ZDJzYW9tBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDNARjb2xvA3NrMQR2dGlkA0Y5NDFfNzYEb ANXUzE-/SIG=12bq7e87f/EXP=1184388888/**http%3a//www.religionfacts.com/hinduism/symbols/lotus.htm)
Lotus: From a Pond to a Palace Dome (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGklb8BZdGSz4A51pXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE4ZjM1MXJpBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDOQRjb2xvA3NrMQR2dGlkA0Y5NDFfNzYEb ANXUzE-/SIG=11v1m0v5c/EXP=1184388988/**http%3a//www.exoticindiaart.com/article/lotus)
Lotus (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkmseBpdGcVwBiCJXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE5Mzlnb3JiBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMTMEY29sbwNzazEEdnRpZANGOTQxXzc2B GwDV1Mx/SIG=122k0i975/EXP=1184389022/**http%3a//www.khandro.net/nature_plants_lotus.htm)
Buddhist Lotus Symbol - ReligionFacts (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGklmwBpdG1.EAN15XNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE5cnVlY2Y3BHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMjAEY29sbwNzazEEdnRpZANGOTQxXzc2B GwDV1Mx/SIG=12bp0sfn6/EXP=1184389168/**http%3a//www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/symbols/lotus.htm)

Other/General:
(to be added)

[Amilee]

Thought I`d share this here.

A few years ago I had decided I wanted a tattoo. So, for a year I designed countless tattoos...At the end of that year, just before coming here to Tokyo I took a look at all my pictures.

All 20 of them, every single one, had a lotus. So, now, that`s what I have. I designed a lotus and it`s on my back.

Before leaving for Tokyo I also got my fortune told. The woman, without knowing about my tattoo, told me that the lotus would be a guiding force in my life from now on.

Scary? Thoughts?

[Agaliha]

Thought I`d share this here.
A few years ago I had decided I wanted a tattoo. So, for a year I designed countless tattoos...At the end of that year, just before coming here to Tokyo I took a look at all my pictures.
All 20 of them, every single one, had a lotus. So, now, that`s what I have. I designed a lotus and it`s on my back.
Before leaving for Tokyo I also got my fortune told. The woman, without knowing about my tattoo, told me that the lotus would be a guiding force in my life from now on.
Scary? Thoughts?

Thanks for sharing!
Doesn't seem scary to me, but rather a sort of synchronicity (http://www.crystalinks.com/synchronicity.html). It seems that the lotus has been part of your life and you got confirmation of that, a sign that perhaps your on the right path. Have you read about the symbolism and all that? Does anything stand out or any culture's take on it (Egyptian, Hindu, etc) that does?

[Amilee]

Well, as a matter of fact I kind of believe in all of them since most of the different cultures have the same basic belief in the Lotus flower.

I got this flower (without knowing at the time) to remind me of why I`m going to Japan (to find my spiritual self and get my feet set on the right path) .

I think, in a way I cling closer to the Hindu belief of it being the core of the Chakras as, when I feel out of sorts, all I need to do is look at it in the mirror and immedietly I feel better.

Synchronisity indeed.