Blue Lotus (Nymphaea Caerulea) Plant info:
Nymphaea gows in water and damp areas. It looks beautiful protruding out of the water (photo below) The large, elegant blue flowers are held well above the water at the tip of a sturdy green stalk and appear almost constantly from spring until the end of summer (September to February). They are bisexual, star-like and regular, with 4 sepals, green on the outside and white to blue on the inside, and many blue petals. In the center of the flower are numerous
blue-tipped bright golden yellow stamens. Blue Lotus dried flowers, seeds and extract is avaiable to buy here: | Mythology:
Nymphaea Caerulea (Blue Lotus) enjoyed a very prominent place in the mythology and art
of Minoan and Egyptian cultures, in India and China, as well as in the Mayan world.
Nymphaea Caerulea (Blue Lotus) was worshipped as a visionary plant and was a symbol
for the origins of life.
For the Egyptians the Blue Lotus symbolized a "rebirth" after death, assuring the righteous
dead of immortality via never-ending daily rebirths. At sunrise the Lotus which has spent
the night beneath the water's surface, arises above the surface of the water and opens to
receive the sun's light. In Egyptian myth the sun-god arose each day from a giant Blue
Lotus. In Egyptian tomb murals the deceased is often shown seated holding the Lotus near
his nose breathing-in its life-giving boquet, symbolizing he too will be live again, rising with
the sun-god each day from the watery depths of the underworld.
The Egyptians believed that the world was originally covered by water and darkness. A
Blue Lotus sprang up from the water and opened its petals to reveal a young god, a Divine
Child. Light streamed from the Divine Child to banish universal darkness. This child god was
the Creator, the Sun God, the source of all life. When the Pharaoh known as King Tut was
entombed, his body was covered in Nymphaea Caerulea (Blue Lotus) flowers.
Related to Nymphaea capensis (Cape Blue Water Lily) and Nymphaea alba, White Lotus,
with similar properties.
The blue lotus is said to have been used to invoke Isis, Osiris, and Thoth.
One of the Sun gods, Nefertem, also god of the primeval lotus blossom, patron of healing,
perfumes, and cosmetics, is usually depicted with a crown of blue lotuses around his head. Links to Blue Lotus mythology sites: Ancient Egypt: The Mythology Ancient Wisdom: The Blue Lotus The Island of the Lotus Eaters Theology Website - Egyptian Creation Epic |