The Mindful Birth Lotus
Why is the lotus flower the “IT” symbol for so many ancient cultures & spiritual practices? Why would us Mindful Birth doulas gravitate toward this flower and it’s meaning as our practice’s symbol? What about it makes it so cool? First off, let’s just state the obvious… its quite beautiful to look at! Have you ever seen a lotus flower up close? It’s silky petals and shades of pastels might give off the sense that it is delicate and not as resilient as say its cousin flowers that emerge from the soil. Maybe you never gave the life cycle of the lotus flower much thought and just how long these “delicate” flowers have been on the Earth. But it’s this flower’s resilience and strong will to be born that makes it our “IT” symbol!
Anyone out there a Betty White fan? I know… I like to jump around with my topics.. bear with me I promise I will come full circle. Betty White was portrayed as the ditsy “fragile” 80’s/90’s Golden Girl… her character gave off the idea that she was not resilient, and unable to take care of herself… but look at her now… still active and witty at the age of 99!!! My FAVORITE Betty White quote is this…
“Why do people say "grow some balls"? Balls are weak and sensitive. If you wanna be tough, grow a vagina. Those things can take a pounding.”
Our womanhood, what makes us WOMEN, our vaginas… are our very own resilient lotus flowers, full of beauty and strength and are put to the ultimate test through the courageous act of childbirth! The resilience of the lotus flower and the resilience of a woman during childbirth is magnificent to say the least.
The lotus flower has a fascinating will to be live and bloom. A lotus seed can withstand thousands of years without water, able to germinate over two centuries later! Unlike most of its flower cousins, the lotus flower does not grow roots in the stable soil. Its roots stretch deep into the soupy, soft, liquified dirt we call mud in murky pod water. Under conditions that most other flowers could never survive in the lotus flower THRIVES! As its roots stretch deep into the mud below the water’s surface the lotus bud emerges and makes the journey to the surface of the water. Once it blooms, we get to marvel at its “delicate” features. Each night the lotus flower retreats into the water and each morning it resurrects just as beautiful as the day before… again and again the lotus flower is reborn, fresh and new.
Although cultures have largely dubbed the lotus as a spiritual figurehead, it is most emblematic of the faith within OURSELVES. The Mindful Birth lotus flower emblem signifies the child birthing mother, her unwavering faith and the resilience of her instinctive womanhood. Just as the lotus flower is reborn and emerges from the water each day so are we reborn through childbirth… more beautiful and powerful than we could have ever imagined!
So that my friends is why we chose this symbol and it’s delicate pastel colors as the emblem for all our mamas on their journey to and through motherhood… delicate and sweet on the surface and at the core all the power and strength ready to be harnessed and born for all the world to see and marvel at.
In Love & Light,
The Mindful Birth Doulas, Amanda & Jen
