The story behind the lotus
Reaching toward the light. Rooted in the earth.
For many years, I've shared a lotus flower chant and meditation with young children. It has always been a favourite—a simple, gentle practice children can sing, imagine and feel in their bodies as they grow quiet together.
The image of the lotus holds a beautiful story. Its roots rest deep in the mud, its stem rises through the water and its flower opens toward the warmth and light of the sun. Every part belongs. The mud holds and nourishes the roots; the water supports the journey; and the flower unfolds in its own time.
People sometimes express this symbolism as “no mud, no lotus.” With children, I hold it in a joyful, life-giving way: mud is not only about struggle. It is rich, living earth. Dirt helps us grow, and muddy hands can be part of a wonderfully happy childhood.
This image naturally opens meaningful conversations with children. What helps you feel rooted and safe? What brings warmth or light to your heart? What do you need in order to grow—and how can we help someone else feel cared for? Through these conversations, children practise noticing and naming feelings, expressing what they need, listening to another point of view and offering kindness. They also begin to understand that, just like flowers, people may need different things and unfold in their own time.
At Little Lotus, nature, stillness, movement and wonder all belong—and, like the lotus, every child is invited to unfold in their own time.
“Rooted in nature. Growing with joy.”