The Story of the Lotus Flower

By Natalia Basdeki
Natalia Basdeki
Natalia Basdeki
Has been inspired by nature, her travels throughout the world, and the arts of the ancient civilizations while always remaining close to her Greek roots. She has made a series of simple and elegant micro sculptural jewels which have been hand-crafted in Greece in limited editions. She aims to leave positive messages, to remind us of lost cultures and values. She makes jewels which enrich the inner self and remind the viewer that the true beauty is the one that comes from inside.
September 29, 2013Updated: April 24, 2016

Normal
0

false
false
false

EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE


<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden=”true” DefQFormat=”false” DefPriority=”99″
LatentStyleCount=”267″>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”Normal”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”heading 1″/>

<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”Title”/>

<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”Subtitle”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”Strong”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”Emphasis”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Table Grid”/>

<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”No Spacing”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Shading”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light List”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Grid”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Dark List”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Shading”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful List”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Grid”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Shading Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light List Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Grid Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 1 Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 2 Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 1 Accent 1″/>

<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”List Paragraph”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”Quote”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”Intense Quote”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 2 Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 1 Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 2 Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 3 Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Dark List Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Shading Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful List Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Grid Accent 1″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Shading Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light List Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Grid Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 1 Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 2 Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 1 Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 2 Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 1 Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 2 Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 3 Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Dark List Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Shading Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful List Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Grid Accent 2″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Shading Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light List Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Grid Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 1 Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 2 Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 1 Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 2 Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 1 Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 2 Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 3 Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Dark List Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Shading Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful List Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Grid Accent 3″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Shading Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light List Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Grid Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 1 Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 2 Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 1 Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 2 Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 1 Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 2 Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 3 Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Dark List Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Shading Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful List Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Grid Accent 4″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Shading Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light List Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Grid Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 1 Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 2 Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 1 Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 2 Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 1 Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 2 Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 3 Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Dark List Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Shading Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful List Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Grid Accent 5″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Shading Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light List Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Grid Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 1 Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Shading 2 Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 1 Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium List 2 Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 1 Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 2 Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Medium Grid 3 Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Dark List Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Shading Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful List Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Grid Accent 6″/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”Subtle Emphasis”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”Intense Emphasis”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”Subtle Reference”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”Intense Reference”/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” QFormat=”true” Name=”Book Title”/>

/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:”Calibri”,”sans-serif”;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}

Hello Everyone!  

Let me introduce my self, I’m a sensitive artist from the microscopic jewellery world! Through this blog I will share with you my small creations and the stories behind them. Through my art, I aim to make people happy, remind them of some lost cultures and values, and bring them back to the world of purity.

Throughout the ages there have always been out there in the Cosmos, values that were unchanged and remain silent until we recall them to remind us of the beauty of this world we live in. As an artist and individual I always observed Mother Nature to get the answers for life.

Today I will share with you a little knowledge I learned about the lotus flower, which is an Asian Water Lilly and is one of my favorite flowers. It give’s me a lot of inspiration and inner strength every time I see it.

 

 The Lotus Flower is the symbol of purity,  because of it’s ability to emerge from the murky waters in the morning and be perfectly clean.

The start of this flowers life is not as beautiful as one might imagine.  It’s unlike many other flowers. When the lotus first begins to sprout, it is under water surrounded by mud and muck and insects.

Despite these conditions, the lotus flower remains strong and pushes aside each of these dirty obstacles as it makes its way to clearer surfaces. At this time, the lotus is still just a stem with only a few leaves, and a small flower pod. But in time the stem continues to grow, and the pod slowly surfaces above the water into the clean air before emerging to a magnificent breathtaking blossom. It unfolds one petal at a time, blooming fully when the sunshine gently touches the flowers, and closing itself as dusk arrives. The flower is often compared to an enlightened being who emerges undefiled from the chaos and confusion of the world.

The Lotus flower is also associated with beauty, self-transcendence and expanding consciousness. It represents strength and spiritual awakening and is seen extensively in Buddhist art, where Buddha images are typically positioned on a lotus — usually a double lotus — with petals facing both up and down. When the Buddha nature (spiritual nature) develops within, the lotus unfolds and blossoms. This is why the Buddha is depicted sitting on a blooming lotus.

Another meaning that the lotus flower carries would be, eternal love. Seeing beyond the delicate flower itself is the long stalks that easily bend into two. But it is impossibly hard to actually break these stalks apart due to their strong fibers. Poets have taken this fact as an opportunity to create the belief of lovers who may be separated or being far away from one another, yet for all that matters, nothing can really set their hearts apart.

“The lotus is the most beautiful flower, whose petals open one by one. But it will only grow in the mud. In order to grow and gain wisdom, first you must have the mud — the obstacles of life and its suffering… The mud speaks of the common ground that humans share, no matter what our stations in life… Whether we have it all or we have nothing, we are all faced with the same obstacles: sadness, loss, illness, dying and death. If we are to strive as human beings to gain more wisdom, more kindness and more compassion, we must have the intention to grow as a lotus and open each petal one by one. ” 
 Goldie Hawn

 

The story of the lotus flower is so wise and reminds me that the light always wins over darkness.  After the difficulties a sunbeam of hope always comes.

To make a joke, the lotus flower in scientific terms is like the Cinderella of the flower world.

 

Natalia Basdeki

etsy.com/shop/NataliaBasdeki

 

 

Sources :

http://en.ntd.tv/reference/chinablog/the-luminous-lotus/#comment-916538

The Story of the Lotus Flower