Blue Lotus Flower- From Ancient Egyptian Rituals To Modern Shamanic Journeying
- victoria ward
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
The stunning Blue Lotus (Nymphaea caerulea) is an aquatic perennial, a striking blue water Lily found in lakes and rivers around world. This beautiful flower has an intriguing history and was highly prized in Ancient Egyptian culture for health, spirituality and pleasure.
Today the Egyptian Blue Lotus is sadly an endangered species, although many farms around the world produce Blue Lotus, the plants they grow are somewhat removed from the plant orginally used in Ancient Egypt.
There remains a great demand for Blue Lotus flowers and they are used in several forms for health, beauty and relaxation.
Blue Lotus makes a beautiful garden specimen and has a unique and interesting cycle of opening in the morning to attract pollinators, then closing in the evenings over a 3-4 days. Blue Lotus is not only an alluring ornamental plant, but assists with water purification in aquatic ecosystems.
Blue Lotus Flowers In Ancient Egypt
There is much evidence of the popularity of Blue Lotus in Ancient Egypt, many drawings and paintings have been found of Blue Lotus flowers on papyri and inside tombs. Petals of Blue Lotus flowers were found in King Tut's tomb confirming it's significance to this ancient race.
This inscription was found in the tomb of the Egyptian Pharaoh Ahmose (1539-1514 BC) (Source Herbalgram) -
“Take to thee lotus flowers, plants and lotus buds, when they recur as every bloom and every herb of sweet odor at its season; cool water and incense and offer them so that the Ka (the spirit that lives in the mummy) might be satisfied with them forever and ever.”
It is thought the Egyptians first infused the flowers in oil and then added this to wine, or steeped the flowers in a oil and wine mixture. This infusion was then imbibed for spiritual rituals.
The spiritual symbolism of Blue Lotus flowers extends far beyond North Africa, on the Indian subcontinent this flower is representative of enlightenment in both Hinduism and Buddhism.
Blue Lotus has been used as an aphrodisiac and in meditation practices to stimulate the third eye (Herbalgram).
The Psychoactive Properties Of Blue Lotus
Two consitutents are known to be responsible for the psychoactive effects of Blue Lotus, apomorphine and nuciferine. Apomorphine is a psychoactive alkaloid which acts as a dopamine agonist and is used as a now synthetic drug to treat Parkinsons. Nuciferine is also an alkaloid structurally related to Apomorphine, but is a aporphine deriviative which acts on serotonin and dopamine receptors.
What Are The Effects and Benefits Of Blue Lotus?
Blue Lotus is usually taken to alter mood, it is associated with psychoactive properties when taken in higher doses including hallucinations and mild euphoria. It is commonly smoked, vaped or drunk as a tea to achieve the desired effects. It is believed to promote altered mental states ranging from deep relaxation to the lucid dreamstates desired by shamanic travellers journeying through herbs.
The Nymphacea family to which Blue Lotus belongs produces flowers in several colours- mainly blue, red, white and yellow, each having different chemical constituents. As a genus they produce aminogenic (amino acid producing) secondary metabolites which have the following actions-
Analgesic
Anti-inflammatory
Anti- microbial
Blue Lotus contains anthocyanins, the purple pigment found in Elderberry and other similar coloured plants. It has a high polyphenol content and is therefore highly antioxidant.
The essential oil of Blue Lotus has a floral, fruity aroma which combines a sweet fig-like scent with leathery, herbaceous notes.
Cosmetic Uses Of Blue Lotus
Blue Lotus wax is used in high-end skincare products for nourishing dry skin, intense hydration, anti-inflammation and antioxidant properties. It is considered to be anti-aging, reducing redness and calming senstive skin.
Farming Blue Lotus Flowers
Rasika, the owner of Ceylon Blue Lotus Farm, Kalutara in Sri lanka, kindly shared a video of the Lotus Flower harvest, here they are sorting and selecting quality flowers. Rasika is keen to promote Herbal Heritage and share organically, sustainably grown flowers with customers worldwide.
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