The Lotus, My Tattoo, and the Start of a Journey
In 2011, in the thick of a recession and against the odds, I landed my first full-time job as a chemist. Fresh out of graduate school with a master’s degree in organic chemistry, I was eager to make my mark. It was a time of survival for many, but for me—it felt like a season of emergence. I had made it through a storm. And somehow, I knew I wasn’t just building a career. I was beginning a transformation.
That year, I saved up and gifted myself a tattoo—a lotus flower with two butterflies. At the time, I didn’t fully understand why I chose that design. I just knew it felt right.
Powerful. Ancient. Calling.
Now, years later, I realize that tattoo was more than ink on skin. It was a spiritual imprint. A symbol of what I had lived through and what I was beginning to awaken to.
The Science and Symbolism of the Lotus
From a chemist’s lens, the lotus is a marvel of evolution. It thrives in murky, stagnant waters—waters that would choke the life out of most plants. Yet the lotus rises daily to bloom in the sun, untouched by the filth around it. Scientifically, this is due to something called the lotus effect: a microscopic structure on its petals and leaves causes water and dirt to bead up and roll off, keeping the plant pristine.
It’s not just botanical resilience—it’s a living metaphor. You can’t control what others say, only how you respond. So remember, “Shake it Off”
Spiritually, the lotus has long represented rebirth, purity, and the journey toward enlightenment. In Eastern philosophies, it’s often linked to spiritual awakening. The flower’s journey from muddy depths to radiant bloom mirrors our own potential to evolve beyond pain, trauma, or the limitations of our environments.
Butterflies and Becoming
The butterflies in my tattoo were no accident either. Metamorphosis is the language of the soul. We shed, we molt, we grow wings—sometimes without even realizing it.
Together, the lotus and butterflies symbolized my own transformation: rising from struggle, finding beauty in the process, and discovering the power of evolution—both scientific and spiritual.
Listening to the Lotus
Even then, without all the words or wisdom I have now, I knew I was being called. The lotus whispered of secrets and stories buried in both mud and memory. Of science and spirit working in tandem. Of what it means to bloom, again and again, no matter where you’re planted.
This blog—this space—is the continuation of that journey. A place to explore the intersection of chemistry, healing, culture, and curiosity. A place where we uncover not just what the lotus means but what we mean to become.
A place to explore the intersection of chemistry, healing, culture, and curiosity. A place where we uncover not just what the lotus means but also what we mean to become.
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