The lotus flower has been used as a symbol in the east for ages. Lotus flowers grow from the mud under water to the surface of the pond where they open their blossoms to the sun. Nourished by the very mud they raise themselves above, they open to the light. This meditation is a simple one that can be used any time, anywhere. In it we use the image of a lotus bud opening into full flower.

Imagine or visualize a bright, semi-transparent lotus bud right in your heart. Take your time. Watch the blossom unfold slowly, each petal opening, until it becomes a flower that encompasses your entire body. Rest in the light of it for a while, enjoying the image and the energy it evokes.

This simple meditation does a number of things and works on many levels. For a breather anytime during a busy day, it can refresh. As an analogy of your personal growth, it provides a reminder that anything is possible. Yet more than these, this simple lotus meditation can soften and open your heart.

There are no right or wrong ways to do a meditation. The instructions are guidelines; adapt them to who you are and to your needs at that particular time. Be curious about the process itself.

Remember most meditations become richer the more you practice them. They reveal more of themselves. It can take practice to remember to do a meditation when you need to, and it can take practice to go through the steps. But that's why it is called practice, and for most of us, we practice for the rest of our lives.