🪷
Lotus Flower
LOH-tuhs
Definitions
1
Nature · Flowers
Common
A sacred aquatic flower with spiritual significance in Eastern religions, symbolizing purity, enlightenment, and rebirth as it rises from muddy waters to bloom beautifully.
Used to represent spiritual practices, meditation, yoga, wellness, or beauty emerging from difficult circumstances.
Started my morning with meditation and yoga 🪷 Feeling centered and peaceful.
Instagram wellness post
May your mind be as pure as the lotus flower 🪷 rising above the mud without being touched by it.
Spiritual message on social media
After everything I've been through, I'm finally blooming 🪷
Personal growth tweet
Deeply significant in Buddhism and Hinduism as a symbol of purity and divine birth. The lotus represents the journey from darkness to light.
2
Cultural · Religious
Common
A religious and cultural symbol used to represent Buddhist and Hindu traditions, deities, and practices in digital communication.
Often used when discussing Eastern spirituality, religious practices, or cultural ceremonies.
Visited the Buddhist temple today 🪷 The meditation session was so peaceful.
Travel post on social media
Happy Diwali! May Goddess Lakshmi bless your home with prosperity 🪷✨
Holiday greeting message
The lotus is associated with multiple deities in Hinduism and is the seat of Buddha in Buddhist iconography.
Evolution Timeline
2021
Introduction of the lotus emoji in Unicode 14.0, filling a gap in representation of spiritually significant flowers.
Growing interest in Eastern spiritual practices and wellness in Western digital communication.
2022
Rapid adoption in wellness and spiritual communities as symbol of mindfulness and meditation practices.
Post-pandemic focus on mental health and spiritual well-being.
2023
Expanded usage in environmental contexts as symbol of resilience and beauty amid challenging conditions.
Growing climate awareness and metaphorical use of natural symbols.
Cultural Context
The lotus is a central symbol in Buddhism, representing purity and enlightenment. Buddha is often depicted seated on a lotus throne, symbolizing divine birth.
In ancient Egyptian mythology, the lotus represented rebirth and the sun. This parallel symbolism across different ancient civilizations highlights its universal significance.
The lotus metaphor of 'blooming in mud' has become popular in wellness and self-help communities as a symbol of overcoming adversity and personal transformation.
The phrase 'lotus position' in yoga has influenced the emoji's usage in wellness contexts, creating a direct association with meditation practices.
As one of the newer flower emojis (2021), the lotus filled a significant gap in representing Eastern spiritual symbolism in digital communication.
Regional Variations
India
In India, the lotus has additional political significance as the national flower and symbol of a major political party.
Thailand
In Thailand, the lotus is central to Buddhist practices and commonly used in religious contexts online.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: Moderately used in wellness contexts, travel to Asian countries, and sharing spiritual quotes or insights on Facebook.
Gen_Z: Frequently used for aesthetic appeal in wellness content, spiritual awakening journeys, and metaphors for personal growth on TikTok and Instagram.
Older: Limited usage, primarily in religious contexts or when sharing traditional cultural content with family members.
Millennials: Commonly used to represent yoga practice, meditation, mindfulness apps, and spiritual or wellness retreats on Instagram and Pinterest.
Common Combinations
🪷✨
Spiritual enlightenment, divine energy, or sacred beauty.
Often used in spiritual or wellness contexts to represent inner light or awakening.
🪷🧘
Meditation, mindfulness practice, or yoga with spiritual focus.
Popular in wellness communities to represent mind-body practices with Eastern origins.
🪷🙏
Prayer, gratitude, or respect with spiritual significance.
Used for expressing reverence in Eastern spiritual traditions or mindful gratitude.
🪷💗
Pure love, compassion, or heart-centered spiritual practice.
Represents loving-kindness meditation or compassionate awareness in spiritual contexts.
🪷🕯️
Sacred ritual, meditation altar, or spiritual offering.
Used to represent ceremonial practices or creating sacred space.
Related Emojis
🧘
Meditation and mindfulness practices associated with lotus symbolism
🙏
Prayer, gratitude, and spiritual practices connected to lotus contexts
✨
Divine energy and spiritual illumination often paired with lotus
🌸
Another flower with cultural significance, though with different symbolism
☮️
Peace and spiritual harmony connected to lotus contexts