The lotus is revered in the Taoist tradition because as the lotus rises untainted and beautiful from the mud, so too can our spiritual growth and integration yield beauty from hardship. But the lotus goes a step further, for indeed, it cannot grow or flower *without* the mud, and so it invites us to ponder whether a human life can become beautiful without sorrow or pain. Have our hardships buried us? Or planted us? Thoreau once said “I have a great faith in a seed.”
.
The open lotus flower symbolizes wisdom gained and openness to all experience without attachment to ideas of “good” or “bad,” “desired” or “undesired.” Overlooking the divine drama of the lotus stands a heron - legendary in Chinese philosophy, and second only to the phoenix in bird symbols because in many legends, they bear the souls of the departed to the heavens. As such, they are thought to connect us to loved ones and the spiritual realms, where wisdom resides. Further more, while their graceful legs may look spindly and brittle, they are extraordinarily sturdy and a heron is one of the most sure-footed creatures on earth.  With Heron, if you ask for guidance on where to go or what to do next, it will answer, “You already know the way.” And if you think for a moment, you will find that you do.
.
The butterfly reminds us of the beauty of transformation and the ability to rise above current problems or apparent limitations - and that, sooner than you think. Likewise, the dragonfly has alighted, bringing promise of new beginnings, prosperity and the tranquility of knowing that you are, or soon will be in glowing spirits, bursting with life.