There is something special about symbols, the way they catch our attention and awaken memories. So often we use them to describe our selves and our lives. Sacred symbolism is essentially the corner stone of all human evolution. We have found examples of the importance of symbols in early human existence, from artwork on cave walls to artifacts from daily living. As human beings, intuitively we are prompted to worship nature: the elements, animals, plants and rocks. These symbols then become icons and these icons then are represented throughout our collective consciousness.

I have always found myself drawn to symbols and my doodles have always been spirals, flowers and happy faces. As I began to look into the sacred symbolism of the spiral and the lotus flower, I found similarities. The spiral may be the oldest of humankind's symbols and occurs in cave paintings 10,000 years old. The lotus flower is one of the oldest known flowers and has been represented throughout many religions and cultures since the beginning of time. The spiral represents birth, death, and rebirth, the wheel of the seasons and the evolution of the universe from the singularity of the divine. The lotus flower symbolizes past, present and future because it has buds, blossoms and seed pods simultaneously on the same plant. The lotus also symbolizes beauty, creative power, and purity amid adverse surroundings, resurrection, evolution, potential, prosperity, creation and renewal. The nature of the spiral is that it represents the flow of physical and spiritual energy and continual change. These two symbols make sense together.

My journey to realize The Lotus Touch was an evolution. It came out of finding these symbols being represented in my life and history and now it is at this point that I have found the lotus flower and the spiral to also represent the work that I do in birth and healing bodywork. The spiral in particular has always been a real source of grounding and focus for me. A few years ago, while walking through a farmers market I found Anastasia and her spiral jewelry and from that day forward I have consistently worn her spiral earrings. My business cards have grown to represent me and my most recent one holds the image of a spiral that I drew just after a visualization exercise. The lotus part of my story begins when I decided to step out of my comfort zone and bleach my hair platinum. When I did this I found myself stepping out of a box. Once I walked out into the world with such a huge change and with all of the reactions, I realized that in truth no harm was done and that I had made a huge step towards doing things differently. From that point I decided that I would get a tattoo. I knew that I wanted it on my lower back and that I wanted it to have a spiritual significance, something that will resonate with me for the rest of my life. So I asked for guidance. What came to me was in a pure moment of light through a stained glass window and the words “lotus flower”. I went searching through the internet and found a site with paintings of lotus flowers by Rosalvo Leomeu. His artwork and story were truly inspiring and resulted in an email friendship. He was more than happy to have me tattoo his lotus on my back and to spread the energy and symbolism of the lotus. Then I found and collaborated with tattoo artist Marie Wadman and began the process at the end of 2003. From this point I knew that I could do anything that I wanted. So with all of this resolve behind me I decided to take that strength, faith and commitment and to move forward with my life by quitting my restaurant job and starting my own business.

I have noticed that in life people often wish to live like a lotus flower does - naturally, beautifully, and purely. Lotus flowers grow out of the dirty mud under the water, yet they still keep their pureness, freshness and beauty. They are often used in poems to inspire people to keep on doing what they must do and to show their best part to the outside world, no matter how bad the situation or circumstance may be. The lotus flower brings beauty and light from the murky darkness at the bottom of the pond. The blossoming and unfolding of the lotus suggests that possibility for every human being. This is how I want to bring my life and my work into its fullness. I wish to incorporate the beauty and strength of the lotus and the power and depth of the spiral.