The lotus is born in muck and mire. From sludgy, slimy waters, this brilliant blossom emerges. Many take these humble beginnings as a profound metaphor for life. We can choose to crawl, never lifting our heads up to the light. Or, we can be like the lotus. We can make the best of a lousy situation, and rise above. Stretch out of our comfort zone, grow, and expand. In this many petaled flower charm, the lotus becomes a mandala - a visually appealing, symmetrical, geometric form that…