The lotus flower could not exist without the mud that nurtures its roots There are some teachings that seem to arrive just when we need them. No mud, no lotus is one of those for me. Popularised by the Vietnamese Zen master Thích Nhất Hạnh in his book of the same name, no mud, no lotus reminds us that the lotus flower, a symbol of purity, wisdom and awakening, cannot bloom without the mud from which it grows. The mud isn't something to escape or overcome – it's the very thing

Ever woken up in the middle of the night, drenched through to your sheets? Or found yourself overheating uncontrollably in the middle of a work meeting? Night sweats and hot flushes are common during mid-life thanks to the menopause.