A 2023 study identified traces of the steppe rue (Peganum harmala) and the blue lotus (Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea) in an Egyptian bes vase ritual from the 2nd century BC.

The Bes Vase Ritual is a spiritual ritual from ancient Egypt associated with the god Bes, who was worshipped as a protective deity and god of fertility. These ceremonies involved the use of special vases for healing perfumes and oils. The blue lotus played a role in these rituals because its blossoms had a symbolic connection to various Egyptian deities.

The study found evidence that the Blue Lotus was used to expand consciousness and promote mystical experiences. The ritual demonstrates how plants were used for spiritual and healing purposes in ancient Egypt.

Egyptologists suspect that women visited the so-called Bes Chambers in Saqqara to confirm a successful pregnancy, as pregnancies in ancient times were associated with many risks, explains Branko van Oppen, curator of Greek and Roman art at the Tampa Museum of Art and co-author of the study.

These plants may have been used to create certain visionary states or dream worlds to help expectant parents cope with the fears and uncertainties of childbirth.

These rituals may have contributed to viewing the birth process as less dangerous and more of a transitional phase, while simultaneously seeking a spiritual connection to the deities and the supernatural realm. In this context, the Blue Lotus, with its symbolic significance and possibly mind-altering properties, may have played a key role in these mystical practices.

In the religion and art of ancient Egypt, the blue lotus had profound symbolic significance. Along with the white lotus, it was frequently depicted in Egyptian art, particularly on the walls of the Karnak Temple. The flower was associated with rites related to the afterlife. It is believed to have been cultivated on special farms for over 4,000 years to produce enough flowers for votive offerings.

The sleep-inducing effect of the Blue Lotus, which induces lucid dreaming, makes it a possible candidate for the fruit of the lotus tree eaten by the mythical lotophagi in Homer's "Odyssey."