The wheel of fortune

The Wheel of Life is a life coaching tool for designing a better life, and can help you regain work-life balance to enjoy life balance and more personal growth. It does this by identifying the areas of life that may represent obstacles to balance.

The Wheel of Life is a life coaching tool for designing a better life, and can help you regain work-life balance to enjoy life balance and more personal growth. It does this by identifying the areas of life that may represent obstacles to balance.

At the heart of the painting, a massive, sculpted clay ladder rises prominently. This ladder is intricately detailed, with each rung and curve carved with precision to evoke a sense of timeless craftsmanship. The clay texture gives it an earthy, grounded feel, symbolizing the foundational steps we take in our journey toward freedom. The ladder stretches upward, suggesting an ascent towards greater heights and possibilities, and it subtly blends into the background, merging the tangible with the aspirational. Flanking the ladder are acrobats depicted in mid-performance, their bodies captured in dynamic, fluid poses that convey grace and agility. Painted in vibrant colors, these acrobats defy gravity and conventional limits, their movements illustrating the exhilaration and boundless nature of freedom. 

Inside the canvas you find numerous different shape wheels, it is a powerful and multifaceted symbol with various meanings across different cultures and civilizations. Here’s a look at its significance:

1. Symbol of Time and Cycles

Ancient Mesopotamia and Babylon: The wheel symbolized the cyclical nature of time and the cycles of life. In Mesopotamian mythology, wheels and circular motifs were often associated with the cycles of the cosmos and the divine order. The wheel was seen as a representation of eternity and the endless flow of time.

2. Symbol of Movement and Progress

Ancient Greece: In Greek culture, the wheel was often linked to the gods and the concept of divine movement. For instance, the god Helios (the sun god) was sometimes depicted driving his chariot across the sky, symbolizing the movement of the sun and the passage of time. The wheel here represented both the literal movement of celestial bodies and the metaphorical progression of life and destiny.

3. Symbol of Cosmic Order

Hinduism and Buddhism: The wheel, particularly the Dharmachakra (Wheel of Dharma), is a central symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism. In these traditions, it represents the teachings of the Buddha and the path to enlightenment. The wheel signifies the cyclical nature of existence (samsara), the laws of karma, and the spiritual journey towards liberation.

4. Symbol of Control and Power

Ancient Rome: In Roman times, the wheel was associated with the concept of control and governance. The Wheel of Fortune, or Rota Fortunae, was a symbolic representation of the capricious nature of fate and fortune, showing how luck could change at any moment. The wheel’s movement represented the unpredictable rise and fall of fortune and power.

5. Symbol of Unity and Wholeness

Ancient Egypt: In Egyptian art and symbolism, the wheel, or circular forms, often denoted unity and completeness. The circle was a sacred shape representing the divine and eternal nature of the universe. The circular shape of the wheel was seen as embodying wholeness and the cyclical nature of life.

6. Symbol of Industrial and Technological Advancement

Ancient Indus Valley: The wheel was also a practical symbol in the ancient Indus Valley Civilization, where it played a crucial role in technological advancement. The development of the potter’s wheel, for instance, revolutionized pottery and was a testament to the innovative spirit of the time.

In summary, the wheel in the ancient world was a potent symbol of time, movement, cosmic order, control, unity, and technological advancement. Its significance varied across cultures, but it consistently represented fundamental concepts related to the cycles of life, the passage of time, and the forces governing existence.