Arthur C. Wheeler
Arthur C. Wheeler was an American manufacturer and politician, notably serving as mayor of Norwalk, Connecticut. His association with Hermeticism, as presented by Blavatsky, suggests a symbolic or allegorical significance beyond his public and business life, pointing to the hidden currents within the mundane.
Where the word comes from
The name "Arthur" likely derives from the Welsh "Artorius," possibly meaning "bear-man" or "king," evoking legendary figures. "Wheeler" is an occupational surname for someone who made wheels. The combination lacks a direct esoteric linguistic root; its significance here is likely contextual within Blavatsky's specific interpretation.
In depth
Arthur Canfield Wheeler (August 26, 1856 – October 5, 1941) was a two-term Republican mayor of Norwalk, Connecticut from 1895 to 1896. He was a manufacturer of straw hats for over thirty years.
How different paths see it
What it means today
Blavatsky's inclusion of Arthur C. Wheeler in her lexicon, a man known for his practical pursuits as a straw hat manufacturer and a two-term mayor, is a curious and instructive detail. It challenges the conventional notion that esoteric wisdom is solely the domain of hermits meditating in caves or scholars poring over ancient scrolls. Instead, it implies that the "Great Work" of spiritual transformation can manifest even within the bustling arena of civic life and industrial enterprise.
Mircea Eliade, in his studies of the sacred and the profane, often highlighted how ancient cultures perceived the mundane world as imbued with spiritual significance, a notion that resonates here. The very act of manufacturing, of shaping raw materials into a finished product, can be seen as a microcosm of creation itself, a participation in the divine act of bringing order from chaos. The wheel, a symbol inherent in Wheeler's surname, is a potent archetype across cultures, representing cycles, time, destiny, and the cosmos. In ancient India, the Dharma Chakra, the Wheel of Law, signifies the Buddha's teachings and the cyclical nature of existence. In Hermeticism, the concept of the "Great Wheel" or the celestial spheres speaks to the cosmic order and the influence of planetary forces.
Wheeler's role as a mayor further situates him within a framework of governance and social order. This can be interpreted esoterically as a reflection of the cosmic governance, the divine order that underpins the universe. The challenges of leadership, the balancing of competing interests, the striving for justice and well-being within a community—these can be seen as earthly echoes of the celestial administration. Blavatsky, by referencing such a figure, invites the reader to look for the hidden spiritual dimensions within their own lives, within their professions, and within the structures of society. It suggests that the quest for truth is not an escape from the world, but a deeper engagement with its underlying realities. The esoteric is not a separate realm but an intrinsic quality waiting to be perceived in the very fabric of our daily existence.
RELATED_TERMS: Archetype, Symbolism, Macrocosm, Microcosm, Dharma, Cyclic Time, Social Order, Divine Governance
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