Wheel of Time

This article is about the cosmological understanding of the Wheel of Time. For the television series, see The Wheel of Time.

The Wheel of Time weaves the Great Pattern

The Wheel of Time is the cosmological understanding of the circular nature of time and the universe.

The Wheel can be thought of as a seven spoked cosmic loom set in place by the Creator, spinning eternally and driven by the True Source. The Wheel weaves the fabric of lives and events into the Great Pattern.

Each of the seven spokes of the Wheel represents one of the seven Ages of time, and each time that the Wheel turns fully, an Age will repeat itself.

The Wheel of Time encompasses the entire universe. The design of the Great Pattern can only be slightly changed by the souls within the Wheel. Only the Creator, the Dark One, and the True Source exist independent of the Wheel of Time.

Quotes

The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again. In one Age, called the Third Age by some, a wind rose in the Mountains of Mist. The wind was not the beginning. There are neither beginnings nor endings to the turning of the Wheel of Time. But it was a beginning.

Moiraine Damodred

Changes from the book series

The Wheel of Time is based on the concept of the same name  (book spoilers!) from the book series.

Trivia

• The opening sequence of the show features the Wheel of Time weaving the Great Pattern.
• Brandon Sanderson imagines that the television series takes place in a different turning of the Wheel in order to account for any changes between the books of the television series. Thus, the characters from the show have the same souls as the characters of the books, but have been reincarnated in a different turning of the Wheel.