Leonardo Da Vinci
When it comes to pure creativity and innovation, there is no one who did it better than Leonardo Da Vinci. He is known as the first “Renaissance Man”. It doesn’t matter what field of work you are in, this man’s story will inspire you. I’m not going to break down his entire life; I’ll leave that to you, my fellow seeker. I’m only here to shine a light on a wizard that has inspired me to create with total freedom, free from boundaries and rules.
Leonardo was born in Italy in 1452. He’s often credited as the inventor of the parachute, the helicopter, and even the tank, having made sketches of all of these technologies hundreds of years before they were eventually made. He even had what seems to be blueprints for a robotic knight that could sit, stand, and walk all on its own. Robots!?! Really, Da Vinci?!? This guy just doesn’t stop; there’s more. He discovered parts of both human and animal anatomy that no one had ever documented at the time. Being the first to have detailed drawings of the human heart, brain, lungs, etc. He was one of the first people to suggest that the earth revolves around the sun. At the time, people believed the sun revolved around the Earth. He was one of the first to claim that a tree’s age can be determined by the number of rings in its trunk. What many people don’t know about him is that he was a great musician. He played the flute and the lyre (a stringed instrument). Historians in his time documented that he was an incredible singer. He would perform at palace events and parties hosted by very influential people. His most famous talent is definitely his painting, and they are among the most famous paintings of all time. Masterpieces like the Vitruvian Man, the Last Supper, as well as the most well-known painting on Earth: the Mona Lisa.
Hearing about his life, you’d assume he was either a time traveler or an otherworldly visitor who came here to give us some next level inventions, as well as some of the most beautiful art known to man. A lot of his inventions and ideas were so ahead of their time that the technology needed to bring them to life did not yet exist. Although he was a revered artist and inventor, his talents and interests were beyond diverse. If you ever feel like you are too busy to start a new hobby, allow me to shatter that belief with a list of some of Leonardo’s creative interests:
Botany
Astrology
Geology
Music
Sculpting
Painting
Invention
Mathematics
Human anatomy
Writing
Architecture
Most people spend their entire lives mastering just one of the subjects listed above, and Leonardo somehow managed to master many, if not all of them. Some might say, “But he must have been a genius!” And to that I would reply with my honest opinion: we are all creative geniuses. Whether we choose to realize it or not, I believe that everyone has the potential for creative mastery. We usually don’t take the time to develop or explore our talents and abilities, usually because we are afraid to fail. It has been said time and time again by the world’s most successful creators: failure is the key to success. I bet if we could talk to Leonardo today, he would tell us that failure was one of his dearest friends.
I chose Leonardo Da Vinci as my first Wizard of the Week because, in my opinion, he is one of the most well-rounded creators/innovators of all time. To me, Leonardo embodies the true essence of what it means to be human. He was a creative force of nature. Not tied down by labels or titles, he followed his interests wherever they led him. And from what I’m sure is only a fraction of his work that survived throughout the ages, it is clear that this man loved life. May we all learn to tap into that same creative energy. And of course like all of us, I’m sure he had his flaws. He probably had his good and bad days. But one thing is very clear: he did not let anything stop him from expressing himself. Whenever I feel like I am having creative blocks, or hitting walls in my mind, I call upon Da Vinci to help me bust through that shit! If you’re looking to be inspired, there are tons of documentaries and Youtube videos about Leonardo. Take some time to learn more about this incredible soul.