Prayer wheels are these incredible examples of spiritual technology. You place mantras or prayers inside something that spins, and with every rotation they radiate those wishes out into the universe.

I have been practicing Buddhism for more than fifteen years. I’m also an artist, and I’m really interested in creating art and objects that are themselves compassionate.

I designed the Rainbow Solar Powered Prayer Wheels to be a combination of tradition and pop culture. I use universal symbols of joy and happiness—like hearts and smiley faces—so that anybody can understand them.

Prayer wheels originally come from the Buddhist traditions of Tibet and Nepal. Mixing these ancient traditions with modern design is a way to explore my own spirituality and, at the same time, incorporate more focus on kindness into Western culture.

My prayer wheels contain the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum, just like traditional prayer wheels. Om Mani Padme Hum is a profound prayer in the Sanskrit language. It literally translates to “praise to the jewel in the lotus,” but its deeper meaning is a praise of compassion and wisdom—a wish for the happiness of all beings.

May no harm come to anyone, and may our hearts turn toward generosity.

The Rainbow Solar Prayer Wheels contain one hundred thousand copies of the mantra written in dozens of languages, because these prayer wheels are also a wish for world peace.

My dream is to run a business that can support the creation of all kinds of prayer wheels. So far, I have a few different projects. I partnered with a sculptor to create a limited-edition line of hand-cast resin wheels. I also lead workshops where we make prayer wheels from recycled objects.

My idea is that the solar prayer wheels can support community-based art. I’m also using the Rainbow Solar Prayer Wheels as a way to learn about plastic manufacturing and mass production in China.

I use products made in China every day, and yet I knew very little about how these global systems actually work. We aren’t getting rid of plastic anytime soon—so how can we be more responsible with our use of plastic? How can we use it without causing so much harm to the environment? Is there a way to be guided by compassion in the business of plastic?

These are open questions that I hold as I move forward in exploring the making of prayer wheels.

The Rainbow Solar Prayer Wheels are well-engineered and sturdy—they’re not cheaply made and won’t break easily. I’ve been beating up on the prototype, and it still works great.

They have little silicone feet and are weighted so you can put them in your car. They spin in the sunlight, so you can place them in a window or bring them on a picnic. They make great gifts because they’ll continue to generate good vibes for years to come.

I hope you can help my dreams come true and support my project. And I hope that in your own life, you also get to spend time doing things that bring you joy.