17/07/2025
In my consultancy role, I recently spent time at culturally specific care home. It was a beautiful day for so many reasons but I wanted to share one of the many things I learnt. I always say every day is a school day and it really is! I love my work so much 😊
I knew about the faith based belief of Moksha/Moksh but I didn’t know its connection to the game of snakes and ladders!
Originally created in ancient India, the game of Snakes and Ladders was known as Moksha Patam and held deep moral and spiritual meaning. It was designed to teach players about the journey of life, karma, and the path to moksha - liberation from the cycle of rebirth. The ladders symbolised virtues like generosity, faith, and humility, helping the soul ascend. The snakes represented vices such as anger, lust, and pride, pulling the soul back down. It wasn’t just a game, it was a way to reflect on moral progress and spiritual growth.
In the Western world, the game has evolved into a simple children’s pastime, with little of its original depth and symbolism.
Knowing its roots reminds us that games, like stories, can carry powerful teachings and that underneath the colourful board lies a quiet message about how we live, the choices we make, and the paths we take.
Fascinating and on reflection, it makes so much sense.
Whatever your faith, this way of thinking is fundamentally how most of humans live I think, we are all just trying to make good choices and do right by ourselves and others and sometimes we struggle, but we keep going in the hope of the next ladder ❤️
