That pesky yellow brick road

Most people know the story of The Wizard of Oz. The original came out in 1939 and remains a favorite classic. What makes it so powerful?

Dorothy's adventure casts a powerful light on what the spiritual journey looks like. It gives us clues as to how we might navigate ours with more authority. There are consistent things to watch out for and essential elements to help us along, yet we only notice them if we're paying attention.

The most common aspects of our journey include the concepts of surrender, change, presence, resistance, trust and service. Dorothy's story provides a path for our journey through this wisdom, and The Six Sacred Gifts unpacks that journey.

Consider what the notion of surrender means to you. When you consider it, do you stiffen or relax? Does fear or faith rise? When might surrender be helpful versus harmful and how can we truly surrender in safety?

And what about change? We hear that the only certainty in life is change. We know things are always changing but what part do painful changes play in our spiritual journey and how can we work with them?

Sacred wisdom across traditions speaks of presence but what does it actually mean? How does presence impact things? What difference can it make and how can we use it to deepen our experiences in life?

It's normal to resist things that make us uncomfortable, yet if we're not aware, resistance becomes a catalyst for living a small life. What does resistance offer that can help us heal and open? How might we transform resistance into an agent of empowerment?

Trust can be hard to come by, especially when we've been hurt and betrayed in life. Yet without trust, we lose our sense of connection, community and safety. How do we cultivate a trust that sustains us through vulnerability?

What about service? Where does service fit into our spiritual journey and life? How do we know what our service is? Is it an obligation or a calling? Is it a job or a ministry? How do we align ourselves with it?

There is a deeper reality that we see only when we're ready to, yet its impact is clear. We can't escape it. We can only wake up to it. You either get it or you don't. The Six Sacred Gifts points the way.