The yellow brick road is real
What does The Wizard of Oz have to teach us about ourselves and our lives? What is the real story hidden within Dorothy's adventure?
CL Zúñiga
2/17/20262 min read
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 and persistent aspects of our journey include the concepts of surrender, change, presence, resistance, trust and service. The details of Dorothy's story mirror the spiritual journey we all make in life, and I unpack that journey in The Six Sacred Gifts.
As an overview, consider that Dorothy represents our basic human selves. Her adventure begins when she runs away to protect her beloved dog Toto from a wicked neighbor who wants to get rid of him. Along the way, Dorothy sends out a prayer to the Universe seeking something greater in her life that she believes is "somewhere over the rainbow." And the journey begins.
Soon into her adventure, Dorothy's safety is challenged and her entire life changes. She and Toto find themselves in an unfamiliar place, alone and frightened. Dorothy rests into Toto's instincts to guide them as they navigate the new terrain.
Faced with the reality that there is more happening than meets the eye, Dorothy comes present with what unfolds before her and uses her brain to problem solve her way onward. As things get a little weird, fear and resistance rise yet she finds the courage to continue. Feeling stuck and perhaps even hopeless, she finds strength in her heart's wisdom. In the end with everything on the line, she learns to trust herself, and returns home to offer what she learned in service to those she loves.
The deeper symbology held within Dorothy's adventure reflects our own journey along the yellow brick road of spiritual awakening. We can't escape it. We can only wake up to it. You either get it or you don't. The Six Sacred Gifts gives clarity to what we encounter as we move on down our own yellow brick road.
