Are you on the way home?
You all know the Yellow Brick Road. It begins an incredible journey in the movie The Wizard of Oz. This article was initiated by conversations with clients speaking to Malachi about the yellow brick road. Their communication inspired my own contemplation of what the yellow brick road means psycho-spiritually. I also imagine this story has been told in metaphysical circles many times. Yet, today I offer my version.
In the story, Dorothy was picked up by a tornado and placed in a strange land. To us, the tornado means the overwhelming chaos we find ourselves in that displaces us from our inner harmony, living successfully in all that we do, loving and sharing life with others, and expressing our self with confidence. In fact, the tornado causes us to stifle the life journey we are experiencing and expressing and quelling our own true nature and talents. Once jeopardized and displaced by our inner conflicts/tornado, we do not recognize our environment or the inhabitants. We feel completely lost and we do have a need to call on others to help us. Could it be the Good Witch (loving care, right choices and direction), the Munchkins (nagging voice reminding us how to find our way) or the Bad Witch (false direction based on fear)? Or, will it be the Wizard (the informer of illusion and truth)?
The Good Witch instructed Dorothy to follow the yellow brick road so she could find her way back home. The Munchkins kept reminding her to follow the road. Bricks, sturdy, yet the way they are placed can create unstable stepping along the way–challenges, if you will, are what Dorothy had to walk on toward home. Thus it is for us, and we simply can’t avoid them. We must pay attention to each step.
Yellow has many connotations. It represents the intellect, the heart, and the higher/transpersonal mind. All qualities that must come together in order to discover the way home. We must bring our mind to our heart and our heart to our mind so we may receive the higher mind guidance.
Dorothy traveled with the Tin Man, who did not have a heart. She traveled with the Scarecrow, who did not have a mind, and the Cowardly Lion who was devoid of courage. The Wizard was the magical person to be met to guide Dorothy back home. He was hidden until Toto, Dorothy’s dog (instinct), unveiled the Wizard behind the curtains.
What is the way home? The knowing and living our own inner balance, the knowing of our True Self, and the harmony of Spirit and Matter unified. It is discovered by using our instinct: Toto–the ability to go on the search and eventually unveil the truth.
But the journey on the winding and seemingly never ending yellow brick road must be taken before the unveiling can occur. The Scarecrow was courageous enough to take this journey, but he didn’t think he had the intelligence to offer advice. Do you believe you are not intelligent enough to use the knowledge to get you back home? What might you do to change that reality? I say pray, meditate and obtain a psycho-spiritual education that leads you to understand the mysteries of life, and thus the core of yourself.
The Tin Man, seemed so desirous and caring, but he claimed he did not have a heart. What is a heart? How do we know our heart? It is the mainstay in our self that leads us to knowing we are loved and loving. It is the gift of accessing desires that stir the qualities of creative soul-purpose. It is your power of compassion and nurturing. Recognize your heart…it has never left you.
Ah, the Cowardly Lion is such a very apparent model of our fears. He needed everyone, feared everything, and was easily jostled. He could not feel the courage to change this reality; yet he followed the yellow brick road despite all its seeming dangers and attackers. So it is with our fears. They jostle us off the path of self awareness. They feed us false knowledge and a belief we don’t have the strength and courage to change. Yet, the Cowardly Lion found his courage as they all traveled the yellow brick road. We will too.
The Wizard reveals our illusionary self that keeps hidden our true self by actions of false importance or lack of it, lower ego fulfillment and hiding through the veil of a low self esteem while using obnoxious ways to prove we are superior. Yet, ultimately, once discovered, the Wizard tells the truth. In fact uncovered, we discover the real truth of our self and the way to our home (our most balanced, loving, courageous and intelligent self). We learn the power is ours and no one else’s.
Toto reminds us we must use our instincts to discover the truth. The use of our instincts will guide us intuitively through the winding road of life. We will find our Ruby Shoes, our feet connected to the ground, revealing our strength, passion and stability. Click our heals a few times, and we move out of the tornado, the land of illusions, and into our heart, mind and courage. We then follow the road back home and know we are perfect just as we are and where we are on our journey. We will reveal our true self!
Enjoy your yellow brick road!
Rev. Katherine Bell