Home is Where the Heart is: Mindfulness and The Wizard of Oz

Image by Prettysleepy

Guest post by Shane Ledford

Since today, August 25th, 2024 marks the 85th anniversary of the nationwide release of The Wizard of Oz in 1939, I thought this would be a fun opportunity to explore the many mindful lessons and other themes that can be found in this much-beloved classic movie. As with my other Mindfulness in the Movies discussions, I always like to mention that there will be spoilers about the film in case you haven’t seen it. However, I am pretty sure you have seen this one… probably even several times… so feel free to read on. Oh, and I might mention that there is a lot to unpack in this movie, so this will be a bit longer than my other blogs.

The movie opens (in sepia tone) with the title sequence accompanied by clouds floating in the sky. These quick moving clouds are the only “real world” footage used in the entire film.  All of the rest of the movie was filmed on “non-real-life” fabricated soundstages. One of the themes running throughout the movie is the question of “what is real?”  Who am I really? Am I truly experiencing reality, or am I sleepwalking (or daydreaming) through it?  Are my thoughts real, or are they stories I made up (or believe)?

Speaking of thoughts and the reality of these clouds, I might also mention that one of the basic guidances in Mindfulness that I (and others) learned was to imagine whatever thoughts arise in meditation as clouds in the sky… and just let them float in and out without trying to hold onto them.  Just notice them. They are just clouds. Granted, I don’t think The Wizard of Oz filmmakers had this imagery in mind when they included this cloud sequence (or did they?), but it is always a fun reconnection to my early Mindfulness foundations whenever I see this opening nowadays.

We are then introduced to Dorothy having an empathetic dialogue with Toto on the road home. She then rushes to tell Aunt Em and Uncle Henry about the problem she and Toto are having with Miss Gulch. They tell Dorothy not to bother them at that moment as they are busy with saving chicks from a broken incubator. While it seems there are a lot of broken things on the farm (as the farm hands were also fixing a wagon), I find it fitting that the initial focus was on the chaos of the incubator situation right at the start of the movie. For me, this is an allusion to something that is brought up a few times in the film: Realizing the preciousness and importance of life in the moment, and also recognizing how fleeting it is. Aunt Em later tells Dorothy, “You always get yourself in a fret over nothing.”

In Mindfulness we learn that we do tend to worry over things that generally never materialize… sometimes creating our own anxiety. So, it is possible Dorothy has gotten worked up about things in the past when she probably shouldn’t have. However, in this case, Dorothy has a legitimately real problem (Miss Gulch coming after Toto)… but Aunt Em and Uncle Henry are too busy to offer any compassionate listening.

Later, Toto brilliantly escapes from Miss Gulch and returns to a heartbroken Dorothy. She impulsively decides the best thing they should do is run away. It is here where she starts to embark on the classic mythological Hero’s Journey as described by Joseph Campbell in his book  “The Hero With a Thousand Faces”. While she doesn’t know it, yet… Dorothy has begun to answer the call to adventure (as explained by Campbell) which will lead her into an unknown world of self-discovery. Her personal growth in the film will transform her into arguably the greatest heroine in the history of cinema.

The first character she meets on this spontaneous adventure is Professor Marvel (whose signage on the side of his traveling wagon reads. “Let him read your Past – Present and Future”). He asks her, “Who might you be?” This is actually a difficult question to answer when one really explores it.

During a Mindfulness meditation retreat practice I was in several years ago the lead teacher asked us to ask ourselves, “Who am I?” Interestingly, I couldn’t formulate a concise answer right away… so then I just had fun exploring all the possibilities of who I was: I was Shane, but then I realized that is only a name… a name my parents gave me, and the name I ask the baristas to write on my coffee orders. I am my parents’ son, but I am also a brother, and a husband… so which “who” of these am I? At that time of the question, I was working in sales, but I was also teaching yoga. I retired from the sales job a few years ago and recently stopped teaching yoga, but earlier I also started teaching Mindfulness (and still do)… but I still consider myself retired. I could continue on into this rabbit hole of which-hat-am-I-wearing-now, but you get the idea. Instead of a rigid notion of who I think I am (which is always in flux and changing), I would rather explore the endless sum of parts that exist within me… rather than focus on a vague “whole” (sorry Aristotle). Plus, I figure I am in good company if Roger Daltrey has the same question.

After Professor Marvel asks Dorothy to close her eyes “to be better in tune with the infinite,” he (questionably but admirably) helps Dorothy realize she made a mistake running away from home… and she rushes off. Professor Marvel says, “I hope she gets home alright,” and this begins perhaps the most important theme in the movie: Dorothy trying to physically return home yet also searching for what home truly means… as it doesn’t necessarily have to be a physical place.

Dorothy is then famously whisked away in a tornado to the Land of Oz. I should mention that in the original “Oz” books written by L. Frank Baum that the Land of Oz was a real place. Dorothy actually visits there several times throughout the book series (after first getting there by a tornado), and eventually moves there along with Aunt Em and Uncle Henry. For various reasons, the filmmakers chose to frame the visit to Oz as a dream identified as “Dorothy’s delirium”…rather than have her visit a “real” fairy tale land (like Middle-earth, Wakanda, Narnia, Themyscira, etc.). As a kid when I saw the film I always thought Oz was a real place, and now I still enjoy the ambiguity of her visit. Plus, it is also a brilliant plot device when we realize the adventure she goes on is for personal growth of her own psyche since all of this occurs in her subconscious mind.

She then opens the front door and crosses the threshold into the unknown of a new Technicolor world, and she greets it with a great amount of curiosity. She has a beginner’s mind (one of the seven interconnected attitudes of Mindfulness) as she wanders through the wonder of Oz. Everything is new and interesting to her. She accepts she is not in Kansas anymore, and that is perfectly fine with her for the moment.

After meeting Glinda, the people of Munchkinland, the Wicked Witch, and inheriting the Ruby Slippers, Dorothy decides to continue her quest of trying to get home via the Wizard of Oz in the Emerald City. She isn’t sure how to get there and Glinda says, “It’s always best to start at the beginning… Just follow the Yellow Brick road.” In Mindfulness (and other things in life) we always have to start somewhere… at the beginning… and then we just have to stay on a path to have any beneficial growth. We will have ups and down (just as Dorothy has along her journey), but just stay on the path. It is okay if we stumble or lose our way. Just start over at the beginning… and get back on the path.

However, staying on a path can be challenging when there are several possible paths to follow. Dorothy encounters a crossroad and asks, “Now which way do we go?” She has three possibilities if she wants to continue forward. Many times in our lives we are faced with choices that we may not know what the outcome will bring. Then again, we really can’t be certain of many choices in our life as “always in motion is the future” as Yoda said. In Dorothy’s case, all of the roads at the crossroad were yellow brick… so technically all of them would have led to the Emerald City. However, one of them might have been longer and the other could have been more hilly. Ultimately, we all reach our final destination if we stay on the path, but we may never know if any of the other of our many crossroads would have been easier, better, or more challenging.

Dorothy does receive help with this monumental crossroad decision by her next guide, the Scarecrow. We learn he doesn’t have any brains and Dorothy asks, “How can you talk if you haven’t got a brain?” To which he replies, “I don’t know, but some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don’t they?” That always cracks me up and 85 years later that quote still resonates… maybe even more so. This sage-like statement echoes the famous one (falsely) attributed to Abraham Lincoln and/or Mark Twain: “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.” Another variation can be seen in Proverbs 17:27: “The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint.” There is also Lao Tzu stating: “One who knows doesn’t speak; one who speaks doesn’t know.”

I don’t know, but some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don’t they? – Scarecrow

When Dorothy asks him what would he do with a brain if he had one, the Scarecrow sings, “I could while away the hours… conferin’ with the flowers… consulting with the rain… I’d unravel every riddle for any individ’le, in trouble or in pain.” So, the Scarecrow basically would practice being in the moment while meditating in and on Nature AND he would use his cerebral gift to unselfishly help others. Dorothy warns the Scarecrow that she has a witch after her, but he is unfazed, and accompanies her on her journey.

Right before meeting the Tin Man, Dorothy gets scolded for picking an apple off of an “alive” (and talking!) tree and she comments, “I keep forgetting I am not in Kansas anymore.” This is another Mindfulness cue. Sometimes our mind wanders off while we are doing a project, talking to someone, eating, or especially when we are meditating. We literally are not aware of what we are doing at that moment because we are thinking about something or somewhere else. That is okay. It happens. Our minds tend to get bored and want to do something else. The key is to notice without any judgment that our mind has wandered off somewhere, and we just bring our self back to whatever it is we are doing at that moment. In Dorothy’s case she had to remind herself she was in Oz… and not Kansas… and Nature apparently operates a lot differently in Oz. It can be dangerous for Dorothy if she is not focused and always present about this reality.

When asked what he would do with a heart if he had one, the Tin Man sings, “I’d be tender – I’d be gentle and awful sentimental regarding love and art. I’d be friends with the sparrows… and the bow who shoots the arrows if I only had a heart.” So, like the Scarecrow, the Tin Man would use his heartfelt gift to also appreciate Nature and be kind to others… as well as appreciate emotions. When we practice Mindfulness we may have emotions arise… and that is okay. The key is noticing that we are having the emotion and that we are not the emotion. Perhaps remind ourself “I am feeling sad or angry”… and not “I am sad or I am angry.” One is recognizing we are just experiencing an emotion, and the other is actually identifying oneself with the emotion.

The Wicked Witch then makes a surprise entrance after Dorothy sighs, “We’ve come such a long way already.” Here it sounds like Dorothy has a little bit of fatigue and impatience in her voice almost as if to say, “Are we there, yet?” The Witch replies, “You call that long? Why, you’ve just begun.” This echoes back to Glinda saying “start at the beginning.” The Witch reminded Dorothy that sometimes the path is a lot longer than we think. We tend to want quick results, but more often than not it can take months of practice (or longer) before we start seeing results. Just keep following our Yellow Brick Road.

Dorothy acknowledges her new friends “are the best friends anybody ever had. It’s funny, but I feel like I have known you all this time, but I couldn’t have… could I? Yes, she could because they are embodiments of parts of her. She is just not aware of it, yet. They are her Wisdom and Heart… which can form a strong bond when connected. It is best not to have one and not the other, so the Tin Man joins them along the path.

Image by Leandro De Carvalho

Then the Yellow Brick Road starts to go through a creepy forest, and our companions are a little rattled and concerned. Undaunted, they hold arms and skip along to a lovely little spontaneous mantra that they begin to sing. (Once again, our path will be met with obstacles, and we may even have to modify our plan a little to continue along the path to the end.) We then see their concerns were warranted because they are greeted by a ferocious Lion. However, Mindfulness can help us not to be so quick to judge someone, or something, or a situation… for it may not truly be what it appears to be. While the Lion first appears terrifying, we learn it is just an act and he is actually very cowardly. Dorothy feels empathy for the Lion and they all agree he should join them on the path of discovery.

Dorothy has now gathered, or, should I say, she has rediscovered her  powerful Trinity of Wisdom, Heart, and Courage. Remember, this is a dream. The trio we see are only Dorothy’s subconscious thoughts and emotions. She is now complete with these three traits, and she can finish her path of self-discovery along the Yellow Brick Road. But Shane, they don’t have their brains, heart, and courage, yet as they still haven’t met the Wizard… so, how does this complete Dorothy? Ah, but we find out later they always had these traits… they just didn’t have the confidence in themselves that they did embody it. These three listened to their thoughts… which were not real. Even the Scarecrow said earlier he was “a failure”… and he believed it. How many times have we (or others) told ourself “I am no good at this” or “I can’t do that” or whatever… and we find out later it was not the case?

I would also like to mention Dorothy’s kindness, compassion, and altruism here. She is fiercely protective of Toto even if it means facing a lion and slapping him on the nose, or the possibility of self-sacrifice (which we will see later when she is at the Witch’s castle). Dorothy was also willing to compassionately listen and help the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion… even though she was busy and in a hurry on an important mission of her own. She even invites them to join her. Remember when Aunt Em and Uncle Henry were too busy to listen and help Dorothy? Well she is not like that, and now she has awakened the trio of strong character traits inside of her … and she is on her way to be the most powerful force in Oz.

This of course would be news to the Witch because we then see her say, “When I claim those ruby slippers my power will be the greatest in all of Oz.” This is a perfect example of greed, attachment, and clinging to something else we think will make us happier, stronger, more youthful, richer, etc. Mindfulness can help us practice contentment. The Witch is not content. She has a castle. She can fly on her broomstick. She even has flying monkeys! But… this is not enough for her and she wants more. It is her obsession with this wanting that will eventually lead to her demise.

Image by Kier In Sight

Our companions then run across another obstacle that appears on their path. This time it is very serious, and deadly: the poppy field… and it is within sight of the Emerald City. Sometimes we are at a loss of what to do when we encounter a very challenging difficulty along on our own Yellow Brick Road path. We can even see the finish line, but we can’t go any further for whatever the reason may be. We can quit… OR we can do what our companions did… ask for help (and then Glinda helps them out). It is okay to ask for help. Asking for help is not a weakness as it takes wisdom, heart, and, especially, courage to ask for help. Sometimes we can’t do everything and we can instead rely on the strength of others to assist us.

Following the Yellow Brick Road path proves to be true because our group finally gets to their destination: the Emerald City and the Wizard. When they approach the Wizard he asks, “Who are you?” There is that question again. In fact, it is such an important question that he asks it twice. Are they the same person now that they were when their journey began? No. And, they will not be the same person they are now by the time the movie ends… so the “who” is always in flux.

The Wizard then gives them a new path to follow if they want their wishes granted, and this one will be even more challenging than the last one they were on: the Wizard of Oz wants the broomstick of the Wicked Witch of the West. The companions realize the obstacles, but their end goals are worth it to them. This is not greed for something they desire or want… it is a quest for something they need which they feel is lacking and cannot exist without… and sometimes that means crossing the perils of the Serengeti to find the only watering hole around for miles.

Later, after being captured by the flying monkeys and trapped with the Witch in her castle, the Witch grabs a very large hour glass and says to Dorothy, “You see that? That’s how much longer you got to be alive. It isn’t long.” While this scene is terrifying… it is also metaphorically true and alludes back to the broken incubator at the beginning of the film. Life is precious. Every minute of our lives is the “chance of a lifetime” as that moment will never return again. While we all have our own Hourglass of Life, we don’t know how long or short the amount of time it will take for that sand to run out. Instead of avoiding what could be a difficult thing to ponder and accept, Mindfulness can help realize the importance of the impermanence of life, and help us appreciate it more and live more fully in each moment… and not take this unknown amount of time we have here for granted.

This can still be a scary thought. When faced with her own immortality, Dorothy breaks down and says, “I am frightened Auntie Em” and gazes into the Witch’s large crystal ball (“to better be in tune with the infinite” as Professor Marvel guided). It is okay to be scared or feel fear. Once again, emotions or thoughts are what we are experiencing at the time… and not who we truly are. In Mindfulness there is a practice known as the the RAIN meditation where we Recognize that we are experiencing a thought or emotion. Then we practice Acceptance or Allowing this and move towards Investigating what is causing this emotion (such as “I am frightened because I am locked in a witches castle with apparently no way out and my mortality is at stake”). Then we work toward Nurturing (or Not-identifying with) this emotion or thought so as to be able to move on.

Dorothy then escapes thanks to the Wisdom of the Scarecrow, the Heart of the Tin Man, and the Courage of the Lion (and the Tenaciousness of Toto). Soon again, however, they are all trapped, and their certainty looks doomed. Despite that, and even though frightened and up against insurmountable odds, Dorothy responds with her compassionate Heart and musters up the Courage to use her Wisdom and grab a pail of water to put out the fire on the Scarecrow’s arm. This, consequently liquidates and melts the Witch and releases the enslavement of the Winkie Guards and Winged Monkeys from her grasp. It is important to recognize that Dorothy was not trying to kill the Witch… she was trying to save her friend, the Scarecrow (and herself, since, once again, this is all playing out in her psyche in reality). Sometimes even the smallest gesture of kindness can have tremendous positive ripple effects on others. This, to me, is why Dorothy is the greatest heroine of cinema: it is her continued altruistic nature of putting others’ needs before her own… even when she is faced with overwhelming odds against her and them.

Victorious, the companions return to the Wizard with the Witch’s broomstick, but the Wizard says come back tomorrow if they want their wishes granted. Dorothy is no longer going to be bullied by the floating green head and surrounding flames for she is starting to recognize it is all smoke and mirrors and exclaims, “If you were really great and powerful you’d keep your promises!” I find, even after 85 years, this is still a great commentary on people who we hold to high regard that do not live up to our expectations, yet we will still let them slide and don’t hold them accountable. When faced with people like this, no matter how intimidating they are, we need to be more like Dorothy (and Roshi Joan Halifax):  Have a strong back and soft front.

After a man is revealed from behind the curtain (thanks Toto!), it is now Dorothy’s turn to ask the existential question, “Who are you?” A minute ago he thought he was the great and powerful Oz, but now he realizes he is just a (“very good”) man and a “very bad wizard.” Being comfortable with who we are can be difficult especially when we have the tendency to compare ourselves to others (and what they have and what they have accomplished)… or even what societal and marketing propaganda tell us who we should be (or strive to be). Mindfulness can help us practice radical self-acceptance and be in awareness and supportive of where we are at that moment. This takes Wisdom, Heart, and Courage to practice.

From here the new-self Wizard rediscovers his kindness and offers to grant all of the companions their wishes. And, he grants them by telling them what we already know: they always had brains, heart and courage. They didn’t have to go and find these traits, they just had to rediscover them and no longer listen to their naysaying, judgmental, and non-real thoughts.

The Wizard tells the Lion, “You are under the unfortunate delusion that simply because you run away from danger you have no courage.  You’re confusing courage with wisdom.”  It takes courage to set boundaries and walk away from things and people that are no longer beneficial or even harmful to us.

I love what the Wizard tells the Tin Man: “A heart is not judged by how much you love… but how much you are loved by others.”  For me this is almost like a Zen koan (paradox), or better yet, it reminds me of the Beatles lyric,  “and in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.”

Image by Leah Reiter

After Dorothy’s wish to go with the Wizard back to Kansas seems lost after his balloon takes off without her, Glinda arrives. This is a nice example of not being discouraged if something doesn’t work out the way we planned because a different (and maybe even better) opportunity might present itself.  Don’t lose hope.

It is here when Dorothy (and we) realize she didn’t have to search for home any more when Glinda tells her, “You’ve always had the power.” But she also adds, “She had to learn it for herself.”

You’ve always had the power. – Glinda

When asked what she leaned, Dorothy replies, “If I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again I won’t look any further than my own backyard. Because if it isn’t there, I never really lost it to begin with.” Dorothy isn’t talking about her literal backyard at her farmhouse in Kansas… this was her subconscious talking about her own spiritual essence. Remember, in reality she is asleep on her bed back in Kansas, so she was ALWAYS home. She never left and it was always there with her. Like the other three, Dorothy was looking for something she always had but told herself she didn’t. Once again, we are not our thoughts.  When we slow down and practice Mindfulness we can really examine what is (or what isn’t there).

To remind her of this, Aunt Em says to Dorothy, “Wake up, honey.” When we are awake we are aware. As Thich Nhat Hanh said, “I have arrived, I am home.” To be Mindful is to be awake and not daydream or sleepwalk throughout our day because each moment is precious. We can be truly at home within our own self at any time and any place… just as long as our Heart and Mind are connected… and we have the Courage to be with whatever is present.

Practice with Shane every Tuesday at 12:10 pm Central time and some Thursdays at 7 pm. He has a book club Starting September 24th and will be a supporting teacher during our October retreat. Check out all his offerings here.