Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Land of Oz Workshops Blog: The Creator of the Wizard of Oz
Land of Oz Workshops Blog: The Creator of the Wizard of Oz: "L. Frank BaumThe Creator of the Wizard of OzJohn A. Tamiazzo, PhD The 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz starring Judy Garland as Dorothy, was bas..."
The Creator of the Wizard of Oz
L. Frank Baum
The Creator of the Wizard of Oz
John A. Tamiazzo, PhD
The 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz starring Judy Garland as Dorothy, was based upon the children’s book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, written by American author, L. Frank Baum in 1899. He wrote 13 sequels to the Wizard of Oz, 9 other fantasy novels, 82 short stories, and over 200 poems. In 1897, Baum wrote a children’s book, Mother Goose in Prose which was illustrated by Maxfield Parrish.
In 1890, Baum became the editor of The Aberdeen Saturday Pioneer and wrote many articles about religion and spirituality. His topics included the philosophies of Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius, Christianity, and Theosophy. Baum and his wife formally joined the Theosophical Society of Chicago in 1892. Many of its teachings appear in The Wizard of Oz, including universal brotherhood and sisterhood, the search for and discovery of truth, the existence of a reality beyond the physical world, using power and magic for good or evil purposes, and the importance of developing balance and harmony within one’s self and in the world around. Baum was a staunch believer in women’s rights, and he wrote and marched on their behalf.
As a Theosophist, Baum believed in the immortality of the soul and that he and his wife had been together in many past lives. He supported Theosophist’s beliefs that life on earth is just one stage of the journey to spiritual awareness and that many lifetimes are necessary to achieve full consciousness. He had a deep respect for all religions in search of truth and that inspire participants on a path towards enlightenment with the Creator.
Many prominent Theosophists include: Helena Blavatsky, Paul Gauguin, William Butler Yates, T.S. Eliot, Annie Besant, and Alice Bailey.
John A. Tamiazzo is a renowned expert in fields of health and wellness and a workshop leader specializing in the Psychology and Physiology of Positive Aging. He will be speaking at the International Conference on Positive Aging in Los Angeles on December 8th. He is the author of Returning to the Land of Oz: Finding Hope, Love, and Courage on Your Yellow Brick Road, available at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com
Land of Oz Workshops Blog: The Wizard of Oz
Land of Oz Workshops Blog: The Wizard of Oz: "Returning to the Land of Oz Following in the footsteps of Dorothy, the Scarecrow,..."
The Wizard of Oz
Returning to the Land of Oz
Following in the footsteps of Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and Cowardly Lion, Returning to the Land of Oz takes a fresh psychological look at the important lessons we can learn from the marvelous tale, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, written by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W.W. Denslow in 1900. The 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz, has been viewed by over 2 billion people world-wide and has been voted the favorite family film of all time.
L. Frank Baum, Sigmund Freud, and W.W. Denslow were born just 10 days apart in the month of May, 1856. In the 1890’s, Freud was writing about free association, analytical psychology and dream interpretation. During this same time, L. Frank Baum was engaged in successfully writing children’s books. His most famous were Mother Goose in Prose, illustrated by Maxfield Parrish, and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. For the latter, his protagonist was a delightful girl who courageously found her way to the Wizard of Oz, won her freedom from bondage from the Wicked Witch, and returned safely home with the help of the friends she met along the way.
Baum added a little dog to comfort her and six colorful characters to spar and interact with. Given all of its brilliant theories and complex terminology, the field of psychology has not provided us with better insights for successfully making personal changes and maneuvering through the intricacies of life than The Wizard of Oz.
Through an exploration of symbolism and metaphor, John A. Tamiazzo’s Returning to the Land of Oz shows readers how to masterfully use the power of the mind and wisdom of the imagination to experience life to the fullest. It illustrates the healthiness of play, the fulfillment of living with an open heart, and the empowerment we relish in by drawing upon our inner courage and resourcefulness. Returning to the Land of Oz helps readers to realize that all of us are on our own Yellow Brick Roads, on our magical way to see the Wizard, and to claim what is rightfully ours.
Returning to the Land of Oz: Finding Hope, Love, and Courage on Your Yellow Brick Road is available at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Land of Oz Workshops Blog: Defying the Aging Process
Land of Oz Workshops Blog: Defying the Aging Process: "Defying the Aging ProcessJohn A. Tamiazzo, PhD Defying the aging process are four buzz-words that headline articles and advertisements all o..."
Defying the Aging Process
Defying the Aging Process
John A. Tamiazzo, PhD
Defying the aging process are four buzz-words that headline articles and advertisements all over the web. Manufacturers of skin care products, Dermatologists, Plastic Surgeons, and alternative Skin Care Specialists fill the airwaves with their anti-aging messages. The fact is, you can defy the aging process by incorporating sensible eating habits, nutritional awareness, daily exercise, dynamic creative imagery, simple stress management techniques, and fun life-style changes.
We live in very stressful times and it is a known fact that stress ages us. Stress interferes with collagen production and our skin suffers. Under the constant duress of stress, we look older, feel older, and lose our vitality. When we are constantly under stress and the natural stress response is not completely shut off, we experience a chemical imbalance eventually damaging joint tissues and blood vessel linings. In short, when the natural stress response is not turned off, the body is constantly on the defensive and inflammation ensues.
Chronic inflammation is central to many common diseases and health problems that develop causing deterioration of the joints and surrounding tissues, mobility challenges, pain, and digestive problems. In regard to the latter, a growing number of medical researchers are finding that inflammation begins in the digestive tract. Anxiety, depression, fear, anger, resentment, and diet all directly affect the proper functioning of the digestive system.
30 million Americans take anxiety medication on a regular basis and an equal number take prescribed and over-the-counter remedies for indigestion. In addition, current research shows that 60 million Americans have problems with sleep. Poor digestion is one of the main causes of interrupted and poor sleep.
What can we do? The first thing to address is diet. “Food is like a pharmaceutical compound that affects the brain,” said Fernando Gomez-Pinella, a UCLA professor of neurosurgery and physiological science. “Diet, exercise, and sleep have the potential to alter our brain health. This raises the exciting possibility that changes in diet are a viable strategy for enhancing cognitive abilities, protecting the brain from damage, and counteracting the effects of aging.”
We are a country of junk food junkies. We buy our food at huge super markets that, in most cases, do not care about our health and well-being. Do not entrust this responsibility to your doctor, the pharmaceutical companies, the FDA, or the food industry. Your health is in your hands and it is up to you to educate yourself on how to take care of your body, your miracle brain, and your wellness.
In an article I read the other day, medical researchers estimated that at the current rate, 1 out of 3 people will have diabetes in America by 2050. Think about it. If an engineer told you that in 5 years your home would most likely slide off of its foundation would you do nothing? The point is, we are in the midst of a health crisis in America and things do not seem to be getting better.
To dramatically improve your health, you need to radically alter your diet. Eat organic fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants and lots of whole grains. Make sure that the bread you eat is whole grain and has at least 4-5 grams of fiber per slice. Cut out the high fructose corn syrup or aspartame tainted foods and drinks. The average soda contains the equivalent of 10 teaspoons of sugar and Americans consume 150 pounds of sugar per person a year! Eliminate the fast food, processed food, and rethink all that dairy and meat. Dairy, meat, fast food and processed food have much too much fat and saturated fat, more than your digestive system and brain can process. Add spices to your meals loaded with antioxidants such as turmeric, clove, cinnamon, cumin, ginger, and rosemary. Eat foods abounding in omega-3 fatty acids like wild salmon (not this farmed junk or genetically engineered salmon), walnuts, and flax seeds. Start the day with a cup of organic soy or almond milk, a cup of frozen or fresh wild organic blueberries or strawberries, a teaspoon of almond butter, and half a banana mixed in a blender. As you know, there is much controversy about soy. Make sure the soy milk is made from whole organic soybeans. Check John Robbins insights on soy http://www.johnrobbins.info/blog/what-about-soy/
Try a cereal like Kashi Go Lean red box. It is very low in sugar, no fat, no cholesterol, high in potassium, low in sodium, very high in protein and fiber. It is a great choice compared to all the junk cereals out there. Forget the latte and a muffin.
Learn effective stress management techniques, relaxation techniques, and mind enhancing reframing skills. Listen to relaxing music.. Learn natural pain management skills and participate in fun and enjoyable exercise, such as dancing, swimming, walking, and hiking. Take time to play. Play with your loved ones, your animals, your children, and your mate. Spend lots of quality time in nature. Trees, plants, flowers, the ocean, rivers, lakes, and forests, are naturally healing and harmonizing. Take good care of your skin. Use quality products daily and make sure you and your loved one give each other a facial and massage at least once a week.
The fact is you have the power to make positive changes in your life that will impact your health for years to come. You can defy the aging process. You have that power.
John A. Tamiazzo, PhD has been an instructor with the Santa Barbara City College Adult Education program for over 25 years. He is the author of Returning to the Land of Oz: Finding Hope, Love, and Courage on your Yellow Brick Road, now available at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com Visit his blog site www.landofozworkshops.blogspot.com
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Land of Oz Workshops Blog: Returning to the Land of Oz
Land of Oz Workshops Blog: Returning to the Land of Oz: "Finding Hope, Love & Courage on Your Yellow Brick Road Followin..."
Returning to the Land of Oz
Finding Hope, Love & Courage on Your Yellow Brick Road
Following in the footsteps of Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and Cowardly Lion, Returning to the Land of Oz takes a fresh psychological look at the important lessons we can learn from the marvelous tale, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, written by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W.W. Denslow in 1900. The 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz, has been viewed by over 2 billion people world-wide and has been voted the favorite family film of all time.
L. Frank Baum, Sigmund Freud, and W.W. Denslow were born just 10 days apart in the month of May, 1856. In the 1890’s, Freud was writing about free association, analytical psychology and dream interpretation. During this same time, L. Frank Baum was engaged in successfully writing children’s books. His most famous were Mother Goose in Prose, illustrated by Maxfield Parrish, and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. For the latter, his protagonist was a delightful girl who courageously found her way to the Wizard of Oz, won her freedom from bondage from the Wicked Witch, and returned safely home with the help of the friends she met along the way.
Baum added a little dog to comfort her and six colorful characters to spar and interact with. Given all of its brilliant theories and complex terminology, the field of psychology has not provided us with better insights for successfully making personal changes and maneuvering through the intricacies of life than The Wizard of Oz.
Through an exploration of symbolism and metaphor, John A. Tamiazzo’s Returning to the Land of Oz shows readers how to masterfully use the power of the mind and wisdom of the imagination to experience life to the fullest. It illustrates the healthiness of play, the fulfillment of living with an open heart, and the empowerment we relish in by drawing upon our inner courage and resourcefulness. Returning to the Land of Oz helps readers to realize that all of us are on our own Yellow Brick Roads, on our magical way to see the Wizard, and to claim what is rightfully ours.
Returning to the Land of Oz: Finding Hope, Love, and Courage on Your Yellow Brick Road is available at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com
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