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
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