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
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