It’s Halloween as I am writing this. I just washed off the silver makeup, glitter and red lipstick that covered my face for a few hours when I was out and about tonight. My newly dyed hair is Manic Panic Ultraviolet. Nestled under the covers, I was perusing Facebook when a writing prompt snagged me. My friend Jenny G. Perry (also a Beliefnet Blogger) had posted pictures of her five children decked out in their Halloween finery. The theme was The Wizard of Oz. Her oldest- McKayla was a ringer for Dorothy; you would have thought Judy Garland had crossed back over the veil. Her next in line named Aidan dressed up as The Scarecrow who most certainly used his brain to create such a believable outfit. Then came Finn as The Tin Man with a good heart. Seamus was the most courageous Cowardly Lion on the planet. Finally, the youngest Perry- Dylaney was nestled in a basket carried by McKayla as an adorable Toto. Her husband Brian coated his erstwhile handsome face with Wicked Witch of the West green goop. Naturally, Jenny herself was Glinda with glitter and glow coming from the inside.

As I was smiling at the antics (or as Jenny likes to call them-shenanigans) that must have gone on there in preparation and then afterward.  it occurred to me that the movie has so many powerful spiritual themes. It exemplifies what Joseph Campbell called The Hero’s Journey.

My favorite lines:

Surrender Dorothy. So much of what life is about for me is that S- word. When I surrender, it is not about giving anything up. It is about ‘giving over’ my fears and limitation, hesitations and blocks and just letting things and people be as they are, even as much as I might want to change them. When I resist change, it happens anyway. When I just go with it, whatever ‘it’ might be, I find myself (rather than lose myself) enjoying life more.

Lions and Tigers and Bears…oh my– is an acknowledgment of my fears. I can work up quite a tizzy with my runaway and persverative thoughts. When I believe that there are ravenous beasts lurking in the dark and shadowy woods, I feel a need to duck and cover. Better to befriend and tame the critters.

Pay no attention to the man (or woman) behind the curtain. S/he knows how to manipulate, dazzle, play a role, rather than being genuine, since s/he believes that if the façade was stripped away and s/he was revealed for who s/he was, then no one would be impressed and s/he would just be average…and what fun would that be? It is when I reveal the real that I truly am powerful.

I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore. There are times when the ‘normal’ seems extraordinary and the world goes from black and white to Technicolor. I love acknowledging the magic that can occur at any moment.

There’s no place like home. I can search and seek for wisdom in other people and places, but always come to accept that it truly is an inside job. Home is far more than a place, but rather a sense of family. “I’ve got your back,” is a hallmark of those relationships. When I appreciate home, it is because it is a comfy place to rest my weary head, to celebrate life and into which I can gladly welcome friends and family and I don’t need to click my heels to watch the magic happen.