Wizards & Witches in us
Before embarking on a journey of psychotherapy, I believed that I was an indivisible and consistent being. Therefore, my biggest discovery was to realise that the opposite is true. We are not just one person. There is a multiplicity of different characters in us.
‘In every corner of my soul there is altar to a different god’ by Fernando Pessoa.
I want to invite you to explore the Wizard of Oz which is not only a wonderful fairy tale but it offers us a possibility to getting acquainted with our various identities.
The main heroin of that story Dorothy lives in the bleak and colourless land. One day when a tornado strikes, she looses her home and she finds herself embarking on a journey to find her home back. This is such a powerful beginning. Imagine having a home and then in the blink of an eye loosing it and with it the safety and stability that is offers. What does this bring up for you? What is home for you? Do you feel at home at the moment?
Dorothy travels along the Yellow Brick Road towards the Emerald City.
And, she meets many different characters on her journey along that road.
She meets Scarecrow who is looking for a brain. The Scarecrow assumes he has limited potential, simply because he is made of straw. Does that bring anything for you? How many times in your life did you think of yourself as being stupid and unworthy?
She meets Tin Man who he is looking for a heart. He lost it together with his emotions and ability to connect with people and himself. How does that resonate with you? Are you feeling disconnected from your body and your feelings?
She meets Cowardly Lion who is looking for a courage. He believes that his fears make him inadequate. He does not understand that courage means acting in the face of fear, which he does frequently. What stories do you keep saying to yourself which keep you small? How do you limit yourself?
Let’s not forget that Dorothy travels with her best friend Toto. Toto is a dog and might represent a more instinctual and playful part in each of us. Do you allow for playfulness in your life? How do you rest? Can you allow yourself to just be?
When Dorothy arrives to the Emerald City, she meets the Good Witch who represents a source of encouragement and strength. She gave Dorothy a pair the magic slippers to remind her that what she seeks lies within her. Have you met anyone on your road towards the unknown who encouraged you and showed you your inner strength? Can you internalise and find them within yourself?
Finally, when Dorothy arrives to the Emerald City she meets the Wizard of Oz. He considers himself as the greatest of man but it turns out that he is not actually a wizard but just an ordinary man. What masks are you wearing to communicate or hide yourself away from the world and others?
There is such a richness in this story.
If you had a chance to read a book or watch a film, ask yourself what characters and character’s stories resonate with you. How many can you find within yourself? What does the story bring up for you?
