The Power Within

by Karen Lang, posted in Discovering your Destiny

“You’ve always had the power, my dear, you just had to learn it for yourself.”

Glinda the Good Witch, Wizard of Oz – L. Frank Baum

Pic: Etsy

Lyman Frank Baum’s ‘The Wizard of Oz’, which was first published on May 17, 1900, remains one of the best-known stories in American literature.

There are so many insights, teachings, and wisdom in this 123-year-old story, but I will just touch on one aspect.

When Glinda the Good Witch takes the red slippers off the Wicked Witch and gives them to Dorothy, it’s because she believes that Dorothy is ready to step into her power. However, Dorothy who still feels lost, isn’t convinced she is ready to take on this responsibility.

The Ruby Slippers for me represents a time in our life when we become aware of the power we hold to change our lives. Sometimes this power is shown to us by a teacher, a friend, or perhaps demanded of us in certain situations, and once we are aware of this power, we choose how we will use it.

We can use it for ego, or we can use it to empower ourselves and others, or to find a way home to our authentic nature.

How often do we look outside ourselves and undervalue and own capabilities?

Dorothy’s ruby slippers reveal the power we all hold within to make our dreams a reality and interestingly, the base chakra, or Muladhara, which is located at the base of our spine and is red in colour, represents the foundation of our truth, security, and stability in life.

All Dorothy had to remember was to follow the yellow brick road (which is being guided by her intuition) and even though she faced many obstacles and fears along the way, she never did this alone, and because she was supported, she learned to trust and have faith she would find her way home.

20 thoughts on “The Power Within”

  1. It took me a while to stand in my power, many years of feeling the fear takes a while to step past. I suppose it is like any wisdom, we have to experience and understand first. And as time went on I realized it was always up to me to stand within it, even if with tentative steps first but gradually that realization was that I already was me…so I claimed it and dared to believe in what I was becoming. A beautiful post Karen, and it is with the grace of others walking this path and sharing that gives many that courage. Thank you for that gift kind lady 😀❤️🙏

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    1. Thank you Mark. Your comment really captures the essence of this post. Discovering this power is only the first step, but as you share, we need to learn with patience, how to be with it, express it, and grow with it. It’s a gift I hope everyone finds within. 🙏🏻☺️

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      1. Indeed Karen, I think we all get that chance to see ourselves in so many ways. After all I have seen and touched, life asks us to always look at ourselves and change because of it. We all have that empathy, compassion and love from all we experience so I don’t think it is possible to ‘not’ be changed and become that love, then giving from that place we feel all around us. Beautiful comment kind lady, may we all find that gift 😀❤️🙏

  2. Oh, I really like this one. And it’s interesting that she had to follow the yellow brick Road and that the yellow chakra is not too far from the red :-).

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  6. I haven’t seen the Wizard of Oz in such a long time, but I remember it so clearly (and never did read the book 🙂 ). You bring such great insight with this post. There are moments in time where we become aware of the power we have to change our lives, but it is not something easily utilized or controlled. We look to others to help along the way and eventually, with belief, we find out way to what it is we are searching for. A very uplifting post.

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    1. Yes, thank you Randall you’ve captured this perfectly. We all have the ability to create the changes we want. And maybe we all need to remember to accept the gifts and support that others offer us along the way. ‘👠’

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