The Paths of Yoga in Oz

This illustrated reflection explores The Wonderful Wizard of Oz as a teaching metaphor for yoga and self-realization. The journey and its characters provide ways to consider wisdom, attention, devotion and action. It is a contemplative reading of the story, rather than a claim about L. Frank Baum’s intended meaning.

Read the ten panels in order, then explore the companion video, The Four Paths to Freedom. For a fuller explanation of the traditional terms and their connection with James Traverse’s teaching, see the Four Yogas: Raja, Karma, Bhakti and Jnana.

The illustrated journey at a glance

The panels follow Dorothy and the path of wisdom and discrimination; the Scarecrow and mastery and knowledge; the Tin Woodman and devotion; and the Cowardly Lion and action and duty. The later panels explore the Wizard as a teacher, waking from the dream, and a comparison of the four paths. These are images for inquiry: how do attention, love, action and understanding meet in your own life?

A Comparative Reading of L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz as a Metaphor for Classical Yoga and the Process of Self-Realization

The Paths of Yoga in Oz

Further Reading

• Who am I?
• The True Nature of Being