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And Toto, Too
"The Wizard of Oz" As A Spiritual Adventure
By Nathan G. Castle, O.P.
Table of Contents
Prologue: How I Ran Away Without Going Anywhere
"Yup, I just didn't know what to do about it."
Chapter 1: In the Beginning: L. Frank Baum
Reading The Wizard of Oz is entering sacred ground, the mind and generous heart of its creator.
Chapter 2: Looking Inside
"The lesson of the Wizard of Oz is, well, when you think you're lacking something, where do you find it? You look inside."
Chapter 3: Uncommon Common Journeys
First there's the Moses story. Then the Jesus story. And the Toto story. And, if you're up for it, your story.
Chapter 4: The Characters
Here are a few notes on the people we'll meet.
Chapter 5: Roll the Film
As the movie begins, everybody's busy, nobody's listening. Sound familiar?
Chapter 6: Going Noplace
Giving up on here and now... where will that get you?
Chapter 7: Marvelous Encounter
Your next companion could send your life in a new direction.
Chapter 8: A Storm's Blowin' Up
How's the weather inside?
Chapter 9: Over The Rainbow
Disappointment, disillusionment and disorientation yield to new challenges and the gifts to face them.
Chapter 10: Spiraling
Round and round and round she goes. Turning around might be the wisest thing you'll ever do.
Chapter 11: Life's Way
We're born, we live, and we die along a time line.
Chapter 12: Do You Believe in Dog?
The canine face of God is totally Toto.
Chapter 13: At a Crossroads
"Now which way do I go?" "Follow your joy."
Chapter 14: Echoes of Eden
Hunger can be the beginning of a search for what will fill us.
Chapter 15: Fear and Courage
"Courage is not simply one of the virtues but the form of every virtue at its testing point."
Chapter 16: Playing Witch's Advocate
It's important to remember that we haven't met properly.
Chapter 17: Sleeping and Waking, Dying and Rising
Do you believe you will survive your death?
Chapter 18: The Title Character
Who are you? Ask the person in the mirror.
Chapter 19: Pilgrims
If you went on a pilgrimage, where would you go? What would you seek?
Chapter 20: If I Were King
What kind of leader would you want to be? And what virtues would you need to grow in?
Chapter 21: Caution
Sometimes what we learn we later have to unlearn.
Chapter 22: Unholy Encounter
As it turns out, he's not "a wizard who will serve."
Chapter 23: Re-Gathering
What do you do when life beats the stuffing out of you?
Chapter 24: Using Words
"In the beginning was the Word," from the Old English, meaning ‘speech, talk, utterance.'
Chapter 25: Nobody's Home
The Witch's castle is populated with all those she dominates... but it's nobody's home.
Chapter 26: On a Mission
Take nothing with you. You'll be given all you'll need.
Chapter 27: Not so fast
When you haven't had time to think, being forced to wait isn't all bad.
Chapter 28: Confirmation
We've tried to help you and have watched you grow. We think you're ready and we need what God will give us through you.
Chapter 29: Into Thin Air
"Oh, come back, come back—don't leave without me!"
Chapter 30: Sterile
OK, I get it. No more looking back. No more guarding my heart."
Chapter 31: No Place Like Home
"Anybody home?" That's a question it could take a lifetime to answer.
Epilogue: The End And a New Beginning
Whatever you did, do more of it. It really matters."
2/1/2012 5:00:00 AM
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