The Cosmos of Kansas, and the Wonderful Life of Oz
~tffb
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Dorothy, in plain old boring Kansas. Black and white film, unhappy
with her upbringing. Toto is her only friend, refuge in the world.
Until that world, the tornado, strikes her house, then she gets
drifted to another land. The world of fierce demands, of natural
intensity - beckoning her ("more must be").

So, she arrives in Oz. Where everything is NOT boring. The
symbolism is that of merely opposites in the movie (and originally
book). Fields of repetition? Glorious fields of technicolor
flowers. Aimless grass and non-eventful interruption? A yellow
brick road. A blank horizon? A glorious palace shining with
promise.

The ones she helps along the way are fine. Scarecrow, Tin Man, and
Lion - characters who need her, and she needs them, to a certain
extent. But in this journey, threats make themselves known. A
Wicked Witch, promising harm to her and her friends and her beloved
Toto. A Good Witch comes to reassure her, to continue what's in
front of her, and she (Dorothy) will surely defeat the Wicked
Witch.

Toto, Dorothy's loving friend and Thing To Protect, gets taken by
creatures sent by the Wicked Witch. Hell-bourne flying chimpanzees
that look as strange and terrifying as any Luciferian conjuring
could be. They go to the castle of the Wicked Witch, confront and
destroy her with the one good, pure element in the world - water.
Toto is saved. Dorothy renewed.

Continuing, more discoveries, findings, knowledge and amusement,
until they reach The Wizard of Oz. Timidly behind a curtain, Toto
unveils he (the Wizard) is not an all-knowing being, or an
intimidating threat, but a man projecting himself to be.
Nevertheless, with powers to make incredible things come true. To
grant Scarecrow his brain, Tin Man his heart, and Lion his courage.
And also, Dorothy's ruby slippers. To click together, and remind
herself "there's no place like home".

Then, back to "plain" Kansas. A land of Mother's Milk and
familiarity. Knowing all the while the land of Oz is there - people
of need but also people of adventure. To show as much as they need
to be shown.

But home, Kansas, is where the soul is spawn, and where one truly
lives.