The Journey to Self-Awareness

Referred to as ‘self actualization’, by Maslow and placed at the top of his hierarchy of needs, discovery and acceptance of the True Self (TS) has been recognized by many, as the highest level of consciousness.  All the mystical branches of religion hold self awareness as necessary for union with God.  From Buddhists to Sufi masters; Cabbalists to medieval Christian mystics; people throughout time have been compelled to overthrow the ego and integrate the TS. 

In the Jewish tradition, the OT is humanity’s introduction to Yahweh, or I AM.  Throughout Jewish history His declaration of being has elicited an array of responses from humanity, some ethical, others horrifying. 

Christianity teaches followers to believe that Jesus fulfilled the OT by providing God’s perfect response to His own introduction.  In the NT, God provides us with His Son who explains that we are to recognize His love for us and allow Him to sanctify our hearts, which involves teaching us to love.  Despite the narcissistic interpretation of many groups of modern Christians, who deny themselves in a grand act of false modesty, and follow through by martyring themselves for others in an attempt to justify themselves; Jesus tells us to start by loving and accepting ourselves. Only then can we see how much God loves us, which allows us to reach out in obedience and love to our neighbors through service.

The enduring theme of the quest for the self is also found throughout American folklore, specifically Frank Baum’s classic, “The Wizard of Oz”.  Much has been written examining the political allegory found within the children’s classic; however, this author has never encountered a psycho-dynamic interpretation.  Perhaps unintentionally, Baum’s fairytale presents the story of the true self on a journey to self discovery.

The story opens when the TS, Dorothy, notices a tornado, emotion trauma, approaching the family farm, which represents her childhood defenses.  Her response is to pick up her dog, which is her fear defense, and regress into childhood by running into the farmhouse.  It appears that she does not possess the skills to follow her elders, their adult response to the trauma, is represented by seeking refuge in the storm cellar.  Predictably, her childhood defenses prove to be inadequate protection against the looming emotional trauma.

Indeed, when the house lands in Oz, she is thrown into an extended period of regression, an emotional place where she is forced to navigate adult issue interpreted using a primitive schema.  Eventually, after she confronts her narcissist wounds, her ego, and her dualistic worldview, Dorothy integrates her TS and realizes she already possesses the skills necessary to grow up and thrive in adulthood.

After abandoning the wreckage of her childhood defenses, Dorothy recognizes that she must journey to confront the ego, which she views as the ultimate authority and equipped to help her heal from the trauma endured.   First, she sets up a primitive, dualistic worldview, consisting of a self-soothing and self-punishing system, in the guise of the Good Witch of the East, and The Wicked Witch of the West.  Also in preparation, she is provided with ruby red slippers, which represent hope, and her primary defense system, fear, or her little black dog, which lashes out at every new situation she will encounter.  As the journey unfolds, she incorporates the three defense of her narcissistic wound; the man with no brain, the borderline defense, portrayed as a Scarecrow; the man with no heart, or the narcissistic response, illustrated as a Woodcutter made of tin; and the fear-based response, the schizoid, presented as the Cowardly Lion.  The complexity of the characters becomes apparent when the Scarecrow appears insightful, the Tinman displays emotion and the Lion seems protective.  Under close examination, true to their character, the Scarecrow’s insight is restricted to caretaking in relationships (borderline); the Tinman’s emotional responses are self-centered (narcissistic); and the Lion’s protective qualities are fear-based, primitive and unable to incorporate the other characters (schizoid).

It is interesting to note that Dorothy spends considerable time trying to soothe the three primary defenses whenever they are triggered by the ravages of her anger towards the Self, which manifest in character representing the dark half of her worldview or the Wicked Witch of the West.  It becomes apparent that neither the Scarecrow, Woodcutter, or Lion can stand up to the self directed anger, yet it is repelled by hope, when the ruby red slippers eventually burn the Wicked Witch of the West.

As Dorothy, Toto, Scarecrow, Tinman, and Lion, advance towards the confrontation with the Great and Powerful Oz (TGAPO), navigating specialized attacks from the Wicked Witch of the West, they reach the last manifestation of self directed anger, the poppies, which represent the ultimate expression of anger towards the self; the use of narcotics in an attempt to lull the group to sleep.  Only soothing in the light half of the worldview can rouse the narcissistic response, the Tinman, to carry the party through the drug induced haze.

Upon reaching the Emerald City, the self and defenses prepare to meet the ego by hiding its fear-based condition, in the form of the application of various cosmetics.  Standing in front of the grandiose display of TGAPO, triggers all the defenses and forces the TS to speak out.  Despite the puffed up image of the Ego, the TS is able to confront TGAPO about her need to integrate the Self and travel back to reality.  TGAPO gives her a seemingly impossible task, to take away the power of the childish, self directed fear and anger, the representation of the dark half of her worldview.  Dorothy, although she still relies on her defenses, confronts the Witch and defeats her, which inadvertently deconstructs her entire dualistic worldview – dark and light.

Interesting enough, after the dualistic worldview is dismantled, the defenses are still in place, until the Ego is confronted once again.  During the second meeting, the TS presents the broom to TGAPO and demands the help she was promised.  Instead of bestowing the insight promised, the ego is exposed for what it is….simply a ‘little man behind a curtain’.  Following a moment of despair, Dorothy, realizes that her defenses can be healed using her own insight, which consequently integrates the Scarecrow, Tinman and Lion into the self.  Dorothy than realizes that hope, the ruby red slippers; the same hope that carried her through her journey so far, will also bring her to self actualization and Kansas, or the successful journey from childhood to adolescence.