The Wizard of Oz Is A Treasure Trove of Grief Wisdom. Here are 7 Hidden Gems
Sometimes wisdom shows up in the most unexpected places.
I love the Wizard of Oz and have watched it more times than I can count. I even dressed up as Glinda for Halloween when I was a child! Dorothy’s journey down the yellow brick road never fails to amaze me. What started as a childhood favorite has revealed itself to be so much more—it’s actually a beautiful roadmap for navigating grief. Her story is filled with lessons that speak directly to anyone walking through loss. Here are eight powerful takeaways that might just change how you see your own journey.
1. Make a Choice to Heal
Dorothy had to make a choice to leave Munchkinland and start her journey home. She could have stayed stuck in that strange place, overwhelmed by where she’d landed, but she chose to take the first step down the yellow brick road.
Grief works the same way. You have to start somewhere, even when baby steps don’t feel like you’re getting anywhere. The choice to heal—to put one foot in front of the other—is where every journey begins. It’s not about having it all figured out; it’s about deciding to move forward, even when the path ahead seems unclear.
2. Focus on What You Do Have, Not What You Don’t Have
Dorothy didn’t have her parents and was lost and afraid in a strange land she never asked to be in – sort of like the new path you are thrust on after the death of a loved one! Grief often feels like being dropped into a foreign country without a map.
But Dorothy didn’t spend her time focusing on what she’d lost. Instead, she drew strength from what she did have: the unconditional love of Aunt Em and Uncle Henry, her faithful companion Toto, Huck and the local farm hands, and a safe place she called home. She had people willing to help her once she asked for help.
Maybe it’s the love that surrounds you, the memories you treasure, the strength you’ve already shown by making it this far, or the people willing to walk beside you. Focus on these treasures—they’re more powerful than you know.
3. There’s No Magic Fix
Dorothy thought the great and powerful Wizard would solve all her problems. But when she pulled back the curtain, she discovered he was just a regular person doing his best with what he had.
In grief, we often search for that one thing—that perfect book, therapist, medication, or experience—that will make everything better. But healing doesn’t work that way. There’s no wizard behind a curtain with a magic solution. True healing comes from multiple sources, small steps, and the journey itself.
4. Build Your Support Team
Dorothy didn’t travel alone, and neither should you. Your journey will be slower and more lonely if you go it alone. Figure out who’s worthy to let in on your journey and who can “walk” with you. Along Dorothy’s journey, she found companions who each brought something essential to her healing:
The Scarecrow (Brains): Find someone who can help with the practical stuff—the logistics of grief, the decisions that need to be made, the tactical support when your brain feels foggy.
The Tin Man (Heart): Look for someone who will support you emotionally, boost you up on hard days, and remind you that feeling deeply is part of being human.
The Cowardly Lion (Courage): Seek out someone who encourages you to be bold, to take healing risks, to find strength you didn’t know you had.
Glinda (Wisdom): Find your mentor—someone who’s walked a similar path and can share their wisdom. This might be a therapist, a life coach, or someone further along in their grief journey.
You need all of these people at different times. Don’t try to find everything you need in one person.
5. People May Come Into Your Life for a Season
Dorothy’s new friends were there while she was in Oz. They were there at the moment she needed them. We don’t know if they became lifelong friends or if their paths diverged once she returned home—and that’s okay.
Some people will walk with you through your entire grief journey. Others will show up for a specific season when you need exactly what they have to offer. Both are gifts. Be grateful for whatever season you get with the people who help you heal, whether it’s months, years, or just when you need them most.
6. Look Out For The Wicked Witch
Be aware of the people who are detractors, drain your energy, shake your confidence, or send you spiraling into “what if” thinking. The Wicked Witch sent flying monkeys to derail Dorothy’s journey, and grief has its own version of these obstacles.
These might be well-meaning people who don’t understand your journey, or those who project their own fears onto your healing process. Recognize these “flying monkeys” for what they are—distractions from your path forward—and don’t let them pull you off course.
7. Help Comes When You Need It Most
When things looked their darkest—when the Wicked Witch’s poppy field put Dorothy and her companions into a deep, seemingly endless sleep—it appeared that all hope was lost. But just when the situation seemed hopeless, Glinda appeared and made it snow, waking them up and making sure something bad didn’t happen.
In your grief journey, there will be moments that feel overwhelming. Often, just when things feel impossible, help arrives in unexpected ways. Maybe it’s a phone call from an old friend, a stranger’s kind gesture, or a sudden sense of peace that washes over you.
These aren’t coincidences—they’re your “snowflakes.” Whether you believe they come from your loved ones watching over you, a higher power, or the universe conspiring to help you heal, trust that you’re not walking this path alone. There are forces working on your behalf, ready to send “snowflakes” to stop or soften a bad moment or situation.
Your Yellow Brick Road
Dorothy’s goal was simple: get home. She stayed true to her goal and persevered. Your goal might be different—feeling less pain, moving forward in your grief journey, being okay again, or simply taking care of your children. Whatever it is, stay true to it and keep persevering.
The yellow brick road wasn’t straight, and neither is your grief journey. There will be detours, unexpected companions, and moments when you’ll want to turn back. But keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Soon you’ll realize you’re no longer at the starting line—you’ve moved forward on your journey, one step at a time.
If you’re looking for new friends / a community on your yellow brick road, Comfort Zone Camp is here. We understand the journey, and we’re honored to walk alongside families as they find their way forward. Find a camp near you and register to attend here.
