What better way to celebrate #Summer and celebrate #FourthofJuly weekend than discussing the magical waters of Oz. While everyone is vacationing to different resorts and spending a lot of time by the pool and in some awesome water parks; there is unfortunately a couple watering holes in the Land of Oz that you will want to stay away from this Summer unless you are okay with their magical properties. Of course, I am talking about the Forbidden Fountain and the Truth Pond (both seen above). So, for this post, we will talk about both the Forbidden Fountain and the Truth Pond, their origins, their legacy, and ways you can re-create these lovely watering holes without the chaotic magic that goes with these different watering regions in the Land of Oz. So, right out the door, we are introduced to The Forbidden Fountain in Baum's sixth book, The Emerald City of Oz (1910); whereas, the Truth Pond was first introduced in Baum's fifth book a year earlier in 1909, The Road to Oz. In regards to their origins, each has their own story to tell. In The Emerald City of Oz, Ozma tells the story that The Forbidden Fountain, which resides in the Emerald City, is believed to have been designed and constructed by Glinda herself, as a gift to a Wicked King, who ruled Oz many years prior to King Pastorius. The Truth Pond's origins however are still unknown; except, we know where it resides and that is in the Southwestern part Winkie Country with a silver plaque that states its name, "The Truth Pond". In Baum's The Lost Princes of Oz, that signage was later changed to tell what the truth pond is and does (see below). The magic behind both of these magical waters in Oz are a little more detailed than their origins. The Forbidden Fountain is imbued with ability to eradicate all evil and negative intentions within your body to create a more peaceful and serene persona. It also seems to give the drinker partial amnesia, as they will forget all about their past transgressions and wicked ways. This was shown in The Emerald City of Oz, when all the nightmarish creatures like the Phanfasms, the Growleywogs, and Nomes were transformed into peaceful, delightful creatures with no ill will at all. The Truth Pond has a couple different abilities. First, it has the ability to be a truth serum and it does not wear off. Secondly, if you have been transformed into something that you are not, it can wash that spell away. We saw this in Road to Oz, when The Shaggy Man and Button Bright both got their original heads restored to their original look. Quite some powerful waters that they have in Oz. Makes you wonder what else these magically imbued waters can do? What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. Now, that we know what these magical waters of Oz do, we can look into its legacy in media adaptations. In Cinar's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz TV series, episode 46, "The Water of Oblivion", Dorothy and her companions are informed about a Spring of Forgetfulness, in which they use this water to get the Nomes and the Growleywogs to forget their warlike aggressions and go back to their realm in peace. The entire show was released back in 2017 on Amazon Prime Video. The TV show was also shortened into four 90-minute movies, each corresponding to the different arcs, which you can also purchase on Amazon or watch on YouTube. In Amazon's Lost in Oz, the water of oblivion is found in a subterranean area of Glinda's castle. Dorothy is forced to ride a boat across to find something within the house in the middle of lake, where she enlists the help of the Scarecrow. The same water above is used in balloons thrown by the winged monkeys to make people temporarily forget what they are doing since its such a small dose. In an episode of Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz on Boomerang, "Ojo the Unlucky", we see a different version of the Forbidden Fountain called the Fountain of Refresh. The heroes look for this fountain to get rid of Ojo's unfortunate luck. It is quite a fascinating journey that they go on in this story, so feel free to check out a clip above from the aforementioned episode. That is the legacy thus far of the Forbidden Fountain, so, let's move on to the Truth Pond; in which, there is only one mention of this pond's legacy within media adaptations. In that same TV show on Boomerang, in the episode, "Copy Cat", Wilhelmina find a glass artifact that can copy anything, including herself. The heroes endure the attacks but then use the Truth Pond to find out which Wilhelmina copy cat is the real one. It shows the extent that that Wilhelmina will go to get the Ruby Slippers and it feels just right for Oz. So, what are some ways in which we can bring these magical waters to our neck of the woods? Of course, watching the episodes above is always a start; but, if you want some more, I have a few suggestions for you. Below are some comics and books that feature either the Forbidden Fountain or the Truth Pond or both. Check them out to add to your Ozian collection. The Forbidden Fountain is featured in the podcast "Hit the Bricks", as part of the background story concerning the four witches of Oz and what they did when they first got to Oz. So, be sure to check out that saga as a fun getaway to Oz by clicking on the image below. If you want to get real crafty, you can always create your own version of the Forbidden Fountain in your yard or get an inflatable pool and create your own truth pond, with the signage and everything. Then, when people come over, it will be a true conversation starter and you can always post your pictures here to share with others. Well, that ought to do it for now. So, we'll be seeing you somewhere over the Vinkus for next time.
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May 2024
AuthorMy name is Vinkus Ken and I have been a long time fan of many things in Oz and how their world truly does emulate much of ours. Did you know that they have a flag of their own? Or did you know that they have a law about only having 9 jurors in their courts? Also, Oz has a court system! I like to introduce facts that seem meaningless and bring meaning to them by comparing them to our world. So, come along on this journey and enjoy the ride. |