Emotional Cliff Climbing

From the RochesTarot, the Queen of Cups; from the Animal Shaman Vision Cards, the Mountain Goat:

          This woman's focus is on  relationships, which she nurtures just as mindfully as she does the baby growing inside of her. Lincoln states that she has mastered emotional integrity; she acknowledges her true feelings without blame or shame and is open about them with other people. You won't hear her say things like "He makes me so angry - he pushes all my buttons." This Queen knows how to manage her feelings appropriately. She's the captain at the helm, and she can skillfully change direction when necessary. She might not have control over what emotion appears, but she can decide whether to act on it. Through experience, the Queen knows that focusing on the feeling without getting hooked by its story will allow it to dissipate without harm.
          The mountain goat is a large hoofed mammal native to North America. They are protected from the elements by their woolly, double coats, and both males and females have horns and beards. These goats are most known for being sure-footed climbers on ridges and ice. With inner pads that provide traction, cloven hooves that can spread apart, and dewclaws that keep them from slipping, they are well prepared for climbing very steep, rocky slopes. The Queen of Cups must develop the same sure-footedness in the realm of relationships. The term integrity derives from the Latin word integer, meaning 'whole' or 'untouched.' She must be aware of the dangers of absorbing the emotions of others that are not her own. Her mission is to learn how to be open-hearted while keeping her own heart whole.