Hearts and Harbors

From the Gaian Tarot, the Child (Page) of Water:

This sweet little girl makes me smile, perhaps because she reminds me of my own daughter when she was that age. But kids grow up, and along the way they have their hearts hurt by people, groups and institutions. By the time of adulthood, most of us wear more armor than a medieval knight to protect ourselves emotionally. But this Page remains open-hearted and vulnerable, no matter what comes. She may experience heartbreaks and low points, but she still believes joy and kindness outshines them by a mile. Her message is not to stay with those folks who would take advantage of such tenderness, but to refuse to let the hurts of the past color the potential happiness of the present.

From the Goddess Oracle comes "Hestia:"

This is an interesting pairing of the Page's water with Hestia's fire. But the flame of this goddess is not about impulsive, headstrong passion. Her concern is of hearth and home - the qualities that make a house feel like a comfortable, safe haven. If I am going to maintain the Page's openness, I need a place where I can heal, unwind and rest from what I experience out in the world. Hestia encourages me to make my home sacred space, a place that feels as welcoming as a friend's hug.

Who's Holding the Paddle?

From the Gaian Tarot, the Canoe (Chariot):

I rather like the idea of a canoe instead of the usual chariot. With horses pulling the vehicle, there's always a ready excuse - "I don't know what's gotten into them; they dragged me all over the place except where I wanted to go!" With the canoe, there's no doubt who's paddling the boat and choosing the direction of travel. It reminds me of statements like: "He makes me so mad!" "I could be happy if I had a more fulfilling job." I'm as guilty as anyone else about making such comments. But in reality, I alone can allow my emotions, senses and instincts to manipulate me, or I can skim above them and paddle with the tool of rational self-control.

From the Goddess Oracle comes the card "Hestia:"

Hestia was the Greek goddess of hearth and home, who had the ability to turn any building into a sacred place.  And while the author focuses her meaning of the goddess on the home, the myth that stands out to me is the one that shows her humility. Although Hestia held one of the original seats in the Olympian pantheon, when the new god of wine and ecstasy showed up (Dionysus), she willingly gave up her seat to him and went to tend the hearth.  Hestia teaches me to ask myself - before I get in a tizzy about something - just how important it is in the big scheme of things.  I could save myself a lot of time and drama by taking care of my responsibilities instead.