Home and Hearth

Tending the Fires of Psychosocial Changes

Abstract

While it is generally agreed that family time nourishes the young, gives purpose to those in middle years and accompanies the elders, the reality is that family time competes with contemporary social trends such as increased use of social media, the reality of dispersed families, or contends with the need or wish of caregivers to work outside the home; all of which create a life-in-the-fast-lane pace of living. However, “hearth-time”, as a metaphor for a warm place to arrive at and feel a sense of belonging, is alive with potential in Aotearoa New Zealand. This paper aims to identify and highlight the potentials that support the benefits of the hearth and time spent together and, by reviewing the origins and purpose of the hearth, build awareness of already existing hearth potentials; including our consulting rooms and the hearth-tending dynamics that abide within. To support the notion that hearth and subsequent primacy of heartfelt experiences needs more centrality in our homes, communities and even our thinking, I will draw on and extrapolate from the Greek myth of Hestia, Virgin Goddess of the hearth, drawing parallels between the principles of the myth and the value our profession and cultures offer.

Whakarāpopotonga

Ahakoa, ki tā te nuinga, e whakaaehia ana ko te wā o te whānau te wā poipoihia ai ngā kōhungahunga, whai hua ai ngā pākeke, whai takahoa ai ngā kuia, koroua, ki te āta matawaihia e whakataetae kē ana tēnei wā ki ngā mahi omaoma haeretanga ki te whai oranga i roto i tēnei ao hurihuri. Heoi anō, kua whakaritea he “wā takuahi” hai wāhi taunga mahana kia rongo ai i te kiritau o te tūrangawaewae, e torohū ake ana i Aotearoa nei. Ko te whāinga a tēnei pepa he tohu kātahi ka whakahira ake i ngā torohūnga tautoko i ngā painga o tēnei wāhi arā te takuahi, me te wā noho tahi ai. Mā te tātari haeretanga i ngā tīmatatanga me ngā take o te takuahi e whakarahi ake ngā rongo o ngā huanga takuahi me ō tātau wāhi haumanu me ōna whakahaerenga takuahi. Hai tautoko ake i te whakaaro ko te tauahi me te hiranga o ngā wheako manawapā whakaarahia ake me whai wāhi ki waenganui i ō tātau kāinga, hāpori me ō tātau whakaaro hoki. Ka huri au ki te pūrākau a ngā Kiriki mō Hētia te Atua Puhi o te takuahi, hai whakaatu i ngā ōritenga i waenga i ngā mātāpono o te pūrākau me te ūara o tō tātau ūmangae me o tātau ahurei.