Sweet Tobaira
I hope I'm not overstepping any bounds, I'm sort of new here, but of any card, in any deck, that I would choose to comment on, this is it.
I got the Faeries' Oracle about four years ago, and Tobaira was one of the first cards I was drawn to, but my impressions of her are somewhat different from what has already been mentioned here, so I thought I'd share them.
When I look at Tobaira's card, my heart reaches out to her. She is like the Laume, in some ways: they both deal with the pain and sorrow and NEED of the world. Tobaira may be surrounded by others who would gladly help her in her work, but her eyes are closed to them; she is so caught up in the pains of our world that she has trouble remembering she is not alone. What's more, the grumpy goblin lurks behind her, annoyed because she cleans his murky waters, but also a reminder that her work is never done.
Tobaira reminds me that we all need to do our part to lessen the sorrows that surround us. The faeries may enjoy helping out, guiding us, watching over us --- or healing us (or helping us to heal ourselves, as the case may be), as Tobaira did for you, Fudugazi, but the exchange can be worked both ways.
I feel Tobaira with me when I smile at strangers in the street, or when I make peace with my sister after one of our quarrels (or when I remember not to quarrel in the first place, which is always better). She is the gentle voice that inspires good will and harmony.
I can see why she would come to you, Fudugazi. She is a healer in a lot of ways, and you're right: blood is water, too. But she is also an alchemest, not the way Nelys is an alchemist, because Nelys' transformations are irrevocable, but in the way that Tobaira takes one thing and changes it into another. She is an empath, reaching through the water to all of us, taking our grief and sorrow and changing it into faith and love.
If you lay the cards out, in order (starting with #1), into thirteen columns (five rows), Tobaira lands under the Singer of Transfiguration. I think this is significant. I don't remember reading about it in the book, so I don't know if it was done on purpous, but I am sure it was done by faerie design. A lot of the cards take on another dimention of meaning when you look at them this way.
Not sure how much sense that made, a lot of it was just spewed out, and I do my best not to edit when Faerie insights are concerned
. Again, hope I'm not stepping on any toes, and if I am, I do appologize!