These Parshiot deal with Woman's birth offerings, leprosy in people, clothes, and houses.
Note the direct relationship between the Woman and the Kohen, no mediator, no mention of man, husband, or father. (Kohen is part of the process with everyone) The issue of what SHE can afford is considered. Shows the woman's autonomy of experience with the Creator; a way for her to process the monumental birth experience with no interference from others. Having given birth to a new soul, she merits a direct encounter with G-d.
We'll look at two issues. Leprosy as a punishment for Lashon ha Ra.
Aryeh Kaplan, in Sefer Yetsirah, talks about letter-rotation in words revealing opposite concepts. An example is Keter - Karet. He points out that the word NEGA, or affliction, by rotation of the letters, yields the word ONEG, the word for delight, specifically delight in HaShem or the "Most direct experience of G-d. Oneg is used in reference to Shabbes, appears in Isaiah (58:14), and occurs in the Davening in Shabbes Maariv (Kryias Shema, Magen Avos). This shows that these afflictions are distance from G-d, the polar opposite of closeness to HaShem.
Look at "TZAARAS." JK's book says the Tzaddi/Resh combination means a "Tight grasp," "opression" or "extreme compression." We've heard it called the "narrow place," and see the connection with Mitzraim, Egypt. But, of course, there are other ways to look at it. Rabbi Sauer (Rosh Kollel Yeshiva LA) says Metsora is derived from "Motzi Ra," or "brings forth evil." This leads us to the concept of "Lashon ha Ra," or "evil speech," generally agreed to the the cause of these afflictions.
Lashon ha Ra is gossip, slander, and using speech for evil purposes. Speech is what separates us from the animals, and the gift of HaShem as a way for us to contemplate the Creator. So mis-using it brings the worst penalties.
Other examples of Lashon haRa and leprosy are when Miriam gets a tsaaras and Moses prays for her (Numbers 12:10), Moses doubting the people and getting leprosy for a moment. (Shemot 4:6).
Lashon Harah is not so much a crime of the mouth. It is a crime of perception. A person who gravitates to Lashon Harah has a jaundiced eye on the world. The root of this sin is always picking out the bad, rather than the good. The glass is always half empty. In the Garden of Eden, the Snake looks at a situation that is virtually perfect and finds fault with it. He focuses on the flaw.
On a more practical level, the Torah is simply telling us not to gossip and say bad things about other people. Not saying bad things about people out loud eventually trains the mind to not think them, either.
Dwelling on negative aspects of others is "projection" - that is, seeing your own sins writ large in others. Denying that the source of the problem is within, a person gossips. Leprosy is perfect as a punishment for gossip, because the person who thought their ugly side was a secret is exposed for all the world to see, unable to hide their shame.
The birds represent talking and chatter. The Lekach Tov (from Sauer) says that the bird that is released shows that not all talk is bad, and that indeed some is very good. The free bird, smeared with the blood of his foul mouthed compatriot, will hopefully remember the lesson and not gossip.
Ramban says house and clothing afflictions can only occur in Eretz Israel, only to the Jewish people, because of their higher level of sanctity.
Rashi, (from Dona), brings the midrash that this was really a blessing. The Canaanites, during the Jewish people's stay in the desert, had hidden their valuables in the wall of their homes. Later, when the Kohen had them tear down the walls, they found the money.
The remedy is the same ritual with the birds.
Chofetz Chaim says about "bringing what one can afford" means don't be cheap in your offerings to HaShem; it means to do the best YOU can do, without comparing yourself to your neighbor.
Finally, because it's Rosh Chodesh, a bit from Shulkan Aruch - 97 : 148 #3 "Work is permissable on Rosh Chodesh. Women, however, customarily refrain from work on that day. It is a beautiful custom, and we should not make light of it."