From Adviser to Student

From the Deirdre of the Sorrows Tarot, the Page of Coins:

A young university student is so engrossed in his book, he is oblivious to his shoe being untied and other activity around him.  I can relate to this young man; the other day I was studying a hawk high up in a pine, and nearly knocked myself out by walking into a road sign.  There are times when I can share what I've learned in a teaching role, and times I need to be the student.  Looks like I've got some serious studying ahead of me.

From the Victorian Romantic Flower Oracle comes the card "Cactus:"

The key phrase associated with this card is "prickly situation," and pairing it with the student above, I can guess what its message is for me.  I've had a somewhat mentoring type of relationship with a woman who calls me frequently for advice.  She's been in quite a tangled mess for over a year now, and I've offered suggestions as to what I would do in her case.  The other day I was quite frank with her and flatly told her what she was about to do was insane.  She responded that I didn't understand what she was going through and I didn't have any "real" knowledge about what she should do, so she wouldn't be calling anymore.  My role has moved from mentor to student in this situation.  What can I learn from it?  Mostly that people don't really want honest advice, they prefer to receive affirmation for what they want to do.  Secondly, that I need to detach with love from this woman, who clearly is going to get to her destination her way, not mine.