Some advice please!

I attend a class where currently there is only one other person signed up-- but there are occasionally other students from different classes popping in and from what my teacher tells me, another person has signed up. There is another lady, an older one who also will soon be back from Florida returning but it has basically been us two.

I don't have much in common with her, and that is ok. She decided rather early on that I was her "buddy". That was kind of weird but still, ok. We met one time for lunch and she insisted on paying and we went to a supply store (for our class).

The thing is, she annoys the hell out of me. My Mom tells me that it is because she is Pisces and I have Saturn in Pisces. I am a Leo with Aries rising and have a mutable grand cross-- North Node in Gemini. I don't know about that because I have other friends who are Pisces that don't drive me up a wall. At first, I thought perhaps she is a lesson for me (as she showed up on my first day there). I worked very hard at being friendly, looking for redeeming qualities and encouraging her and avoiding conflict with her. Now I am wondering if it is the other way around.

She has gone away for the month and I have joined another class during this time. This class is awesome! I love them! It is a little crowded. I asked my teacher if I could stay in this other class and she was not very welcoming about it--she said that there is another member of that class and she may be coming back (after taking time off for another class) and there would not be room.

It has caused me stress as I am considering stopping the class. I don't feel comfortable telling my teacher my feelings about this lady as we have kept very cordial and friendly. I don't understand why my teacher isn't just as annoyed, except, perhaps she is a Libra and is used to balancing (even though I believe this woman has been disrespectful to her). I really like the place and the teacher... she has become a friend. I just don't think my talking to her about this student is going to be constructive.

This is a person of great personal wealth, a world traveler and a patron of some charities--she works on the boards of some well known chairies to raise money (is a volunteer). I am not a person who judges people by what they have, but as how their personality is--how they treat people. I have not been grossly mistreated by her, only perhaps, talked down to at times. She is provocative in respect to areas of disagreement, I will ask not to discuss the matter and she will persist. There are personality traits that are exhibited that rub me the wrong way and are reinforced. Some of them have to do with money and others have to do with perceived class. There is this attitude as "I am like the people!" I can't go into this more without writing another page and a half.

Yet since it applies to this dilemma and can potentially benefit the group, here goes.

Mars in Libra is best when it is collaborative. Competitive approaches are entirely futile and thoroughly counterproductive.

Comparisons and jealousy lead to nothing but a downward spiral as they are fundamentally based on a scarcity consciousness.

There is very simply, enough goodies for everyone on this planet. The problem is one of unfair and the gross inequity in the distribution resources.

If someone you know has something you lack the best attitude to take is that thing is hovering ever closer.

Mars in Libra is potentially an equalizing influence and always excels at mediation.

It really is happiest relating to those with whom it shares an intellectual, emotional, spiritual, and physical compatibility. That's true for everyone but take that statement and multiply in by 20 brazilian for someone with personal planets in Libra or in the 7th house.

Here is something I found out a few months ago that might be helpful:

Since Arabic languages are far more multi leveled and somewhat more poetic than Greek, Latin, and English, I've long been intrigued by the scholars who are fluent in Hebrew and Aramaic who translate the verses directly into English.

The etymology they present is really quite fascinating.

The Aramaic root of the word "enemies" is a "tangled knot."

The Aramaic root of the word "evil" means "unripe."

That suggests something that requires more sunlight (aka consciousness), nourishment, water (aka emotional support), and time (patience), though I've heard no one else elucidate it as such, but most metaphysicians don't live on farms. That perspective sure beats all the tiresomely unenlightened dualistic shadow projection that is bandied about so much these days.

"Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth" translated directly becomes "Blessed are those who soften their hearts (emotional rigidity) because they are open to the full powers of nature."

"Love thine enemies" was translated by Neal Douglas-Klotz. http://www.abwoon.com/ He was a guest on the visionary activist show recently. http://www.kpfa.org/archives/index.php?arch=24231 It's well worth a listen.

The host is a colleague of mine and she described his interpretation as "a vast instruction manual of great mystery."

"Love thine enemies" = "Love your enemies. From a hidden place, unite with your enemies from the inside. Fill the inner void. That makes them swell outwardly and fall out of rhythm, instead of progressing step by step. They stop and start harshly out of time. Bring yourself back into rhythm within. Find the moment that meets with theirs', like two lovers creating life from the dust. Do this work in secret. This kind of love creates. It does not emote."

You can run away from this lady if you feel it's appropriate. But you're more than likely to run into a similar dynamic down the road if you do.

Humor goes a long way in neutralizing these sort of situations.

Keep it light and good luck with it.

stella, what you said about Mars in Libra really, really helps me to understand my husband better. He actually has 5 placements in Libra, two of which are Mars and Venus.

Thank you for this insight! :)

I've Mars in Libra as well.

I had a client that had a husband who was probably born around the same time.

During the Saturn, Neptune conjunction with Mars and Venus there as well.

He was a GIANT among men and really quite funny.

She had me in for a house party of women and it ran late. Then he came in and boy, oh boy did I ever have his number and we laughed so-o-o hard.

That was really great fun.

are very enlightening and interesting, stella.

evil = unripe :) I have envisioned those who are capable of causing harm as unripe, and it goes along the lines of there is no evil.

the "tangled knot" resonates also and explains the self-destructive nature of it, doesn't it?

thanks

You know, I don't resent her for what she has. Actually I am happy for her. I get annoyed when she forces it into conversation as though the world is a different place for her than the rest of us and when she decides, as an exercise of personal growth to "be among the people" by flying coach, not staying in a 5 star hotel or by emailing her housekeeper in Rome with pictures of her latest project... and expect me to have admiration and applause for this.. that annoys me because I am not impressed. Spontaneous announcements by her at how wonderful, beautiful and talented she is is tolerable, sometimes amusing... but -- every week?

This is the kind of thing that goes on, and I don't comment except to wish a safe trip. The "look at me" behavior just gets very old. There is often a demand that I respond and I sometimes really would like it to flow over my head and not address it.

I feel that the meme of "I am not a snob" is insincere. I'd rather she just be honest about it. I think she makes too big a deal about money, bringing it in when it is not necessary, dickering about small amounts as if it will effect her next meal... I want to say--just pay your monthly tuition already(!) and not put our teacher through the whole thing every month. --Which isn't even my business, but she tries to draw me into it. I am terribly concerned that my feelings about this will come out in a very blunt, abrasive manner and that I will then hurt her. I really don't want to hurt her feelings, I just want to be left in peace. So I have been very conscious of my feelings when at class with her and have worked to reframe and stay very noncommital and neutralizing stressful subjects (like politics-- I beg off discussion).

I'm going to reread your post and think about it some more.

I couldn't spend enough time with her. She was also amazingly beautiful and attracted attention wherever we went. Is your classmate a lonely rich?

Re the OP... If it were me I wouldn't make an issue of the one class member, but rather frame it as a personal preference for the the different date, time, class size, or some such. There could be any number of reasons why you prefer to stay with the other class. At least it seems so to me.

There is a woman there who I met and we instantly connected, both seemed very familiar to each other. She and I also have similar interest in paint mediums. Another two I will be spending time with once a month with a charity. Another lady there has a son who is friends with mine-- they are D&D buddies as well as go to school together. This class also seems to go longer--3 hours vs. 2. My son also has a class there on Thurs. which makes it more convenient for me work-wise--I'm running around one day instead of 2.

I actually don't demand much instruction-wise. I like the energy of her studio and enjoy creating there where, at home, I am more easily distracted with tasks and the phone. I could create a studio (we are actually trying to redo our basement but have put off calling the basement system/water proofer guy d/t current financial uncertainty.) at home "away" from the main area and do the same thing I am doing there. I could go with an hour of private instruction two times a month to review a current project, get advice, some direction with it, and learn a needed technique. My life is starting to get busier anyway.

I have paid for the month of April and will continue to attend through the end of the month. May might be a different story, I guess I will see how things go at that time.