Finding Your North Star

“Love is like the North Star. In a changing world, it’s always constant.” Gordon B. Hinckley

In the ever-changing light show of heavenly night, one very special star can always be seen… in the northern sky. There, right where the sky shimmers with its silver signature, one can find the Big Dipper hanging from its handle. If you draw a line through the two stars at the outer side of the Dipper’s bowl, it  will point, with the precision of an arrow, to a remarkable star—Polaris.  

Also called the North Star or Pole Star, it’s the star that helps us align with due north.  From our perspective it is also the only star that does not seem to move…indeed a time-lapse photograph shows the other stars of the sky moving in concentric circles around it.  

This bright star has guided people for centuries.  Viking explorers who landed on North America set their sails toward its light. In pre-Civil War America, those shackled as slaves used it to guide them to their Promised Land- up North.   Across millennia and diverse cultures, Polaris has come to symbolize constancy, faithfulness, and hope.

Even the North Star (the one we call Polaris) has changed identities. It is only since @500 A.D. that this particular star (of Polaris) has been the North Star. In 2000 years, the star Errai in the constellation Cepheus will claim the title of North Star. (The Big Dipper will still be the way to find it).  So, even constancy can change…but not the Principle of Constancy. If we become attached to an object of constancy, that will change. So, the solution is to find, and be guided by, what is behind any manifestation of constancy. 

One of the most important aspects of a conscious Life Journey is discovering, and adhering to, what guiding principles (or qualities of the Divine) truly guide you, support you, and give you hope when Life appears dark. As stated, my Guiding Light is Love. For others it might be Truth…or Beauty…or Justice…etc. 

Question: “What is your “North Star” from a Spiritual perspective?” What does the question even mean? For me, my guiding star is LOVE. For you…?

The first discernment is to reflect upon what values, what qualities of Life, (and possibly of the Divine) have been the most important in your Journey. Journal, meditate, reflect upon this. Take your time and then write down your top three to five answers. As this is an “open-book test” use whatever literary, inspirational material to which you are drawn. (Consider going to the “Messages from the HeartMind” section of our website: www.berkshirecenterpoint.org). 

 Once you have your “Top 5”. The question then becomes- “How do I translate the qualities of my North Star, (or inner Constellation), into practical applications?”  There are numerous ways, techniques, but I have found 4 main processes that are most helpful. These are drawn from multiple spiritual, philosophic, religious and ethical sources:

1. Examine how your guiding principles have so far been effective in helping support your Journey and shown the way to Success and Fulfillment. What truly centers and grounds you? (Look at the “Centering Practices” section of the CenterPoint website that helps provide  guidance in exploring such questions). Write this down.

2. Seek outside assistance in this discernment. Ask friends, trusted colleagues, or your spiritual teacher/leader/therapist for feedback…no one successfully completes this “course” alone. Be honest with yourself and ask for candid counsel.

3. Review what practices have supported your connection with these qualities. It may be yoga, meditation, prayer, a walk in the woods, sports…Imagine your life would be like without these supports. Then say a prayer of Gratitude for being graced for such opportunities. (You can consult the “Meditations” section of CenterPoint under “Harmony”).

4. Finally, when you have finished your self-evaluation process, begin to incorporate your “Best Practices” into your Life Plan. Perhaps most importantly, breathe with your Plan. This “Plan” is not meant to be an abstract set of ideas but a Living, Breathing Matrix to support, guide and develop your Self-Actualization. When you find an idea/quality to which you resonate, practice breathing with it. Imagine the quality coming into your lungs and then distributed throughout your body via the action of your heart (and HeartMind). For further information on “HeartMind” visit our website). 

Every good recipe is ultimately dependent upon 3 factors:

1. A good recipe or plan.
2. Good and pure ingredients. (Never skimp or make poor substitutions).
3. Great execution.

The old expression: “As above, so below” absolutely pertains. What works for cooking, business, sports, etc. works for our relationships and our personal and spiritual self-fulfillment. The last piece of advice: En-Joy the process….En-Joy the results. If the recipe occasionally falls flat, the learning from that can certainly provide the guidance for future successes. There are no real failures, only opportunities to learn, grow, and deeper our relationship with our North Star. 

Perhaps the greatest ingredient for finding and maintaining our connection to Source (aka North Star) is that we are but one part of a Greater Whole. This Realization actually cements our relationship with our Star and reminds us of the saying “From everyone to whom much was given, much will be expected, (Luke 12:18). Share the fruits of your Journey always.