The Christmas Star inspired the Magi to travel to Jerusalem. But Bernadette Petrie tells us the star guidance we need to follow is not in the external sky but in our internal nightscape.

“There comes a point in our lives when 
we can only make a significant decision 
based on what feels right – this is when 
we finally discover our North Star.” 
– Martha Beck

The book Finding Your Own North Star by bestselling author and life coach Martha Beck was published in 2003. By the time I discovered her work in 2012, I was well on my way to becoming a coach, having finally begun to trust my internal wisdom as my North Star. During this time, I sought examples of coaches who trusted their intuition rather than coaching modalities. And guided by my inner wise self, Martha Beck appeared as if by magic! Martha is such an inspiration to me and millions of others because she trusted her intuition at a crucial decision-making point of her life.

Our fascination with the stars is as long as time itself. Early sailors learned to navigate by the stars as they travelled the globe, plotting them with incredible precision. The North Star, as it is known in the Northern Hemisphere, is simple to find in the right conditions, namely, a clear, still night. It sits at the top right of the star constellation called The Plough and is so named because it sits directly above the North Pole. Interestingly, it doesn’t move from that spot as other stars do. Sailors would seek out the North Star to effortlessly steer their course correctly.

Today, millions of people look to the stars for guidance daily as they navigate through modern life. But many people do not realise that the star guidance we actually need to follow is not in the external sky but in our internal nightscape. The truth is, following it isn’t the easiest route; it’s scary – sometimes terrifying – but it’s the only way we will ever be truly satisfied and truly happy.

Our internal wisdom, our intuition, reveals where we really are on our journey. Like the sailors who recognised the importance of the North Star, for our inner voyage, we must rely on the same recognition. It takes moments of stillness to discover it, yet it is always in the same spot deep inside us – it is a constant.

Regular readers will know that in 2010, I was admitted to the Glasgow Priory, suffering from what doctors called a manic episode. There, I experienced a spiritual awakening and began a long, slow journey of recovery. That night in July 2010, as I became a brilliant ball of light, it was as if I was alone in the clearest of night skies. Yet, I finally knew where to look for evermore. My very own North Star had been hidden inside me; it had been there constantly. This wisdom, this guidance, is within every one of us. It’s our true north, and it will be unique to each of us; we are all on our own voyage of discovery.

So, start searching inside yourself, allow yourself to be still, and let the clouds – the unhelpful thoughts and opinions and other bright distractions – float by. With each breath you take, focus northward, and the internal vision will become clear. Your inner guidance will shine brightly, and even though it’s scary, following it will be as necessary for you as it was for those courageous sailors.  

You can buy Bernadette’s book from: NØRDEN 82 High St, North Berwick.