Take Refuge in True North

Refuge in the North Star is one of the foundations for my life. Identifying that which means the most to me and internalizing it, living it, orients me in a healthy direction, every time. I’m reminded of beautiful passage from the book of Wisdom, a scripture in the Hebrew tradition, which not only provides inspiration for individual North Stars but in my husband’s words—outlines an entire Milky Way:

Wisdom 7: 22-30

For in her is a spirit
intelligent, holy, unique,
manifold, subtle, agile,
clear, unstained, certain,
not baneful, loving the good, keen,
unhampered, beneficent, kindly,
firm, secure, tranquil,
all-powerful, all-seeing,
and pervading all spirits,
though they be intelligent, pure and very subtle.

For Wisdom is mobile beyond all motion,
and she penetrates and pervades all things by reason of her purity….
For she is the refulgence of eternal light, the spotless mirror….
And passing into holy souls from age to age,
she produces friends of God and prophets….

For she is fairer than the sun
and surpasses every constellation of the stars.
Compared to light, she takes precedence;
for that, indeed, night supplants,
but nothing prevails over Wisdom.

What are your North Stars, those highest attributes you wish to envisage? These are your refuge points--seeds you can plant with intention and water every day. Pick one quality of Wisdom from the above and take refuge in her spirit, breath it in, breath it out, rest there….

Internalize what you value, bring it to remembrance every day, become that.