Lodestars

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A guiding principle or figure that inspires direction and purpose in one's life
2. Celestial bodies, notably Polaris, that serve as navigational references for travelers and sailors
3. Metaphorical symbols representing unchanging goals or ideals that one strives to follow in their journey

Etymology: "Lodestars" is the plural of "lodestar," a compound of "lode," an old English word for a course or way of travel, and "star." The star was the one sailors steered by, Polaris, the North Star, which stays nearly fixed in the night sky and so marks true north. The "lode" element survives mainly in "lodestone," a naturally magnetized mineral that pointed navigators in a consistent direction. The two words belong to the same vocabulary of guidance, and both depend on a fixed reference point rather than a moving one. The metaphor works the same way. Someone who keeps a steady ideal in view is navigating by a point that does not shift as they travel.

Synonyms: guides, beacons