Star light, star bright…

I am very fortunate.  My husband and his brothers built a cabin in the woods about 10 years ago – it’s like they knew this was coming.  There is no plumbing, no Wi-Fi and the electricity comes from a generator (the strength of which was determined by the number of CPAP machines that needed to be run on an average weekend…).  In short – it is heaven.  It has become our refuge and the place that we go to when our own walls seem to be closing in on us.  I am so thankful that the handy brothers wanted a project and that they found a piece of land in the middle of nowhere.

We were there this past weekend and I was struck by two things.  One, I now pack for a night at the cabin like I am going on a luxury cruise – complete with elaborate packing lists and fully-utilized packing cubes – I have realized that I miss planning for travel almost as much as I miss actually travelling.  And two, there are more stars in the middle of nowhere.  Obviously, I know that the stars are still there when we look up from within the city but when there is light from no other source, the sky takes on a whole different meaning. 

I went to let the dog out late on Saturday night and I looked up.  What I saw was a ceiling that looked like the middle of a fireworks display, the sky was alight with sparkles and shimmer – it was as if glitter were thrown down from above.  While I stood in the dark admiring the view, I had a thought, if we need to get away from the city lights to see stars like this, what do we need to get away from to see our own thoughts and plans this clearly?  What ‘noise’ do we need to move away from to be able to see our own stars shining this brightly?    

For thousands of years, sailors navigated by the stars.  With rudimentary tools like a compass or sextant, people found their way around the globe and safely back home again.  The stars are always there, but you need the right tools to be able to let them guide you.  You need a bit of practice to see that they are right there – and always have been.  That is the power of coaching.  Time, space and the energy to navigate by your own constellation.

If you could block out the noise and the light, how can you see the stars and use them to guide your way?