RedGrittyBrick

NorthTrue north differs from magnetic north, which varies from place to place and over time due to local magnetic anomalies. A magnetic compass almost never shows true north. In fact over millions of years, magnetic north wanders considerable and occasionally reverses so that the magnetic north pole has been near the geographic south pole at some periods in the earth’s history. In the arctic region, a magnetic compass is not very useful.
To find true north from a magnetic compass you have to know the local magnetic variation and how it is varying over time. For ordinary folk this is difficult (although good maps will have magnetic deviation marked on them).

From Websters Online
    Finding true north is essential for accurate navigation.

Hence the metaphor. In life’s journey we are often uncertain where we stand, where we are going and what is the right path for us personally. Knowing our true north would enable us to follow the right path.

2 thoughts on “RedGrittyBrick

  1. shinichi Post author

    Meaning of “true north”

    answered by RedGrittyBrick

    http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/18888/meaning-of-true-north

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    commented by mickeyf

    It’s actually even messier than that. On shipboard, because of magnetic materials on board (the engine, etc. of a small sailing vessel) the direction the ship is pointing must also be taken into account – the compass ‘Deviation’ varies with the direction the vessel is headed.

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    answered by RegDwigнt

    I’d read it as finding my true goal, trying to figure out where I really want to go with my life. “True North” is non-negotiable, since the compass will show where it is, relative from your current position, and it will never change.

    Reply
  2. shinichi Post author

    (sk)

    磁石が示す北(磁北)、地図が示す北(グリッド北)、そして北極点に向かう北(真北)。

    そのメタフォーとして、自分が向かうべき道を示すトゥルー・ノース(真北)。

    尾崎豊
        本当の自分の姿を失いそうな時、君の中の僕だけがぼやけて見える

    自分の向かうべき道を知る人などどこにもいないとは思うけれど、自分のトゥルー・ノースを知っていると思い込んでいる人は多い。

    Reply

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