When A Client Asks, “What is My Purpose?”

The Search for Purpose

Often, the search for purpose is not a lack of direction, but a misunderstanding of what direction looks like.

Let’s take a step back and distinguish Dharma from Purpose. Dharma refers to right action and the pursuit of relational responsibility in alignment with one’s inherent nature and capacity, while modern “purpose” normally refers to personally chosen aims and life directions, which can still be grounded in dharma. Today we will speak mostly about Purpose.

So…Can Astrology Help You Find Your Purpose?

In astrological frameworks, Jyotish can help identify themes and sources of purpose, and with careful personality assessment and chart integration, an astrologer can gently guide a person to choose truly purposeful paths in life. In some charts those paths are more directed and specific than others, but the key here is guidance and direction. We should be careful not to cherry pick or introduce boxes such as, "this and nothing else." Sometimes we introduce our own biases. What matters is the natal chart shows us where and how purpose is most naturally and successfully expressed, in addition to one's relationship to purpose.

And yet, when a client asks, “What is my purpose?” finding an answer to that question can be difficult without first knowing why the question is being asked. The word “Purpose” has been obscured by society in many ways, so let us deconstruct this word and take it down a few trains of thought.

When a Client Asks

“...finding an answer to that question can be difficult without first knowing why the question is being asked.”

The Idea of Purpose and Common Pitfalls:

I. Not Knowing What Purpose Is

What is purpose?

A purpose is an organizing reason—something pursued consistently and intentionally over time. There must be enough structure and some sort of aim, whether small or large.

Eating is purpose. Raising your children is purpose. Keeping and doing your job is purpose. Brushing your teeth is purpose. While some are more instrumental and others existential, when you think this way, many ordinary acts already contain purpose. Chances are, you have a purpose right now.

Sometimes, people ask for purpose, without knowing what purpose means.

II. Wanting a Feeling, Not a Purpose

Pop culture and mainstream media can lead us to believe purpose is a feeling. Feelings can coexist with purpose, but when a client asks, “What is my purpose,” what they really might want is novelty and excitement. Perhaps they want to feel needed, successful, or important.

Ideally, the best kind of purpose gives us those feelings, but even the most admirable, deep, and inspiring purposes are not new nor exciting. They bind us to commitments rather than free us from them. Sometimes they do not look so meaningful or grand in the moment, and many times they are also not fun. I want you to picture:

-          Soldiers who defend our countries

-          Experts who have dedicated decades to their craft

-          Athletes with grueling training

-          Bricklayers, masons, and custodians who build our cities and keep them clean

Sometimes we mistake emotional highs for existential direction. There can be a passion and intensity to purpose, but it is often followed by the humdrum of intention and repetition.

III. Belief in a Single Grand Calling

Our favorite movies and fantasies will teach us, purpose is a single, grand destiny designed and chosen for you, and only you. You simply haven’t looked hard enough or found it yet. Life is a grand destiny itself, but sometimes we see purpose as that one, great, big thing that will find us, and once it does, we will finally be whole and successful. And for a few, sometimes it is really experienced that way, arriving fully formed, like a brilliant clarity that makes them feel complete.

But for many of us, purpose unfolds quietly, step by step. It does not always come with clarity, ease, nor certainty. Sometimes the purpose comes first, and only with a resolve to be diligent, the fit and mastery come later. But wait, who said purpose demands mastery?

Waiting for a moment to feel chosen can create purpose paralysis, and it robs us of another fact: Purpose can change as we mature. Purpose is not always one path, and we must not ignore the possibility we are meant for multiple, evolving purposes across a lifetime as we grow and learn about ourselves.

IV. Seeing Purpose Only as a Noun

The interesting thing about Purpose - similar to Love - is that its true essence can be known only fully, when it is understood as a verb. A consistent act of kindness. A consistent act of dedication. Consistency has a sattvic quality—steady, clear, and grounded. What does purpose look like, as a verb, or a person?

Purpose is intentional, it is steady and dedicated. It does not drift merely into dreams; it enjoys grounding. Purpose welcomes sharing and being many things. It does not leave tasks unfinished, but it evolves and is open to change. It is true to itself.

What if your client wants a purpose but their chart indicates struggles with follow-through? The true root must be understood.  

V. Wanting Purpose Without Being True to Oneself

Our values, hopes, and dreams stem from the foundation that is knowing ourselves well enough to make choices and prioritize. We can have many purposes, and often they develop our character, but without a foundational connection to our intrinsic self, we can be lost wondering what sort of purpose fulfills us in the first place. Some people do not know their purpose, because they do not know themselves.

When the Objective is Fulfillment, Truth, or Dharma:

Often, we already stand within a purpose.

A person who desires a deep connection to their purpose is often seeking something that is fulfilling because it feels meaningful.

A client in tune with what means the most to them is well-positioned to know where to start looking for a purpose. They might just need a little nudging, or right timing. But if they do not know, this is a key area where Jyotish can highlight one’s natural areas of focus, interests, and skills; one’s relationship to duty and contribution to the world; and even suggest remedial measures to guide and heal those aspects. In doing so, we should remember that the key to knowing what is meaningful to us is the act of staying true to ourselves, while being honest about our capacity and limits.

Perhaps purpose is something we live into quietly, rather than something we are meant to find. I met with a colleague earlier this year—a dedicated, lifelong Jyotish teacher and astrologer—who said to me something I won’t forget.

“My Guru once told me…if I ask myself, is this my purpose...Then the answer is no, no it isn’t.” - Kentaro Taniuchi

- Zelda Astrology

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