The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word LODESTARS
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Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "guiding lights" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case guiding lights = lodestars.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does LODESTARS mean?
LODESTARS noun- A star used as a navigation reference, particularly a pole star such as Polaris.
- A guiding tenet or principle.
- A calculated amount to award as attorney's fees derived by multiplying the reasonable number of hours spent working on a case by the reasonable hourly billing rate.