Im on a mission for the mages college to retrieve the staff of magnus at the ruins of MZUIFT. it says i need to focus the Oculory but i have spent ages on it, the light doesnt line up, i have heated crystal and frozen it, the light moves but still doesnt line up with moving glass things lol

You have go move the rings so the light matches up, walk a little bit up, and it should have like 3 times with a button on top of them which moves the rings around the light.

You have to use the first fire and frost spell to adjust the beams too. If you use another spell thats fire or frost it dont work properly. There are tomes near the buttons.

OK. I just watched a YouTube and figured this out. Even the Game Guide didn't really help.

You must use the base spells (books on table). Flames and Frostbite.

1. Insert the Focusing Crystal into the circular ring in the middle of the room (arrow pointing at it).
2. Cast Frostbite until the light lines stop moving. You should then see one light lined up on each row of the ceiling.
3. Go up the platform to where there are three columns with a pushable button. Each column (pillar) moves one circular row on the ceiling.
4. Push the button to move the blue circular gem in the ceiling until it lines up with the light beam on that row.
5. Once you get the third one lined up (all three) then the quest will complete.

Hope this helps.