Anam Cara: Spiritual Wisdom from the Celtic World - Hardcover

O'Donohue Ph.D., John

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0593042018 ISBN 13: 9780593042014

Publisher: Bantam Press, 1997

Synopsis

In this text, the author uses the Celtic vision of life as a means to examine the landscape of the soul. Informed by the Celtic mystical tradition "Anam Cara" (which means soul friend) re-examines the contemporary perception of spirituality and argues that instead of seeking to satisfy our spiritual hunger on an everlasting journey of exploration that will uncover every riddle, every mystery, we should seek to gain an understanding that the soul lies within us always. It is ever present and ever ready to dispense peace and wisdom to enhance our life experience. Using the ancient Celtic reverence for the spirit of all things and the celebration of the continuous mysteries of everyday existence which survive to this day. O'Donohue traces the cycle of life and nature, shares secrets from a world where the Fates are not feared, blending philosophy, instruction, and spiritual insight.

About this title

From the Back Cover

I was born in a limestone valley: To live in a valley is to enjoy a private sky: All around, life is framed by the horizon. The horizon shelters life, yet constantly calls the eye to new frontiers and possibilities. The mystery of this landscape is further intensified by the presence of the ocean. For millions of years an ancient conversation has continued between the chorus of the ocean and the silence of the stone...The Irish landscape is full of memory; it holds ruins and traces of ancient civilization. There is a curvature in the landscape, a colour and shape that constantly frustrates the eye anxious for symmetry or linear simplicity...Every few miles of road the landscape changes; it always surprises, offering ever new vistas. This landscape which surprises the eye and calls the imagination has a wild yet serene complexity. In a sense, this reflects the nature of Celtic consciousness.

When St Patrick came to Ireland in the fifth century AD, he encountered the Celtic people and a flourishing spiritual tradition that had already existed for thousands of years. He discovered that where the Christians worshipped one God, the Celts had many and found divinity all around them: in the rivers and hills, the sea and sky, and in every kind of animal. The ancient Celtic reverence for the spirit in all things survives to this day - a vibrant legacy of mystical wisdom that is unique in the Western world.

Now, in this exquisite book, Irish poet and scholar, John O'Donohue, uses an intuitive approach to spirituality and, with authentic Irish prayers and blessings, shares the secrets of this ancient world. Here you will learn how to reconnect with the treasures that lie hidden within your own soul, how to discover your individual nature and understand the 'secret divinity' in your relationships. Here, too, you will see how the Irish 'hospitality' towards death can help you become more compassionate, generous and fearless.

As John O'Donohue traces the cycles of life and nature, he draws from the holy waters of Ireland's spiritual heritage, from the Celts and Druid shamans, to lead you to a place where your heart can be healed and nourished - a place where you will discover your own aman cara, your true 'soul friend'.

Edition details

• Publisher: Bantam Press
• Publication date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0593042018
• ISBN 13: 9780593042014
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 288