ANAM CARA Spiritual Wisdom from the Celtic World

Hardcover, 1998

Status

Available

Call number

248.0899162

Genres

Religion & Spirituality

Philosophy

Nonfiction

All Topics

Publication

Bantam Press (1998)

Description

In this revered classic, John O'Donohue excavates themes of friendship, belonging, solitude, creativity and the imagination, among many others. Widely recognized for bringing Celtic spirituality into modern dialogue, his unique insights from the ancient world speak with urgency for our need to rediscover the thresholds of the soul.

User reviews

LibraryThing member KRaySaulis

I'll end up going back and reading this book, and quoting this book, over and over again.

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LibraryThing member Al-G

There is so much depth to this book that I hardly know where to begin. The insights into the spirituality of the five senses alone is worth the read. For those who might be seeking deeper spiritual development and certainly for those who are students of Celtic spirituality, this book is a must read

- O'Donohue explores Celtic wisdom and spiritual understandings in light of modern understandings of Christian spirituality to give insight into the way the two come together and the depths of the spiritual traditions with the Celtic practices of Christian spirituality.

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LibraryThing member wyvernfriend

I keep picking this book up and reading a chapter and putting it away for a while so that my mind can understand the chapter. A regular re-read.

LibraryThing member lunaverse

(From my review on Amazon in 1998.)

Each sentence is a ponderable morsel.

Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom is truly a work of art. Over the past three years, I have been working on discovering myself through self-help books, 12-step programs, religious study, and personal introspection. This book

summed up everything I have learned (the hard way) during this time, and presented it in a beautiful package that was invigorating and thought-provoking to read. It was a pure joy. I began reading it in January, and have only just finished it last night, because each sentance was a ponderable morsel. Sometimes I would read a phrase five times over in order to fully grasp and apply it's meaning to my life. This is not a 70 mph trip through the McDonald's drive-thru, this is a seven course meal in Vienna, and every bite demands that you hold it in your mouth to savor it.

Anam Cara is one of the best non-fiction books I have ever read. I plan to read it again in a year or so, because I know I will get new things out of it. I am already loaning it to a friend, and have a couple of others in mind I'd like to loan it to. I can't keep this from the ones I love.

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LibraryThing member mckait

This is a book that touched me deeply. To put it very simply, it is a book about friendship.
That "soul friend" that each of us long for and yet so few of us are fortunate to claim.
This is a story of humanity and yearning. It is a story of love and loss and spirituality. O'Donohue writes in a

poetic and compassionate way about life.

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LibraryThing member Maggie_Foote

I rarely read spiritual books, but I'm glad I read this one. O'Donohue writes lyrical prose, telling us to have compassion, to find our soul friends, to sink into the bliss of solitude, and to find our way to the other side. This from a man who has done scholarly work on Hagel. I recommend this

book to anyone seeking peace and calm in the turbulence of life.

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LibraryThing member irishkitsune

This is a truly insightful book. The title translates as "soul friend," and Donohue talks in-depth about ancient Celtic wisdom and spirituality. If you have interest in any spirituality at all, not just shamanism, I really recommend this book.

LibraryThing member keylawk

"Soul Friend". Wonderful and ancient comforts from the poet scholar of things Celtic, John O'Donohue. Ireland's "spiritual heritage"--nakedly pagan tree-worshipping magic inner flood-lit basket-hoops of remedies gathered from balmy Nature.

LibraryThing member patl

Here's the thing with O'Donohue. He writes mystically and poetically. I'd rather hear him speak than read his words. Actually, reading it on Kindle is a weird, weird trip. I think this is one of those books that you have to have in print, in hand, with a cup of coffee or a pint of porter at hand,

sitting on the deck overlooking a natural scene.

I LOVE the guy, I just find that it's hard to read this particular book in the form that I have it.

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LibraryThing member FHC

John O'Donohue's Irish brogue eloquently sharing Celtic wisdom in prayers, blessings and benediction and God is revealed from an intuitive perspective.

8 cds covers much information but also nicely breaks up the material into digestible sized sections for contemplative reflection. Make yourself a

cuppa and settle in for enjoyable audio 'reading' !

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LibraryThing member patl

I enjoyed hearing O'Donohue's thoughts in audio form, as a bit of a lecture. The structure is different from the later Kindle and print version of the content, but it's pretty similar. In particular, O'Donohue's stories and his descriptions of time and of death from the Celtic perspective were

highlights.

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LibraryThing member kwskultety

Inspiring, uplifting, and beautiful. Great for christians and wiccans alike....

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