Anam Cara

One of my favorite books on Celtic spirituality is John O'Donohue's book Anam Cara. Anam Cara means soul friend. I have spent five days with a friend I've known longer than any others, since second grade! She is a true anam cara. What a rich time this has been - just the two of us talking about old times and current times. While I sometimes bemoan the fact that my soul friends are spread all over the country in Baltimore, Boston, western MA and Seattle, I feel blessed to have these rich relationships in my life as I know there are many people who do not have any friendships with this kind of depth. Friendships take time and so I spend as much time as possible talking on the phone with my friends which is in reality not that much time. I am busy; they are busy so it is often hard to find time to connect. Nonetheless, for my own spiritual and mental health, I want to make this a priority. They are circles of love without which I cannot survive.