Anam Cara [Twenty-fifth Anniversary Edition]

When St. Patrick first came to Ireland in the 5th century AD, he encountered the Celtic people-with their flourishing spiritual tradition, already thousands of years old. Where the Christians worshipped one God, the Celts had many-and in fact, found divinity all around them: in the rivers and hills, the sea and sky, and in every kind of animal. The Celtic reverence for the spirit in all things, and their celebrations of the continuous mysteries of everyday existence, survive to this day-a vibrant spiritual legacy unique in the Western world. a In Anam Cara, Irish poet, priest, and scholar John O'Donohue blends philosophy, instruction, and spiritual insight, taking you inside this remarkable spiritual synthesis. O'Donohue shares an intuitive approach to spirituality that takes you beyond spiritual -programs' to a place where your heart can be truly nourished and healed. You will learn authentic Irish prayers and blessings; how to discover your individual nature; awakening the sense as -thresholds of the spirit; understanding the -secret divinity in your relationships; how the Irish -hospitality towards death can help you become more compassionate, generous, and fearless; and much more. Tracing the cycles of life and nature, this insightful work draws from the holy waters of Ireland's spiritual heritage-from the Celts and their Druid shamans, the imbas (inspirational sagas) of the wandering bards, and the sacred fountainhead of the Christian monasteries.