Type of bind: Paperback
Format: Bargain Price
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 256
Printing Date: November 01, 1998
Sale Popularity Level: 280594
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Product Description:
St. Patrick very first came to Ireland in the 5th century AD, he encountered the Celts, a unique race of people who found divinity all around them: in the rivers and hills, the sea and sky and in every kind of animal. Surviving to this day, the Celts' reverence for the spirit in all things, and their celebration of the continuous mysteries of everyday existence is a vibrant spiritual legacy unique in the Western world, one that has captured the imaginations of thousands of Americans rediscovering the wisdom of the past. In 'Anam Cara' (Gaelic for 'soul friend'), O'Donohue takes readers into a world where God's passionate side is celebrated and the Fates are not feared. Exploring themes such as the divinity of solitude, the spirituality of the senses, the mystery of friendship, the beauty of aging and the concept of death in the Celtic tradition, it aims to help readers reconnect with the world around them and awaken the power hidden in their souls.
Amazon.com Review:
Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom offers an exploration of the secret universe we all carry inside us, the connections we forge with the worlds of our friends and loved ones, and the products of our worlds reflected in the things we create outside of ourselves. Anam Cara, Gaelic for 'soul friend,' is an ancient journey down a nearly forgotten path of wisdom into what it means to be human. Drawing on this age-old perspective, John O'Donohue helps us to see ourselves as the Celts did: we're more than just flesh, blood, and bone; we comprise individual worlds. The comprehension of the sublime architecture of the worlds we are born with will engender a new appreciation for the outside world and the way we contribute to its evolution.
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Rated by buyers 
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This was a wonderful book. I am very thankful to both Fr. Jim Link and Fr. Paul Quinon for recommending it to me. I must admit that I did not get it all, but much of the Celtic Spirituality presented touched my spirit, my mind, my intellect and my soul.
It is a book about the Celtic worldview and way of life. It has made me even more homesick for the land of the Celts; it aroused a desire to return to Ireland or Scotland. Yet I realized that I would need to learn to live the Celtic way/mode here before I could even consider going back across the pond.
The book made me realize how much I needed to simplify my life, and prompted me to take a semester off school to help establish a new pattern of living and of being. It prompted me to reestablish a stronger pattern of work, bible study, prayer, reading and pursuing God and his will above all else, to try to live each day to the full, to live to be a good and true friend, and to learn to be better at being.
As an aside there are two more books by O'Donohue that follow the same spirit: Eternal Echoes and To Bless the Space Between Us both of which I attempted to read on a number of occasions but was unable to make it through. One of his books of poetry Conamara Blues - I ended up reading a number of times.
Rated by buyers -
John O'Donohue's wisdom and spirit pour through the pages of his simple yet profound gift of "Anam Cara". His words peel back the veil of mystery so often hidden in spiritual writings that try to reveal such depth, but leave one unfulfilled. O'Donohue has shared his heart's wisdom, not a theological discourse. I highly recommend this beautiful treasure that is both the author's philosophy of love and a deep revelation of celtic wisdom and spirituality.
Rated by buyers 
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You'll really have to adjust your approach to and expectations for reading when you take up this book. It's not intended to answer your questions or give you a history of Celtic culture. It's really more of a prose poem, meant to support reflection and even meditation. It's postmodern in the sense that it centers on the concept of our deepest desires, but I wouldn't call it New Age as some other reviewers have. Just because something makes connections between traditions from various cultures and times doesn't make it New Age. If you let yourself share in O'Donohue's sense of wonder that similar wisdom arose in places removed from each other in space and time, you will discover the heart of the book.
Rated by buyers -
I very first discovered John O'Donohue in Sacred Poetry from Around the World, in which his poems are so relevant to today's concerns. As a mystic and philosopher, he summons up in Anam Cara (soul friend) ancient Celtic wisdom written in the bones of Western culture. A new voice has emerged to take its place beside that of Deepak Chopra. I recommend this book of essays to those who seek wisdom and inspiration in today's fast-paced world.
Rated by buyers -
The writing is exquisite. It feeds the part of me that responds to poetic language. I take time with this book as a gift to myself when my Spirit is feeling parched. Thank you, John, for sharing your word mastery.
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