What is Anam Cara?
Anam Cara is…
a Celtic phrase that loosely translates as “soul friend.” It describes a sacred relationship that is founded in connection, authenticity, trust and respect. An anam cara may be a partner, friend, family member, spiritual teacher, or trusted caregiver during a time of transition or need.
Anam cara is a Celtic philosophy and Irish belief that two souls that experience a unique and deeply personal connection will be stronger together than they are apart.
In his book Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom, John O’Donohue examines the essence of the term Anam Cara…
“In the Celtic tradition, there is a beautiful understanding of love and friendship. One of the fascinating ideas here is the idea of soul-love; the old Gaelic term for this is anam cara. Anam is the Gaelic word for soul and cara is the word for friend. So Anam Cara in the Celtic world was the “soul friend.” In the early Celtic church, a person who acted as a teacher, companion, or spiritual guide was called an anam cara. It originally referred to someone to whom you confessed, revealing the hidden intimacies of life. With the anam cara you could share your inner-most self, your mind, and your heart. This friendship was an act of recognition and belonging. When you had an anam cara, your friendship cut across all convention, morality, and category. You were joined in an ancient and eternal way with a “friend of your soul.”
Being an anam cara requires a purposeful presence — it asks that we show up with absolute integrity of intention. Genuine intentionality and active presence is what sets the true anam cara apart from the acquaintance or the casual friend. The depth of connection that results in this level of relationship breeds belonging, acceptance, trust, surrender, and ultimately inner healing.
Sarah attended specific training in the anam cara tradition through the Sacred Art of Living Center. She completed the Sacred Art of Dying four part series and the 2 year Anamcara Apprenticeship. She has incorporated these fundamental concepts in her care as a hospice nurse and feels strongly that they are the cornerstone of care of Anam Cara Caregiving.
A soul friend is a loved one who awakens your life in order to free the
wild possibilities within you.
John O’Donohue
