Who is John O'Donohue

1. He's Irish!

2. He personified Celtic spirituality.

3. He writes things like "A person's beauty is sophisticated and sacred and is far beyond image, appearance or personality."

According to this website, an anam cara is one who loves your essence, lives close to the land, guides you to the presence you are, reminds you of what is important, takes you to the source, and affirms you. Yet they can also detach, letting you be who you really are.

In his book "Anam Cara" John O'Donohue said "[page 26] The one you love, your anam cara, your soul friend, is the truest mirror to reflect your soul."

I have several soul friends, including my husband and children. And yes, my dog Daisy is one too.

Download or listen online to this great 53 minute interview called "The Inner Landscape of Beauty" from Speaking of Faith, where Krista Tippett interviews John O'Donohue, not long before his untimely death.

The web page also includes a transcript of the interview, Irish music, Krista's journal, and recommended books. I have listened to this podcast at least three times.

O'Donohue said to Krista Tippett,

"Music is what language would love to be if it could."

My sister and I visited O'Donohue's grave site in Fanore, County Clare and met a wonderful woman up the road, who made us tea and a sandwich. She had known John O'Donohue and her children had gone to school with him.

O'Donohue was formerly a priest, and this woman said that when Father O'Donohue was preaching it was "as if our Lord himself was present in him."

As we left her home to go to the grave site a mile up the road, a beautiful rainbow led us to the cemetery.

The photo to your right is from John O'Donohue's gravesite in Fanore, County Clare, Ireland.