Anam Cara: Barry Foster, Don McLeod and I, on Soulful Friendship

To be alone in the world is a terrible thing, unless of course it is by choice. Especially for men, the heart may long for deep connection while all our social posturing creates the opposite--distance. When men discover deep friendship with other men it is a gift to be savoured and, in this instance, shared. 

Don McLeod, Barry Foster and I have met together for almost twenty-five years, dubbing ourselves, preposterously, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. We have no advice about how others might do this themselves, but by sharing our own story perhaps some wisdom will emerge for those who seek a similar experience. All we know is that the world, and our world in particular, is a lot better for having friends. 

Books referenced in this conversation:

"Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom" by John O'Donohue; HarperCollins, 1997

"To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings" by John O'Donohue; Convergent Books, 2008

"Consolations: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words" by David Whyte; Canongate Books, 2019

As well as any of the over twenty books by Jungian writer James Hollis

Personal Links
My web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.ca
My email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.com

Series Music Credit
"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022