Thanks for this David. I grew up with the concept of anam cara, and had two 'soul sisters' all throughout my childhood. What you write about not having parents see and understand you was true for me and replaced by 'we three.' One of these lovely beings died at the age of 14 and one at 24. In each case it was like losing a limb. I understood, deeply, how some people talk about 'losing a familiar' and that it is more than losing 'family' it is losing a part of oneself.

It has helped me, over the many years now, to remember those friendships and how freely we interacted. I no longer feel the loss but the gratitude and, yes, writing has, in some ways, become that friend. Source has always been that, though. And I suppose that has been the point.

This post made me consider anam cara once again. Thanks for that.