Anamcara-Soul Friend

by icywoods

The following are customs surrounding death that we know have been or are practiced in the Gaelic culture. Each of these are held by scholars to be carry overs from the time of our pre-Christian ancestors.

When the person began the dying process, the Anamcara, or ‘soul friend’ was called. It was her job to help during the transition of death. She used herbs to soften the pangs of death, and prepared the person for what to expect after they had passed over, and to make the proper incantations after they had. If a person passed before she could arrive, then once she arrived, she “spoke” to them and told them what to do to continue on their journey