Gatekeeping

 "Be careful in casting out your devils lest you cast out the best thing in you (Nietzsche)."


The role of the anamcara (as is that of the druid and shaman) is to assist one in adapting to their God and the "holy madness within," rather than casting the madness out. This is the difference between spiritual direction and psychology (although many spiritual directors themselves fail to grasp the difference). All to often the anamcara or the druid-shaman is pictured as some sort of ancient exorcist or psychologist. Nothing can be further from the truth: the anamcara, nor the druid, exorcized the "demons" within, nor gave rational reason to them. To be mad was to experience God in all of the divine fullness.

What the anamcara, and what the modern spiritual director should do, is to serve as one's doirseór, or gatekeeper.

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