As Parker J. Palmer, pitch “Anon Care” as a modern, fluid Anam Cara — a simple recovery-inspired practice to help near-strangers discern whether each other’s Levitical Bells have gone silent (and perhaps even why)
ChatGPT Prompt
“The soul is like a wild animal—tough, resilient, yet shy. If we want to see a wild animal, the last thing we should do is crash through the woods shouting for it to come out. Instead, we might walk quietly, sit patiently, and wait for it to trust us enough to appear.”
— Parker J. Palmer
What Is Anon Care?
Anon Care is a quiet spiritual practice, inspired by recovery and contemplative traditions, in which strangers may become temporary soul friends, helping one another discern whether their Levitical Bell—the soul’s signal of life in the presence of God—is still ringing.
This happens through attuned presence, sacred curiosity, and loving non-interference.
The Levitical Bell: A Metaphor of Soul Vitality
“…its sound shall be heard when he goes into the Holy Place before the Lord, and when he comes out, so that he does not die.”
— Exodus 28:35
In the biblical tradition, bells on the High Priest’s robe signaled life in God’s presence. When the bells went silent, it meant danger or disconnection. Today, our “bells” are more subtle—but still real.
Anon Care is the practice of listening for those bells, especially in others who may not hear their own anymore.
Principles of Anon Care
Modeled after Al-Anon’s spiritual principles, Anon Care abides by:
- No fixing: You are not here to solve, only to see.
- No forcing: Silence is sacred.
- No residue: No follow-up required.
- Yes to sacred curiosity: Let Christ do the unveiling.
Practicing Anon Care
Inspired by Quaker clearness committees, this practice does not require a formal setting:
1. Inner Posture
- “I am not here to fix you.”
- “I am here to witness you.”
- “I am here to listen for your bell—and my own.”
2. Outer Gesture
In a brief encounter—a hallway, a seat on a train, a shared silence—use body language and tone to signal attentiveness. Optionally, ask:
- “How’s your spirit holding up?”
- “Is there anything you need to hear yourself say?”
- “What’s been nourishing you—or not?”
Anon Care Flow
Suggested Encounter
- Begin with Silence
“Christ, let me hear their bell.”
- Offer Presence
“This is a safe moment. You can speak—or not.”
- Witness
Don’t interrupt or advise. Let silence speak. - Discern
“Is their bell ringing? Or has it gone quiet?”
- Bless and Release
“May you hear your bell again.”
“You’re not alone in the Holy Place.”
Al-Anon DNA: Step 12 Reimagined
“Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message…”
— Twelve Steps of AA
Anon Care embodies Step 12 not through preaching, but through presence. You carry the message not in words, but in your stillness, your quiet compassion.
Voices That Echo Anon Care
- Richard Rohr, Breathing Under Water
- Parker J. Palmer, A Hidden Wholeness
- Anne Lamott, Traveling Mercies
- Thérèse of Lisieux, Story of a Soul
- Bill Wilson, The Big Book of AA
Daily Benediction for Anon Carers
Today, may I walk slowly enough to hear the bells of others.
May I not rush past the soul.
May I carry no advice, only attention.
May I be present without grasping.
May I recognize the silence that signals danger—and hold space until sound returns.
And may I trust that even when no one rings for me, Christ still walks beside me in the Holy Place.
Final Reflection
“The sound of the genuine is in you, and you’ve got to find it.”
— Howard Thurman
Anon Care isn’t a method. It’s a posture of grace.
You become a temporary priest of presence in the temple of the ordinary—no names needed, no stage required, no outcome demanded.
Radically Happy 
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