This program has three parts:
- First, a brief introduction of myself, and why I came to write The Big Book of Christian Mysticism(revised as The New Big Book of Christian Mysticism);
- A brief overview commentary of the book’s preface and chapter 1, offering some basic ideas about what I was trying to say in each section;
- An invitation to join Patreon, where I lead three Zoom calls each month for paid members. In the months to come, we’ll continue to work our way through The New Big Book of Christian Mysticism, with a new chapter commentary each month as well as discussion/Q&A with participants (my discussion section will be recorded and published here on Patreon).
As I explain in the video, Patreon exists to support writers, musicians, and other creative professionals, where people who enjoy our work pledge a small amount each month to help keep things going. For my Patreon, the monthly fees start at just $11 a month. For that, you get access to 3 new Zoom calls with me each month, along with recordings of my presentations (so if you miss a call, you can still catch up on the presentation each month).
If you enjoy this video and would like to connect with me — either live on Zoom or through my ever-growing library of Patreon-only videos — then please, subscribe today!
Here’s the link to get started with your Patreon membership: https://www.patreon.com/carlmccolman/join
If you’re reading this and you’re already a Patreon member: thank you! Otherwise, I hope you’ll join — I look forward to seeing you on future Zoom calls.
More About Me (Carl “Skye” McColman)
I’m a contemplative writer and spiritual companion based in Atlanta. My work explores how an intentional spiritual life serves as a doorway to personal growth, spiritual happiness, and compassion for self, others, and all of creation.
On this website you will find information about my books (and if you live in the United States, you can order autographed copies here). I’ve written more than twenty books and the only common thread is that they all concern the spiritual life: here you’ll find books about Christian mysticism, Celtic wisdom, Neopaganism & Goddess spirituality, and more. My center of gravity is contemplative practice, and I embrace how the inner life can be expressed in a variety of ways.
These days I post my new writing through my “Anamchara” newsletter on Substack, including short inspirational pieces on mystical spirituality, longer explorations of ideas and issues related to contemplation, and whatever else I happen to want to write about. You can subscribe for free, although Substack will try to get you to sign up for a paid subscription. Paid subscribers get invited to monthly Zoom calls with me; but if you just want to read the new writing, the “free” option will keep plenty of new content rolling in to your inbox.
I’m a spiritual director (spiritual companion) and I have been accompanying people via Zoom since the days of the Covid lockdown. I also meet people in person in Atlanta. Spiritual Direction/Accompaniment is a traditional method of using listening and conversation to move more deeply into contemplative spirituality and practice. If you think you’d be interested in working with me in this way, visit my Spiritual Direction page.
I co-host two podcasts. The first one, Encountering Silence, debuted in 2017 and to date has over 120 episodes. We’re currently on hiatus, but the plan is to continue recording and releasing new content, so stay tuned!
My latest venture is the Radical Mystics newsletter and podcast, co-hosted with my “punk perennialist” friend Debonee Morgan (by contrast, I’m the “feral contemplative”!) — please check out this forum for being a bit more “untamed” in our exploration of contemplative and mystical spirituality, and the intersection between silence and resistance.
Finally, there’s Patreon: an opportunity to connect with me and other kindred spirits through monthly Zoom calls and a small but hopefully useful library of videos, meditations, poetry, book study guides, and other writings. Full disclosure: Patreon is a program for providing support to independent writers, artists, musicians and other content creators, so here the action is behind a paywall, but the prices start at only $11 a month and there’s no commitment: if it’s not for you, cancel at any time. If you find my writing helpful and would like to do something generous to help me keep writing (or you just are curious to see what I’m like on a Zoom call), I hope you’ll give it a try, and join me for Centering Prayer, contemplative dialogue, and more. Added bonus: sign up for Patreon and I’ll include the “paid” version of my Substack newsletter at no extra charge.
Your Heart is a Chalice, Created to
Joyfully Receive and Share Divine Love.
Mystics and Contemplatives Show Us the Way.
About Carl McColman
More About Carl
Carl McColman is the author of numerous books exploring mystical spirituality and contemplative living, including The New Big Book of Christian Mysticism, Eternal Heart, Answering the Contemplative Call, An Invitation to Celtic Wisdom and Unteachable Lessons. His most recent book, Read the Bible Like a Mystic, was published in the summer of 2025. His work is informed by a variety of spiritual perspectives, from Christian mysticism and Zen Buddhism, to Celtic wisdom, earth-centered and pagan spirituality, and Wicca. Several of Carl’s books have won awards or recognition, notably Befriending Silence which won the 2015 “Georgia Author of the Year” award in the field of inspirational/religious writing. His work has been warmly endorsed by many leading voices in the field of Christian spirituality, such as bestselling author Brian D. McLaren who said, “If you don’t know about Carl McColman and his work, you should.” Carl studied at James Madison University (BA, English) and George Mason University (MA, Professional Writing and Editing). His formation in the spiritual life includes training and formation with the Shalem Institute in Washington, DC; the Institute for Pastoral Studies in Atlanta (under the direction of John Westerhoff); and the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, GA; where Carl is a Life-Professed Lay Cistercian: a layperson under formal spiritual guidance with the Trappist monks. He is a commissioned Centering Prayer presenter with Contemplative Outreach of North Georgia, and a spiritual director serving individuals both in metro Atlanta and online. Carl co-hosts the Encountering Silence podcast with filmmaker Cassidy Hall and theologian Kevin Johnson, and writes the “Mystical Journey” email newsletter on Substack. He also teaches online through Patreon. Carl and his wife, artist Fran McColman, live near Atlanta in a small house filled with cats, books, icons and love. Their daughter, Rhiannon, passed away after a long illness at age 29 in 2014. When they take a break from their creative work, you may find Carl and Fran wandering around the mountains of western North Carolina or taking long walks along the Emerald Coast of Florida.
Work with Carl
Carl McColman has a limited practice of spiritual direction – a one-on-one opportunity for Carl to accompany you as you seek to move more deeply into the life of prayer. Learn More »
A Word from Carl
(Because writing about yourself in the third person is awkward)
People say the nicest things…
Carl’s style of writing is so down-to-earth, so honest, human, and normal… If you don’t know about Carl McColman and his work, you should. — Brian McLarenCarl McColman leads us to the brink of lessons no book can teach, then frees us to go forward to learn them, trusting the God who meets us at every step of the unknown way. — Barbara Brown Taylor Carl McColman gives you much wise direction and broad understanding of the field of contemplative theory and practice. Here is your teacher! — Richard RohrCarl McColman presents the classic precepts and practices of the Christian contemplative path in a clear and helpful way. — Cynthia BourgeaultCarl McColman masterfully maps out for the serious spiritual seeker the nature of the mystical experience and outlines a clear and accessible pathway on how to get there. — Kyriacos C. MarkidesCarl McColman obviously earned his understanding of mysticism through years of research as well as his own personal spiritual journey and there is no more powerful combination for inspired writing. — Carolyn MyssCarl McColman leads us further into our hearts as sleuths in the mystery of life. What joy! — Zenju Earthlyn Manuel
Anamchara (Anam Ċara)
In 1996 I named my website Anamchara, which is a Gaelic word meaning “Soul Friend.” We encounter God – the Ultimate Mystery – by weaving together silence, love, sacred stories, the capacity to wonder, to celebrate, to contemplate, to pray… and the care of companions along the way. “Anyone without a soul friend is like a body without a head,” proclaimed Saint Brigid. Her words invite and challenge us to seek the Divine in and through the eyes of others. Mystics of every age have shared their wisdom: elder to seeker, mentor to aspirant, and even simply friend to friend. Today, we seek those who may bring God to us – and to whom we, in turn, bring God. While the printed word can never replace the intimacy and compassion that meets us through a soul friend, may all who visit these electronic pages find stories that resonate, practices that inspire, and the kind of knowledge that leads to the threshold of unknowing.