Carl McColman a spiritual director, author, retreat leader, and speaker on mystical spirituality and contemplative living. His books include Read the Bible Like a Mystic, The New Big Book of Christian Mysticism, Eternal Heart, and Unteachable Lessons. He is one of the co-hosts of the Encountering Silence podcast, and maintains a Substack newsletter (www.anamchara.net) and a blog (www.anamchara.com). Carl’s approach to contemplation and mysticism is joyful, inclusive and expansive; with a dedication to exploring the common ground between faith traditions, with a particular interest in the connecting points between Christian, Buddhist and Pagan wisdom. Carl lives with his wife, artist Fran McColman, in Clarkston, Georgia, near Atlanta.
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 » Carl is also available to churches and other organizations, to lead retreats or classes (online or in person) related to contemplative spirituality. Make a Booking Inquiry »
A Word from Carl
(Because writing about yourself in the third person is awkward) Hi, I’m Carl. Thanks for visiting my website, www.anamchara.com. I created this website way back in 1996. Over the years, it has taken on many forms: it’s been an advertisement for my books and other offerings; it’s been a blog; and it’s been an ongoing project devoted to a simple idea: my desire to provide a place where anyone interested in Christian mysticism (and related topics like Celtic wisdom, contemplative prayer and interspirituality) can come to explore, learn, and hopefully be inspired. I hope you’ll take some time to see what’s available. This “About Me” page is the least important part of this site. Nevertheless, here you are, so I hope you enjoy the pictures, links to my books and blog, and information about my upcoming events. No matter what brought you to this website, I hope you can join with me on one of life’s greatest adventures: responding to the yearning in our hearts for Divine Love.
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 McLaren
Carl 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 Rohr
Carl McColman presents the classic precepts and practices of the Christian contemplative path in a clear and helpful way.
— Cynthia Bourgeault
Carl 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. Markides
Carl 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 Myss
Carl 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.More to Explore…
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