Carl McColman's Blog

Read the Bible Like a Mystic: Upcoming Retreats in South Carolina and Connecticut!

Dear friends,

I’m so excited to announce two retreats I’ll be leading this fall, inspired by my latest book, Read the Bible Like a Mystic! These retreats are contemplative gatherings based upon the wisdom of the mystics and the contemplative heart of the Bible. I hope you’ll join me for one or both of these retreats!

October 24-25: Rock Hill, SC (Near Charlotte, NC)

November 21-23: West Hartford, CT

The Bible is a difficult book. Written thousands of years ago, in a culture radically unlike our ...

Sign Up Now for the Wisdom of the English Mystics Retreat in the Spring of 2026!

Friends, join me and the Rev. Seifu Anil Singh-Morales for an extraordinary pilgrimage in search of the English mystics! Our week in England will include time spent in London, Oxford, Chelmsford and Norwich, as we seek the lives, wisdom and teachings of great mystics including William Blake, J.R.R.  Tolkien, CS Lewis, Evelyn Underhill, and Julian of Norwich! We’ll pray in the cell where Julian of Norwich wrote her legendary book of mystical visions, haunt the halls of Oxford University where the...

Words of Encouragement for New Spiritual Directors

Recently I was honored to serve as a keynote speaker for the graduation ceremony for a new cohort of spiritual directors, who have completed the Spiritual Direction formation program sponsored by Unity Worldwide Ministries (you can check out this program at www.unityspiritualdirection.org). I teach a course on mystical spirituality as part of their program, and was truly honored and delighted when the 2025 cohort asked me to speak at their graduation ceremony.

Here’s what I had to say…

As I was...

Now Available! Order “Read the Bible Like a Mystic” Today

Hello friends, just a friendly reminder to order your copy of Read the Bible Like a Mystic today.

Where to buy Read the Bible Like a Mystic:
Amazon • Barnes & Noble • Broadleaf Books
Bookshop.org • Books-a-Million
www.anamchara.com (autographed copy)

And remember: if you order the book from Anamchara.com, you’ll get an autographed copy. Why not order your personal copy from here and then order copies for friends from retailers?

What’s the Book About?

There is a better way to read the Bible: wit...

Join Me at the Wild Goose Festival Wisdom Camp — Our Theme is “Radical Mysticism”!

I’m so excited to be returning to the Wild Goose Festival in Union Grove, NC (north of Charlotte) for a day-long event called “Wisdom Camp: Radical Mysticism.” I’m co-facilitating this program along with Debonee Morgan, the executive director of Zeitgeist Atlanta, a ministry for the spiritually independent. See below to learn more about Wisdom Camp, and to get a coupon code to save $50 off your admission to the festival!

This event takes place during the day on August 28 2025 (the main festival ...

Principles for Contemplative Dialogue

For a number of years I participated in a Centering Prayer group here in Georgia. While I am no longer actively part of that group, I received many blessings from it — one of which is a series of “Principles for Entering Into Contemplative Dialogue.” These principles were found in a series of booklets called Bridges to Contemplative Living with Thomas Merton edited by Jonathan Montaldo and Robert Toth. Apparently they had adapted these principles from a website, www.contemplativedialogue.org, wh...

Faith, Fundamentalism, and Conscience: or Why We Need to Think Critically About Our Religious Institutions

This morning on Public Radio I heard someone quote a line that Mark Twain spoke when speaking to a group of teachers in New York City, way back in March 1901:

Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, but your government only when it deserves it.

What a great line (and relevant today even more so than 124 years ago), but as I listened to it, I couldn’t help but think about it terms of how contemplatives relate to Christianity. Imagine this:

Mysticism is remaining devoted to spiritualit...

Live in Atlanta (or feel like making a road trip)? Celebrate with Me on June 4!

This is a “Save the Date” post — I’ve confirmed with Ignatius House that on June 4, we will host an evening event to celebrate the publication of Read the Bible Like a Mystic — and you are invited!

We’re still working out the details, but the plan is to gather between 6:30 and 7 PM for refreshments, followed by a short talk and Q&A in which I will share some key ideas and themes from the book, and probably read a little bit from it here and there. After that we’ll have a book signing, so you can...

What is this blog about? Ask AI…

One of the most difficult aspects of being a solo/self-employed writer is coming up with marketing materials to introduce people to me and my work. Publishers, retreat planners, and others who work with me regularly need a biography or other written materials to share with the public some basic information about who I am, what I do, and what I have to say. Since I am not in a position to hire my own publicist (!), I have to write all that stuff myself, and trust me, it’s not fun. I can write abo...

Who are the Essential Mystics?

A reader of this blog wrote the following message to me…

Hi Carl. Thank you for all of the incredible information about mysticism on your website. It’s been a tremendous resource. I was wondering if you had a moment to scan this list and see if there’s anyone you would add or subtract as an “important”, “top shelf”, etc. mystic that i’ve missed. Thanks again, I appreciate your suggestions.

Anthony of the Desert
Desert Fathers & Mothers
Augustine of Hippo
Bernard of Clairvaux
Hildegard of Bingen
...