Carl McColman's Blog, page 78

Contemplative Decluttering

SoulSpace

Once you face your belongings, confront your fears, unclutter your space, and discover your personal desires and truths, you will have more energy, feel more inspired, access more creativity and find refuge, renewal and splendor within your own four walls.

— Xorin Balbes, SoulSpace: Transform Your Home, Transform Your Life

Evelyn Underhill suggested that artists, with their devotion to beauty, are naturally kin to mystics with their devotion to God. With this principle in mind, I find...

The Holy Land from the air

Here’s a little something for your Saturday morning viewing pleasure. This is a seven minute preview of an iMax movie currently in production about Jerusalem and its role as a holy city for the three Abrahamic faiths. The cinematography (all aerial in this clip, although the finished film will include footage from the ground) is gorgeous.

The movie is scheduled for a 2013 release. If you want to learn more about it, visit www.jerusalemthemovie.com.

Contemplation and the Lay Cistercian Life

My latest column is now online at Patheos. It’s called Beholding the One Who Beholds Us and, as always, you can access it by following the link.

It’s my most personal column to date. In it I talk about my recent profession of life promises as a Lay Cistercian, and explain how that is related to my sense of being called to a contemplative life — even though, technically speaking, I live a “mixed” life since I aspire to contemplation without formally entering monastic life.

Please take a moment t...

Julian of Norwich In Her Own Voice

The Writings of Julian of Norwich

So today is May 13 — the other possible anniversary date for Julian of Norwich’s showings (the first being May 8). So to commemorate this day, I thought I would highlight editions of Julian’s writings that feature her text based on the old handwritten manuscripts we have of her writing — in other words, Julian in Middle English.

There are several editions of Julian in Middle English available. The first one I ever owned was the Colledge & Walsh edition, publish...

Mysticism and Human Dignity

The Silent Cry

As the experience of oneness with God, mysticism is the radical substantiation of the dignity of the human being.

— Dorothee Soelle, The Silent Cry:

Mysticism and Resistance

I think this one just about says it all. It’s interesting to me that the most vocal critics of mysticism often seem to be those who have the most pessimistic view of human nature, stressing such ideas as the “total depravity” of humankind. It’s almost as if the mysticism-haters are saying “we reject mysticism b...

Julian and Patheos

Continuing my celebration of Julian of Norwich this week, here is my latest column for Patheos: Julian of Norwich’s Timeless Message. Please follow the link and check it out.

Generosity to God

Today is one of two possible days for the anniversary of Julian of Norwich’s visions, which took place either on May 8 or May 13, 1373. So of course, today I want to share with you one of the many gems to be found in her writing.

Revelations of Divine Love

God is the ground of our praying. Arising from this, we are shown true prayer and steady trust and God wants us to be generous in both alike.

— Mother Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love,

Backhouse/Pipe edition.

This little snippet fro...

Getting Started in Contemplative Practice

A reader writes:

I hope you might be able to write me a quick note about a good way to get started in a more contemplative/mystical oriented Christianity. I was involved in religious fundamentalism for most of my adult life and now I am trying to recover from that. I am hoping you might point me to some books that would help me embark on this path. Thanks for your time.

The Big Book of Christian Mysticism

Thanks for a great question. This is actually the subject of my next book, Answering the Co...

Contemplation and Dialogue (or, Speaking of Silence)

My latest Patheos column is Contemplation and Dialogue. Please follow the link to read it. In it I explore what role having a contemplative or mindfulness practice — the discipline of attending to silence on a regular basis, which for people of faith includes a dimension of prayer — in supporting creative and positive dialogue, as opposed the the kind of “dialogue” in which one party attempts to control or coerce the other.

I’d be curious to know your thoughts on this matter.

Answering the Contemplative Call

Answering the Contemplative Call

I am pleased to announce that my forthcoming book, Answering the Contemplative Call: First Steps on the Mystical Path, has been entered into the Amazon.com database. The book will not be released until January 2013, but you can pre-order your copy by clicking here. Eventually the book will also be available on Kindle and Nook, but if you like a good old fashioned paper-and-ink book, you can pre-order this title now.

Here’s a bit of information about the book:

The...