Carl McColman—a contemplative author, retreat leader, and spiritual director based in the tree-canopied city of Atlanta—explores the living intersections of silence, story, and the sacred wild. Following the counsel of a mentor from early in his career, he won’t call himself a mystic — but he freely admits that the yearning to live a mystical life forms the center of his own spiritual unfolding.
Carl describes himself as a feral contemplative: spiritually untamed, yet deeply faithful to the whispers of guidance that emerge from his soul. He loves the music (and the silence) resting between heartbeats and beneath all words. A spiritual pluralist steeped in the chanted cadence of Trappist monks and the fragrant incense of sacramental liturgies, he’s equally comfortable meditating with Buddhists or dancing joyously to throbbing drums under a full moon. For Carl, living contemplation has deep roots, but it is never about confinement.
He is the author of many books, including The New Big Book of Christian Mysticism, Eternal Heart, and An Invitation to Celtic Wisdom. He co-hosts the Encountering Silence podcast and regularly leads retreats and offers spiritual direction rooted in contemplative practice and joyful presence.
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