Recently I posted an article about some questions I received from a student in a class I am teaching on mysticism (read it here). That class is part of a Spiritual Direction Formation Curriculum, so it’s only open to students in that particular program. But it did inspire a reader to send me this message:
Hello Skye, I feel drawn to connecting deeper with Christian mysticism and your mentorship. I went to your website to see if I could join your group of students but didn’t find a link to register or if you have a yearly mentorship program. You offer so many wonderful events and retreats. Is there a group mentorship program that I can join? Or are they separate events or private spiritual direction?
Thanks for asking! There are several other ways you can connect with me, including one-on-one spiritual direction, monthly Zoom meetings, and in-person events. Here’s a quick rundown of how you can do any or all of these:
Zoom With Me (and Other Students of the Mystical Life)
I host three to four Zoom calls each month through Patreon. Patreon is a membership website that you can join for as little as $11 a month. We gather at different times to accommodate folks from around the world, with most calls happening either on Saturdays at noon Eastern Time, or Wednesday evenings at 7 PM Eastern Time (I also host some on weekday afternoons). Meetings typically last 90 minutes, and always begin with Centering Prayer. Some calls feature me giving a talk, usually based on a chapter from a book (currently we’re working through Practical Mysticism by Evelyn Underhill, and my own New Big Book of Christian Mysticism) but one session each month is dedicated entirely to conversation/Q&A.
Most of these calls are pretty intimate, with anywhere from 5 to 15 attendees, so it’s easy to chime in with whatever question or topic is bubbling up for you. And if you can’t make the live calls, I always record the presentations I give, so those recordings are archived for you to watch (or re-watch) at your convenience. The Patreon archive also features an assortment of meditations both written and recorded, and commentaries on several books, including works by Howard Thurman and Julian of Norwich. If you’d like to interact with me in a group setting, Patreon is by far the best value. Click here to join.
Spiritual Direction (Spiritual Companionship)
Spiritual Direction — also known as spiritual companionship or spiritual accompaniment — is an ancient practice in the western spiritual tradition with roots both in ancient contemplative Christianity and the Celtic world. Indeed, this Substack newsletter, “Anamchara,” takes its name from the Gaelic word for spiritual companionship (it literally means soul friend). It is similar to other forms of spiritual guidance and one-on-one mentoring/support found in mystical traditions around the globe. It involves meeting either in person (in Atlanta) or on Zoom for an hour each month, where you share the dynamics of your own interior spiritual practice with me. I won’t “direct” you like a boss or a drill sergeant; rather, we commit to being co-listeners seeking the guidance of the true “spiritual director” — the Spirit who calls you into the mystical life.
For anyone who is serious about exploring mystical Christianity (or mystical spirituality in general) as an embodied practice and not just an interesting area of study, spiritual direction is an invaluable practice. I myself have been meeting with a spiritual director for more than 40 years now, and I value it as an essential part of my ongoing contemplative work.
I also should mention that my life partner, Fran McColman, is also a spiritual director and has been trained especially to work with people who want an eclectic or interspiritual approach to spiritual accompaniment. You can learn more about spiritual direction in general, or about Fran’s or my approach to this intensive spiritual practice, by clicking here: Spiritual Direction with Skye or Fran McColman.
Meet Me In Person (Or Online)
Finally, my Events Calendar lists both in-person and online retreats, conferences, and classes that I have coming up. As of this writing (October 2026), for example, I have in-person events coming up in Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina, Connecticut, and New York; down the road, you can also look for me in Chicago, Arizona, and North Carolina (and that’s just the events that are already booked). I also usually have a number of events in the Atlanta area each year, as well as a number of online events (for example, I currently have the Who Am I? Conference coming up in November, and next year I’ll be teaching a seven-week online course in July and August).
Thanks again for asking about the ways I can support you on your journey into contemplative and mystical spirituality. Even if you don’t choose to work with me, I wish you abundant grace. The spiritual life can bring you meaning, purpose, and inner healing — and it can also bring you joy. Many blessings!
