Via Mystica

About Via Mystica

Contemplative meditations and musings from Skye (Carl) McColman, author of the AnamChara Substack (www.carlmccolman.net). www.carlmccolman.net (https://www.carlmccolman.net/s/anam-chara-audio?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Carl "Skye" McColman

Category

religion & spirituality · religion & spirituality

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

28 Sept 2020

Latest episode

16 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

15 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   16 Sept 2026

   The Bible Guides Us Beyond Just Reading It Literally

   Hi friends! I created the short video as an introductory sample of my speaking/teaching style for an online school that is currently in conversation with me about possibly teaching a class for them next year. Fingers crossed on that possibility; but for now, I figured this video was worth being released into the wild. It’s a brief reminder that in Paul’s letter to the Galatians (chapter 4) he gives a succinct example of reading passages from the Bible allegorically rather than literally: a reminder to us all that anyone who insists that the Bible must be read only literally is not only misinformed, but actually promoting an idea that flies in the face of Biblical teaching itself. Get full access to AnamChara at www.carlmccolman.net/subscribe (https://www.carlmccolman.net/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

2. 

   20 Aug 2026

   Seven Contemplative Affirmations

   Silence is safe, natural, serene, and immediately available in our hearts, minds, and bodies. We do not need to empty ourselves in order to be contemplative, as if that were even possible. We gently choose to be present to the stillness between and beneath all the sounds and thoughts that flow through our lives. Our thoughts, our feelings, and our heartbeats are merely the sounds of life dancing in the silence. They arise, and they fall away. We do not have to fight them, suppress them, or criticize them. We may simply let them be. The play of consciousness and awareness is like clouds floating across a beautiful blue sky. They come and they go; they are always changing. The clouds often enhance the beauty of the firmament, and the vast celestial openness is always there, no matter how overcast it is. As we discover how simply available silence already is, we recognize how it actually forms a subtle interior presence: tender, compassionate, watching. This infinite presence beholds us from within, invites our ever-deepening beholding, and reveals that all is one love. Silence has no fixed location in space or time. When we attend to it, we attend to heaven and we attend to eternity: all right here, and right now. Eternity abides in our hearts, and heaven is manifest in our very bodies. The work of contemplation is a gesture of consent. We consent to the silence. We consent to the presence. We consent to love, and to joy. We consent to peace, and to each fruit of the Spirit. Such assent does not make everything suddenly better, but it lays the foundation for an ongoing transformation of life. The ocean of grace we find flowing in our hearts eagerly desires to be given away. To be a contemplative is to be an embodiment of love, an exemplar of humility, and a catalyst for justice and reconciliation. The still point within will transform every aspect of our lives, so long as we welcome it with gratitude and care. — Skye McColman & Cynthia Hizer Thanks to my good friend the Rev. Cynthia Hizer for working with me to shape and hone this series of contemplative affirmations. We are happy to share these with everyone. Please feel free to download the audio and/or the graphic above, or to cut and paste the text. All we ask is that you acknowledge us as the authors, and a link back to www.mccolman.net (https://carlmccolman.net) would be nice as well. Get full access to AnamChara at www.carlmccolman.net/subscribe (https://www.carlmccolman.net/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

3. 

   6 Aug 2026

   An Ignatian Meditation for the Transfiguration

   Hi friends, this is the audio version of my “Ignatian Meditation for the Transfiguration.” Hope you enjoy it. To read the meditation instead of (or in addition to) listening to it, click here (https://www.carlmccolman.net/p/an-ignatian-meditation-for-the-transfiguration). Get full access to AnamChara at www.carlmccolman.net/subscribe (https://www.carlmccolman.net/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

4. 

   14 Dec 2020

   A Julian of Norwich Meditation

   A meditation based on the spirituality of Julian of Norwich

5. 

   23 Nov 2020

   The Prayer of Recollection

   A Classic Mystical Practice as Taught by Evelyn Underhill

6. 

   19 Nov 2020

   Schola Mystica, Part III: Seven Ways to Think About Mysticism

   Mysticism is a hard word to define and a tricky concept to understand. Here are seven ways to think about this elusive dimension of spirituality. Get full access to AnamChara at www.carlmccolman.net/subscribe (https://www.carlmccolman.net/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

7. 

   10 Nov 2020

   Muraqabah Meditation

   A meditation practice inspired by the Sufi muraqabah meditation practice.

8. 

   1 Nov 2020

   Centering Prayer

   Instructions for Centering Prayer as presented by Contemplative Outreach, Ltd.

9. 

   26 Oct 2020

   Divine Name Meditation

   Meditation on the Divine Name from the Hebrew Scriptures. Inspired by Richard Rohr and Zalman Schachter-Shalomi.

10. 

    19 Oct 2020

    Tonglen Meditation

    Guided Meditation with Instructions in the Practice of Tonglen, and 12 minutes of silence.

11. 

    18 Oct 2020

    Schola Mystica, Part II: A Dream and a Book

    How an unsettling dream, and a conversation with a friend, brought me one summer to read the book that changed my life — by introducing me to the mystical dimension of Christianity. Get full access to AnamChara at www.carlmccolman.net/subscribe (https://www.carlmccolman.net/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

12. 

    12 Oct 2020

    Mantra Meditation

    Basic instructions for meditation using a mantra, or sacred word.

13. 

    5 Oct 2020

    Elements Meditation

    The four elements of air, water, earth and fire invite us to acknowledge our bodies as sacred — and as the home for the Spirit.

14. 

    3 Oct 2020

    Schola Mystica, Part 1: The School of Mysteries

    This podcast aims to explore the process of learning the mystical life, under the guidance of the Spirit. Get full access to AnamChara at www.carlmccolman.net/subscribe (https://www.carlmccolman.net/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

15. 

    28 Sept 2020

    Breath Meditation

    Brief instructions for a basic breath meditation, with timed silence for practice.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.6 / 5

5 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Contact Via Mystica

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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