Saturday, September 24
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
In Person/Zoom hybrid event
Recording will be available to registrants after
  • What is the difference between a pagan and a shaman? A monk and a friar? A mystic and a magician? 
  • What makes the “new age” new, and why do many spiritual teachers and traditions emphasize what is old? 
  • Why do Catholics venerate Saint Brigid while Wiccans revere the Goddess Brigid (and are they more like each other than either side wants to admit)? 
  • What is the Kabbalah (and why is it sometimes spelled Qabalah or Cabbala)? 
  • And most importantly of all: what does all these different spiritual teachings and traditions have to do with down-to-earth people in the 21st century who are trying to find their own spiritual path and practice?
If questions like these tickle your curiosity, then you just might enjoy this day-long program on the many faces of western spirituality! We’ll give Buddhists and Hindus and Taoists the day off, and focus instead on wisdom traditions and spiritual lineages out of the western tradition, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam… but also the indigenous and esoteric traditions associated with Northern Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas! There’s no way we’ll cover all of the spiritualities associated with these regions, but we’ll definitely hit the highlights… and most importantly, we’ll approach all of this from the perspective of contemporary spirituality, which is to say: we’ll be reflecting on how all the many spiritual and wisdom paths of the west can inform, enlighten, and maybe even entertain those of us who are spiritual seekers today!

This course is not designed to tell you what to think or believe, and it’s not really for anyone who is invested in believing that their religion is “the one true path” while all the others are misguided. Rather, we will try to find what’s good and true and beautiful in all the paths we explore, while also being honest about their various limitations as well. The point behind this program is not to promote any one particular point of view, but rather to celebrate the beautiful diversity of western spirituality — with a spacious understanding that everyone’s home in the western tradition will be unique. So come, learn about the past, and explore how the wisdom of old can bring blessings and insights to you today!
Carl McColman is an award-winning author, blogger, podcaster, spiritual director, retreat leader, and contemplative speaker/teacher based in Clarkston, GA. His books cover a wide terrain, from Christian mysticism to Celtic wisdom to Pagan & Goddess spirituality. Although rooted in the Christian tradition, Carl has a long-standing commitment to interspirituality and interfaith exploration. His own spiritual journey began with an extraordinary awakening experience when he was 16, followed by training and formation in the practice of Centering Prayer and Christian meditation through organizations like the Shalem Institute, Contemplative Outreach, and the Institute for Pastoral Studies. In 2012 Carl made life-promises as a Lay Cistercian (a layperson under the spiritual guidance of Trappist monks). Carl is the Contemplative-in-Residence with Zeitgeist, an Atlanta-based community that supports spiritual seekers and spiritual directors of all faith traditions (including those who are spiritually independent).
Registration info coming soon!