David Cole and Luna How does silence impact the rhythms of our lives — including the rhythm of prayer? How can we invite silence into our lives, in both structured and unstructured ways? Joining us to explore questions like these — from the New Forest of England — is the award-winning author, teacher and spiritual guide David Cole. Intentional silences is different to just finding yourself not saying anything, there's a focus behind that, that intention that you're deliberately being with God in that moment. — David Cole David’s books include: The Mystic Path of Meditation: Beginning a Christ-Centered Journey, Celtic Prayers and Practices: An Inner Journey and Forty Days with the Celtic Saints: Devotional Readings for a Time of Preparation. His most recent books are Celtic Advent: 40 Days of Devotions to Christmas and Celtic Lent: 40 Days of Devotions to Easter.  David is the founder of Waymark Ministries which creates opportunities for people to engage with the wisdom teachings of Christ and Christianity for our time, with a particular emphasis on Celtic spirituality and Christian mysticism. He is also Deputy Guardian for the Community of Aidan and Hilda, a dispersed, ecumenical Christian intentional community which draws its inspiration from the lives of the Celtic saints. David and Luna in the New Forest In this wide-ranging conversation, David shares how Celtic spirituality and an early mystical experience of Christ shaped his spiritual identity, and how the new monastic movement, the experience of working with a soul friend (anam chara), and long walks in the New Forest with Luna, his border collie companion, have all been gateways for his own encounter with silence. On Lindisfarne, particularly during the summer, they can have eight to ten thousand people a day coming on to the island to visit, it gets hugely busy.  And it's fascinating speaking to some of these travelers and visitors who have no spiritual context, but will tell you that they can feel something different in this place, they will say there's something in this place that feels different. And obviously, for myself, that's the Divine Presence... There is something there that even those who don't believe can feel. — David Cole To learn more about David Cole's books and ministry, visit www.waymarkministries.com. To learn more about the Community of Aidan and Hilda, visit www.aidanandhilda.org.uk. Some of the authors and resources mentioned in this episode: David Cole, The Mystic Path of Meditation: Beginning a Christ-Centered Journey David Cole, Celtic Prayers and Practices: An Inner Journey David Cole, Forty Days with the Celtic Saints: Devotional Readings for a Time of Preparation David Cole, Celtic Advent: 40 Days of Devotions to Christmas David Cole, Celtic Lent: 40 Days of Devotions to Easter J. R. R. Tolkien, The Hobbit J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings C. S. Lewis, The Signature Classics C. S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia Saint Benedict, The Rule of Saint Benedict The Northumbria Community, Celtic Daily Prayer The Book of Kells Ray Simpson, Exploring Celtic Spirituality Justin Welby, Dethroning Mammon: Making Money Serve Grace Richard Rohr, The Naked Now: Learning to See as the Mystics See Meister Eckhart, Selected Writings Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation John O'Donohue, Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom John O'Donohue, Eternal Echoes: Celtic Reflections on Our Yearning to Belong John O'Donohue, Benedictus (published in the USA as To Bless the Space Between Us) Chris Walton, ed., Words of Praise (includes David's poem "Standing in the Reign, Waiting for the Son") John of the Cross, The Dark Night of the Soul Sister Benedicta Ward SLG, The Spirituality of Saint Cuthbert Episode 41: Celtic Mysticism and Silence: A Conversation with David Cole Hosted by: Carl McColman With: Kevin Johnson, Cassidy Hall Guest: David Cole