About Me

Hi there, I’m Matthew.

I’m glad you’re here.

I am a travel writer, nature photographer, naturalist, and mystic who’s invested a lifetime guiding myself and others through nature. Let me be your bridge to connect to nature’s healing powers and transformation by using this site about the intersection of travel, nature, and spirit.

Photos of pigs in a pen. Three of them are white and one is black with brown spots.

01. School of farm life

I’m a son, brother, uncle, and friend from the land of Oregon, near Portland. I was raised on a dairy farm and learned early about the circle of life and respect for animals — even those grown for food. From pigs to ponies, I spent countless hours caring for and observing beautiful creatures. And my hands worked the rich soil.

Visit Oregon

02. Raised by the land

My initiation into the mystic realm of nature came at an early age. The six-year-old me engaged in magical access to the forest. By creating new kingdoms, sensitivity to nature spirits emerged — appearing as eccentric imagination to outsiders. But the visible and unseen realm of nature provided me a vast expanse to roam free.

My perspective (blog)

Matthew Kessi leans against an old growth sitka spruce tree on the Oregon Coast at Oswald West State Park. He's wearing black raingear head to toe that appears very wet, with a striped colored hat. There are roots from another smaller tree and green fir branches hanging down into the shot.

Matthew Kessi stands atop Howard Mountain, steps from the Wallowa Lake Tramway. Impressive mountain peaks rise up in the distance, jagged with rock and some snow. he's smiling and wearing a gray cap and a blue button down shirt with navy shorts.

03. Professional wanderer

Wanderlust continued as I studied abroad in Austria and then embarked on a 25-year airline career that would offer me the world. In visits to over 60 countries, the feeling of being an alien in a new land helped me notice the details and absorb the beauty with a curious vision.

Photo Gallery

04. Host with the most

My home on Capitol Hill in Seattle allows me the space to host Airbnb guests from all over the world. So I get to see the Pacific Northwest through their fresh eyes — and continue a fascination with learning.

Getting Around

Matthew Kessi poses for a selfie on the bank of Lake Quinault. The beach is made of pebbles and the water is flat and reflects the outlines of the mountains in the background under blue sky.

05. New leaves

Today I spend my time traversing the land, usually immersed in rich beauty with nature spirits, in Oregon and Washington. But my quest to grow in my appreciation for the planet also drives visits to other places near and far.

Destinations

06. Let me be your bridge

Time with trees, plants, rocks, and water grants me unique views of the unseen magic of the land. My writing and visual content help you learn ways to do the same. Through authentic information about travel and nature — with spirit weaving through it all — I am your bridge to seeing yourself and the world around you differently.

Take tiny steps and stop often. Let the world slowly unfold in unpredictable ways that transform your life.

Mystic Nature Experiences