Guided Forest Bathing in Seattle — Walk with a Mystic.
Two hours in the Arboretum. What surfaces is usually not what you came for.
Two hours | Washington Park Arboretum | Private, 1–5 people | $375 for one · $75 each additional guest · up to five people
What actually happens out there
A woman I walked with last winter stopped in front of a hemlock about forty minutes in. Nothing dramatic — she just stopped, and stayed stopped, longer than people usually do.
When she spoke, it was about her father, who had been dead eleven years. She hadn’t come to talk about her father. She’d come because work was crushing her and someone had recommended a nature walk.
That’s the part that’s hard to put in a brochure. You arrive with one thing. The Natural World, more often than not, has something else in mind — and my work is to notice when that’s happening and help you stay with it rather than walk on.
Sometimes it’s gentler. Sometimes it’s two hours of the deepest rest you’ve had in months, and you go home and sleep for ten hours. Both are the work.
The part that isn’t ordinary forest bathing
Standard forest bathing is sensory — slow down, notice, let your nervous system reset. That’s real, it’s well-researched, and you can do it without me. Here’s how.
What I do goes further, and I’d rather be plain about it than coy.
I work as a shamanic practitioner. In the forest, I perceive things — from the land, from the place, sometimes from people who have died. When something comes forward that concerns you, I’ll tell you it’s there and ask whether you want it. If you say no, we keep walking and I don’t mention it again. You decide, every time.
Most people find this less strange in practice than it sounds in writing. What it feels like is being accompanied by someone paying an unusual amount of attention.
Outcomes range from deep physical rest — closer to bodywork than meditation — to the genuinely inexplicable: a two-way exchange with a tree, an ancestor making themselves known.
You don’t need to believe any of it beforehand. Several of the people quoted on this page didn’t.
I went into this experience with anxiety, anger, and fear, along with questions about my divine assignment. I walked out of the beautiful woods more grounded, with a fresh, open heart, relieved of pain and filled with comfort and hope. Matthew Kessi, you have a gift, and you are a gift! Many thanks to you and, as always, gorgeous Mother Nature.
Carrie
January 2024
Why walk with me
I grew up on a dairy farm in Oregon talking to trees out loud. I assumed everyone did. By my teens I’d learned not to mention it, and I spent the next twenty-five years in airline management — a good career, a home in a good neighborhood, and a dull ache at night I couldn’t name.
In 2017 the job was eliminated and my identity went with it. What I had left was long walks in city parks and hours in forests, and slowly the thing I’d hidden since I was a teenager came back.
For the last eight years I’ve worked as a shamanic practitioner, trained by Scott Weatherman and by Patrick O’Neill of The Four Directions — who taught me to stop apologizing for what I can do. In that time I’ve guided corporate leaders, grieving parents, autistic teenagers, and retirees into the Natural World, on the Olympic Peninsula and in the parks of Seattle.
Along the way I noticed the same six questions surfacing, no matter the person or the place. I wrote them down, called them the Kinship Questions™, and built a book around them — The Wild Cure.
The airline years aren’t a detour from this work. They’re why it stays practical. I spent two and a half decades around people who measure things, and I have no patience for mysticism that doesn’t change what you actually do on Tuesday.
My gift is the bridge between the unseen and the practical. I don’t hand you answers. I help you hear the ones the Natural World is already offering.
Matthew Kessi is gentle, kind, and compassionate. His virtues extend to what he draws from Nature. If you seek a deeper experience than sightseeing, Matthew is your guide. He’ll lead you to places on the land and within yourself that are truly remarkable.
Patrick O’Neill
The Four Directions — Who Trained Me.
Matthew Kessi: Experienced leading you into the wilderness of your own life.
I’m a travel writer, nature photographer, and practical mystic with a superpower for connecting people to otherworldly nature experiences. In this mystical realm, Nature’s Intelligence is eager to help you deepen in self-clarity — leading to healing, wellness, and empowerment.
While I’m not Japanese, I’ve spent a lifetime leading myself and others into the Natural World. My forest bathing experiences combine intuitive gifts and talents with the concepts of Shinrin-Yoku to provide an elevated experience that can change your life.
A Pacific Northwest local, I am originally from Oregon and live in Seattle today. A passion to help the world reunite with the land motivates me to facilitate transformative journeys in the outdoors — like this Forest Bathing experience in Seattle.
A general belief of practical mysticism is that we all possess the intuition to connect with the mystery of the Natural World. If you don’t feel unique gifts or intuition right now, it could be as simple as learning to “reawaken” that part of your inner self. This is where I’m well-trained to help you.
Amidst life’s hustle, a call for transformation emerges. There’s more to your own wild Nature. Let me help you find it!
The Offering: A one-of-a-kind opportunity to understand the wilderness of your own life.
This isn’t for everyone, and I’d rather you know that now.
- Escape the Cycle
If you’re trapped in the chaos of everyday life and desire change but are unsure how to make it happen, this Forest Bathing experience is for you. - Navigate Change
If you’re struggling through life changes and are ready to move forward, this Nature Connection empowers you to push beyond the obstacles. - Let Go and Heal
If you’re burdened by anxiety, stress, or trauma, Forest Bathing in Seattle offers a haven to release these feelings and reconnect with yourself. - Find Clarity
If you’re uncertain where to begin healing from trauma or seeking direction, a Forest Bathing experience with Matthew Kessi provides the path to self-discovery and personal growth.
These are the same four doorways my mentorship clients walk through. What’s different here is speed and proximity: no six-month arc, no video call, just a guide who can watch your face change when the forest says something back.
If you’re looking for a pleasant walk with some tree facts, I’m the wrong guide — and there are excellent ones in Seattle who’d suit you better.
Through shadow work, I learned how achieving deeper communion with nature offers a better balance in my life. I was able to learn to let go of perfection. Matthew’s intuitive leadership helped me appreciate and feel an acceptance from nature that I had never seen before. I highly recommend Matthew’s Forest Bathing experience, which helped me see nature as an ally.
Claire
September 2023What is Forest Bathing?
Forest bathing — Shinrin-yoku — came out of Japanese public health research in the 1980s, which found that unhurried time among trees measurably lowered stress, blood pressure, and cortisol. Twenty minutes is enough to register the effect.
What you’ll do with me is that, deepened. Same slowing down, with a guide who can take you further than you’d likely go alone. (The full background is here, if you want it.)
What about other Forest Bathing resources?
This recent video, “How can the rhododendrons of Seattle’s Arboretum help us get to the HEART of the matter?” resembles your in-person Forest Bathing experience with me.
Curious about my style and vibe in person? I invite you to walk with me down a spirited path in the depths of the Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle. Here, we’ll open up to the ways Nature can help us see our inner self more clearly. In particular, love flows around us, within us, and from us.
Subscribe to my YouTube series of Guided Nature Connection videos. They are a mystic hybrid of meditation, contemplation, and enchantment—always in beautiful locations. The 20-minute dose is enough to maintain a strong connection with the Natural World when you cannot get outdoors daily (especially in this dark and damp season). My work is to help the world connect with the healing power of Nature’s Intelligence—no matter the place or time. This concept is entirely new to some, and for others, the magic is a daily joy. Either way, these Nature Connection videos provide an opportunity to practice.
The Approach: What does Forest Bathing in Seattle look like?
Here’s what our walk entails:
- I will help you leave distractions behind and customize an intention that allows you to get the most out of our time together.
- With the help of six fundamentals developed over my lifetime in nature — your brain will slow down as you enter a mildly altered state in the Natural World.
- We’ll walk among stunning natural beauty. I’ll guide you through three meditations invoking the senses, where the spirits of the land come to us.
- Sometimes they have messages about healing, ancestral connections, or opportunities waiting to unfold in your life. With your permission, I will bring it forward.
Possible outcomes range from deep relaxation, akin to a massage, to the inexplicable – such as two-way communication with a tree or ancestor visitations. If that sounds like a lot for one afternoon — it is. That’s the argument for doing it in person. A guide standing beside you can reach somewhere in two hours that would take considerably longer to get to alone, or on a screen.
Matthew is a gracious, welcoming, calming force. His leadership fostered connections — within myself, others, and the powerful messages of the Natural World. He led us into both inner and outer worlds, encouraging curiosity. And a new perspective about slowing down to “nature’s pace” unfolded in real time. My Forest Bathing in Seattle experience taught me a simple yet profound lesson: focus on one thing at a time and be present in every moment. I use this daily without fail — even months since.
Steve
October 2024
What people carry home
Imagine finding peace amidst chaos, approaching challenges with a clear mind, and leading with purpose and authenticity. These are the outcomes I work toward with every client — whether we have one afternoon together or six months.
- Find relief from stress and anxiety on the road to wellness.
- Uncover new paths and questions to drive personal growth.
- Learn to regulate emotions for improved leadership and relationships.
- Rediscover your wild nature for a life of fulfillment and clarity.
A word on what two hours can and can’t do. One walk can genuinely change how you see something — the people quoted on this page are people that happened to. What one walk can’t reliably do is hold that change steady once you’re back in traffic and back in your inbox. That’s a different job.
Book a walk
Two hours in the Arboretum, just the two of us. Bring waterproof shoes and whatever you’re carrying.
Two hours | Washington Park Arboretum | Private, 1–5 people | $375 for one · $75 each additional guest · up to five people
FAQ Forest Bathing Seattle
Here are many further details about your mystic experience walking through the beautiful Washington Arboretum in Seattle. If you’re interested in more general information about Forest Bathing, including logistics and guidelines for choosing excellent locations for Shinrin-Yoku anywhere in the world, check out my article, “Forest Bathing near Me.”
Who benefits from Shinrin-Yoku?
You can benefit from a Guided Nature Immersion if one of these applies to you:
- You’ve always wondered why everyone else seems to love hiking.
- You’ve ever ventured to a beautiful natural place — like a waterfall — only to turn around after five minutes without much fulfillment?
- Your life feels too frantic, and reading books, journaling, meditating, or finding peace seems impossible.
- You already enjoy the nature connection, but get a sense there are more ways to deepen the relationship.
- You are experiencing heartache and can’t seem to find a way through.
Is this “officially” Forest Bathing?
Kind of. This is a supercharged version of forest bathing. By deepening to reach a mildly altered state, your brain slows down enough to engage in a two-way conversation with the intelligence of the Natural World. Intuition is highly heightened in this state, and more spiritual and emotional outcomes are possible than in conventional forest bathing.
This is a rare opportunity to experience the spirits of land and place with a guide rigorously trained in the mystery of the Natural World.
How does this work?
Select the registration button above or below and follow the prompts to pay, which is essential because that initiates your intention to be present on our walk together.
You’ll receive a confirmation email with a link to message me to schedule the details and ask any additional questions.
What about the weather?
Nature works 365 days a year and so do I. We’ll walk in whatever the day brings — that’s part of it. If conditions are genuinely severe, we’ll agree to reschedule.
What about rescheduling?
Life happens. You can reschedule once with at least 24 hours’ notice by emailing me. Inside 24 hours I’m not able to reschedule or refund, since the time is held for you.
What is the proper attire?
Be mindful of the weather forecast, and bring solid footwear — preferably waterproof. Except in summer, always have a waterproof outer shell with a hood — umbrellas are not practical for this natural experience. Otherwise, layers are essential in our climate. We may sit or lie down, so long pants work better.
How much physical activity is required?
This nature immersion doesn’t require advanced athletic or endurance abilities. The whole purpose of our time together is to slow down enough to let nature teach us. The walk is usually around two miles on gradual terrain that may involve sporadic steps, and you are encouraged to take it slowly.
What about adding additional participants?
Yes, you may have up to five people, but please book online via the kessiworld.com website before we begin our walk. This is important because the intention for our time in nature starts with payment.
Is there anything else to bring?
What you put into the experience is directly related to the outcome, which can be transformational. Bring curiosity and willingness to deepen your relationship with the Natural World and yourself.
Consider the time of year and bring bug spray and sunscreen when appropriate. There are mosquitos in summer, especially in the late afternoon (4-8 pm).
Will I learn about plants in the forest?
These sessions are customized to help you find your more profound relationship with the Natural World.
We might learn a few new things about the science of plants and trees, but I’ll likely show you ways to connect with the soul of the forest — information not taught in textbooks or at ranger stations!
Is this safe?
Our work will be conducted in areas designated for people — open and loving arenas for finding your nature.
Of course, physical safety will always be of the highest importance, and I’ll only take you to places you feel comfortable. Please let me know if you have any particular allergies to plants or creatures like bees.
Connecting to the natural world is emotionally, spiritually, and mentally safe.
Most guided nature immersions are located in places with cell service should an emergency arise. I also carry a basic first aid kit and extra water.
How is this different from your six-month mentorship?
Same work, different container. The walk is in person, in Seattle, once — I’m beside you, which means I catch things you won’t say out loud. Mentorship is virtual, over six months, using the land where you live. Less dramatic on any given day, but it’s what makes the change stick.
I don’t live in Seattle. Can we still work together?
Yes. The walk is Seattle-only, but private nature mentorship happens virtually — most of my mentorship clients have never met me in person. The questions travel, and so does the land you already live near.
What if nothing happens?
Sometimes not much does, and that’s a legitimate outcome — two hours of real rest is worth having. But in my experience something usually surfaces, and more often than not it isn’t what the person came in for.
Is this therapy?
No. My work is complementary to licensed healing arts, not a substitute for them. I don’t diagnose or treat anything. If you’re in acute distress, please reach out to someone qualified to help — and come walk with me when you’re steadier.
I’m skeptical about the mystic part.
Good. Skepticism is more useful here than belief. You don’t need to accept anything in advance — several people quoted on this page arrived doubtful.
If one afternoon isn’t the shape you need
Some people want exactly this — a single, unrepeatable afternoon in the woods with a guide. That’s a complete thing, and it’s why this experience exists.
Others read all this and recognize they need something slower: the same practice, held over time, until it becomes ordinary rather than remarkable. That’s private nature mentorship — six months, one-on-one, virtual, using the land you already live near. It starts with a Nature Alignment Call, which is just a conversation.
Same questions. Same Natural World. Different amount of time.
Forest Bathing Seattle: Let me lead you to remarkable places in the Natural World.
Two hours in the Arboretum, just the two of us. The same work I do with mentorship clients over six months, compressed into one afternoon — made possible by the fact that I’m actually there.
Once you see what impedes, supports, and transforms your wild nature, you’ll be on your way to healing, wellness, and awakening.
