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September/October 2002 Spirituality
A Wise and Loving Spirit

by Carol Magnuson

The first impression you get of Jim Matheson is a wise, loving spirit clothed in human form. This extraordinary being is a naturalist and a Colorado Native Plant Master. Part Cherokee and an adopted Lakota, Matheson trained in many spiritual earth ways. He's a Reiki Master and practices the teachings of Siddha Yoga Meditation. This has given him the spiritual awakening he seeks. Matheson says it was his lifelong yearning "to know and be with God, and become enlightened," that led him on the path he follows today.

Matheson graduated from Friends University in Kansas, and taught team development and supervisory skills in the corporate world, working with people to bring out the best in themselves. In 1984 an "inner shift" occurred. "There was no flash of light. Something within me shifted and said, ‘It's time to start fulfilling my longings.’" Matheson left the corporate world behind and plunged into the wilderness. Matheson listened to Joseph Campbell and read the works of Wayne Dyer and Dan Millman. Together with books like "Seeker of Visions" and "Black Elk Speaks" they pierced the darkness of his world, bringing light and inspiration to his life.

Matheson has a deeply profound connection to the Earth and all she holds. Nature is where he likes to spend his free time. "We are all connected to the Earth, our real Mother, -- she nurtures us and supplies what we need, and is more than just this sphere we walk upon. All the creatures, the plants, waters, trees and stones are there for us to take care of, not to control."

Through his Center for Earth Wisdom Ways, Jim Matheson leads Nature walks, teaches stargazing and star navigation, tells native stories about the night skies and the roles the stars play in our world. He is also and expert on Energy Anatomy. In his practice called Integrated Body Therapies, he teaches Reiki I, II and III and uses a combination of Reiki, Massage, energy balancing and other modalities. "I am a 'bringer' of balance for people who come to work with me. The four human aspects: Mental, Physical, Emotion and Spirit are in the traditional medicine wheel. We can look at the wheel to see what is out of balance in our lives."

For Matheson, health and well being are as much about balance as they are about responsibility for ourselves. "Healing comes from within," he says. "We all have a responsibility to know our state of health and what we need to maintain it. I am a firm believer that our biology is a result of our biography, which includes all the experiences of life and the emotions that come with those experiences. Because of this, we experience this 'dis-ease,' an imbalance that our biography has created in our physical and energy bodies."

"We have to allow the good to happen -- not resist, nor try to make it happen. When we allow, we let it be. We let go of the controls. We're like leaves in a stream. Many will go with the flow of the waters and reach their destiny. Some float to the edge of the stream and cling, or get caught, trapped in grasses of fear and uncertainty. They hang on, never reaching the sea, until finally, they get tired of the struggle and simply let go. If we trust and allow, life can be a lot easier."

Being and allowing are lessons we must learn. "We are spirits in an Earth suit, learning the lessons we came here to learn. We get to walk this trail of life to learn these lessons. Sometimes we want to take shortcuts on the trail; but, we don't learn what we're supposed to learn and then we have to go back to learn them."

For Jim the answer is simply: connect with the Creator. Establish a rapport with all that surrounds us. "Go outside! Be with a tree. Sit on a rock. Lay in the grass. Stick your feet in a stream. Stare at the stars." Just sit, quietly, he says, and absorb what is around you; tune in and feel it. "Abide in silence in the wild and awaken to who you are."

The lessons and wisdom this gentle man brings are deep and real. He offers a shining example of how to walk the Earth path with God and Nature.

Jim Matheson will be teaching Reiki III (Usui) in the Portland area September 13 and 14, for those who are Reiki II practitioners. For more information, call (503) 848-4047 or email wildflowers.pam@verizon.net