Brother Kai Matthews

Zen-Catholic Monk | Breathwork Facilitator | Poet

Brother Kai is a former Benedictine monk who now lives as a modern-day contemplative in the forests of Northern California. A quiet, luminous soul, he blends the stillness of Zen, the fire of Jesuit discipline, and the metaphysics of A Course in Miracles into his meditative work. Born in Manchester, UK, Kai was raised atheist but experienced a sudden spiritual awakening in his early twenties during a Vipassana retreat. He later joined a Benedictine order, where he spent 12 years in silence, study, and devotion before stepping out into the world to teach.

He studied Eastern Philosophy and Christian Mysticism at Oxford University, with a special focus on comparative spiritual texts. Later, he trained as a certified breathwork facilitator and mindfulness coach. His poetry—written under the pseudonym Brother Cloud—has been featured in spiritual journals and translated into multiple languages.

At Lumen Terra, Brother Kai guides retreats that combine breath as prayer, Zen stillness, and deep inner excavation. His signature offering, “The Gospel of the Breath,” is a fusion of ancient scripture, interoceptive presence, and poetic inquiry. His gentle yet piercing guidance has helped thousands reconnect with their own inner altar.

Areas of Specialty:

• Zen-Catholic meditation and contemplative silence

• Guided breath journeys rooted in scripture and ACIM

• Integrating poetry and prayer as contemplative tools

• Spiritual direction through minimalist presence

• Yoga of devotion (Bhakti), stripped of dogma

• Men’s embodiment and emotional healing through stillness