BIOGRAPHY
Matteo Castelli is a polymathic individual whose diverse pursuits encompass psychotherapy, philosophical contemplation, poetic expression, storytelling, and pedagogical endeavors. He weaves the tapestry of spirituality, psychology, philosophy, truth, and love across a range of literary genres.
In his thought-provoking work, “Dear Children: Nurturing Wisdom in the Next Generation,” Matteo guides young minds towards an unvarnished understanding of the world they will inherit, empowering them with truth, critical thinking skills, and a deep trust in their innate wisdom.
In “Religious Ethics Unveiled through Philosophical Inquiry,” he skillfully extracts invaluable life lessons from the intersections of the Bible, scientific insights, common-sense wisdom, and philosophical discourse, providing a contemporary lens to scrutinize their enduring significance.
Matteo’s poetic verses delve into the profound realms of life’s journey, love’s complexity, the pursuit of truth, the essence of innocence, and the quest for meaning.
Additionally, within the pages of his thought-provoking novel, “The Enroacher,” Matteo challenges conventional notions of Utopia. This gripping narrative pits Agent Loreena in a battle against the societal code of the land and her own deeply-held personal morals, forcing readers to question what truly constitutes a utopian society and the complexities that arise when individual morality clashes with the seemingly perfect world.
Through his compelling play, “The Recovering,” he sensitively portrays individuals grappling with psychiatric disorders, illuminating their lives’ richness and resilience. He provocatively questions a society overly reliant on the medical model while overlooking the significance of meaning, purpose, and communal support.
Matteo’s distinguished career in the mental health field is a testament to his dedication to fostering healing, insight, catharsis, and objectivity among his clients. He artfully employs the therapeutic power of the arts, humor, meditation, and a repertoire of therapeutic techniques to enhance their psychological and spiritual well-being.
With Toronto, Canada as his primary residence and Rome, Italy as his cherished second home, Matteo’s cosmopolitan existence reflects the richness of his experiences and influences from two culturally vibrant worlds.
Books
Poems Sown in a Reflective Time | Published June 17, 2022 | Poetry
As a young poet, Matteo Castelli had a habit of writing poetry and leaving them stranded to see “if they would ever come back.” A friend collected some and held onto them, and thirty years later, they were published in this novel of poems. In “Poems Sown in a Reflective Time,” a young poet grapples with life themes of freedom, love, innocence, and transcendence in a world that is sometimes straightforward and accepting and, at other times, duplicitous and dangerous. The young poet starts out in strength but will only be taken down by his naivete and innocence. Alas, however, the triumph of purity and goodness has him finding the light again.
The Encroacher | Published September 12, 2023 | Sci-Fiction
In a world divided between the New World’s flourishing haven and the Dead World’s desolate wasteland, a gripping tale of choice, compassion, and the clash between law and humanity unfolds in Matteo Castelli’s thrilling novel, “The Encroacher.”
Agent Loreena Brody, a staunch advocate of the Utopika, a utopian society meticulously crafted to uphold the New World’s laws and regulations, has always believed that adhering to the law is the only way to safeguard the society’s perfect existence. But fate has something extraordinary in store for her. Amidst the ruins of the Dead World, she stumbles upon an enigmatic and unlikely survivor—The Encroacher. The encounter shakes Loreena to her core, challenging everything she has been taught. The Encroacher, an embodiment of the flaws Utopika fears, ignites a spark of compassion within Loreena, questioning the beliefs that have governed her life. Drawn to the mysterious outsider, she struggles with loyalty to Utopika’s laws and her burgeoning empathy for the lone survivor. The laws demand that the Encroacher be eliminated. And Loreena is an agent of the law.
In a race against time and the watchful eyes of her society. Loreena must make a life-altering decision. Will she uphold the rigid laws of Utopika and eliminate the Encroacher, extinguishing a flicker of hope in the Dead World? Or will she risk everything to protect the survivor, defying her society’s norms and embracing her humanity?
In “The Encroacher,” Matteo Castelli weaves a riveting narrative that explores the essence of human nature, the consequences of extreme ideologies, and the resilience of compassion in the face of adversity. Join Loreena Brody on a heart-rending journey as she grapples with the ultimate choice—one that could forever change the fate of both worlds.
Dear Children: Nurturing Wisdom in the Next Generation | Published January 15, 2024 | Children’s Pedagogy
“Dear Children” explores the importance of spirituality, Christian theology, life issues, literary and artistic contributions, history, and the state of the world. It is truly frightening if we all stop and think for a moment about what world our children will inherit from us. To help them the best way we can, we must arm them with critical thinking skills and answer those questions that they ask. Children wonder about issues as deep and wide as God, the soul, Heaven, the nature of money, death, and love, and we must educate them in ways that are as deep and explorative as young minds tend to go. We must respect their intelligence, and to protect them, we must help them think critically. This book is an attempt to talk to children in ways that do both.
The Recovering | Published January 15, 2024 | Fiction/Psychology
Today, the treatment of people with serious mental health issues often entails a psychiatric approach of medication and electric shock therapy. This pervasive and superfluous approach leads to high recidivism and the client lacking a sense of meaning, purpose, and life value. “The Recovering” is a play set in a community hub where members who feel ostracized by their psychiatric experiences experience the connection and support of their fellow survivors. Together, they acknowledge their humanity and plead to fit into a world they need and a world that would benefit from their color and spark.
Religious Ethics Unveiled through Philosophical Inquiry | Published January 16, 2024 | Philosophy/Spirituality
Religious convictions usually are upheld by faith alone. Yet, reason and philosophical inquiry have a right to speak about the spiritual realm in that life is orderly and usually rational; these qualities are the providence of good philosophical reasoning. Therefore, it makes sense for a rational, philosophical approach to justify and arrive at religious and spiritual values to illuminate the order and the importance of religious values, which is the essence of “Religious Ethics Unveiled through Philosophical Inquiry.
The Truth is the Heart | Published May 7, 2024 | Poetry
This book of poetry challenges us to hold onto the one solution our world and ourselves desperately need—the love in our hearts. Love binds, repairs, reconciles, gives meaning, and keeps us alive. This book of poetry takes on politics, broken relationships, crime, psychological chains, and war and seeks to open our eyes and hearts to the one truth all sages and gods can agree on: “The Truth is in the Heart.