Prodigious Son

How many times can you cheat death on your path to enlightenment? Meet Ralph "Corky" Matson, a modern-day urban shaman who consistently beats the odds. In this captivating memoir, Matson leads us through Woodstock, down drug alleys, over mountain ashrams and around gamblers on a never-ending quest for higher consciousness as he struggles with his inner demons—and angels. Edgy, yet inspirational, Prodigious Son: A Memoir of Miracles offers hope and spiritual awakening in the middle of despair.

How many times can you cheat death on your path to enlightenment? Meet Ralph "Corky" Matson, a modern-day urban shaman who consistently beats the odds. In this captivating memoir, Matson leads us through Woodstock, down drug alleys, over mountain ashrams and around gamblers on a never-ending quest for higher consciousness as he struggles with his inner demons—and angels. Born to a devoted mother who struggled to protect him from the unjustified hatred of a tyrannical father, Matson grew up in poverty with a negative self-image that haunted him even as he associated with remarkable people such as Ram Dass, Timothy Leary, Rammurti S. Mishra, Swami Rama, Elias DeMohan and Patricia Cota Robles. His many brushes with death, including accidents, tumors, overdoses and heart failure only confirmed his spiritual beliefs and demonstrated the miraculous power of healing. Journey with him as he not only overcomes the hardships of an uncertain early life, but grieves the loss of two wives to illness and forgives the father who tormented him. There is a tangible love felt in these pages, for every character we encounter. Even in his depictions of heartbreak or cruelty, Matson generously renders a world—and a philosophy—of devotion, kindness, and perseverance that is the underlying thread of his life story. Edgy, yet inspirational, Prodigious Son: A Memoir of Miracles offers hope and spiritual awakening in the middle of despair.

Ralph "Corky" Matson was born in Chicago, Illinois on March 10,1943. With only one year of high school under his belt, he managed to graduate from the Kellberg Institute of Swedish Massage, the Dale Carnegie Institute for Public Speaking and mentored Rolfing with Daniel Blake. His lifelong desire to help others and put aside material attainments in the pursuit of spiritual experiences allowed him to balance his darker side—addiction to drugs, alcohol and gambling. When focusing his attention on his positive and spiritual nature, he was blessed with extraordinary experiences and meetings with remarkable people. His spiritual mentors were Ram Dass, Dr. Rammurti S. Mishra, Swami Rama, Margaret Coble, Patricia Cota Robles and Elias DeMohan. With a life that constantly pitted him between darkness and light he managed to survive several brushes with imminent death. On the way to the emergency room, struck down with severe heart failure, his nephew John pleaded with him to write his memoir, telling him "Corky, you cannot die until you have told your story." From that inspiration this book was born.