I participated in a group sound bath last week. It was a truly unique experience.
The live Sound Healing Syphony was hosted by a group called The Sound Bath, based in southern California. We met at the Portland Art Museum in a comforting room with a surprisingly soft, cushiony floor. Two fellow Cherokees and I went, bringing our yoga mats and blankets and bottled water.
The appeal of this particular symphony was that the variety of instruments played by live musicians. They featured Guy Douglas on crystal bowls, Native American Flute, Tibetan bowls and gongs. Russell Feingold on didgeridoo & Native American Flute. Jessa Campbell on vocals. Simona Asinovski on monolina & vibes. One performer was local, and Lynnette recognized him right away: Matthew Tutsky on harp.
I had only heard about sound baths earlier this year for the first time, when another girlfriend of mine participated in one. I’m still unfamiliar, but I would define it as a way to meditate with the use of sound waves. This is sort of how the emcee described it for us as well, saying that for people who have a hard time quieting their minds during meditation, the musical sounds can help them focus.
When it was time to begin, they turned out the lights. We were told that 350 people were in attendance, including people from all kinds of backgrounds and all ages. It was extraordinary to me to be in a room with this many people in silence and in the dark.
I tried really hard to settle down, but was not entirely successful until I got up and used the restroom halfway through. I carefully picked my way between bodies on the floor in the dark and I’m pleased to report that I did not step on anyone. Most people were still, with eye covers on, but plenty were restless. Some were sitting up with their eyes open, watching the stage. I was impressed at the children who were quiet. When I returned to my mat, I was able to settle better. I tried to breathe deeply and be calm and restful.
The three of us each experienced this symphony differently. I had the thought that it was like background music played at a spa while you get a massage, only this was live, and loud. The flutes were nice (though we were all three disappointed that with two people playing Native flutes, neither person was a Native), I loved the rain sticks and the harp. Though it looks like a huge gong on stage, I don’t recall hearing it, so it must have been played quietly. The bowls were difficult for me to listen to, somehow the reverberations were like fingernails on a chalkboard, and I had to stick my fingers in my ears for those parts. My fave was the didgeridoo, those deep resonant vibrations reaching right into my chest and pinning me to the floor.
It lasted about an hour and ten minutes. At the end, the emcee explained that the musicians are used to playing together and they do not plan what they play. They just get together and let the mood take them. A yogi jam session, haha!
I have never successfully meditated, but this was a calming and interesting experience. I did much better at being calm here than I did when I tried out the sensory deprivation tank, which was a similar type of New Agey hippie experience. The music was pretty, and for an entire hour I did not talk or receive any stressful news. It was worth the price of admission for that alone.
Conscious Engagement 
This sounds like a wonderful experience Crystal. I would be afraid of sleeping and the inevitable snoring 😂 Non-natives playing traditional instruments does seem strange, like the didgeridoo, the most amazing sounds
Your head was where ours was. Each of us ladies made a pact with the others to wake us up if we started snoring. 🙂
😴👍🏼😂
I assume the didgeridoo was also not played by a Native. It is an irritation to me when there is a “Native” performance by a non-indigenous person. It’s the same kind of feeling I get when they hire a white actor to pretend to be a person of colour, or an able actor to pretend to have a disability. There are thousands of indigenous people living in southern California and I wish they had been invited to authentically represent their music in this performance.
Imagine if they used the actual natives in old westerns not some white dude painted and speaking in a stupid way 🙄
Me likeum Hollywood.
Me thinkum you speak with forked tongue
A magical experience. Well done for picking your way in the dark
Thanks for the congratulations – I didn’t step on anyone and I think I was very quiet too, hopefully not disturbing anyone. The evening was magical. It was very atmospheric, with the coloured lights and specially chosen music. I enjoyed hearing from my two friends what they had experienced during that hour.
“for an entire hour I did not talk or receive any stressful news. It was worth the price of admission for that alone.” Sound Bath: Being bathed in sound. I’ve never heard of it before, Crystal. I did try a sensory deprivation tank once, however. Many many years ago in Alaska. I enjoyed it.
Speaking of enjoyment, Peggy and I will be going to Maryland’s huge Renaissance Faire in 3 weeks. We are excited about it. I thought about you when we bought the tickets.
I’m so glad the Ren Faire made you think of me. Look for dragons and faeries while you are there, and think of me again!!
I’m sure we will find faeries, and maybe even a dragon or two. We will definitely think of you.
I love sound baths, Crystal. They can be deeply felt experiences, although I think it is perhaps easier to immerse fully in them when one already has some meditative or yoga practice. The ones I’ve participated in were in much smaller and intimate settings though, which I suspect will impact on the way they are felt. Sound has such a powerful effect on us in general, right?
That means you had spent a good time. Well shared
Sound bath sounds interesting. I’m currently in a “silence retirement”, spending a week alone at our country house. No-one to talk to or to listen to. Limited news to screen news I only open when I feel like it. Large garden. Small pool. Peace…
🙏🏻
For me, at least, having to listen to people is taxing. I love silence.
…
❤