Sound Under Glass - An Autumn Sound Journey

Sound Under Glass: An Autumn Sound Bath on 10/23/26 at Homegrown Gardens in Winfield, IL

$50.00

There's a moment in mid-October when Illinois begins to let go. The light goes low and gold, the trees turn colors, the first cold nights arrive. And on a quiet 2.5-acre property in Winfield, there's a magical room made almost entirely of glass, where you can lie down warmed by a fire place and be held by all of it.

That is our invitation to you.

You'll arrive as the light is going and settle onto a mat or into a zero-gravity chair, fire lit, the trees standing close on every side and the sky darkening overhead through the glass. We begin with a short guided meditation to slow the breath and soften the thinking mind. That's the doorway. Then the sound bath begins.

Marian Kraus of Higher Frequency Living will perform live on large titanium and bronze gongs, Himalayan singing bowls, handpan, didgeridoo, shruti box, chimes, drums, monochord, jaw-harp and vocals. Every one of these instruments works the same way underneath its own character: a sustained tone that keeps producing overtones above itself, endlessly, with no melody to follow and no rhythm to anticipate. Layered together in a glass room that holds and blooms sound, they build something with no edges. It arrives from every direction at once, the way wind moves through a stand of trees. There's nothing for the mind to grab hold of, so it eventually stops trying.

That's when the real thing happens, and it moves in two directions at once.

Part of it is release. Whatever you carried in through the door gets quieter. Breath slows, jaw unclenches, the running commentary thins out. Some people drift into deep rest. Some meet an emotion they've been holding onto without knowing it.

But the other part is charge. Sound is vibration, and so are you. Sustained tone doesn't just soothe a nervous system, it stirs one. People often come up off the mat clearer and more awake than when they lay down, with a kind of energy that has nothing to do with caffeine or effort. Not sedated. Cleared. Reset. The system rebooted while you did nothing at all.

There's nothing to do here and nothing to get right. You lie down, and the sound does the rest.

This is the first gathering of its kind here in this magnificent place, space is limited to 25 people, sign up today.

There's a moment in mid-October when Illinois begins to let go. The light goes low and gold, the trees turn colors, the first cold nights arrive. And on a quiet 2.5-acre property in Winfield, there's a magical room made almost entirely of glass, where you can lie down warmed by a fire place and be held by all of it.

That is our invitation to you.

You'll arrive as the light is going and settle onto a mat or into a zero-gravity chair, fire lit, the trees standing close on every side and the sky darkening overhead through the glass. We begin with a short guided meditation to slow the breath and soften the thinking mind. That's the doorway. Then the sound bath begins.

Marian Kraus of Higher Frequency Living will perform live on large titanium and bronze gongs, Himalayan singing bowls, handpan, didgeridoo, shruti box, chimes, drums, monochord, jaw-harp and vocals. Every one of these instruments works the same way underneath its own character: a sustained tone that keeps producing overtones above itself, endlessly, with no melody to follow and no rhythm to anticipate. Layered together in a glass room that holds and blooms sound, they build something with no edges. It arrives from every direction at once, the way wind moves through a stand of trees. There's nothing for the mind to grab hold of, so it eventually stops trying.

That's when the real thing happens, and it moves in two directions at once.

Part of it is release. Whatever you carried in through the door gets quieter. Breath slows, jaw unclenches, the running commentary thins out. Some people drift into deep rest. Some meet an emotion they've been holding onto without knowing it.

But the other part is charge. Sound is vibration, and so are you. Sustained tone doesn't just soothe a nervous system, it stirs one. People often come up off the mat clearer and more awake than when they lay down, with a kind of energy that has nothing to do with caffeine or effort. Not sedated. Cleared. Reset. The system rebooted while you did nothing at all.

There's nothing to do here and nothing to get right. You lie down, and the sound does the rest.

This is the first gathering of its kind here in this magnificent place, space is limited to 25 people, sign up today.

About Higher Frequency Living Sound Baths

A sound bath is a group meditation you lie down for. There's no water, no bathing suit, no chanting, and no posture to hold. You arrive, settle onto a mat, and listen while instruments are played around you.

I am Marian Kraus of Higher Frequency Living, and I've been leading sound baths in wellness centers, yoga studios and other holistic venues across the Chicago area since 2011. Instruments include large titanium and bronze gongs, Himalayan singing bowls, handpan, didgeridoo, shruti box, drums, chimes, jaw-harp, monochord, and voice. Which ones I play depends on the room and the evening.

How the event unfolds

Every gathering follows the same shape. We open with a short guided meditation — five to ten minutes to slow the breath and let the thinking mind settle. Then the sound begins and continues without a break. Most sessions run about 90 minutes beginning to end.

What these instruments share is sustained tone. A struck gong keeps producing overtones long after the strike. A strummed monochord does the same. There's no melody to follow and no rhythm to anticipate. Skillfully designed, they give your attention nothing to hold onto, and it eventually stops reaching.

What people describe

Usually two things, often at once. One is release — the breath slows, the jaw unclenches, the running commentary thins out. Many people settle into the hypnagogic state, the borderland between waking and sleep where the mind loosens and images arrive unbidden. Most of us pass through it for a few seconds each night on the way down; here it can stretch out long enough to notice. The other is closer to charge: people come up off the mat clearer and more awake than when they lay down.

Research here is early but encouraging. A 2017 observational study found meaningful reductions in reported tension and fatigue after a session, and a 2025 randomized controlled trial found lower anxiety and cortisol compared with a control group. This is rest and relaxation, not medical treatment.

Before you come

Wear loose, comfortable layers and socks — lying still, you cool down. Mats and blankets are provided; bring your own pillow, bolster, or eye mask if you prefer. Arrive 10–15 minutes early to settle in. Eat lightly beforehand.

No experience is necessary. If you're pregnant, have a pacemaker or a seizure disorder, or are sensitive to sustained volume, tell me before we begin and I'll seat you accordingly.

Higher Frequency Living sound baths are open to everyone. Upcoming dates and venues are on the schedule.

New to this?

Whether you've been meditating for years or are new to sound healing, you're welcome exactly as you are.

If you'd like to go deeper beforehand, you can read about vibration, explore the field of Cymatics, or watch gong and sound meditation videos on the movies page. Many additional common questions are answered in the FAQ section.

Higher Frequency Living sound baths are open to everyone. Upcoming dates and venues are on the schedule.

Prefer a private session?

I also offer individual sessions that combine sound with focused conversation, drawing on the principles of The Empowerment Dynamic and Dr. David Hawkins' Map of Consciousness — useful when you're navigating a specific transition, decision, or stuck place rather than looking for an evening of rest. Sessions are held in Warrenville, IL. You can read more here.

Coordinates

Homegrown Gardens Chicago
28W130 Roosevelt Road
Winfield, IL 60190

(630) 297 7812

https://www.homegrowngardenschicago.com/