At the end of a long day, a chalkboard gets erased. Nothing was wrong with what was on it — it just did its job, and now there's room for whatever comes next. The moon does the same thing roughly every twenty-nine days. It empties out completely and waits to be marked again.
There's no better place to sit with that than Olcott. This campus has been the headquarters of the Theosophical Society in America since 1927, and for nearly a century people have come here to study exactly the kind of thing that doesn't show up on a page yet — consciousness, insight, the parts of a person still being written. Walk the grounds beforehand and you'll find the labyrinth members built into the west side of the property decades ago, laid out on the same premise we're working with tonight: some things get worked out with the feet and the breath before they get worked out with the mind.
You'll arrive as evening settles in, take a mat, and get comfortable with nothing expected of you. We'll open with a short guided meditation to slow the breath and quiet the thinking mind. Then the instruments begin.
Marian Kraus of Higher Frequency Living plays live on large titanium and bronze gongs, Himalayan singing bowls, handpan, didgeridoo, shruti box, chimes, drums, jaw-harp, and voice. Each one keeps sounding long after it's struck — no verse, no beat, nothing to track. The sound fills the room the way chalk dust settles after a board's been wiped: evenly, everywhere at once, covering ground you can't quite point to.
What happens next tends to move two ways.
One is erasing — breath slowing, the day's noise draining off, whatever you walked in holding getting set down without ceremony. The other is the blank space that's left once the erasing is done: open, unmarked, ready for whatever you write into it next. You may only notice one. Often it's both.
You don't have to bring anything to this but yourself. Lie down. We'll clear the slate. What gets written on it after that is yours.
Please note that the at the door attendance fee is $45.00.
About Higher Frequency Living Sound Baths
A sound bath is a meditation you do lying down. No water, no swimsuit, nothing to chant, no posture to hold. You come in, get comfortable, and listen while instruments are played live around the room.
I'm Marian Kraus. Since 2011 I've been leading these evenings in yoga studios, wellness centers, and holistic spaces across the Chicago area. On a given night I might play large titanium and bronze gongs, Himalayan singing bowls, handpan, didgeridoo, shruti box, drums, chimes, jaw harp, monochord, and voice. The room and the group determines which.
How an evening goes
The shape is always the same. We open with a short guided meditation — five to ten minutes, long enough to slow the breath and let the day fall away. Then the instruments begin, and they don't stop. Most evenings run about 90 minutes, beginning to end.
What these instruments share is that their sound keeps going. A gong struck once produces overtones long after the mallet has left it. A monochord does the same. There's no verse, no chorus, nothing to count. Attention goes looking for something to follow, doesn't find it, and eventually stops looking. That's the doorway.
What people describe afterward
Most often it's stillness first, then clarity after. The breath lengthens, the body stops bracing for the next thing, and the mind's running list goes quiet enough to notice the quiet. What follows varies — some people surface with a decision that had been stuck suddenly obvious, some with nothing more than a very deep rest. Neither is the point missed.
What the research shows
Early, small-scale, and encouraging. A 2017 observational study reported less tension, anger, and fatigue after a single singing-bowl session. A 2023 randomized trial found reduced anxiety and improved heart rate variability after one session compared with control conditions, and a 2025 randomized trial of a four-week daily sound meditation program reported lower anxiety and lower salivary cortisol. Worth knowing — and worth saying plainly: this is rest and restoration, not medical treatment.
Questions people ask
What actually happens at a sound bath?
You lie down on a mat, fully clothed, and stay there. The evening opens with a brief guided meditation and then moves into roughly an hour of unbroken live sound — gongs, singing bowls, handpan, didgeridoo, and others played around the room. Nothing is asked of you. No chanting, no movement, no technique.
Do I need meditation experience?
None. This is one of the few contemplative practices that asks nothing of a first-timer, and there's no way to do it incorrectly. People who've given up on seated meditation often do well here, because the sound carries your attention instead of asking you to carry it.
What should I wear and bring?
Loose layers and socks. An hour of lying still drops your body temperature more than you'd expect, so bring more warmth than seems necessary. Mats and blankets are usually provided by the venue. A pillow, bolster, eye mask, or water bottle are all welcome. Arrive 10–15 minutes early so you're settled before we begin, and eat something light beforehand rather than a full meal.
What if I fall asleep?
Common, and completely fine. Dozing off doesn't mean you missed anything — the sound goes on reaching you, and the people who sleep often report the deepest rest in the room. Nothing here requires you to stay awake or keep track of the experience.
Is there anyone who shouldn't attend?
Sound baths are gentle, but the volume is sustained and at times full. Let me know beforehand if you're pregnant, have a pacemaker, a seizure disorder, significant tinnitus or sound sensitivity, or a sensitivity to essential oils or incense — I use them at some events, not all — and I'll place you further from the instruments. If you have a health condition you're uncertain about, check with your physician first.
More questions answered on the full FAQ page →
New to this?
However you arrive — having read every book at the Olcott library or never having sat still for ten minutes in your life — this asks the same nothing of everyone. No technique, no posture, no prior practice. The sound does the work meditation usually asks you to do yourself, which is why people who've struggled with sitting practice often find this the easier door in. 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.
Higher Frequency Living sound baths are open to everyone. Upcoming dates and venues are on the schedule.
Or come one-on-one
I also work with individuals privately, combining sound with focused conversation drawn from the principles of TED* (The Empowerment Dynamic) and Dr. David Hawkins' Map of Consciousness. That's the better fit when you're moving through a specific transition, weighing a decision, or stuck somewhere — rather than looking for an evening of rest and renewal. Private sessions are held in Warrenville, IL. Read more here.