Sound Bath in a Greenhouse at Homegrown Gardens in Winfield, IL

Sound Under Glass: A Late Autumn Sound Bath on 11/14/26 at Homegrown Gardens in Winfield, IL

$50.00

By the third week of November, Illinois has let go of nearly everything. The leaves are down, the evenings come early, and the cold has settled in for the season. On a quiet 2.5-acre property in Winfield, there's a room made almost entirely of glass, where the fire is lit, the bare trees stand close on every side, and the dark comes on overhead while you lie warm inside it.

The first Sound Under Glass sold out in two days. We're opening the room again.

A greenhouse is a room built for tending. People come here to look after living things, patiently, season after season, knowing little of it can be hurried. It's a fitting place to gather twenty-five people who are each tending something of their own: a practice, a family, a change they've been meaning to make, the piece of the world they live on. You don't need to explain yours. You arrive, and you find you're not the only one.

We begin at 5:00 PM with a short guided meditation to slow the breath and soften the thinking mind. Then Marian Kraus of Higher Frequency Living plays live on large titanium and bronze gongs, Himalayan singing bowls, handpan, didgeridoo, shruti box, chimes, drums, monochord, jaw-harp and voice, and the sound continues without a break. Glass holds sound differently than a studio does. It comes from every direction, the way wind moves through bare branches.

Whatever you carried in through the door tends to quiet down. Many people also find something steadying in resting among others who are doing the same. Looking after ourselves and looking after the world we share have more in common than they usually get credit for. Both begin with slowing down enough to notice what needs care.

The fire will be lit, but November is November, so dress in warm layers and socks. Mats and blankets are provided, and a few zero-gravity chairs are available if the floor isn't for you. Nothing to prepare, nothing to perform. Lie down and listen.

Space is limited to 25 people, and the first gathering filled in two days. Reserve your spot today.

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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.

Common Questions

What actually happens at a sound bath? You lie down on a mat, fully clothed, and stay there. A sound bath opens with a brief guided meditation, then moves into roughly an hour of continuous sound from gongs, singing bowls, handpan, didgeridoo, and other instruments played live around the room. You aren't asked to do anything — no chanting, no movement, no technique to follow.

Do I need meditation experience? No. A sound bath is one of the few meditative practices that asks nothing of a beginner. There's no breathing method to learn and no way to do it incorrectly. Many people who find seated meditation frustrating find a sound bath easier, because the sound holds your attention rather than requiring you to hold it yourself.

What should I bring and wear? Wear loose, comfortable layers and socks. Lying still for an hour lowers your body temperature, so bring more warmth than you think you need. Mats and blankets are typically provided by the venue. Some people bring a pillow, bolster, eye mask, or water bottle. Arriving 10–15 minutes early gives you time to settle before we begin. Eat something light beforehand rather than a full meal.

What if I fall asleep? That's fine, and it happens often. Falling asleep during a sound bath doesn't mean you missed anything — the sound continues to reach you, and people who doze frequently report the deepest rest. There's no requirement to stay alert or track the experience.

Is there anyone who shouldn't attend? Sound baths are gentle, but the volume is sustained and at times full. If you're pregnant, have a pacemaker, a seizure disorder, severe tinnitus, or significant sound sensitivity, or alergies to essential oils or incense let me know beforehand and I'll place you further from the instruments..If you have a medical…