THE HEALING FREQUENCY
New Moon Sound Bath · Malibu
The New Moon Sound Bath on a Malibu hilltop that I'd scrolled past on Instagram a million times, and this time I went up myself: sunset → sound → stars. I'm usually the one doing the healing; this time I just lay down. My scalp gave in first, and there were ants you can't see in the photos.
Translated from Jasmine’s original Chinese. The illustrated slides are on the interactive reader.
Key points
- As a sound healer, I finally got to be on the receiving end
- The sunset was too pretty to close my eyes for the first half
- It wasn't just crystal bowls; the layering of sound was the best part
- The Malibu wellness reality: ants, so many ants
Full text
01 | Finally here
I don't know how many times I'd scrolled past this scene on IG, and every time I thought: I want to lie there just once. This time I finally drove up the mountain myself. The moment I got out of the car: the Pacific Ocean, the mountains, the sun about to set. Rows of white mattresses and big beanbags were laid out on the lawn, and in front were crystal bowls, Tibetan bowls, a gong and a drum, with a harp to the side and the harpist already warming up their hands. My first thought: this view has already done half the healing. Very Malibu. Almost suspiciously Malibu.
02｜Sound healer, off duty
I'm a sound healer myself, and usually I'm the one doing the healing; this day I finally didn't have to, and all I had to do was lie down. Alo cap, sunglasses, a loose T-shirt; you can lay out your own mat on the ground, or go VIP, find a big beanbag and sink right in. Today I'm doing nothing and letting someone else heal me. Sound healers need sound baths too.
03 | The sunset was too pretty to close my eyes
The biggest problem in the first half: the sunset was so beautiful I couldn't bear to close my eyes. Blue, gold, pink, orange. Malibu really knows how to be dramatic.
04 | My whole scalp went tingly
Calm on the outside, scalp not calm at all. As a sound healer, going to someone else's session, it's actually hard to switch off 'work brain': what note is this bowl, how's the next frequency layer coming in, how are the sounds stacking, how's the space being filled. Then a few passages came in and I didn't have time to analyze anything. First the top of my head went tingly, and then it became: my. whole. scalp. was. buzzing. OK… this one's legit. My brain was analyzing. My body had other plans.
05 | Not just crystal bowls
What I loved most about this one was the layers of sound. Some were bright and stayed in your ears; some were so low they felt like they walked straight into your body. Crystal bowls, Tibetan bowls, gong, drum, chimes, Indian flute and all kinds of instruments, with a live harp weaving through the middle. By the end it didn't feel like 'listening to music' anymore; it felt more like being placed inside a sound field, with sound coming from every direction. This is why I've always loved sound healing: before your brain figures out what's happening, your body has already heard it. The body notices first.
06 | Then it got dark
When I lay down, the whole sunset was in front of me. At some point the ocean disappeared and the mountains were just outlines. When I opened my eyes again: a sky full of stars. No ceiling, no studio lights; sound below, night sky above. Same sound bath. Completely different sky.
07 | And now let's talk about the ants
The Malibu wellness reality you can't see in the photos: ants. Really, a lot of ants. After all, we weren't in a 'nature-inspired' studio; we were actually: lying. in. real. nature. So when your body starts itching, your brain suddenly pipes up: 'Wait, what's that? Ants?' You think you've come to connect with nature, and Nature says: 'Great, here I am.' Spiritual awakening, but make it outdoors.
Jasmine's Notes
I'll go again, just with the VIP ticket and a big cushion next time! Multiple sound stations, different instruments surrounding you from every direction. Lie down while the sun's still bright, listen as the sky slowly darkens, open your eyes again, and it's full of stars. Remember to bring: a jacket (it gets cold fast up there), your own blanket or pillow, and bug spray! Sunset. Sound. Stars. And apparently, ants.
Places in this story
An original JSLALALAND field guide by Jasmine Chang (@jslalaland).