Good Vibrations Follow an Ancient Tradition
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It also has a sound pit in the center that swallows sound. Under a hand-width hole in the floor, a hollow shaft, about the breadth of a good-sized tree, extends down through the first floor, and according to our tour guide, 17 feet into the ground. When you stand over that spot and speak, your voice sounds greatly amplified to your own ear. But to people only a few feet away, you are barely audible.
The sound chamber is actually a byproduct of a grander intent. The builder, George Van Tassel, wanted the Integratron to act like a transformer, or Tesla coil, generating electricity to recharge the body's cells, like so many tiny batteries. This was supposed to result in "longer life with youthful energy."
He constructed the building entirely of wood, without nails or screws. A 1-1/2-ton concrete grindstone suspended from the ceiling of the loft stabilizes the spider-like frame (similar to a domed tent). Hundreds of copper wires spiral along the ceiling of the ground floor. A Saturn-like ring encircles the building.
The special properties of the attic, especially the resonance of the wood, make it a popular recording studio for acoustical instruments.
Both native Indians and UFO devotees credit the area itself as a place of power. Van Tassel chose the locale for his building because he believed that nearby Giant Rock, the world's largest freestanding boulder, created the necessary magnetic field. Granite, because of its matrix of feldspar, mica, and quartz crystals, exhibits a radiation caused by pressure on the quartz crystals. This is known as the "piezo-electric" effect. Granite was called "spiritual rock" by the Egyptians because of the auric radiation.
A recorded music took over as the player crept quietly from the room, leaving her audience to awaken at their own pace.
Bill was much more affected than me and already thinking of returning as we drove away.
The Integratron is located about 40 miles north of Palm Springs. Group sound baths are offered on weekends. No reservations required: first come, first served. $7 per person.
More information: www.integratron.com.
Private sound baths offer a floating sky chair. Bring a blanket or mat if you plan to attend a group sound session.
