Floating Under the Hunter’s Moon

Monday night, I spent the evening lying on an air mattress in a heated pool at Chateau Elan, wrapped in a blanket, listening to singing bowls and rain drums. It was fantastic.

Lacey found it. Lunar Tides is a floating sound bath held under the full moon, and October’s full moon is the Hunter’s Moon. She asked if I was interested, and I jumped on it. The tickets were her treat, and we split a room and made an overnight of it.

The event started at 7, and I was really impressed with how it all came together. They filled the pool almost to the brim, then brought the floats over one at a time. There were people in the pool holding the floats steady and two more helping each of us on. They’d told us to bring blankets and wear socks if we wanted, and I was skeptical. I didn’t so much as get the toe of a sock wet the whole time.

The pool was heated, and once the sun went down completely, the evening got cool. That contrast was perfect: warm float underneath, cool air on top, and me snuggled under a blanket. Without the blanket I would’ve been miserable. As it was, just the tip of my nose got cold.

The sound bath was different from what I expected. There were singing bowls, rain drums, and something that sounded like a box full of beans. The leader moved it around, and it sounded exactly like the old-school rain sticks you buy for kids. Between the sounds and the floating, the whole thing was really relaxing. I was able to clear my mind and just enjoy the sensations. Some people actually fell asleep. I know because I heard at least one of them snoring.

Afterward, they had fruit, water, and hot herbal teas waiting.

We stayed the night and closed out the trip with a spa day at the Chateau Elan Spa: sparkling wine from the estate, a snack and tea bar, robes and spa sandals, an indoor pool, a whirlpool, a dry sauna, and a eucalyptus steam room. We each had the Dreamscape Sleep Massage, 50 minutes, which is exactly as advertised.

Then we packed up and headed home. A perfect two days, and the weather was gorgeous and cooperative the whole time.

Have y’all ever done a sound bath, floating or on dry land? Let me know in the comments.

P.S. About the Hunter’s Moon. Moonrise was at 7, right when we got on the floats, and it didn’t clear the buildings until after the event ended. So technically we floated near the Hunter’s Moon. I’m keeping the title.

P.P.S. They were putting up the Christmas lights while we were there, and even half done, they were gorgeous. I’ve got plans to go back for their Christmas market festival and drag Zach with me. Maybe we’ll do another spa day!