The Resonant Heart: Sound Journeys for Love and Renewal

Midwinter asks us to slow down and listen. Beneath the apparent stillness, roots deepen and seeds quietly prepare, and life is already organizing itself for spring. The Resonant Heart: Sound Journeys for Love and Renewal brings that rhythm to the heart, offering a restorative sound bath retreat on the Big Sur coast with musician Deva Munay.

Held at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, CA, during the quiet of the new moon and the ancient seasonal threshold of Imbolc, a celebration of the first stirrings of light, this five-day gathering is for anyone who senses they are ready to rest, soften, and remember their place within the living intelligence that connects all things. Whether you are new to sound meditation or already have a contemplative practice, the week is shaped to meet you where you are.

What to Expect

Each day unfolds through immersive sound journeys, contemplative practice, and time in nature. Deva Munay works with a collection of alchemy crystal singing bowls, chimes, voice, and other resonant instruments, and each journey is an invitation to settle the nervous system, attune the heart, and cultivate presence, wonder, and belonging.

The week includes:

- Seven immersive sound journeys that support deep rest, relaxation, and inner renewal.
- Mindfulness, breath, gentle movement, and deep listening practices that can be woven into everyday life.
- Shared creativity in Esalen's Art Barn as a pathway into presence, intuition, and joyful expression.
- Reflection on the crystals, minerals, and metals of the Earth, drawing on their symbolic and traditional wisdom and the wisdom of the natural world.
- Community and connection in one of the world's most inspiring natural settings.

Along the way, the teaching explores how vibration influences the body, mind, and heart, bringing together timeless contemplative wisdom and emerging research into sound, resonance, coherence, nervous system regulation, and emotional well-being.

You leave with practical tools for greater ease, resilience, and vitality, and a renewed sense of belonging to yourself, to one another, and to the living world.

About Deva Munay

Deva Munay is a musician who leads this retreat, guiding the sound journeys with alchemy crystal singing bowls, chimes, voice, and other resonant instruments. Deva's teaching weaves contemplative practice together with current research on sound, resonance, and nervous system regulation.

Venue & Logistics

The retreat takes place at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, where the healing hot springs, ocean air, rugged coastline, and expansive night skies help create a spacious container for rest, reflection, and renewal. Registration options include a workshop with an on-site stay, a workshop with an off-site stay, or an individual day pass, and scholarships are available through Esalen. Travel to and from Big Sur can be affected by conditions on Highway 1, so check Esalen's current travel advisory before you plan your journey.