The State of Presence — A Sound Bath Reflection
- Mat Creedon
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
Transforming Lives One Note at a Time through Sound Bath & Presence
Welcome to another Afterbath Session with Mat Creedon 🌿
There are moments when life asks us to slow down — not to improve ourselves, not to fix anything, but simply to notice what is already here.
This blog is an offering from Afterbath, a space devoted to Sound Bath, presence, and quiet reflection. What follows is the complete written reflection from my book in progress, Transforming Lives One Note at a Time, followed by a detailed description of an accompanying Sound Bath for those who wish to continue the experience through sound.
You’re welcome to read this slowly.
Or all at once.
Or to return to it another day.
There’s no right way.
The State of Presence — A Sound Bath Contemplation
When I speak about presence, I’m talking about the state of being fully conscious and aware in the moment — without mental distraction.
I like to think of presence as going very deep into the present.
So deep that the mental chatter of the thinking mind begins to take a back seat.
In this depth, your memory of past events and your interest in future goals become less interesting. The stories of your triumphs and traumas lose their grip.
You start to see the mind for what it really is —
a mischievous trickster, constantly playing the hero and the victim.
The mind is often overconsumed with fears that are nothing more than a guess. And it’s a terrible affliction to live consumed by anxiety and paranoia — even at a low, background level.
This is the chronic suffering most people experience.
That constant feeling that nothing is ever quite good enough.
That you are never quite good enough.
The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
Jealousy.
Comparison.
The sense that someone else has achieved the success you always dreamed of…
—or perhaps you’ve achieved it yourself, only to discover the prize was empty.
So the mind says there must be another goal.
More money.
More security.
A higher position.
That funny thing we do — what I like to call therapy shopping.
Accumulating objects, experiences, and titles.
Placing them on the mantelpiece as trophies.
Then they go in a drawer.
Then in a cupboard.
And eventually… in the bin.
The constant consumption of goods and food that never quite satisfies.
Because the mind is always focused on a future fulfilment or a past lack.
Some void that needs to be filled.
And yet — the very thing you’re looking for is not physical at all.
It’s not status.
It’s not approval.
It’s not achievement.
It’s already inside you.
Quietly waiting for you to notice it.
This is presence.
And Sound Bath is one of the most direct ways of remembering it.
A returning to the feelings emanating from the heart.
A longing for deep connection that may have been ignored for a lifetime… or many.
And yet most people avoid it.
Because connecting to the heart can feel vulnerable.
There’s a fear that you might burst into tears.
A fear that the ache of the heart will reveal a loneliness so deep that you might fall into despair.
But here’s the thing —
That fear is just another trick of the mind.
It’s a thought about what might happen.
The heart itself is not frightening.
The heart is all-accepting.
Pure love.
A strength of energy so profound that it is untouchable.
It’s the feeling of being held in arms so strong and loving that you feel as if you might float off the ground.
The warmth and comfort felt throughout the body is unmatched by anything the mind can produce.
Presence is not a thought.
Presence is a felt experience.
And Sound Bath is a doorway into that experience.
One simple doorway into presence — with or without Sound Bath — is through the soles of your feet.
Feel the texture beneath them.
Whether you’re indoors or standing outside on grass, rock, concrete, or sand.
Close your eyes.
Feel it.
Stay with the sensation.
And a quiet portal opens.
You begin to connect to the peaceful, meditating universe that’s always here.
Patiently waiting.
Sounds may become clearer.
Background noise gains definition.
Instead of labelling sound, you experience it —
with curiosity and wonder.
Thoughts will still arise.
That’s okay.
The mind is like a sports car — fast, seductive, impressive.
Next to it, the heart can seem like a marshmallow.
Too soft.
Too mushy.
But when you connect to the heart, something opens.
A higher consciousness.
One that sees problems as situations that may be resolved — or not.
Where good and evil are seen as two sides of the same coin.
An imaginary battle the mind insists is real.
And all the while, life is unfolding perfectly.
The present moment is always complete.
It’s only the mind that doesn’t see its perfection.
If you get what you want, you’ll want more.
That’s just how the mind works.
Not that there’s anything wrong with growth —
but you don’t need to turn life into a complaint when you get it.
Everything happening around you is a cosmic experience.
If you imagined this was a computer simulation, you’d be in awe.
And yet the mind misses it and turns wonder into dissatisfaction.
Look around.
Notice living things.
Plants have a glow.
Life is undeniable.
And when you connect to this — often gently supported by Sound Bath — a quiet spaciousness opens.
It holds you.
Embraces you.
And you realise this peaceful awareness has always been inside you.
Waiting.
About the Sound Bath — Lost & Found
To support this reflection, I’ve created an accompanying Sound Bath titled Lost & Found — an immersive, ceremonial listening experience designed to deepen the felt sense of presence.
This Sound Bath was recorded using a single microphone placed at the centre of the room. Rather than constructing space through editing or panning, all instruments and voices move organically around this single point — allowing the room itself to become part of the Sound Bath instrument.
The entire performance is shaped in real time through the Chase Bliss Lost & Found pedal, bending memory, repetition, and decay into something fluid and alive. Sounds drift, dissolve, reappear, and transform — much like consciousness during deep meditation, breathwork, or ceremonial Sound Bath listening.
This Sound Bath is a collaboration with my friend Yeing. Together, we explore a shared sonic space using RAV drum, tongue drum, rain stick, shakers, voice, and piano.
There’s no striving for perfection here.
No fixing.
No polishing.
Only presence — responding to the moment, the room, and the subtle pull of sound as it unfolds.
The result is a deeply psychedelic yet grounded Sound Bath, reminiscent of ceremonial or breathwork journeys — without substances, without instruction — simply through sound and attention.
🕯️ Sound Bath Visual Focus
The accompanying visual is a single candle flame, offered as a gentle anchor for single-pointed meditation during the Sound Bath. You’re welcome to watch the flame, soften your gaze, or close your eyes entirely and let the sound guide you.
🎧 Sound Bath duration: approximately 24 minutes
This Sound Bath is well suited for:
Breathwork sessions
Deep listening and Sound Bath integration
Nervous system regulation
Intentional rest or evening wind-down
Psychedelic-style exploration through Sound Bath alone
How to Use This Sound Bath
• Find a quiet, comfortable space where you won’t be disturbed
• Lie down or sit in a relaxed, supported position
• Use headphones for the most immersive Sound Bath experience
• Allow the candle flame to anchor your attention, or listen with eyes closed
• Let the Sound Bath move around you without trying to follow or control it
There’s nothing you need to do.
If the mind wanders, gently return to the sound — or to the breath — and allow the Sound Bath to unfold naturally.
Gentle Sound Bath Listening Notes
• Listen at a comfortable, moderate volume
• Avoid multitasking — this Sound Bath is a space to enter, not background audio
• If strong emotions or sensations arise, allow them to pass without judgement
As always, this Sound Bath is not a substitute for medical or psychological care — simply an invitation to slow down, listen deeply, and explore what’s already present.
Thank you for spending this time with me.
Be gentle with yourself.
— Mat
✨ If this Sound Bath resonates with you, please like, comment, subscribe, and share.
It helps this sound medicine reach the people who may need it most.
With gratitude,
— Mat Creedon 🌀
Comments