Weekend before last COMUNE ventured out to Joshua Tree for our Autumn/Winter 2012 catalog shoot. Along the way we decided to check out
this unique dome structure several people had been telling us about interestingly titled the “Integratron”. The Integratron is a dome-shaped
structure constructed out of plywood and fiberglass by George Van Tassel. He built the structure in Landers, California, USA as a
“rejuvenation machine” by following instructions provided by visitors from the planet Venus.
Insert Twilight Zone music…
The Integratron is supposedly based on the design of Moses’ Tabernacle, the writings of Nikola Tesla and telepathic directions from extraterrestrials. This one-of-a-kind building is a 38-foot high, 55-foot diameter, non-metallic structure originally designed by Van Tassel as a rejuvenation and time machine. Today, it is the only all-wood, acoustically perfect sound chamber in the U.S.
The workings of the Integratron, according to Van Tassel, supposedly rely chiefly on two principles. The first principle involves the occult sacred geometry of domes, and their ability to concentrate mystical “energies” within the earth. The Integratron is also said to be constructed atop a powerful “energy vortex”. According to adherents of this belief, the dome-shape naturally concentrates the energies of the vortex for the benefit of users. Also, the building is said to borrow design cues from the Tabernacle of Moses and the King’s Chamber of the Great Pyramid of Giza, both of which were thought by some occultists to have similar “energy focusing” properties. The second part of the theory centers around the belief that human beings are truly electrical in nature. It is believed that, though each individual has his unique personal “wavelength,” the multiple wavelengths of energy put out by “focusing and concentrating devices” such as the Integratron will find a “resonance” with the individual’s basic harmonic frequency and “re-charge” his cellular structure, as if he were a battery.
New owners now operate the Integratron as a tourist attraction. They allow scientific studies of the structure and promote the unusual practice known as a “sound bath.” During a sound bath, groups of people are exposed to harmonic sound frequencies produced by quartz bowls; this is said to have a deep calming effect.
With all said about the Integratron we had a really great experience. I think we were all pretty skeptical about the whole thing. The structure itself is beautiful. All 16 of the spires are weighted down by a 1 ton cylinder of concrete. Supposedly it’s stronger than any structure 10 times it’s size. There’s some wild conspiracy theories surrounding the death of Van Tassel that adds to the mysterious aura of the place. The “sound bath” had different effects on everyone. Some of us fell asleep, some were giggling, and my mind personally was racing the entire time. The sound emitted from the Quartz Crystal bowls is amazing. I heard tones that felt like they were in the back of my head and in the tissue of my neck. When I closed my eyes I almost felt like I could see the frequencies converging over the back of my eyelids. I think we all wanted the sound bath to last longer so I’m sure we’ll be back. I’m not sure if any of us felt any healing effects but it was a very relaxing memorable experience. I highly recommend it to anyone.
See more about the Integratron here:
Photos: Mike Selsky
Tweet