MindPlace has been pushing the boundaries of meditation technology since 1988.
Famed for their microprocessor-controlled light and sound systems, MindPlace’s mission is to provide tools to experience a deeper level of tranquility, meditative calm and increased focus.
I have the Kasina Mind System and have enjoyed it so much over the last couple of years that I thought a review of MindPlace was long over due, since not many people know much about this wonderful little company.
The MindPlace systems are primarily used as meditation-type aids, to clear the mind, enhance focus, manage stress, and help in breaking unpleasant habits and mind states such as stress and anger.
Each session ranges from 10 to 60 minutes, and you an abundance of different sessions and musical experiences to try.
So how does it all work?
How Light & Sound Meditation Works
Einstein taught us that every living thing produces an electromagnetic field with a vibrational frequency. And that energy and matter are interchangeable and transferable.
Based on the principle that all matter vibrates to a precise frequency and that imbalances have frequencies that be rebalanced, light and sound therapy use resonant vibration to restore health to the body and electromagnetic field.
Cool, huh?
In essence: it's powerful meditation experience that incorporates two integral parts of life and human consciousness.
This form of meditation is said to initiate the crown chakra to open up to an inner voyage within a realm beyond the mind and body. It connects our human awareness with the inner light and sound, which is the source of all things.
Utilizing light and sound pulses at specified frequencies, the MindPlace systems stimulate mental activity, leading the mind from normal waking consciousness to a variety of desirable states of consciousness.
You can use MindPlace to manage stress, improve focus, meditate, relax and enjoy a visual psychedelic experience without drugs! Well, you could smoke a little weed and try it, but I'm not advocating that!
Light and sound meditation offers a lot of benefits:
- Access to deep, tranquil states of meditation
- Access to altered states of consciousness
- Clears the mind of extraneous thoughts
- Facilitates accelerated learning
- Improves focus and attention
So let's have a look at the MindPlace light and sound systems.
Main MindPlace Products
At present, MindPlace has two main mind meditation systems: the Kasina and the Procyon.
1. Kasina Mind Media System
The Kasina has that early iPod look, which I really dig. The controller wheel is intuitive and IMO it looks much better than the Procyon
Product Description
Kasina is a Pali word that means wholeness and entirety, and refers to a class of basic visual objects recommended by the Buddha for meditation. An apt name.
The Kasina naturally attunes your mind to the same frequency as the session you choose – in the same way that a tuning fork works. The result is a positive shift in mood to a calm, meditate and focussed state.
Imagine a world of pure jewel-like color illuminating your visual and mental fields
What to Expect:
The Kasina aims to do the following:
- Helps you access tranquil and altered states of consciousness.
- Tames the monkey mind.
- Boosts your attention and focus.
- Changes your mood from negative to positive.
- Provides an impressive audio-visual experience.
You get the following in the basic package. Go DeepVision to get the additional frames.
How it Works:
Using the Kasina is easy because it is a plug and play system. All you have to do to get started is to get in a comfortable position, put your earphones (and GanzFrames) on, and choose a session.
Session categories include meditate, accelerate, night voyage, rejuvenate, trance, and mind art.
You can also put your own music into the Kasina mp3 and use it to create your own sessions. You also have access to more than 70 preset sessions.
That said, I pretty much always use the presets. 70 is more than enough for a year or two!
The Kasina has a backlit, colored LCD display with a Colour Organ feature that matches the mood of the music and turns it into colorful light.
It's very cool!
What’s in the Box:
The Kasina Mind Media System comes with the following:
- Quickstart Guide.
- Kasina Console.
- Kasina Ganzframes Multi-Color Eyewear.
- Earbud-Style Headphones.
- USB Cable Power Supply.
- Stereo Patch Cable.
- MicroSD card with SD Adapter.
- Soft-Carry Case.
=> Click here to see the Kasina System
2. Procyon AVS System
Product Description:
The MindPlace Procyon combines a rainbow of colors with meditative soundscapes. It can be used to modulate states of consciousness in rich new ways capable of helping you access deeper states of meditative consciousness.
What to Expect:
- A stunning visual experience.
- Relaxes your mind and body.
- Brightens up your mood.
- Stimulates creativity and visualization.
- Helps you access deeply tranquil states.
- Triggers accelerated learning.
How it Works:
The Procyon includes 50 sessions – each featuring a pre-programmed light and sound sequence. The Procyon allows you to create your own colors too – with its Visual Effects Engine – and make your own sessions with its USB interface and free software editor.
Imagine a world of pure jewel-like color illuminating your visual and mental fields. Amazing visual effects can be produced, including the illusion of complex, shifting geometrical imagery. This imagery can be so compelling that the mind clears of extraneous thoughts and distractions and other stresses of daily life
What’s in the Box:
The Procyon AVS System comes with the following:
- Procyon Console.
- Ganzframes Personal Visual Display.
- Stereo Earphones.
- USB “mini” to standard USB cable.
- Stereo Audio Patch Cord.
- Carry Case.
- Procyon Manual.
The Procyon glasses are pretty cool..Terminator-like!
=> Click here to see the Procyon System
GanzFrames & DeepVision
It is a strange name, I know.
Basically these glasses are the light component of the MindPlace mind machines. This specialized technology delivers flickering colored light through your closed eyelids.
The Procyon includes its own GanzFrames, the Procyon Superbrights, while the Kasina includes the Kasina GanzFrames.
You can also buy the DeepVision (GanzFeld) GanzFrames. There is a version for the Kasina and Procyon, but they are not cross compatible, so if you buy them separately make sure you get the right pair.
Note that you save around $50 if you buy the DeepVision package of either the Kasina or Procyon, because the DeepVision frames are $99 when sold separately.
The DeepVision GanzFrames provide the option to have an eyes-open experience (you can still do eyes closed too). They fill your field of view with colors and visual pattern changes.
They have two RGB LED strips for each eye to ensure the expected level of brightness. White light is attained when the LEDs are illuminated at the maximum level.
The DeepVision frames are wrapped in a lightweight shell of soft, hypoallergenic silicone, with lips at the top and bottom to help block out ambient light, for a more immersive experience.
Below is a video featuring the DeepVision frames:
Product Comparison – Which System is Best for You?
In a nutshell, the Kasina is the newer system, and it shows in the design work. I'd personally recommend going for that model because I've got one. That said, it is more expensive.
- The Kasina costs $359, or $399 with the DeepVision bundle.
- The Procyon costs $259, or $299 with the DeepVision bundle.
The Kasina comes with 76 built-in sessions, while the Procyon has 50.
Both systems have their own editor for creating sessions.
While the Procyon Editor is a Windows application, the Kasina Basic Session Editor is available for both Windows and Mac OS. I'm on Mac so I went with Kasina.
Both are USB compatible and GanzFeld/DeepVision capable.
The Kasina has a coloured LCD, while the Procyon features a 3-digit LED. Primary colours for both models are red, green, and blue.
The number of visual waveforms, audio waveforms, and simultaneous colour channels is higher in the Kasina, with 5, 5, and 6, respectively, and 3, 1, and 3, respectively, in the Procyon.
The Kasina contains a rechargeable lithium battery, while the Procyon uses 3 x AA alkaline cells (rechargeable batteries also work but don't last as long between charges as alkaline cells do).
Both models also support binaural beats and isochronic tones in terms of the frequency entrainment.
Music and Media
As mentioned, MindPlace mind meditation systems allow you to add your own music.
However, most users (I'm sure) use the SpectraStrobe encoded music produced by MindPlace, as this is specially designed to complement their pre-programmed sessions.
SpectraStrobe encoded music synchronizes light pattern entrainment with songs, nature recordings or relaxing soundscapes.
The brain in the machine decodes a special high frequency sound wave embedded in the track to trigger the LED lights in perfect synchronization with the pulse, feel and beat of the music.
Some of their best-selling tracks are Journey of the Drums, Dreams in the Mind’s Eye, and Tibetan Highlands; the latter being one of my favorites.
This music is available from the website as high quality Mp3 files, and each costs around 10-11$ a pop.
Warranty
All MindPlace product consoles come with a two-year warranty from purchase date; accessories are covered with one-year.
During the warranty period, any defective parts will be repaired for free, excluding the shipping costs. Defects caused by the user’s misuse, accidents, or natural disaster are not covered by the warranty – obviously.
If you’re returning a defective item, you should get in touch with their support first to obtain authorization. Make sure to include your name, address, contact number, and the issue.
If you purchase a Kasina or Procyon and realize it isn’t what you’re looking for, their 60-day money back guarantee has you covered. That's pretty generous considering most high street shops offer 14-28 day guarantees on other types of product.
Shipping Cost
MindPlace offers free shipping on US Domestic orders above $50.
If you reside outside the US, you can use the shipping fee calculator on the ‘Cart’ page to determine the fee that applies to you. Just choose your country and enter your zip/postcode.
You can choose from two shipping methods: Priority Mail International and Priority Mail Express International (higher fee).
Customer Support
What’s great about MindPlace customer support is that each of their meditation products has its own support page with all you need to get started and resources you may need in the future.
On the site you'll find the following:
- Manuals: You get a manual with the product but sometimes it's easier to access the e-manual on site. The Kasina manual is available in more than 10 languages, while the Procyon in English and Spanish.
- Factory Session List: This lists the product’s pre-programmed sessions along with a description.
- Software: This is for updates or re-downloading.
- Tutorials: These are tutorial documents and videos on how to use the product and create your own sessions.
- Content: This shows the content of the console, which includes the factory sessions and their details, mindmap, and community-created content.
Additionally, the site offers relevant blog articles and a product support forum where you can ask questions.
If you still need further help, you can contact MindPlace through the Contact form provided on the site, or through the help chatbox located in the bottom-right of the website's homepage.
These are fun and rewarding systems that provide an alternative experience. One for the inquisitive mind that wants to explore beyond the realms of the norm!
Enjoy.
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