Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - A Faerie’s Yule at Newgrange

Starting point is 00:00:00 Welcome to Get Sleepy. When we listen, we relax and we get sleepy. I'm your host, Thomas. Thank you for tuning in. It's just a week till Christmas, so I hope you're all feeling well rested ahead of the festivities, if it's something you celebrate. I just wanted to let you know that, despite it being Christmas Day next Monday, we'll still be releasing our usual Monday night episode for all of you to enjoy this time next

Starting point is 00:00:42 week. Which means at the end of the festivities that December 25th brings, you can still settle down and get some well-deserved rest with a new Get Sleepy episode, and it's a special one that's just right for the occasion. Tonight's story will be read by Jessica and was written by Frankie. We'll journey to the Boine Valley in County Meef Island. It's a special night at the ancient site of New Grange and an ancient tradition is enacted once again. But first, this episode is sponsored by BetterHelp, and I'd like

Starting point is 00:01:29 to thank them for their support. This time of year tends to bring a lot of added pressure on our shoulders, and that can impart to be due to the expectations of gift giving. But whether or not your family gives gifts during the holiday season, you get to define how you give to yourself. So whether it's by starting therapy, going easier on yourself during the tough moments, or treating yourself to a day of complete rest. Remember to give yourself some love over the coming weeks. Therapy can be life-changing, gradually helping you to understand yourself better, and to unlock coping mechanisms for dealing with challenging feelings, emotions, or events.

Starting point is 00:02:18 It has always done that for me. Better help is a great place to start. It's entirely online designed to be convenient, flexible, and suited to your schedule. In the season of giving, give yourself what you need with BetterHelp. Visit betterhelp.com-get-sleepy to get 10% of your first month, that's better help help.com slash get sleepy. So now, before we join Jessica for our story, let's take a moment to settle down and unwind. The day is done. It's time to rest. And that's exactly what you're doing right now.

Starting point is 00:03:20 So enjoy it. And whilst you settle into bed, allow a sense of gratitude to wash over you. And for your wonderful body, let guides you through life every single day. Be thankful for your legs that took you wherever you needed to go today. Your neck and shoulders that kept your head held high. Your arms and hands that helped you accomplish things. And be thankful for your eyes, nose, ears, mouth and your skin. They all allow you to experience the wonderful senses of life's moments may feel mundane and insignificant, but every moment of every day, our bodies and our conscience, every tweet of a bird in the trees, every sip of a warm drink.

Starting point is 00:05:17 These moments can go by without much notice, but they all matter and they are all deserving of our gratitude. I hope that resonates with you as you have, and the rest that you can enjoy here. It's time to move to a crisp winter evening in the never-ending green of Ireland. Feel the invigorating breeze draw you to a little valley and the banks of the river Boin. Sunset blazes like someone spilled their watercolors across the blank canvas of the midwinter sky. Orangees, pinks, purples and blues bleed seamlessly into one another and across each wispy cloud. each wispy cloud. To the east, the otherworldly waxing crescent. Just as the last rays of the sun are being swallowed by the green horizon, something opens its eyes.

Starting point is 00:07:39 A fairy, a mischievous spirit of the natural world, the likes of which has rarely been seen in the decades since the Industrial Revolution. A spirit of the Earth and air, the little being stretches and scratches its tiny human-like body. It attempts to shake the months of hibernation from itself. It grumbles in mild annoyance at the cold. This is a being of the sun, used to the joyfully warm days and nights of mid-summer, when the sun only leaves the world for a few short hours before returning. It wakes in the bowels of a mound, a 5,000 year old monument to its kind, left over from the ancient inhabitants of the Emerald Isle.

Starting point is 00:08:50 The thing that finally rouses it from its groginess is the smell of something sweet floating through the air. The fairy slips out of its den and into the frosty air. The hills, fields and valley around the mound are still as lush a green as they were in mid-summer. The boin valley stretches on beyond what the little eyes can see. It cradles the Boine River. The river, in turn, flows smoothly across the land, depositing minerals and making this

Starting point is 00:09:39 valley one of the most fertile on the island, as it has been for millennia. The fading light of the sun below the horizon paints the green landscape a dark emerald. Not bothered by the lack of light, the little fairy immediately spots an offering laid outside its mound. A little china played is piled high with gingerbread cookies. The fairy rushes over and messily stuffs a whole one in its mouth. The explosion of spicy ginger, comforting cinnamon, and earthy nutmeg, does wonders to warm the little being on the cold winter night. Gingerbread cookies are traditionally made in the winter due to their taste, which harkens back to the warm rays of the sun.

Starting point is 00:10:50 The locals in the area make their cookies with molasses, giving them a darkly sweet death. There is nothing that fairies like more than sweets, and this offering will be sure to encourage the fairy to bring the villagers luck this year. The fairy gorgeous on the cookies, enjoying every sweet and spicy mouthful until the China Plate is empty. Even the crumbs are greedily devoured. The fairy licks its chops in a satisfied manner. Out of the corner of its eye, it catches sight of a spot of light.

Starting point is 00:11:49 Fairies of all kinds love lights. A large scots pine towers at the border between fields. The villagers have decorated it with twinkling lights. They dance in all the colours of the rainbow, enticing the fairy to scurry up the tree and take another look. Ferrys never have been and never will be creatures of restraint, and so it races to the tree and up the branches in glee. The evergreen bowels of the tree represent the never-dying spirit of the moon. She always changes, but never truly dies. The lights in the tree are like the sun, which diminishes and grows with the cycle of every year. These powerful mystical meanings are lost on the fairy, who merely laughs and sings to itself by the light of the trees. A low, lively drum thrums through the night air.

Starting point is 00:13:08 The fairy stops its singing and listens. From its perch in the pine tree, it can see down the valley and across the river. It sees the faraway lights of the village and knows they will remain lit all night long to guide the sun back. It is the longest night of the year and they all must do their part to ensure the warmth returns again. The drumming isn't coming from the village, however. The fairy swivels its head and angles its pointed ears down the river. The drums are coming from New

Starting point is 00:13:57 Grange. New Grange is also an ancient mound built thousands of years ago. Unlike the Nehi one that houses the ferry, Newgrange is 40 feet high and 280 feet wide at its widest point. It is a circular structure with white quartz and cobblestone walls. The domed top is covered in grass, inciting the hungry gaze of many a sheep over the years. Around the small passageway into the mound, lie 12 large curb stones. They are carved with an array of ancient Celtic symbols. Celtic knots, triple spirals, and abstract patterns are etched deeply into each stone, no two being exactly alike.

Starting point is 00:15:09 Older even than the pyramids, this structure and its standing stones remain a mystery to many. But the fairy knows what they are. It was there when the Neolithic humans built new range. It was there at each following yule to watch them celebrate and add its own magic to the ceremony. It witnessed the slow decline of the rituals, the changing of society, and the rise of the new human world that looks at this structure with puzzlement. The local villages keep up practices though they do not know their origins.

Starting point is 00:16:02 And still, the fairy and its kind come to new range from their hibernation to bring back the sun on the longest night of the year. The fairy skips and glides across the misty fields towards new great. The purple mists come off the river and caress the sides of the valley, depositing moisture for the morning dew. The fairy caccles to itself as it darts through the effervescence, leaving nothing but spirals of curling fog in its wake. The drums grow louder as it nears the ancient sight. Its speeds up, excited to rejoin its kind and partake in the night of ritual and magic ahead. The mound comes into view. The white quartz of the walls shines under the light of the moon. A light breeze blows through the grass. The shadows on the curb stones highlight their carved designs.

Starting point is 00:17:28 The fairy approaches the entrance to the mound. A large curb stone sits in front, forcing any entrance to climb over the barrier. On top of the stone is an oak log decorated with branches of holly and mistletoe. The fairy snorts in derision at the sight of the mistletoe. The fairy has lived on this island since it rose from the sea before time again, and it knows every species of flora and fauna native to the land. Missilto was brought over years earlier by the inhabitants of the neighbouring island. Britain, the fairy thinks it's called. The mischievous fairy plugs the mistletoe from the log and tosses it haphazardly over one shoulder.

Starting point is 00:18:36 In addition to the greenery, the yule log is also decorated with three candles. One is black, one is white, and one is red. Oak trees are deciduous and lose their leaves with the changing of the seasons. It follows the same pattern as the sun and represents the constantly changing year. The three candles represent the three stages of the moon and its never-ending presence. The candles will stay lit all night long as this little shrine to the forces of nature awaits the dawn. Appeased with the presence of the york log, the fairy hops over the kerbstone and heads toward the entrance of the mound. It is a small entrance, barely enough room for a man to walk down, with a small rectangular

Starting point is 00:19:48 window above it. The drumming is loud here, coming from inside the mound. The fairy can hear the sounds of pan-flutes and singing voices. Inside the entry passage, the rock walls are adorned with centuries of names. From the time humans rediscovered the site 200 years ago, each year a few more names appear on the walls. It is like a year back of modern history. The fairy ignores the scratchings and makes its way comfortably down the passage that would be a squeeze for a human. The walk where reveals that the inside of the structure is made from alternating layers of rock and earth. The passage stretches 60 feet from the entrance to the heart of the structure.

Starting point is 00:20:59 The fairy skips along the rock floor, singing along to the faceongs drifting towards it. The drum beats a rhythm fast and lively. The flute's release and otherworldly yet cheerful melody. One can hear the roots of modern Irish folk music in the songs of the fairies. They both produce a winding and wandering sound that brings the heart and feet on an adventure to somewhere unknown. The Fave voices sing in their own language. It is a language older than the roots of the mountains and the memories of the trees.

Starting point is 00:21:54 They sing of the constant wheel of the seasons. Time as humans measure it means nothing to them. They sing only of the deep sleep of winter, the invigorating energy of spring, the nurturing warmth of summer, and the joyful cheer from its companions. The music doesn't even skip a beat as the little fairy is greeted by its friends and family. It chatters and plays with the others in turn. A warm fire crackles merrily in the center of the chamber.

Starting point is 00:22:52 The smoke and playful sparks drift up to the domed roof of interstacking stones. This design is weatherproof, even after over 5,000 years. The fairies are located around the fire and in the three smaller chambers off of the main entrance. Over each of the smaller chambers is a wreath made from evergreen pine boughs and holly. Their circular structure reflects the wheel of the year. Without a doubt, fairies are the most lively and party loving of all the mystical and magical creatures in the world. Their celebrations of yule are lively and warm, bringing cheer to one another in the depths of winter.

Starting point is 00:24:01 They feed the fire with only oak boughs and sing songs to entice the sun to return after the longest night. They sing a powerful and ancient spell in their joyful voices. May the log burn, may the wheel turn, may evil be spurned, may the sun return. The warmth of the fire fills the chambers to the brim. Shadows of happy fairies flicker along the walls of each chamber, reflecting the good spirits they bring into the new day quickly approaching. Sweet treats left at the smaller mounds in the surrounding fields are passed around

Starting point is 00:24:57 the group. Each treat is more delicious than the last. As the hours creep by in a haze of jolly voices and high spirits, the fairies feel the key moment approaching. They let their songs dwindle out and become replaced with storytelling. In the long hours of the longest night, it is a great tradition to tell stories around the fire. They take turns, each storyteller bringing their favorite tale and their unique style of

Starting point is 00:25:42 telling it. They begin with the forming of the world, how from nothing but chaos and darkness, there came to be a place of perfect balance and energy. They recount the formation of the mountains, the filling of the seas, the coming together and breaking apart of continents. They focus their stories on their own beloved island. They tell one another of the vast and varied greenness that covered the island. They speak over one another to list out a great many wonderful plants that evolved here. They move on to the animals, each with their own place in the order of the island.

Starting point is 00:26:45 They turn their attention to humans, the silly things. They remember when mankind was just a child, still learning how to make fire and boats and wheels. Then humans started organizing themselves, making neat little rows of plants to eat, and neat little squares for their cows to graze, and neat little houses to stay out of the rain. They tell stories of human heroes and great deeds. No small amount of extrapolation and exaggeration go into these stories. The fairies give over to MIRTH in remembering the humans and their ways.

Starting point is 00:27:41 How they have enjoyed watching them grow up. Through all the changes of the world, the fairies have been there. They have observed all the changes and mischievous onlookers. They revered the sun and the moon as their companions watching the world turn. They have done their duty, they have kept the fire going, they have called the sun back and they have warmed each other with good food and good stories. Dawn approaches silently and the fairies quiet themselves in anticipation. Their fire burns low now but still strong and hot. They turn their attention back down the passageway. With collective baited breath, they watch. A thin slice of light creeps down the passageway.

Starting point is 00:28:56 Slow and dim at first, it picks up intensity and speed as the seconds creep by. It is the first white rays of the sun returning. The sun shines through the tiny window above the entry and illuminates the passageway. The light is white and crisp bringing new hope and energy with it. Winter shall not last forever, and this light filtering through the passageway tells the fairies that the sun has returned. Every night after this one shall get shorter, and the days will get longer as the sun gains in strength. Their ritual of laughter and light has guaranteed the wheel will turn for another year.

Starting point is 00:30:03 The light only lasts a little more than 15 minutes. The fairy stand in uncharacteristic silence and stillness for the entire time. They watch the light crawl up the passage and illuminate the chamber. Their little faces smile as the new sun touches them. They watch as it fades back down the passageway. Only once a year, at dawn after the longest night of the year, does the light come through and illuminate the inside of the mound. The fairies put out their fire and follow the light out into the world. The moisture in the air reflects the rays of the sun, so each one looks solid enough to grab and wrap around oneself.

Starting point is 00:31:12 Gold and white light touches everything around them, illuminating the lush greens of their island. A Robin, the bird of the autumn and winter, lets out one final chirping song from an unseen branch. As its song comes to an end, the rend takes over. It's singing the sign of spring and summer approaching. The fairies add their voices to the song. They sing of the robin and the ren, the birds that love one another, and yet must share the year between them. They meet only at the dawn of yul and the dusk of mid-summer. A passing human might hear this song and hear only the twittering melody of birds they cannot identify. They sing their last notes and the fairies break their meeting to continue their slumber. With heavy eyes and wide yawns they

Starting point is 00:32:37 trundle over the low hills to their mounds and secret boroughs. Our fairy lets its feet guide at home, noticing only the lovely way in which the golden sun brings warmth to the chewy winter morning. The river is still burbling and flowing as the very near its mound. It takes another look at the sun before turning in. The sun is crawling higher. Its rays finally touching the river-boying at the base of the valley. The sun ripples on the surface of the river like a thousand diamonds. The trees and bushes on the banks lean ever so slightly toward the sun. Their bare branches reach for a little bit more of the sun's magic to get them through the last of winter.

Starting point is 00:33:53 With a sleepy smile, the bright chill of the winter morning. It curls up comfortably and enjoys the feeling of warmth creeping over its small body. With each passing second its swirling thoughts calm to the peaceful silence of sleep. Summer will come again and it will wake in time for the playful song of birds, the bright colours of new blooms, and the fresh scent of spring breeze. But for now, the rend sings a sweet song, and the fairy goes back to sleep. I'm going to do a little bit of the same thing. I'm going to do a little bit of the same thing. I'm going to do a little bit of the same thing. I'm going to do a little bit of the same thing. you ... you you I'm going to do a little bit of the same thing. I'm going to do a little bit of the same thing.

Starting point is 00:37:12 I'm going to do a little bit of the same thing. I'm going to do a little bit of the same thing. I'm going to do a little bit of the same thing. you you I'm going to do a little bit of the same thing. I'm going to do a little bit of the same thing. I'm going to do a little bit of the same thing. I'm going to do a little bit of the same thing. I'm going to do a little bit of the same thing. you you I'm going to do a little bit of the same thing. I'm going to do a little bit of the same thing.

Starting point is 00:39:12 I'm going to do a little bit of the same thing. I'm going to do a little bit of the same thing. you you you you you you you you you you you

Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - A Faerie’s Yule at Newgrange

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