Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - A Mermaid's Dreamy Tale

Starting point is 00:00:00 Welcome to Get Sleepy, where we listen, we relax and we get sleepy. My name's Thomas and it's my honor to be your host. Tonight we'll be visiting a place where magic prevails. A place where one legend is still whispered across beach bonfires, and passed down from generation to generation. It's the legend of a girl who believed in mermaids, and this wonderful story was written by Chase. First though, a quick word from our sponsor, BetterHelp. Sometimes life can

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Starting point is 00:01:51 Let therapy be your map with better help. Visit betterhelp.com-get-sleepy to get 10% off your first month. That's better help help.com slash get sleepy. Before we venture out to the sandy shores where our story begins, Let's get ready for a deep, restful sleep. Now that the day has come to an end, side beneath the covers and gather the soft silky sheets around you. Snuggle down and find that sweet spot of complete comfort where the bed feels like it was created just for you. Begin to slow your breathing, imagining a thread of calm, coursing through your body as you breathe in. And as you breathe out, envision that thread, leaving through the tips of your toes,

Starting point is 00:03:27 taking with it any stress or tension. Deep breath in and out. And out. And alongside that release of tension, allow any noise in the mind to fade out and drift away, replacing it with the sound of my voice, giving yourself an opportunity to be fully immersed in tonight's story. and out, sensing tension and disruption gently departing. Beckons. Imagine an island with a rugged coastline. Here a mysterious stone tower stands at the base of a cliff. is where our story begins. Every legend and every fairy tale has some kernel of truth to it. The legend of Marla is no exception. Her story is a tale of finding one's place in the world. On the island that is now named after her, visitors flock to the shore to seek out the famed mystical watchtower, where the legend is rumoured to have begun.

Starting point is 00:06:12 The tower is very old, and it is covered all over with drawings and etchings of tales, fins, flukes, and mermaids. No one knows how old this tower is, or who made these markings. But one thing is for sure, they say, the tower is from the legend of Marla, the girl who helped the underwater world and was rewarded in turn with a first felt the call of the ocean. She couldn't explain it. It was like some invisible force, some tether physically pulled her towards the water's edge, where she'd stand mesmerized. More than any other feeling in the world, that tug was consistent. She simply believed it to be her wonder and joy at the majestic blue expanse of the ocean and her inexplicable love for swimming and exploring. Believing that every other child felt that same pull, Marla never really questioned

Starting point is 00:08:11 it. She grew up in a small cottage in the southern isles of the continent and was raised by a local healer named Louise. Most of the time, Marla was content. And yet, she always felt a little out of place, except when she was on the beach near the water which cooled to her. She would feel that unseen tether pulling her to the shore at all hours of the day and night. And she would go to the water by the mysterious tower on the beach. It was set within the rocky cliffs, the tangled their way around the western side of the small island. Marla visited the secluded beach so many times as a child.

Starting point is 00:09:31 Her guardian Louise chalked it up to a curiosity about nature. And so, as Marla grew older, Louise granted her more and more freedom to explore. Every moment of that freedom saw Marla swimming in the waters by the tower. That otherworldly structure decorated in exquisite etchings of mermaids and underwater life. There weren't many children her age in the village, so Mollard didn't have many friends. At times, she longed for companionship and adventure. But when she was at the beach, or swimming in those sparkling serulian waters, She felt like she was surrounded by things to explore. Sometimes she would comb the glittering expanse of sand for the rare and precious blue pearls that the island was known for. nowhere else in the world had this kind of pearl.

Starting point is 00:11:14 These pearls were larger than regular ones and so beautiful, shining in shades of aqua marine and sky blue, that they were rumoured to be the most wondrous things in all the world, either on land or in the water. If you were lucky enough to find one and pick it up, you could spend hours gazing at its shimmering iridescence, a kind of flickering bluish-green light that shone so brightly, it almost seemed as if it was lit up from within. It was said that magic, real magic, the kind that made kingdoms quake and oceans roar existed inside of those pals. They must only exist in legend, Marla thought, as she had never seen one on any of her countless beach excursions. Neither had Louise, who had seen and done nearly everything that could be seen or done. Louise did have a few of the lesser powers, the smaller dollar sisters to the magical

Starting point is 00:13:00 ones. The healer used them in her paltices and tonics, as even they had healing properties. If Marla were to say anyone was truly her friend, she would say that Louise was. Despite the age difference, or perhaps because of it, the two enjoyed their time together. Over the years Louise had learned all of Marla's quacks. For example, the only kinds of food that Marla liked to eat were fresh vegetables, plants or seafood. Louise always joked that Marla was more suited to living underwater than anywhere else. Night after night, Louise sat by her bedside, regaling her with amazing stories. It was the weas who told her of the mermaids of old, which were Marla's favourite tales

Starting point is 00:14:30 of all. Perhaps it was those stories that instilled in Marla a belief in the creatures of the deep blue sea, the ones that were also etched on the ancient stone tower that she loved to explore. The ocean was vast, almost endless, who knew what truly existed beneath the waves. It would be no surprise that these mermaids Louise spoke of loved, cared, wished and dreamed just as the humans on land did. When she wasn't at the beach swimming or playing at the tower, Marla was at the healer's shop, helping Louise with the preparation of potions or tonics. She would often stay long into the evening to

Starting point is 00:15:53 listen to every story the older woman shared with her. The maids weren't the only fantastical creatures Louise spoke of. There were also stories of fairies on land who communed with nature. Every plant, bird and insect spoke to the fairies, keeping them apprised of all the happenings. The fairies even knew about Marla, Louise said with a wink, for they knew about everything and everyone. Those stories brought such wonder to Marla. Oh, how she yearned to see the fairies and mermaids for herself. To witness those stories come to life. She would often stay up long after dark, dreaming of such things,

Starting point is 00:17:13 of becoming so attuned to nature that she could communicate with all of it. There was no doubt in her mind that these magical creatures existed and could do these amazing things that Louise spoke of. Everything just made more sense if they were real, Marla thought. To Marla, the healer's stories were more than just tall tales. When she heard them, they tunked at her just like when she felt that pull to the ocean. It was as though they were imbued with a magic of their own. She never dismissed those feelings. She was sure that there was something magical pulling that tether. And sometimes she even thought that she could hear whispers spoken to her whenever she was outside, especially near the beach. Marla knew deep down that one day her dreams would come true, that she would see those

Starting point is 00:18:59 creatures of law for herself. Her unwavering hope and belief kept her anchored in those dreams. According to the legend, those dreams came true, the day Marla felt the most earnest tug she'd ever felt. As usual, it brought her to the water's edge by the tower. Marla had been helping Louise plant flowers in her garden when it happened. She put everything down and left, making her excuses to Louise. yet said nothing as the girl rushed across town towards the water. Marla was standing on the rocky shore right by the tower when the moment should be waiting for finally arrived. She saw a girl's head slowly rise above the water's surface. But this was no ordinary girl. A swirl of purple, blue and green hair pulled around her, and a set of bright emerald green

Starting point is 00:20:49 eyes stared into her own. Without even having to see the similarly coloured tail beneath the surface. Marla knew right then and there that this girl was a mermaid. Transfixed, Marla stared back until the mermaid waived her webtoon, until the mermaid waived her webtoon, motioning for Marla to come towards her. Not wasting another moment, Marla splashed into the water and swam right for the creature. Her excitement, a tangible thing. Upon reaching the mermaid, it was all Marla could do not to stare at her beauty. She was so stunning. She was so stunning. The mermaid opened her mouth to speak to Marla, only for a stream of garbled sounds to pour out.

Starting point is 00:22:19 As Marla raised an eyebrow, clearly not understanding the mermaid's side, and then sickened for her to duck underwater. It was one thing to meet a real mermaid, but what But what happened next was even more extraordinary. The beautiful ethereal mermaid brushed Marla's forehead with her fingertip. The second her smooth hand touched the girl's skin. There was a flash of green that pierced through the darkness of the water. And then all of a sudden, Marla could see and hear everything, and she could breathe underwater. Her surprise and joy must have been evident. as she introduced herself as Vera. Marla could only glance around in awe at her surroundings, at the now crystal clear water. She could see far into the distance and far below her. Each and every detail was rendered infinitely clearer and more nuanced.

Starting point is 00:24:19 She could see every sliver of sunlight dancing through the water, each individual scale of every fish inside, and the myriad glittering blue-green scales of Vera's tale. She was mesmerized by the way every flicker of movement sent shafts of iridescence into the water. And Vera's voice was a symphony of sound, traveling effortlessly through the water. It was simply astounding, more magical than anything Marla had imagined, even in her wildest dreams. Vera waited for a moment, giving Marla time to take in her heightened senses and adjust to the changes. Then she took the girl's hand in her own and asked her for help. She explained that Marla had been summoned here to the underwater kingdom, the world of the mermaids, for a reason. Vera told Marla that she was special.

Starting point is 00:26:07 She could hear the call of the deep. That was why she had been chosen for this quest. And that's also explained why Marla had always felt that inexplicable pull to the water. Marla listened wide-eyed as Vera began to recount the story of the mermaid queen. The queen had lost a sacred heirloom. It was a string of blue pals, the same pals that Marla had heard about in stories. The queen treasured this magical necklace, having worn it her whole life. It was priceless and it had been missing for a while now. At last the Queen had asked for help. She asked Vera to send out a call through the water and over the land. The mermaids knew that only those who loved the ocean and believed in the existence of their species could succeed

Starting point is 00:27:49 in getting the necklace back. The call for help had gone out, said Vera. And now, here they were. And now, here they were. Marla was the only one who had shown up, without a trace of fear or trepidation, and with only wonder and bravery in her heart. Should the girl complete the task and help the mermaid queen, the generous reward would await her. Marla was amazed at this turn of events. It was a quest, a real life quest. She could hardly believe that she had been chosen

Starting point is 00:28:54 for such an honour. She squeezed Vera's hand and beamed at her, telling her that of course she would help the mermaids. Besides, she knew the island like the back of her hand. Vera hunked Marlis neck, her tail swishing through the water as she wrapped around the girl in an embrace. Then she pulled back and opened her hand to reveal the most beautiful thing Marla had ever seen, a real blue pearl. It was smaller than what she'd imagined, after hearing all the stories. Vera told her that the blue pearl possessed enough inherent magic to aid Marla in her task. Handing the pearl to Marla, Vera explained that it would help lead her to the necklace. Like caused to like, she said, as is the way of all things.

Starting point is 00:30:31 Marla clung to the tower on the shore. By the base of the tower was a small niche in which a bell hung. It had always been ignored, viewed as part of the towers in Nikma, but Marla learned that it was there for a reason. The Mermaids would hear the bell, and Vera would know to come for her. The two embraced again and Vera once more extended out her palm to rest on Marla could return to the land and begin her quest. As Marla felt the magic leave and her body and senses return to normal. She swam to the shore. normal, she swam to the shore. When she the sand so she could dry off a bit, before beginning her search for the blue-pow necklace. The whole experience felt surreal, yet it also felt so right, as if she had been made

Starting point is 00:32:56 for this very thing in this moment of time. She couldn't think of a great heronner than to help the mermaids. And so, with the rest of the day ahead of her hand, she began her search. She wasn't quite sure how the magic and the pearls worked, but she could feel the power of the one in her hand, and she assumed that it would increase the closer she got to the necklace. Marla decided that the best course of action would be to try different directions and see which produced the most intense reaction from the power. Choosing to go north first, she started to walk towards the center of town. The longer she walked, the less the power seemed to throb.

Starting point is 00:34:29 Taking that as an answer, Marla then retraced her beach, and it didn't take much time at all for her to feel the decrease in the power of the power. Retracing her steps once again, and considering that south would lead her right back into the water, she then went west past the tower by the cliffs. and sure enough, the pearl began to throb and hum in her hand, its intensity growing by the second. Delighted to be heading in the right direction, Marla sang a jaunty tune while she walked. By now, the sun was hanging high in the bright blue sky. She passed by beachside cottages and brilliant green clusters of palm trees, stopping to eat some of the delicate fruit. It tasted't long before the pal grew so hot and hummed so loud in her hand

Starting point is 00:36:32 that she knew she had arrived at the place where the necklace must be. The area was a small grove of trees, a little way inland, with ample shade. Marla began to comb the area, keeping her eyes peeled for that telltale glimmer of iridescent at quamerine, which would match the color of the pearl she carried with her. She shuffled through the brush and looked along every inch of ground. She circled every tree and searched every nook and cranny. But it wasn't until she turned her face up to look higher into the trees that she saw it. Something shimmering in a bird's nest, in a tree close to her. When she got closer, she realized that the necklace was draped over the nest.

Starting point is 00:38:08 It had obviously been taken by magpies who were notorious for being treasure seekers. It made perfect sense. And thankfully, the family of birds weren't home, so she could easily retrieve the precious item. Scanning the tree, she found that there were several branches she could use to hoist herself up and climb to the nest. Marla put the pile in her pocket. Then she took a running jump to grab onto the lowest branch, swinging herself up and onto it. Good thing she was nimble, she thought, as she surveyed the branch above. She scurried up her tree quickly. Soon she was within reach of the nest. With trembling hands she reached out and gently pried the necklace's beauty, but there were no words for just how beautiful

Starting point is 00:39:53 the string of blue pearls really was. And the magic it contained was impossible to ignore. It absolutely radiated power. And it shone so bright that it was almost hard to look at. Marla didn't waste any time in slipping the necklace over her head as she shimmed down the tree, jumping from the last branch to land on the ground. Her knees shook a little, but she remained upright. She touched the necklace one last time, savoring the thrill of power she felt before she set off for the niche. When she found it, she stuck her hand in and rang the bell just once, knowing that

Starting point is 00:41:23 this was all that was needed. Then she went down to the shore and waited. It was only a matter of moments before Vera's head popped up out of the water. Marla made her way through the surf and swam to reach the mermaid. The second she did, she followed the same steps as before. Going under and letting Vera place her palm on her forehead so that she could breathe and speak to her. Marla excitedly handed Vera the glorious necklace as she told the tale of how and where she found it. All Vera could do was shake her head in amazement. Marla had brought back the most precious object in the mermaid kingdom.

Starting point is 00:42:51 They were all so grateful, said Vera. The only gift that the queen could think to give her was one that made Marla's eyes go white. Vera explained that the queen was offering the girl the gift of a lifetime to become a mermaid, if she so desired. It took Marla all of a second to respond. Yes, she said, yes. To live underwater, to become a mermaid, Marla couldn't wish for anything more. She accepted the offer then and there, and gained her stunning mermaid tail that very moment. It is said that Marla found her people, the mer her home that day. That is the legend of Marla, the legend of a mere mortal, a human being, helping a kingdom and becoming a mermaid herself.

Starting point is 00:44:50 It is a story of finding one's place in the world through the power of belief in magic and things unseen. and the things on the scene. ... you ... ... you I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room.

Starting point is 00:47:18 I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go 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 ... ... you you ... ... I'm going to do a little bit of the work.

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Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - A Mermaid's Dreamy Tale

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