Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - An Auspicious Meeting in the Moon Forest

Starting point is 00:00:00 Hello, and welcome to Get Sleepy, where we listen, we relax, and we get sleepy. As always I'm your host, Thomas. I want to sincerely thank you for being here and giving us your support, but also for giving yourself the love and care you deserve by coming to this gentle place to rest whenever you listen. Tonight's story was eloquently written by our very own shady grove. We have a special treat in store for you in celebration of Luna New Year. Across Asia and around the world, people are celebrating the transition from one year to the next, and these years are associated with animals.

Starting point is 00:01:00 In China, for example, we are entering the year of the rabbit, and in Vietnam, the year of the cat is just beginning. In this story, we'll honor both of these clever little animals. Tonight's episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. When you're at your best, you can do great things, but sometimes life gets you bogged down, and you may feel overwhelmed, withdrawn, uncertain, or some other challenging emotions or feelings that are at play within. Working with a therapist can help you get closer to the best version of you and make you feel empowered

Starting point is 00:01:46 to take back control of your mental health with better coping skills and understanding. If you're thinking of giving therapy a try, better help is such a great option. It's flexible, affordable and entirely online. Just fill out a brief questionnaire and you'll be matched with a licensed therapist, simple as that. If you want to live a more empowered life, therapy can get you there. Visit betterhelp.com slash get sleepy today to get 10% off your first month. To get 10% off your first month, that's better help help.com slash get sleepy. And a big thank you to air doctor, a new sponsor on the show. Unfortunately, it's no secret that a lot of the air we breathe, both outside and inside our homes contains pollutants and allergens, and they

Starting point is 00:02:46 don't do us any favors. The air doctor filters out dangerous contaminants and allergens, using an ultra-HEPA filter that's been independently shown to remove 99.99% of tested bacteria and viruses, the air doctor greatly improves the air quality in your home. Air doctor comes with a no questions asked 30 day money back guarantee, so if you don't love it, just send it back for a refund, minus shipping. And with our promo code, you can get an amazing discount right now. Head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code get sleepy and depending on the model, you'll

Starting point is 00:03:33 receive up to 39% off. Take advantage of this special offer while you can of up to 39% off when you go to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code get sleepy. I'll put the info in the show notes as well. So it's almost time for our story now. Make yourself as comfortable as can be. Make yourself as comfortable as can be. And once you're settled in a good spot, just enjoy the nose and out through the mouth. fully and smoothly back out. You're here in this place of sanctuary and rest. So enjoy a sense of complete ease. There is nothing you need to do at this time. No thought or action, you need to concern yourself with. Just let the flow of your breath guide you towards sleep. Much like a gentle stream flowing over rocks and stones, and gradually smoothing their

Starting point is 00:05:37 surfaces bit by bit. Allow each gentle exhale of breath to relax your body and soften your mind. with grounding you peacefully in this moment. You can allow yourself to drift off whenever you're ready. So now let's begin tonight's story in a beautiful and the forest. It leapt and bounded over logs and around the willow trees whose delicate green leaves shimmered in the dappled sunlight. With every gentle bounce on its hind legs, the rabbit traveled deeper into these woods it knew so well. so well. Every now and then the rabbit turned a little this way or that to avoid the shining mounds of golden coins piled high on the leaf-scattered ground. For this was a special forest, For this was a special forest, the moon forest, a magical and auspicious place that few but the rabbit ever saw.

Starting point is 00:07:57 The breeze whispered through the willow trees, catching the edges of hundreds of red paper envelopes hanging from the branches. They danced on the air currents like silent wind chimes. Sometimes two of the envelopes would move together. Their smooth paper, making the softest, shushing sound, that only the rabbit could hear. After hopping up on a particularly nice lock, the rabbit stopped to rest. This lock, the rabbit stopped to rest. Soon its little nose began to twitch as it picked up the delicious scent of orange blossoms. With a single leap, the rabbit was back on the forest floor, heading towards the enticing fragrance.

Starting point is 00:09:11 Soon, the rabbit found itself in the most wonderful orange grove, surrounded by tall and sturdy trees, dripping with giant, beautiful oranges. They decorated the trees like gemstones, hanging among the waxy, deep green leaves, and fragrant white blossoms. How the rabbit loved the orange grove. It delighted in hopping beneath the enormous trees, lounging in the circles of shade they provided with the sweet aroma filling the air. And so it was here that the rabbit decided to borrow down for a midday nap. The sun was high in the sky and the grove was warm and inviting. And soon the rabbit felt its eyes beginning to close as it drifted

Starting point is 00:10:30 off into a peaceful slumber. On the other side of the forest far beyond the orange grove, the cat was padding quietly through the trees. It scampered over logs and around the curving trunks of the willows, whose drooping branches hung down tantalizingly over the cat's head. With every silent footstep, the cat travelled deeper into these woods, it knew so well. Every now and then, the cat shimmied a little to one side or the other to avoid the shining mounds of golden coins piled high on the leaf-scattered ground. For this was a special forest, the moon forest, a magical and auspicious place that few but the cat ever saw.

Starting point is 00:11:52 The breeze whispered through the willow trees, catching the edges of hundreds of red paper envelopes hanging from the branches. They danced on the air currents like silent wind chimes. Sometimes two of the envelopes would move together, their smooth paper making making the softest, shushing sound that only the cat could hear. After climbing up on a rough, yet stable log, the cat paused for a moment to rest. Soon, its delicate whiskers began to twitch as it picked up the delicious scent of tangerine blossoms. With an elegant jump, the cat was back on the forest floor, blooping off towards the enticing fragrance. Soon the cat found itself in the most wonderful tangerine grove, surrounded by tall and graceful trees, dripping with little beautiful tangerines.

Starting point is 00:13:30 little beautiful tangerines. They decorated the trees like gemstones, hanging among the waxy green leaves and fragrant white blossoms. How the cat loved the tangerine grove. how the cat loved the tundering grove. It delighted in slinking beneath the trees, lounging in the circles of shade they provided with the sweet aroma filling the air. And so, it was here that the cat decided to settle down for a midday nap. The sun was high in the sky, and the grove was warm and inviting. And soon the cat felt its eyes beginning to close as it drifted off into a peaceful slumber. Just as the sun was coloring the edges of the orange trees a deep gold, the rabbit slowly opened its eyes. It peeked out of its burrow and admired the rich sunset hues adorning the grove. For a moment, the rabbit sat there quietly, enjoying the sweet scent of the orange blossoms, the tranquil scene, and the delicious feeling of waking up after a long, blazing nap.

Starting point is 00:15:33 But then, a new fragrance arrived with a gentle breeze coming from deeper in the forest. It was the luscious fr, but had never encountered them in the forest before. With its nose twitching, the rabbit hopped up, took a final look at its beloved orange grove Took a final look at its beloved orange grove and bound it off into the trees. On the other side of the forest, far beyond the orange grove, the cat napped in an oval of shade beneath a tall, slender, tangerine tree. Just as the sun was coloring the edges of the trees a deep gold, the cat slowly opened one of its eyes. It blinked, then opened the other eye, and admired the rich sunset hues adorning the grove. For a moment, the cat lay there quietly, enjoying the sweet scent of the tangerine blossoms, the tranquil scene, and the delicious feeling of waking up after a long, lazy nap. But then, a new fragrance arrived with a gentle breeze, coming from deeper in the forest. It was the luscious, fruity scent of peaches mixed with the tang of apricots. The cat knew these smells of course, but had never encountered them in the forest before.

Starting point is 00:17:51 With its whiskers twitching, the cat stood up and stretched. at its beloved tangerine grove and scamp it off into the trees. The rabbit hopped and bound it through the willow trees to find where the wonderful scent was coming from. was coming from. It bounced over twigs and stones and along the mossy bank of the narrow stream that wound its way through the forest. A few large fish saw the rabbit topping near the side of the stream. Playfully, they flashed their tails and swam alongside the rabbit for as long as they could. The rabbit admired the way the stream barbled over the pebbles in some places and flowed so smoothly in others between its mossy banks. And the rabbit liked the way the red paper envelopes

Starting point is 00:19:17 hanging in the trees were reflected in the glassy water like rubies on crystal. The rabbit hopped and bounced and bound it until it reached the most beautiful place it had ever seen. The cat trotted through the willow trees to find where the wonderful scent was coming from. It slinked over twigs and stones and padded softly along the mossy bank of the narrow stream that wound its way through the forest. A few large fish saw the cat loping near the side of the stream. They were careful to stay out of sight hidden behind the larger rocks, where the roots of the willows reached into the water. The cat liked the way the stream burbled over pebbles in some places and

Starting point is 00:20:37 flowed so smoothly in others between its mossy banks. And the cat found it intriguing to watch the way the red paper envelopes hanging in the trees were reflected in the glassy water like bright red fish. Every so often, it had the urge to bat its paw at one of the red reflections, though it knew it would only get its fur wet. The cat ran and jumped and crept until it reached the most beautiful place it had ever seen. In the middle of the moon forest, where the willow trees are hung with red paper lanterns that glow like fireflies in the tallest branches. The rabbit and the cat paused at the edge of a lush green clearing.

Starting point is 00:21:56 Piles of shiny golden coins were scattered across the forest floor, glowing with the rich red and orange hues of the fading sun. Red paper envelopes fluttered in the breeze, like bunches of red berries on the green willow branches. the green willow branches, and delicateed high with the richest, ripest peaches, orange, red and yellow, like the sun. Decorative vases filled with glorious pink peach blossoms and sunny yellow apricot blossoms filled the spaces in between. Blossoms covered the ground like snow and the air was filled with the sweetest sense the rabbit and the cat had ever smelled. How they loved the clearing. The rabbit hopped joyfully in a circle, unsure whether to go right or left, both ways held promises of peaches.

Starting point is 00:23:52 The cat paused thoughtfully, considering its options. It would wait for the right moment to decide, right or left. But then, as both the rabbit and the cat delighted in their newfound clearing, their eyes happened to land on one another. The rabbit stopped mid-hop. The cat flicked its tail back and forth. Who was this stranger in the middle of the forest they wondered. The outgoing cat was the first to make a move. It stepped forward into the clearing and its smooth voice, asked who the rabbit was and what it was doing in the cat forest. The peaceful rabbit hopped forward carefully. Always diplomatic, the rabbit told the cat that it hadn't realised it was a cat forest. It had always assumed it was a rabbit forest, with a few fish who lived

Starting point is 00:25:30 in the streams. No, it's definitely a cat forest, the cat told to the rabbit. But then, brimming with curiosity, the cat added, does your stream have fish? I never see any in mine. Oh yes, said the rabbit. There are always fish playing in the stream here. I'm so the rabbit invited the cat over to its side of the forest. Cautiously, the cat padded across the clearing. When it reached the other side, the rabbit welcomed it warmly. The cat gave the rabbit a side-long glance. It wasn't used to spending time with anyone,

Starting point is 00:26:40 let alone a rabbit. Let alone a rabbit. But soon the rabbit was talking cheerfully about the best logs and boroughs to be found in the rabbit forest, and about the willow trees with their curving trunks. And before the cat knew it, they had reached the stream. The fish whose stream ran through the whole moon forest saw the cat coming. They liked the rabbit well enough. It was playful and gentle. But the cat liked to bat at the water, so the fish stayed behind the rocks near the willow roots. How odd, said the rabbit. There are always fish in my stream. Oh well, said the cat. I suppose you have to be in the right place at the right time.

Starting point is 00:27:58 Then, the rabbit had an idea. It would take the cat to the orange grove to see its favourite napping place. Together, the rabbit and the cat hopped and bound it and slinked and loapt their way from the stream to the grove. As they got closer, the cat noticed that while the scent of the grove was similar, it wasn't quite the same as the tangerine gro Grove on its side of the forest. And when they arrived, the cat saw that wasn't the only difference. The trees here were enormous and covered with huge round orange fruit. While they had many similarities, they were definitely not the same as the Tangerines back home. And yet, there was something pleasant about the scent of these oranges. Something tantalising about the way they hung among the deep green leaves and white blossoms. The cats still thought the were superior, of course. But this wasn't all bad.

Starting point is 00:29:50 As they explored the orange grove, the sun sank lower in the sky. And the cat decided it was time to show the rabbit the other side of the forest. The rabbit agreed happily. It was curious to see where the cat spent its days. And so, together, the rabbit and the cat jumped and hopped and leapt and ran through the trees under the whispering envelopes, through the air, scented with orange blossoms, until they reached the clearing of peaches. Without hesitation, the cat trotted across the clearing to the other side.

Starting point is 00:30:56 The rabbit followed, glancing up into the trees as it scumped past. Though the paper decorations were similar, the rabbit found it couldn't read the golden writing to be found on the cat's side of the forest. What do your decorations say, the rabbit asked? They are wishes for a good new year, the cat explained. That's the same as on the other side, the rabbit said. But the characters are different. It's interesting how similar and yet how different are two sides of the forest star, the cat thought to itself. Soon, the pair reached the cat's beloved tangerine grove.

Starting point is 00:32:06 The rabbit knew they were drawing near because of the wonderfully sweet fragrance surrounding them in the air. When they entered the grove, the cat padded over to one particular tree. This was the best place to nap the cat explained. The trees here were tall, but their trunks were thinner than those in the orange grove the rabbit observed. And these trees were covered with comparatively tiny round orange fruit. While they had many similarities, they were definitely not the same as the oranges back home. And yet there was something pleasant about the scent of these t the green leaves and white blossoms.

Starting point is 00:33:27 It's interesting how different, and yet how similar are two sides of the forest star, the rabbit thought fading fast. The sky was resplendent in lavender, plum and deep dark blue. Together, the cat and the rabbit ran, hopped, and bounded back to the lush clearing in the middle of the forest. As the night fell, the red paper lanterns hanging from the branches glowed brightly, like flames flickering in the tree tops. The sky was dark, save for diamond-like stars scattered across it. The cat cauld up on its side of the forest, tucked away in the crook of a tree branch.

Starting point is 00:34:49 And the rabbit was snug and warm in a burrow on its side of the forest. Each one gazed up at the sky sky as they always did at bedtime. But then, they also glanced over at the other side of the forest, before falling into a deep slumber. When they awoke the next morning, both the rabbit and the cat got up as they did every day. But now that they knew the other lived so nearby, neither was entirely content to go about their day like usual. By mid-afternoon, the rabbit and the cat were exploring the cat's stream more carefully in search of the elusive fish. And by early evening, they practiced hopping from stone to stone

Starting point is 00:36:11 on the rabbit's side of the forest. That night, they each went to bed on their own sides of the forest once again, with a last glance at their new neighbour before they fell into a deep sleep. For many days and nights, it continued like this, with the cat and the rabbit exploring each other's sides of the forest. They learned that while many things were different about their homes, there were far more similarities between them. Each night, a bit more of the moon appeared overhead. then it looked like a tangerine slice, then half of an orange, until it finally hung like a bright golden peach high in the tree tops above, the rabbit and the cat understood. There was no cat forest, and no rabbit forest. There was only the moon forest and it was home to them both.

Starting point is 00:38:13 So they found the most comfortable place in the clearing with the best view of the night sky. And together they watched the stars shining, the lanterns twinkling and the moon shimmering, and with the scent of peaches lingering about them and the sound of the red paper envelopes fell into a deep and peaceful slumber in the Moon forest. ... ... ... ... ... ... I'm going to do a little bit of the work. I'm going to do a little bit of the work. I'm going to do a little bit of the work. I'm going to do a little bit of the work. I'm going to do a little bit of the work. I'm going to do a little bit of the work. I'm going to do a little bit of the work. I'm going to do a little bit of the work. I'm going to do a little bit of the work.

Starting point is 00:41:38 I'm going to do a little bit of the work. I'm going to do a little bit of the work. I'm going to do a little bit of the work. I'm going to do a little bit of the work. I'm going to do a little bit of the work. ... ... ... ... ... ... you you

Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - An Auspicious Meeting in the Moon Forest

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