Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - Cancer's Dreamy Day on Earth

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Starting point is 00:01:03 Because at TD Insurance, we understand that your business is unique so your business insurance should be too. Contact the licensed TD Insurance Advisor to learn more. Welcome to Get Sleepy. Where we listen, we relax, and we get sleepy. My name's Thomas and I'm your host. Thank you for tuning in. Please be sure to hit subscribe or follow on whichever platform you're listening on. Not only will it help you stay up to date with our latest episodes,

Starting point is 00:01:44 so you never miss out on a good night's rest, but it will help us to reach more new listeners and further our mission to help the world get better sleep. Thank you all so much. Our story tonight was written by Frankie and I'll be reading it for you. It's about the fourth sign in the zodiac, Cancer the crab, known for being gentle and nurturing. This evening we'll join Cancer as she spends her first day back on earth in thousands of years. She'll visit the nursery of a zoo and work with baby animals. Who better to welcome new life onto the planet than the sign that embodies sensitivity,

Starting point is 00:02:37 warmth, and tenderness? So, get settled in as we prepare to listen. Let us apply gentle care to our bodies. strong, hard-working bodies that carry us around all day. Turn your full attention to your own. Make sure it's arranged comfortably in your bed. Take a moment to think of all the things you appreciate about your body. Perhaps it's the way your body turns food into energy to fuel you, or maybe the way it takes in oxygen with every relaxing breath. Possibly it's the fact that your body houses your mind, that key part of you that determines who you are and how you see the world. Your mind also deserves the warm tenderness you've given to your body. It works hard all day to solve problems, analyze information, and organize the world around you.

Starting point is 00:04:34 Now, it is time to give your mind a break from that work. Wipe away the thoughts and business from the day. It can return in the morning, but for now, your mind need only be open to relaxation and peace. Some thoughts will try to creep back in and that is okay. Trust that your mind knows how to quiet itself in preparation for sleep. We are going to the Pacific Northwest of the United States, where the air is fresh with the combined scent of the Pacific Ocean and the Olympic Mountains. The trees are evergreen and the sky is blue on

Starting point is 00:05:52 this early summer day. This is where our story begins. Cancer touches down on the warm paving stones of the entry courtyard, the morning sun crisp and bright on her skin. Her journey from the heavens was long, but she has arrived with the excitement of a new experience bubbling in her chest. She has heard so much about the incredible new world the humans have built on earth since she was last here. Typical of the compassionate and hard-working cancer, she has decided to spend the day volunteering with humans to truly immerse herself in their world. She has chosen a zoo so she can work with animals and also be among her favorite beings of all,

Starting point is 00:07:39 human children. The lead zookeeper walks up to her and wishes her a good morning. By way of cancer's magic, he accepts that she's a new member of the team and gives her a list of animals with new babies to check and report on during the day. Cancer smiles brightly at the zookeeper before walking across the park towards the kids zone and her first assignment of the day. of the day. She waves to a large male peacock as he struts past. Cancer has chosen to work in this zoo for several specific reasons. The zoo, located in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, is focused on education

Starting point is 00:08:50 and conservation. Cancer has decided to help in the nursery department, checking the health and well-being of the newest residents of the park. This zoo only breeds animals for conservation or to help build up a population that will eventually be reintroduced to the wild. Its exhibits are themed around ecosystems of the Pacific Rim, which includes Southeast Asia, the Pacific Northwest, and the Arctic. Cancer is looking forward to visiting all of these environments in miniature throughout the day.

Starting point is 00:09:51 The zoo is starting to admit its first guests of the day and cancer can hear the cheerful voices of children floating across the park. children floating across the park. She enters the kids zone exhibit making her way past the Nigerian dwarf goats, the Palmer Wallabies, and the Meerkats. She's got an appointment with the black and white roughed lemurs. One of the females in the small colony has had a litter of two new little lemurs. As cancer arrives at the large enclosure, she looks in the high canopy for the telltale signs of a nest. Not wanting to disrupt the colony or the new mother, cancer takes out her

Starting point is 00:10:58 clipboard and makes some notes on the progress of the group. The mother lemur is easily recognizable as the one sitting peacefully in the nest. Her yellow-orange eyes are turned to her too young, but they still blaze brightly against her black and white fur. Cancer notices two other females sitting in the branches above the nest, ready to help care for the young when the mother needs a break. The babies themselves are very small and covered with gray fur that will eventually grow out to the distinctive pattern of their parents. pattern of their parents. They crawl around the nest and all over their mother. As cancer watches, a male swings through the branches and up to the nest, bringing some fresh fruit for the mother. This must be the father. He gives his mate her snack and checks the young. Cancer is satisfied to see the whole colony caring for the new family and decides to move on to the next animals on her list.

Starting point is 00:12:54 In the Asian forest sanctuary, Cancer finds her next animal. A female Malayan tapir gave birth to a son a few weeks ago. Malayan tapirs are the only species of tapir to be found outside of the Americas. As cancer approaches their enclosure, she checks to make sure their pool of water is clean and fresh, that there are plenty of young shoots for them to eat, and that there is a host of vegetation for the baby to run around in. Due to the excellent camouflage of the baby taper, it takes cancer several long minutes to find the little one. She sees the black and white mother bathing in the pool and finally spots the brown and white speckled baby

Starting point is 00:14:08 snuffling around in the long grasses. All tapers have poor vision but excellent hearing and sense of smell. When the baby gets tired of his snuffling, he waddles towards the pool, his tiny trunk extended for the scent of his mother. When he finds her, they touch trunks in greeting, and the mother encourages her little one into the water for a bath. Cancer notes the particularly attentive way the mother encourages her baby to be independent. The next enclosure houses one of the animals that cancer is most excited to see. The Sumatran tiger in this enclosure has given birth to a litter of three healthy cubs.

Starting point is 00:15:29 Sumatran tigers prefer dense undergrowth and a large area in which to wander. As a result, it takes cancer some time to walk around the large enclosure and spot a flash of the signature orange of a tiger. She watches from outside the enclosure, remaining very still and quiet, so as not to disturb the family. This area is cordoned off from the rest of the zoo for the next few weeks until the cubs get large enough so as not to be disturbed by the sound of crowds. so as not to be disturbed by the sound of crowds. Cancer's patience pays off when the mother ventures out of a clump of vegetation with three little balls of fluff following her.

Starting point is 00:16:52 She flops down on the ground and gently grabs one of her offspring for a bath. The other two wrestle one another playfully. Cancer knows from her paperwork that there are two female cubs and one male cub. She can't tell which is which from this distance but she knows that once the male cub grows up he'll be recognizable by an impressive rough of fur around his head. For now, the three cubs are nearly identical to everyone except their mother. She finishes with one cup and grabs another for a bath. and grabs another for a bath. This cub appears to have a different opinion and tries desperately to get away and return to the game with its siblings, but the mother is bigger. Cancer giggles to herself and moves away from the forced bathing. The Asian Forest Sanctuary exhibit is one of the largest in the park because it houses the zoo's largest residence, a family of Asian elephants.

Starting point is 00:18:31 The matriarch of this group has added to her family with a new calf. Though the calf is nearly a year and a half old, he is still a fraction of the size of his mother and the other adults. Their enclosure includes a freshwater pool, a clay patch free from vegetation, and a vast area of long grasses. Unlike the tigers, these animals are very easy to spot. The large adult females walk ponderously towards the pool of water Walks ponderously towards the pool of water, while their little calf follows, trumpeting cheerfully. Is clearly a ball of energy, racing ahead of the group and reaching the water first. He's just learned how to blow water out of his trunk and takes great joy in spraying his family members as they get into the water for a bath. His ears waggle playfully as he trots out of his mother's grasp to blow water at her again.

Starting point is 00:20:12 Cancer can't help the huge smile that spreads across her face from watching the playful antics. the playful antics. She marks down on her report that the calf appears to be growing up strong and healthy. Again, Cancer must be careful to make no unnecessary noise as she ventures to an enclosure that has a secluded spot away from the public. The clouded leopards are used to the quiet solitude of the Himalayan mountains or high South China forests, especially when they have cubs. Cancer climbs up an observation deck near their enclosure and settles down to wait. Clouded leopards are excellent climbers and prefer to spend most of their days in the canopy. Cancer sits and waits, being sure to look carefully at the branches nearest to her. The mottled brown and black spots of the clouded leopard make them nearly impossible to see, particularly when they are not moving. The sun is high in the sky, which usually means that these nocturnal and secretive cats are napping.

Starting point is 00:22:12 However, Cancer knows that cubs are rarely on the same schedule as their mothers. After many long minutes, she sees movement. Through the branches, there are two adolescent cubs climbing after one another. They are not as graceful as their mother, whom cancer can now see lounging on a tree branch. She keeps one yellow eye open and focused on her cubs while they explore. Cancer adjusts her position slightly to make her notes. The family spots her and gives her an interested look for a long minute. Cancer holds their gazes, admiring the way their eyes betray curiosity. She takes in their beautiful coats, each spot and shape unique. Finally, Cancer decides it is time to go and climbs down under their watchful eyes. Having finished checking on all the animals with Young in the Asian Forest Sanctuary, sanctuary, cancer moves to the rocky shores exhibit. This area is made to

Starting point is 00:24:12 reflect the local coastline and houses some animals that have been rescued and will be released back into the wild. and will be released back into the wild. Cancer is here to check on the sea otters. This otter family was rescued and has stayed at the zoo for a few months in order to build up their strength and numbers. They are due to be released into a protected area in a week or so. Cancer needs to make sure that the pups are still looking healthy and are ready to go back out in the wider world. She finds the whole family splashing around in

Starting point is 00:25:13 their mini beach and saltwater pool. A viewing tank allows cancer to watch their sleek bodies dive and spiral through the water as they play and clean themselves. It's not difficult for her to spot the fluffy brown pups among the smooth adults. The hard part is counting the wiggly little animals. The pups are taking their first dives into the water but are still heavily reliant on their mothers. They all appear to be swimming well and Cancer is happy that this family will soon be able to return to the wild, making room here at the zoo for other animals in need. Cancer's path now takes her to the Arctic tundra exhibit. She walks past the muskoxen enclosure, where the herd stands together and grazes at the far end of a green field.

Starting point is 00:26:51 Their shaggy hair puts her in mind of the woolly mammoth. She moves on to the Arctic Fox Den. At this time of year, the wintry white fur of the foxes has turned brown just as the ground of the tundra is brown after the snow melts. As she walks, cancer reflects on the way in which every part of the annual cycle of the tundra is different to make the most of each season. The foxes change their fur for better camouflage and to reflect the change in temperature. reflect the change in temperature. The very ground itself goes from frozen solid under feet of snow to lush wild the beauty of the natural world. She soon arrives at her next assignment, the reindeer or caribou.

Starting point is 00:28:32 This herd is of a specific subspecies of caribou and is enjoying a well-fed vacation at the zoo before they are released into a nearby national park to establish the local population, and they have just welcomed a few new calves to their group. Cancer notices how incredibly impressive the animals look in their field. Some stand tall with huge pairs of antlers. Their bodies are covered in thick brown and white coats, and their soft brown eyes watch her keenly. The younglings are fluffy and long-legged. They nurse, call their mothers, and run around, working those strong legs. This herd will be released at the end of summer before the rutting season begins. They will be brought to a protected area in the evergreen forest with flowery meadows

Starting point is 00:29:57 and the peaks of the Olympic Mountains to watch over them. to watch over them. Even now, cancer can imagine these majestic animals standing in their new home. Whereas the caribou have many new members of their group to look after, cancer is on the hunt for just one baby in the polar bear enclosure. When cancer arrives at the enclosure, she can only see the great white mother curled up for a nap a short distance from her huge swimming pool. It's not until the cub moves and his little black nose identifies him from the form of his mother that she spots him. Polar bears are the largest bears on earth, but this little cub is still tiny in comparison to his fully grown mother.

Starting point is 00:31:34 As cancer watches, his mother gets up, stretches, and meanders towards the pool. The cub, not to be lefturiates in her swimming. The little cub is less sure. He wanders nervously back and forth at the shore before taking a flying leap into the water. Cancer makes notes of his improvement in swimming and moves along to the largest enclosure in the park. The Red Wolf Woods exhibit is huge. The zoo has been proud to be able to house, breed, and release red wolves back into the wild in protective nature reserves for the past few decades. Cancer walks around the edge of the enclosure and admires the way the pine trees and their smell permeates the air. Red wolves are shy and rarely seen by the zookeepers, but Cancer is determined to catch a glimpse of the six pups that were born to the pack.

Starting point is 00:33:28 She picks a spot to sit and wait. The sun is dipping lower in the sky. She can see it peeking at her between the pine trees like an orange lantern. She admires the way the rays of sun scythe through the trees and paint their fallen needles with golden light. Cancer looks up, having heard the yip of pups. The red-brown bark of the trees perfectly matches the color of the wolf's coats, but Cancer can see some movement in the distance. The adults spread around, sniffing here and there. The pups chase one another and grey. A couple of them have yet to lift their ears up fully,

Starting point is 00:34:53 and so run around with floppy ears. Cancer is so amazed and engrossed by the sight that she nearly forgets to count them and make notes for her report. The wolves settle down together. They groom one another, or simply relax in the final light of the day. Cancer knows that once the group is big enough to create two packs, some of them will be reintroduced to national parks and nature reserves. Looking at them now, Cancer knows that these noble animals belong in wild places where they can run free. The lead pair of wolves lean their heads back and howl. Slowly the other adults add voices filling out the chorus.

Starting point is 00:36:32 Cancer leaves the wolves to their call and makes her way back through the park. She walks through groups of school children and families. She overhears kids asking one another which is their favorite animal and what was the best exhibit. All around her, young minds are learning and appreciating the beauty of the natural world. Cancer sits for a few moments on a bench out of the way. She watches a pair of siblings debating what animals they want to be. Should they live in the ocean and be able to swim around the world? Should they be birds and fly up to the clouds? Maybe they could even be wolves and howl at the moon? Cancer smiles to herself and sighs in satisfaction.

Starting point is 00:38:15 She looks into the sky where the moon is already out despite the sun still being up. The visitors are heading to the exits and going home. The night animals are waking up and the day animals are going to sleep. And cancer decides it's time for her to go home too, back to the night sky to join her brothers and sisters of the zodiac. You You You You The The You You You I'm going to go ahead and close the video. The You You You You I'm going to go ahead and start the video. The You You You. you

Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - Cancer's Dreamy Day on Earth

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