Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - Finding Fairies

Starting point is 00:00:00 That's the sound of unaged whiskey, transforming into Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey in Lynchburg, Tennessee. Around 1860, nearest green taught Jack Daniel how to filter whiskey through charcoal for a smoother taste, one drop at a time. This is one of many sounds in Tennessee with a story to tell. To hear them in person, plan your trip at tnvacation.com. Tennessee sounds perfect. Welcome to Get Sleepy, where we listen, we relax, and we get sleepy.

Starting point is 00:00:43 My name's Thomas. It is so wonderful to have your company. The word fairy tale is often taken by adults to mean the same thing as tall tale or make believe. But children know that fairy tales can sometimes be real. Tonight we'll join two cousins on a lazy summer afternoon as they experience their very own fairy tale. And I'm delighted to introduce a new narrator to the Get Sleepy lineup tonight. Chloe, who lives here in the UK near London, will be reading this enchanting story, which was beautifully written by Frankie. So, to make sure we can enjoy our story to the fullest, let's take a few moments to open our minds, relax our bodies, and let our own sense of belief fill us up.

Starting point is 00:01:55 Begin by imagining that instead of lying in your warm, comfortable bed, you're instead lying on the soft, sun-warmed grass. The long green grass and velvety moss cradle your body as comfortably as any mattress. Instead of your blankets and duvets, you are covered by the sun's beautiful rays. Feel the warmth seep into your bones and relax your muscles. and relax your muscles. You can hear the gentle breeze rustling the leaves in the canopy above you. Snatches of birdsong drift by. In the distance, you can hear the unmistakable tinkling of a stream. Take a few deep breaths in all the details. What kind of birds are singing from that nearby branch? Are there bumblebees attending brightly colored flowers nearby.

Starting point is 00:03:48 Can you name the trees that stand sentinel over you? Allow your lungs to fill to their capacity and empty them completely at your own leisure. Enjoy the rhythm of your breath as you look around the scene in your mind's eye. The air is clean here, enjoy breathing it all the way into your chest and stomach and slowly let go of the air which floats away and swells off in the soft breeze, leaving you more and more calm with each breath out. Now, it's time to join the two girls, the two girls, the two girls, the two girls, the two girls, the two girls, the two girls,

Starting point is 00:05:28 the two girls, the two girls, the two girls, the two girls, the two girls, the two girls, the two girls, the two girls,

Starting point is 00:05:36 the two girls, the two girls, the two girls, the two girls, the two girls, the two girls, the two girls, the two girls,

Starting point is 00:05:44 the two girls, the two girls, the two girls, the two girls, the two girls, Luna was filled with excitement when her cousin Rosie and her parents arrived that morning. The two girls, not quite ten years old just yet, hugged one another and leapt up and down with joy. However, once their parents all sat down with mugs of tea to catch up at the kitchen table. The two girls quickly grew bored. Not with one another, but with the prospect of sitting around with the adults and listening to them talk about adult things. Luna winked at her cousin before begging her mother to allow them to go play outside.

Starting point is 00:06:35 They were given permission only after promising to stay in the garden. Now that they are outside and free to do as they like, the excitement has returned. Rosie asks Luna what they should play, and rattles off a list of the normal games. House, Princesses, or Tag. Luna looks around, checking to make sure the prying ears of the adults are nowhere nearby. She whispers to Rosie that she has a much better plan. Today, they are going to find the fairies. The two girls grin as they prepare for a day of fun. Luna, as the self-proclaimed expert on everything to do with fairies, pixies, and fae folk, decides that they must first build a fairy house

Starting point is 00:07:39 to entice their guests to reveal themselves. that they must first build a fairy house to entice their guests to reveal themselves. Luna and Rosie make their way to the shed at the bottom of the slightly overgrown garden. The girls always love playing here because the overgrown bushes and flower beds blend seamlessly into the forest and creek behind the house. The garden shed is a little wooden shack painted a pastel olive green,

Starting point is 00:08:18 though the paint is weather worn and peeling. It nearly blends in with the ancient pear tree growing on one side and the ivy crawling up the other. The girls open the door to find a collection of exciting artifacts. There's a small red wagon that they used to sit in when they were toddlers. Their fathers would take turns pulling the wagon on Easter Sunday when everyone came

Starting point is 00:08:53 out for the town Easter egg hunt. A faded blue paddling pool sits to one side, where the girls spent many a hot summer's day playing mermaids. Luna finds what she is looking for when she pulls out an old wooden birdhouse from behind the paddling pool. The girls agree that it is the perfect size for a fairy house. They take their treasure out to the sunshine and set about gathering materials for decoration. They dig up patches of emerald green moss

Starting point is 00:09:38 to put on the roof like thatch. The papery bark from a nearby birch tree is used as wallpaper for the inside of the house. They raid Luna's collection of interesting stones and shells to use as furniture and adornments. Rosie collects flowers and braids them into long ropes, but she then drapes all over the house. The girls work hard at their fairy house for several hours,

Starting point is 00:10:15 and the bright sun is at its zenith when they finally finish. They stand back to admire their work. They stand back to admire their work. What started as a standard birdhouse now looks fit for a fairy princess. Luna asserts that it is bad luck to make a fairy house without providing any food for their guests. Fairies love sugar, honey, and sweets more than anything else. The girls go back into Luna's house, determined to raid the pantry. As soon as they set foot in the kitchen, Luna's mother catches them. The girls explain that they are not sneaking sweets for themselves and only want a few things for the fairies.

Starting point is 00:11:13 Luna's mother smiles knowingly and helps the girls gather supplies. They fill a teaspoon with honey and grab a couple of biscuits. They are about to go back outside when Luna's mother hands them both a handful of chocolate chips. She winks at the girls and returns to the other adults. and returns to the other adults. Luna and Rosie giggle as they pop the chocolate chips into their mouths one by one. Their snack complete, the girls grab their fairy house and venture deeper into the garden to find the perfect location. They tromp past blackberryed brambles and large rhododendrons, all the while engrossed in a

Starting point is 00:12:07 debate about whether or not fairies would prefer chocolate chip or sugar cookies more. When they hear the gurgling of the creek, they pause their discussion and start to examine the ground beneath a large willow tree. This spot is one of their favorite secret play areas. Under the curtain of leaves, they have been everything from magical queens to dinosaurs. they have been everything from magical queens to dinosaurs. They find an area near the trunk where a few roots have come up from the ground to create a small fenced area of moss. This is the perfect spot for their fairy house. They place their house and arrange some more flowers around it. They set their offerings of sweets just inside the fairy house and stand back

Starting point is 00:13:16 to admire their work. Rosie asserts that if she was a fairy, she would like to come stay here, to which Luna wholeheartedly agrees. Instead of sitting nearby and waiting for the fairies to arrive, the girls decide to venture down to the creek, a short distance away. a short distance away. Today, the creek is especially beautiful. The cheerful sound of running water is accompanied by birdsong and a fresh breeze. The water itself is so clear that it looks like liquid glass, as it flows easily over smooth stones and under the vegetation. Under the water, the stones are covered in soft blankets of emerald green freshwater grasses.

Starting point is 00:14:23 Here and there, tadpoles and small fish dart around. The girls amuse themselves by debating whether or not there are water fairies. Rosie claims that fairies are only associated with flowers, but Luna asserts that there are such things as water sprites, which are a form of fairy in her book. The sound of tinkling bells draws the girl's attention. They immediately stop talking and listen intently.

Starting point is 00:15:01 They hear the creek bubbling away, mere inches from their feet dangling over the bank. The sound of the birds and the insects flitting about is as normal as ever. And yet, there is the distinct sound of bells beneath it all. The jangling is as sweet as music and otherworldly in tone. Rosie and Luna scramble up and make their way back towards the willow tree. As they creep closer, the bells become unmistakably louder. They approach the green curtain of the willow branches, and the sound of high-pitched laughter joins the bells.

Starting point is 00:16:07 The girls share a brief glance before poking their heads between the leaves. All around the fairy house, multicolored lights dip, bob, and flit. When the lights stop, the girls can see tiny figures moving around. The little figures are laughing and singing, obviously enjoying themselves and the offerings Rosie and Luna have left. The girls watch the fairies for a little while, hardly daring to believe their eyes. Rosie is unsure if they should approach and tries to silently communicate this to her cousin using only her eyes. Luna, however, has other ideas.

Starting point is 00:16:56 She pushes the rest of her body through the drooping branches of the willow tree, stands tall and clears her throat as politely as she can. The fairies all freeze in the middle of what they are doing. Some stop in midair, while others become like tiny statues. Then, without any perceptible change, the fairies seem to melt into the background. If Rosie and Luna had not seen the fairies just moments ago, they would have thought they had imagined them. Before the fairies can completely disappear, Luna calls out, asking the fae folk to stay. She reveals that she and Rosie were the ones who built the house

Starting point is 00:17:55 and left out the sweets. Luna ends her speech by assuring the fairies that she and her cousin have a strong love and respect for them. The girls hold their breaths for a few moments until the fairies begin to move again. The little pixies gather around the two girls, clearly as interested in Luna and Rosie as the girls are in them. The tinkling voices of the fairies sound like tiny bells ringing in the ears of the human girls. Fairies love children and shower the cousins with praise for their lovely fairy house. It takes no time at all for Luna and Rosie to befriend the entire company of fairies.

Starting point is 00:18:56 The girls are amazed at how many different kinds there are. A few of them seem to look more traditional. They're clothed in flower petals and leaves with gossamer butterfly wings. Other fairies seem to be more earthy with dragonfly wings, and some have no wings at all. They come in all the colors of nature and are as different from one another as all the flowers in the world. Luna and Rosie sit on the ground beneath the canopy of the willow tree and listen to the stories of the fairies. They weave tails filled with other fantastical creatures.

Starting point is 00:19:48 Meanwhile, those that can fly dart around the girls, creating patterns of rainbows in their wake. Other pixies crawl into the girls' laps or perch on their shoulders. Other pixies crawl into the girl's laps or perch on their shoulders. They all seem as interested in the human world as Luna and Rosie are in what it's like to be a fairy. Luna asks the gathered fairies how many different kinds there are just in the little woods behind the house. This question leads the fairies together in an excited frenzy. They gently push and pull the girls to their feet, determined to show the two little humans the hidden world amongst the trees.

Starting point is 00:20:43 little humans the hidden world amongst the trees. At the foot of a large oak tree sits a collection of ferns. Their fronds spread wide, curling out from the interior of the plant. The fairies instruct Luna and Rosie to peer in at the curled up frond that has yet to unfurl. As the girls look, it folds out like the unrolling of a green carpet to reveal a tiny green fairy. The fairy has curly green hair, pale green skin, and everything about her seems to reflect the plant she lives in.

Starting point is 00:21:31 From the toes of her boots to the top of her little cap, everything is like a tiny fern frond. Beneath the fern grows a patch of bright yellow buttercups. Their shiny petals reflect the light, like golden coins. Even as the two cousins watch, the yellow flowers move slightly, revealing themselves to be green fairies with blooms on their heads. with blooms on their heads. The girls go from plant to plant, discovering more creatures than they ever could have imagined.

Starting point is 00:22:20 The delicate flowers of the fuchsia bush turn into butterfly-like pixies before their eyes. They watch the floating seeds of dandelions dance on the breeze, revealing themselves to be delicate fae folk as light as air. Every plant seems to have a little creature that watches over it and stands as a guardian to make sure the plant stays healthy. Luna asks their fairy friends if there are other kinds of pixies. The fairies laugh and bring the girls to the edge of the creek. They peer through the crystal clear water and watch tiny fairies race one another through the water on the backs of small fish.

Starting point is 00:23:11 They see other fairies tending to the tadpoles as only the most attentive nursemaids can. A pair of pure white butterflies dart past, followed by another pair of fairies with their own white wings. Between two tall reeds on the bank of the creek, a spider has created a beautiful web. Splashes from the rushing water adorn the web like dripping diamonds. A couple of little fairies climb deftly around the web, removing the water droplets and testing the quality of the silk. Time flows by as if in a dream, as the girls discover more fairies, play with their new friends, and chatter happily.

Starting point is 00:24:12 It is well past midday when a great idea strikes Luna. She relays the idea to Rosie while their fairy friends prepare themselves for a special performance outside the fairy house. Rosie agrees and the two cousins turn to the fae-fook. They asked the fairies permission to get a camera and take pictures of them. This takes quite a long time, as the fairies do not understand what pictures are. But they eventually agree.

Starting point is 00:24:53 Rosie and Luna leave the fairies to their preparations and head back to the house. The cousins are debating what to tell their parents should they ask why they need the camera when Rosie's mother opens the back door for the girls. She asks if they are having fun. Before Luna can stop her, Rosie tells her mother that they have found some fairies down by the creek, and now they have come some fairies down by the creek, and now they have come back to the house to get the Polaroid camera and take pictures with their new friends. The cousins hold their breath for what feels like ages,

Starting point is 00:25:38 while Rosie's mother considers the two girls and their story. considers the two girls and their story. Finally, Rose's mother breaks into a smile and tells them to have fun. They head into Luna's room, grab the camera, and go back outside. Once the girls return to the fairy house, they find it completely empty with not a fairy in sight. The girls are confused for a moment and briefly wonder if they had imagined the entire afternoon. Luna calls out, announcing their presence, and asking the fairies to come back. After a few moments, the little creatures start appearing

Starting point is 00:26:38 from behind every leaf and blade of grass. The girls smile. They take a seat near the fairy house and show their new friends the camera. Rosie poses near the house with a handful of fairies while Luna takes the first picture. She puts it in her pocket for a few minutes to develop. Rosie and Luna proceed to take turns posing and taking pictures with the fairies. It's not long before Luna's pocket is full of photos.

Starting point is 00:27:23 The fairies let them know that they have prepared a traditional fairy dance for their new human friends. Luna and Rosie sit down on the soft moss near the fairy house to watch. Some fairies pull out strange instruments, the likes of which the girls have never seen before. There are miniature pan flutes and what look like tiny mandolins. One graceful fairy even starts playing a harp. Other fairies have instruments that look like they have been crafted from blades of grass or pieces of bark. The musicians start playing and immediately the girls are entranced by the music.

Starting point is 00:28:18 It is ethereal and calming. It feels like their senses have been dipped in a pool of cool water. A chorus of fairies add their lovely voices to the music. Their voices are like delicate bells harmonizing with the wind. harmonizing with the wind. The fairy music conjures images in the minds of Rosie and Luna. Without understanding the words that are being sung, the human girls follow along with an epic story about two fairy lovers and their adventures. The music feels as natural as the sound of the wind through the leaves or the surf on the sand.

Starting point is 00:29:17 It seems to be part of the natural orchestra around them and something completely otherworldly. orchestra around them and something completely otherworldly. Rosie and Luna listen in rapt silence until the peace comes to a graceful finish. They applaud, huge smiles breaking across their faces. By this time, the sun is beginning to head towards the horizon and the girls know it won't be long before they are called in for dinner. They thank their new friends for the lovely concert. Before they depart, Luna takes the pictures from her pocket and lays them out on the ground for all the fairies to see. The little fae folk laugh and point at the pictures, marbling at what they see as magic.

Starting point is 00:30:21 Luna and Rosie share a knowing glance. They know what they have to do. While the fairies admire the pictures, the two girls gather long, thin sticks. Once they have enough, they split them at the top, so they can slide one picture to the top of each stick. They push the sticks into the ground around the fairy house. The fairies buzz around excitedly, admiring this newest decoration. admiring this newest decoration. Just as Rosie and Luna finish their work, they can hear Luna's mother calling them in.

Starting point is 00:31:15 They turn to their fairy friends, whisper a gentle goodbye, and promise to come back tomorrow. Then the girls make their way to the house through the overgrown garden. As they go, a couple of fairies watch them from the branches of the willow tree as the sun begins to set behind them. You You You You You I'm going to go ahead and turn the volume down. I'm going to turn the volume up a little bit.

Starting point is 00:33:46 I'm going to turn the volume down a little bit. I'm going to turn the volume up a little bit. I'm going to turn the volume up a little bit. I'm going to turn the volume up a little bit. I'm going to turn the volume up a little bit. I'm going to turn the volume up a little bit. I'm going to turn the volume up a little bit. You You You You You You The You I'm going to go ahead and start the video. You You You. you

Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - Finding Fairies

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