Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - Hercules and the Bull

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Starting point is 00:01:22 You're the man, Sam. Shop deals on electronics, home and more this Prime Day, July 16th and 17th. Welcome to Get Sleepy, where we listen, we relax, and we get sleepy. I'm your host, Thomas. Thanks so much for tuning in. Tonight we're joining Hercules once again as he sails to the island of Crete for the seventh of the twelve labors. His mission is to capture a legendary bull. It's related to a mythological creature you may have heard of, the Minotaur. But tonight's story is all about the bull, a majestic beast that's been roaming the island. We'll follow Hercules on a relaxing sea voyage before he arrives in Crete and

Starting point is 00:02:29 begins his quest. It was written by Alexandra and I'll be reading it to you. Before we hear our story, just a gentle reminder that the very best way you can support the show is by subscribing to Get Sleepy Premium. There are lots of benefits for you to enjoy there, including a completely ad-free listening experience and a huge choice of over 700 full-length stories and meditations, including extra long episodes and exclusive series stitches. Plus, every Thursday we release a brand new bonus episode just for our premium supporters. Arif is back with us tomorrow night to read a calm and relaxing story set on Lake Michigan. Try Get Sleepy Premium and enjoy all the sleepy content you could possibly need completely ad-free. The

Starting point is 00:03:35 first seven days of your subscription are free of charge. Visit GetSleepy.com slash support or follow the link in the show notes to learn more. Thank you so much my friends. So now, let's settle in for our story and take some time to compassionately reflect on where we're at. A few weeks ago on our social channels, some of you may have seen my short video about turning a personal struggle into our strength. My example was my long-suffering battle with insomnia,

Starting point is 00:04:25 and how although it's been a difficult thing to deal with throughout my life, it has ultimately been key to me finding what I consider to be my calling, and that's helping all of you wonderful, kind listeners to find reassurance and good rest when you come to bed. I truly am eternally grateful for the opportunity to do that my friends. So if there's anything that's been troubling you, playing on your mind or challenging your resilience of late. Maybe now can be a time where you consider how that experience has provided some opportunity for growth, for greater understanding, compassion for yourself or for others that could be going through something

Starting point is 00:05:27 similar perhaps. Every struggle or challenge that comes our way in life will hold opportunity for learning and progress in some way, shape or form. As difficult and tough as life's unpredictability can be, you are still here, finding strength from within and making what you can of it. and making what you can of it. I believe in you my friend, your struggle can be your strength. I wish you peace, warmth and understanding. Let's turn to our story now and take our inner belief and strength with us into a blissful rest. Get nice and cozy and close your eyes if you haven't yet done so. We're about to join Hercules as he relaxes on a ship somewhere in the Mediterranean. This is where our story begins. Hercules lays on the deck stretched out on planks of wood that have been warmed by the

Starting point is 00:07:42 sun. His eyes were closed and his mind empty. All he was aware of were the sensations, the sun on his body, the sound of the water lapping against the side of the ship, the fresh salty scent of the ocean, and the soothing rhythm of the waves rocking him back and forth. rocking him back and forth. One hand lay loose and relaxed, resting against the warm wood. In the other, Hercules held a few glass marbles. Occasionally, he would roll them around in his closed palm, relishing the feel of the cool glass against his skin. Hercules had been given these marbles after his last task. marbles after his last task. Now, he kept them in his pocket as a kind of talisman and something to touch whenever he wanted to relax. Rolling the smooth marbles between his fingers helped him to sleep.

Starting point is 00:09:28 Not that he'd been having much trouble. Recently Hercules had been sleeping well and had enjoyed plenty of rest and relaxation. Most of the summer had been spent with his friends, the centaurs Chiron and Folas. He'd first met them on a previous adventure when he was searching for the wild boar. The centaurs had given him an open invitation to return to their home on Mount Pelion. For the past month, Hercules had stayed with his friends on the mountain. had stayed with his friends on the mountain. They'd spent idyllic days together, roaming the sacred woods, bathing in crystal clear streams, and foraging for plants. The centaurs would then prepare the most delicious meals. They had dinner by the campfire, sharing stories of their travels since they'd last met, before settling down to sleep under the stars. It had been a wonderful summer.

Starting point is 00:11:12 And now, Hercules felt rested, refreshed, and ready for his next adventure. He was slowly heading south towards Crete. As always, he didn't know what lay ahead. The king had told him to take a ship to the island of Crete a ship to the island of Crete and to capture a bull. That was all he knew of his upcoming quest. But Hercules wasn't too concerned. For now, he was simply enjoying the voyage, the sensation of being carried across the calm waters of the Mediterranean, under a cloudless blue sky. It was so relaxing. As for the bull, well, he would deal with that when he got to Crete. There was no point in thinking about it now. He preferred to focus on the present,

Starting point is 00:12:53 preferred to focus on the present, savoring each peaceful moment aboard the ship. One of Hercules' favorite things about sea travel was the way he lost track of time. Almost imperceptibly, morning turned into afternoon, and a radiant dusk transformed into a clear, starlit night. There were moments when time seemed to stand still all together. when time seemed to stand still altogether. To Hercules, with nothing to do and no hurry to reach his destination, it hardly seemed to matter what hour it was. But when night came, he was ready for sleep. There was something almost magical about the effect of the sun and the sea, something he could feel in his entire body. A deep drowsiness spread through him, until he could barely keep his eyes open. Most of the men chose to sleep below deck, but since his trip to Pelion, Hercules had acquired a taste for sleeping outdoors. He gathered his blankets and pillow and made a bed for himself in the middle of the deck,

Starting point is 00:14:43 right beneath the stars. It wasn't long until he fell asleep, or at least sudden, he found himself awake and aware of a presence. Somehow, he knew instinctively that it was a goddess. Even without seeing her, he could sense her warm, reassuring aura. It reminded him of being a child, waking in the night to find his mother at his bedside. Rubbing his eyes, Hercules sat up and looked around. There she was, standing just a few feet away. The goddess Athena. It was the middle of the night, so it was still dark on deck. Any mortal would have been almost invisible, but Athena glowed with her own light, a radiance

Starting point is 00:16:21 that seemed to spread into the darkness around her. They had met before, in a way. The goddess had a fleeting sense of her presence, like the smell of smoke or incense lingering in the air. But this was the first time he'd seen her. he'd seen her. She was tall, graceful, and imposing, with a face that gave nothing away. Athena was the goddess of wisdom and warfare. So, she looked serious like a scholar, but she also had the muscular arms of an Amazon warrior. In her hand, she carried a glinting silver spear. Hercules spoke first. Rising to his feet, he bowed and thanked the goddess for her help with previous quests. He couldn't have done it without her. Athena smiled and invited Hercules to sit back down on his makeshift bed.

Starting point is 00:18:11 She had come to talk to him, she explained, and he might as well make himself comfortable. Sitting cross-legged, Hercules looked up at the goddess in wonder what had brought her here. A whim, said Athena. She had felt like paying her favorite hero a visit. But she also came with information which might be useful. As the king had told Hercules so little about his quest, perhaps she could help instead. She would tell him the story of the Cretum bull, the beast that he was being sent to capture. Of course, said Athena, this was no ordinary bull. It was a gigantic, snow-white beast with horns like tree trunks, which had once belonged to the sea god Poseidon. Somehow, the bull had ended up on the island of Crete, where King Minos reigned. The king tried to keep the bull with the rest of the royal herd, but he had underestimated its strength. The bull soon

Starting point is 00:20:08 broke free and began to run wild. To this day, the bull was loose, rampaging through fields and villages across the island. And although it was not aggressive, the people of Crete were afraid. And there were rumors, Athena added. It was said that the bull had fathered a monster, a creature that was half man, half bull, known as the Minotaur. Apparently, King Minos kept the creature contained in a secret labyrinth specially built by a master craftsman. It lived underground while its father, the bull, roamed the island. For a moment, Hercules closed his eyes. His head was swimming with images. A huge white bull, dusty village streets, and a creature, the Minotaur, at the heart of a maze. Then he became aware of Athena's voice as she continued speaking.

Starting point is 00:21:57 There was no need to worry about the Minotaur, she said. The creature was safely contained. But the bull was another matter. Despite their efforts, King Minos and his men had been unable to catch it. and his men had been unable to catch it. That was why Hercules was being sent to Crete. He'd captured other animals, the golden deer and the wild boar, so maybe he would be able to handle the bull. And then, asked Hercules, after capturing the creature, what should he do with it? Athena gave a slight shrug. It was up to him, she said. All Minos wanted was to get rid of the bull, to send it far away from Crete. Hercules nodded thoughtfully. Perhaps he already had an idea. Before she left, Athena told Hercules that she had faith in him. Most mortals would tremble in the presence of such an enormous bull. But Hercules had that special

Starting point is 00:23:49 strength, that extraordinary bravery. She was sure he could do it. Hercules thanked Athena for everything, not just the valuable information, but also for her kindness and encouragement. It made him feel even stronger, knowing that he had the support of the goddess. Athena wished him good luck and good night, before fading into the dark sky like a wisp of smoke. One moment she was there, the next she was a faint shadow, and then nothing at all. The whole encounter might have been a dream. The whole encounter might have been a dream. As he got settled in bed, Hercules reflected on the conversation. He could hardly believe that it was real, that the goddess had appeared before him just like that. He was so grateful. And while he had felt fairly relaxed before, now he was even more confident about his mission. Of course, he could handle the bull. In a way, he was even looking forward to it, a chance to demonstrate his strength

Starting point is 00:25:59 to the people of Crete, and perhaps gain some new admirers. Smiling to himself, Hercules let his head sink deep into the pillow and gazed up at the stars. up at the stars. If he looked carefully, he might be able to recognize a familiar constellation. But he was too tired to trace the invisible lines in the night sky. So instead, he relaxed his focus, seeing the stars only as beautiful, glittering lights. Beneath him, he was still aware of the comforting rhythm of the waves rocking him to sleep. Early the next morning, Hercules arrived in Crete. Glancing up at his map, he saw that the port was not far from the palace of Nosos, home of King Minos.

Starting point is 00:27:35 Part of him was tempted to visit. But then, he looked up from the map and gazed at the coastline, the endless expanse of golden sand which merged into water of the deepest, purest blue. The palace could wait for another day. Instead, Hercules would set out along the beach and stretch his legs, talking to any locals he met along the way. Perhaps someone could tell him where to find the bull. Hercules walked slowly, and as he was used to traveling by horse, his progress felt even slower. His beloved horse, Ianthe, was currently being looked after in the stables back home, as he had decided to make this journey without her. So for now, he would explore Crete on foot at a leisurely pace. And if the bull turned out to be on a remote part of the island, Hercules could find another horse

Starting point is 00:29:17 to ride tomorrow, or the day after. or the day after. There's no rush, he told himself. Strolling along the sand, he relished the feeling of his body moving and his muscles working after long days of stillness at sea. It felt so good to walk, and particularly here, on this splendid stretch of coastline. This part of the island was peaceful, and the land could almost be described as gentle. Unlike the rugged, dramatic landscapes that Hercules was used to, this was a place of sloping hills, soft sandy beaches, and calm seas. The land was greener than he'd expected, and there was a sense of openness. The beach went on and on, out of sight. And instead of being overshadowed by cliffs, it was bordered by wide fields. It felt as though the land itself was opening up, taking deep breaths of the sea air that surrounded it.

Starting point is 00:31:17 Every now and then, Hercules would encounter some locals, fishermen returning to shore, or children playing in the shallows. And they all told him the same thing, that he was in the right place. After a day of munching crops and wandering the island, the bull would come to this beach. And here, with tired legs and a full stomach, it would settle down on the sand for an afternoon nap. Keep walking, said the locals. Hercules was bound to all the way along the beach. When he grew hot, he would wade into the sea. When he was hungry, he snacked on some bread and cheese that a local man had given him. And when he was tired, he would sit in the shade and gaze out across the water, taking deep, restorative breaths.

Starting point is 00:33:11 and orative breaths. He had always loved the sea air, how it relaxed and recharged him all at once. The sun followed its path across the sky, drawn by the sun god's chariot. And across the island, the shade expanded, until most of the beach was shrouded in cool shadow. Hercules was a little weary after his long walk, but the refreshing coolness of the shade and the ocean breeze gave him the energy to keep going. Then, at long last, he caught sight of the bull. Resting in the sand just a few feet from the incoming tide, lie a majestic creature. It was snow white and looked more like a building than an animal. Hercules was reminded of a white marble tomb he had once seen. A huge, monumental sculpture. But this bull was no sculpture. Even as it lay there, still and tranquil, Hercules could sense its power. After all, this was a bull that had once belonged to the sea god Poseidon.

Starting point is 00:35:12 And perhaps, thought Hercules, that was why the bull came down here, right by the sea. It was the call of the ocean. As he approached the bull, Hercules paused for a moment. He closed his eyes and uttered a brief prayer to Poseidon, asking him for his help in taming the beast. Hercules couldn't be sure if the god had heard his request, but when he opened his eyes and looked towards the sea, he saw an unusually tall wave close to the shore. After rising high into the air, it fell into the calm surface. into the calm surface.

Starting point is 00:36:31 Perhaps the wave was just his imagination or a trick of the wind, but Hercules chose to take it as a good omen, a greeting from the god. Feeling confident, Hercules walked towards the white bull. At first, his approach went unnoticed, his footsteps silenced by the sand. footsteps silenced by the sand. The bull was half asleep, gazing at the ocean through half-closed was visible in his vast body as his sides moved in and out. What a magnificent beast, thought Hercules. As he got closer, his sense of awe deepened. And then, the bull stood up, and Hercules was even more amazed. It really was the size of a building towering over him.

Starting point is 00:38:06 From where Hercules stood, the bull's horns seemed to touch the sky, grazing the big, white clouds above. The bull stared at Hercules, a bemused expression in its large brown eyes. It let out a scornful huff, as if to say, you think you can defeat me. But Hercules didn't think. He knew. He was stronger than any man and any animal, even the famous bull of Crete. The fight was soon over. Hercules wrapped his arms around the bull's neck, and after several minutes of pushing and pulling, he wrestled it to the ground. Although the bull had the strength to fight back, it chose to surrender, realizing that it had met its match. Hercules placed the rope gently around the creature's neck,

Starting point is 00:39:54 And as the sun began to set, turning the sky pink and the sea gold, the bull followed him across the sand. It was late at night by the time they reached the ship. The few men who were still awake came to help, carefully guiding the bull below deck. among the straw and crates until they arrived back on the mainland. One of the men asked Hercules what they would do with the bull when they arrived. Smiling, Hercules gave them their orders, to take the bull straight to his cousin, the king. Hercules was sure that the king would be pleased with his present, just as he'd been delighted with the wild boar. Here was another legendary creature to add to his collection. In the palace grounds, the boar would live a peaceful existence,

Starting point is 00:41:33 and it would no longer disturb the peace of others. All in all, it was the perfect solution. Once Hercules had checked that the bull was safe and secure with an abundant supply of food and water, he went up to the deck. It was after sensed that he was not alone. Someone else on the ship was still awake. Turning around, Hercules was surprised to see a man and a child. The man was a member of the ship's crew who had helped Hercules to bring the bull on board. And the child, a girl of no more than seven or eight was presumably the man's daughter. They were standing just across the deck watching Hercules shyly. It was as though they wanted to speak to him, but didn't quite have the confidence.

Starting point is 00:43:18 So, Hercules went up to them, thanking the man again her father explained, and she was very excited to meet her hero. She'd had all about Hercules' many adventures, and now she was thrilled to be a witness to his latest success, the capture of the Cretum bull. Rhea smiled and nodded shyly, happy to let her father speak on her behalf. We just have one favor to ask, he said. He explained that his daughter wanted a souvenir, something small that she could keep as a reminder of her meeting with Hercules.

Starting point is 00:44:38 Even before the man had finished speaking, to give the child something that had been precious to him. Reaching into his pocket, Hercules took out the pouch of marbles and handed it to Reija. Her eyes were wide with wonder. As she carefully opened the pouch, she spoke for the first time, whispering, whispering, thank you. Her father was grateful, too, seeing the joy on his daughter's face. Now, she had a keepsake and a moment she would remember for the rest of her life. After saying goodnight to Rhea and her father, Hercules got ready for bed. He made himself comfortable on the deck, adjusting his pillow and blankets until they were just right. He was looking forward to another many things. The return to the palace, the reunion

Starting point is 00:46:34 with his horse, and the next adventure, whatever that might be. Tomorrow, the ship would set sail, traveling north with its special cargo. But for now, it remained anchored in the port, moving ever so slightly with the gentle waves. as he lie fast asleep, dreaming of his island adventure. You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You you

Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - Hercules and the Bull

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