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

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Starting point is 00:00:44 Thanks for tuning in. We have some lovely stories coming up this week on the show, including a special bonus episode that all listeners can enjoy this Friday. It's in celebration of World Sleep Day. A day that, of course, means a lot to us here at Get Sleepy. As for tonight, we're returning to Ancient Greece, where Hercules is about to embark on his previously he defeated two monsters, the lion and the hydra. His task this time is a little different. He'll search in the woods for a mysterious golden deer and try to capture it. But don't worry, Hercules will bring no harm to this beautiful, mystical creature. While this task may sound easier than battling monsters, there's a catch.

Starting point is 00:01:58 The deer is incredibly fast, faster than a flying arrow, and it belongs to a goddess. We'll join Hercules in just a moment as he prepares for the chase. But first, let's take some time to relax and unwind. So we're ready for a good night's sleep. Make yourself comfortable in bed, adjusting in any way you need to, or perhaps you're already perfectly cozy just as you are. Next take a deep inhale, feeling your belly rise as you take in the air and then exhale noticing how your belly lowers as the air leaves your body. Allow that gentle pace of the breath to continue. Let's scan over the body now, giving each area a moment of attention and an intentional opportunity to switch off. Rest your attention on your toes to begin with and imagine that there's a light switch

Starting point is 00:03:44 for your toes. Right now, it's switched on as it has been all day. But you're ready to rest now. So just turn that light switch off, noticing how that causes your toes to relax. Move your attention to your feet, and when you're ready, turn off the switch for your feet as well. Now, turn off the switch for your lower legs, your thighs, your hips, allowing everything below your waist to relax. If you've had an active day, they might feel especially comforted by the opportunity to

Starting point is 00:04:58 rest. Focus now on your abdomen and turn off the light switch there. Then your chest, your back, your shoulders, your arms. Your shoulders. Your arms. Switch off the light for your hands and fingers. Sensing how your upper body feels more relaxed. Move up into your neck. Turn off the light switch there. Finally, with one more deep inhale and soothing exhale. Turn off the switch for your head. With your whole You can embrace the peace and stillness of the night.

Starting point is 00:06:31 And now we can begin our story. Its evening and Hercules is staying in a house near the woods, the location of his third task. The evenings were starting to get cooler, and a fire crackled in the kitchen half. Hercules sat at the table, basking in the warm glow and savoring his feelings of fulfillment. There were few things quite as satisfying as a hot meal prepared by country folk. He'd arrived in this rural area just a couple of fortune to encounter a friendly farmer and his wife. They welcomed him into their home even before they'd realized who he was. The famous Hercules, who'd triumphed over the line of Namia and the monstrous Hydra. The couple had seen a tired traveller and his equally weary horse, and invited him in without a second thought. During dinner, a delicious lentil stew, the farmer and his wife had been astonished to

Starting point is 00:08:52 learn the identity of their guest, and they'd been just as surprised to learn that he had come here, of all places, for his next quest. There were no monsters here, they told him. No ferocious beasts to be slayed. This was a quiet, peaceful part of the country, where the only creatures to be found were wild horses, pigs, and deer. Hercules nodded. He had come for the deer, he said, but not just any deer. The farmer and his wife exchanged glances. Now they understood,

Starting point is 00:09:53 but such a task was impossible. Did Hercules really intend to find the Golden Deer? Yes, said Hercules. To find and capture the deer. That was his mission, the task that the King had given him. Hercules knew it was intended as a test, a challenge for the sake of it. After all, it proved his worth in battle. But what about hunting? It was a different kind of heroism, capturing a deer that ran faster than an arrow could fly. Ah, said the farmer. But that's not all. There was also the issue of who the deer belonged to.

Starting point is 00:11:05 I'll tell you the story," said the farmer's wife. She drew her chair closer to the fire and invited Hercules to do the same. The little brown dog, who had been begging for scraps under the table, seemed to understand that the meal was over at last. She curled up by her mistress's feet and closed her eyes. But with her bat-like ears pointed up, it was as if she too was listening to the wilderness. She was the one who watched over these woods. Artemis had found the herd of deer many years ago. found the herd of deer many years ago. They were roaming the wild, somewhere on the slopes of Arcadia. And they were such magnificent beasts, larger than bulls, with fur that that gleamed gold and antlers like glittering tree branches.

Starting point is 00:12:50 They were quite a sight to behold. As soon as Artemis saw them, she knew they had to become hers, her very own pets. And of course, this was a dream that only a goddess could fulfill. No mortal could tame that herd, let alone capture them. The deer moved so swiftly on their golden hooves that they could outrun the wind. But when Artemis approached, the protector of animals. It's a quicker, more intuitive intelligence than ours, she said. child, thinking fondly of his horse asleep in the stable, while the farmer chuckled. Dogs could be clever too, said the farmer, especially when food was involved. Placing a chunk of cheese in his left hand. He then presented his closed fists to the little

Starting point is 00:14:48 brown dog who was dozing on the floor. She opened her eyes, sniffed both hands, then pressed her nose against the left fist. then pressed her nose against the left fist. Opening his hands, the farmer rewarded her with the piece of cheese. Afterwards, realizing the game was over, the dog licked her lips, closed her eyes, and immediately fell asleep again. Her head tucked between her paws. Meanwhile, the farmer's wife resumed her story. She told Hercules all about the Deer of Artemis, how the goddess kept them in a secret grove, where no human had ever set foot, and how the deer would pull her golden chariot through the heavens, harnessed by

Starting point is 00:16:08 glittering bridles. With so much gold, the deer, the chariot, and the bridles all shining. It was a dazzling sight. When Artemis was in the sky, she rivaled her twin brother, the sun god Apollo. But, said the farmer's wife, only four of the deer pulled the chariot of Artemis. As for the fifth, well, that was a mystery. Some said the fifth deer escaped from the grove, or it fell from the sky. According to others, Artemis had let the deer run free. into the woods, but for what reason no one knew? There was a pause as Hercules reflected on everything he'd just learned. The gods knew all. Perhaps Artemis saw this coming, the long list of tasks that Hercules

Starting point is 00:18:11 would have to face to prove himself as a hero. And perhaps she let the deer loose on purpose, then gave the king the idea to set the task. The king thought he had come up with it himself, but maybe it was all Artemis is doing. The farmer and his wife smiled. Anything was possible. And it was true that the gods loved playing games, interfering in the lives of mortals. Then the couple asked Hercules what he planned to do with the deer once it caught it. Hercules explained the king's orders to bring the deer to the palace, safe and sound. Though, of course, that was obvious. Hercules wouldn't dream of harming a creature the immortals, the Goddess Hera. He certainly didn't want to upset Artemis. The farmer shrugged and let out a skeptical half. skeptical huff. Artemis was unlikely to take kindly to Hercules capturing her beloved pet, and that was assuming that Hercules managed to catch it in the

Starting point is 00:20:17 first place. Remember, said the farmer, this deer could run faster than any other creature. And despite its enormous size and its remarkable appearance, their whole lives in this region. They'd grown up here, on the edge of the woods where the deer lived. Yet the farmer had never seen it, while his wife had seen it just once as a child. It was like a vision, she said, with a dreamy, far away look in her eyes. She could still recall that moment so clearly, even though it had been 30 years ago, maybe more. She had been out in the grass, she became aware of a movement somewhere nearby and glanced up. And there it was, between the trees, the golden head of a deer, its amber eyes staring right at her. She barely had time to blink, and it was gone. It didn't even make a sound. It didn't even make a sound. There was something otherworldly about it, as though the creature had not fled, but simply

Starting point is 00:22:34 vanished on the spot. So, she said, that was what Hercules was up against, a supernaturally swift deer that also happened to be the property of a goddess. Hercules grinned. He knew what the farmer's wife was going to say next, that if anyone could do it, it was him. No, she laughed. Not even Hercules could catch the deer. the deer. The three of them sat there till late in the evening, chatting by the fireside. The warmth made Hercules sleepy, and after a while he found himself yawning and rubbing his eyes. He had been so tired when he arrived at the farm. Exhausted after his journey, he'd been ready to collapse into bed. The hearty meal had restored him somewhat, but now, at last, his tiredness was catching up with him. All of a sudden, he was feeling so weary that he could almost have curled up right there, on the floor, just like the dog.

Starting point is 00:24:34 She was still dozing steadily, letting out little snores that sounded like bubbles popping. that sounded like bubbles popping. After thanking the farmer and his wife for the wonderful meal and bidding them good night, Hercules made his way upstairs to the attic room. It was a humble room where the couple's children had once slept, and it still had that cozy, familial atmosphere. As Hercules climbed into bed, he imagined the two boys who once slept here. They probably stayed up late, whispering and giggling, just like Hercules and his own brother when they were young. This room was the warmest in the house, as all the heat rose up to the attic, and underneath the thick woolen blankets, Hercules felt comfortable and coddled. It was like being a child again. And then, another source of heat arrived. A warm wait at the end of the bed. of the bed. At first, Hercules assumed it must be on his elbow and looked down the bed.

Starting point is 00:26:52 Although the room was dark, he could just about make out the silhouetted shape of a cat, curled up on the blanket. It felt nice to have this warm, silent company, a pet he'd had as a boy, so long ago. This became slow and deep, and he soon fell fast asleep. Percules slept deeply, but not dreamlessly. There was a dream that seemed to come in fragments, fading in and out through the night. He walked alone in a forest, catching glimpses of the golden deer. It appeared in flashes, like a flame igniting, then vanishing just as quickly. Between low-hanging branches, he saw thick golden antlers, and between the trunks, a golden leg, or an amber eye. He never saw the deer in its entirety, and even in the midst of the dream, he knew it could not be real. But the creature continued to tease him, materializing in flashing fragments,

Starting point is 00:29:13 and Hercules chased in slow motion, moving through the trees, following the deer that was not a deer, but a puzzle. Something scattered. When Hercules awoke the next morning, he felt rested and motivated to begin his quest. The cat still slept at the end of the bed, and although the farmer and his wife were Even they were still asleep when Hercules dressed and left. He went straight to the stable, where he greeted Ionthe with a cheery good morning. The horse was barely awake, and her large, dark eyes seemed to gaze at him with sleepy confusion, as if to say, why so early? With Ianthe saddled up, Hercules took off towards the woods. The sun had only just risen, and a soft silver mist drifted through the trees. But Hercules barely felt the chill of the dawn air. He was full of energy and curiosity, eager to find any trace of the deer. As he rode through the trees, he scoured the ground, searching for hoof marks.

Starting point is 00:31:30 But there were no markings at all, no signs that any animal had passed through. And there was a strange stillness, a silence he had rarely experienced in nature. At this time, thought Turcules, the air should be echoing with birdsong. But instead of a joyful morning chorus, there was only the whistle of a solitary bird, a missile thrush calling to its mate. All morning, all afternoon, there was no sign of the deer. The sun set early at this time of year, and as the light grew dim, Hercules was almost ready to admit defeat and returned to the farmhouse. But instead, he sat on the ground for a snack and a rest. After eating the bread and cheese he'd brought with him, he leaned against a tree, sighed,

Starting point is 00:33:11 and closed his eyes. He was more tired than he'd thought. And moments later, inevitably, he sank into sleep. This time, his sleep was brief and dreamless. When he awoke from his nap, it was still dusk, or so he thought. It was darker here in the woods, and he couldn't see the sky clearly. As Hercules looked around, trying to get his bearings, he noticed something. There was a light in the trees, almost as if the branch itself was glowing. But no, it couldn't be. Hercules rubbed his eyes and leaned forward to get a better look. And then he realised it wasn't a branch, but an antler. His first instinct was to leap up and begin the pursuit on foot, but he knew

Starting point is 00:34:56 he would be setting himself up for an endless race, which he had no chance of winning. So, as swiftly and silently as he could, he mounted Ianthi and moved in the direction of the glowing antlers. moments later, for a tantalizing second, he saw the deer, not in fragments, not in his right there in front of him, in its majestic entirety. Before he had simply been imagining a golden deer, larger than the average deer of course, and an unusual colour, but still, just a deer. This creature, however, was no ordinary animal. It was enormous, taller and wider than a bull, with antlers that seemed to reach the canopy. As the creature moved through the trees, its, the deer looked right at him, and its amber eyes seemed to flicker and burn, like the flames in the fireplace. After this brief electric gaze, the deer turned and ran, and Hercules gave chase as though

Starting point is 00:37:21 his life depended on it. There was nothing he wanted more than to capture this creature and to feel even just for a moment that it belonged to him. The night passed like a dream. In the moonlight through the trees, Hercules rode on and on. Ianthe was swift, galloping as fast as she could, but the deer was faster. Hercules never lost sight of his target, shining in the darkness, and yet he was never able to catch up or get any closer. The deer remained out of reach, bounding through the woods in a blur of light and leaves. During the chase, Hercules lost all track of time. All he knew was that it was night, a seemingly endless night. The dawn seemed as remote and unreal as the deer. The sun would never rise, and the deer would never stop running.

Starting point is 00:39:11 But Harkins didn't feel tired or hopeless. Instead, a surreal sense of calm overcame him. It felt as though he was living in an eternal moment. The chase was past, present, and future, all at once, and he could only accept it and keep riding on. At until then, they would continue, speeding through the pines and leap creature in front of him, streaking through the trees like a comet. But as the sky finally began to pale, suffering into the lighter blues of dawn, Hercules blinked. He closed his eyes for a second, or so he could have sworn, and when he opened them, the deer was gone. was gone. For the first time that night, Hercules pulled on the reins and Ianthe stopped. Both horse and rider were breathing heavily, suddenly aware of their exhaustion.

Starting point is 00:41:26 It's over, thought Turcules. He would give up for now, return to the farmhouse to rest, and try again another day. It had to think of a strategy, a way to go faster. Maybe he could ask the gods for help. With a sigh, Hercules dismounted. He walked slowly to a nearby stream that glistened in the moonlight, guiding Ianthi to the water. She lowered her head and drunk gratefully, while Hercules did the same, splashing his face and hair. And as he crouched down by the stream, he became aware of something, a light. aware of something, a light. At first, he thought it must be the light of the sunrise, or perhaps a product of his own weary mind. But then, he turned and saw. To his left, just beyond the bushes, was the unmistakable radiance of the golden deer.

Starting point is 00:43:23 And this time, it wasn't moving. It was a still, steady glow. In a state of incredulous excitement, Hercules picked up the rope he had brought with him Hercules picked up the rope he had brought with him and crept towards the deer. In the soft, dewy grass, his footsteps were silent. Then, taking a deep breath, He lifted the rope above his head, swung it, and threw it like a lasso. The deer was sleeping so deeply, it didn't even twitch. It lay there in the grass, with its legs tucked under its body, fast asleep, the rope creating a kind of harness around its neck. At last, Perkley's breathed a sigh of relief. Other emotions would come later, the joy, the pride, and the immense satisfaction. But right now, he was too tired to feel much else.

Starting point is 00:45:11 With the end of the rope clutched tightly in his hand, Hercules lay down in the grass, just a few feet away from the deer. And there, basking in the glows of the deer and the dawn, he fell into the most blissful sleep. Another light awoke him. Even before he opened his eyes, Hercules knew that this was something different. Not the golden radiance of the deer, and not the bright natural light of the sun, but something misty, silvery, not of this Divine. opened his eyes. He saw what he had half expected, the goddess Artemis looming over him. She was tall, seven feet or maybe more, with dark silver-streaked hair and amber eyes, like those of her beloved dear. It was rare for Artemis to show herself to mortals. When she came down to earth, she usually took a less recognizable form, blending into the

Starting point is 00:47:29 trees or transforming into an animal. She was known for being shy and intensely private. So for her to appear like this, in her true form, there must be a reason. And Hercules, even in his confused, sleepy state, could guess what that reason was. Speaking in a quiet, surprisingly deep voice, the goddess got straight to the point. What was Hercules doing with her dear. At once, Hercules began to apologize, and with remarkable eloquence, considering he'd only been awake for a few seconds. He didn't want to offend the goddess, the wise and beautiful ruler of the wild, who was even more graceful than Aphrodite, and far more skilled with her bow and arrow than any man. Artemis held up her palm. Enough, she said. She didn't want apologies or praise. Hercules' intentions. And so, speaking more concisely this time, Hercules told her of the

Starting point is 00:49:33 tasks he'd been given by the king and his instructions. He had been ordered to capture the deer alive and bring it back to the palace. And then, our start to miss. Hercules was silent for a moment. He didn't know what the king's plans were. But he said he was sure the king would take good care of it. Her said Artemis. The deer was a she, despite her antlers. Hercules began to apologize once more, but the goddess interrupted him. Listen, said Artemis. She didn't mind Hercules taking temporary ownership of her deer. If the king wanted to see the creature with his own eyes, so be

Starting point is 00:50:49 it. But that was all. Afterwards, Artemis expected the deer to be set free once again, to run wild in the woods. And of course, Hercules would have to make some prayers and offerings in her honor. Like Athena, Artemis was not his protector, and she didn't do favors for free. Hercules nodded gratefully. This was much better than he'd expected. Artemis was a goddess who could be bargained with apparently, useful to know. Bending down, Artemis placed a loving kiss on the forehead of the sleeping deer, and a second later, she vanished in the morning air. Hercules let out a long exhale, feeling that he could breathe more easily now. He had nothing to fear. All he had to do was take the deer back to the

Starting point is 00:52:33 king's palace, and if he had the goddess's approval, it should be easy. An hour later, Hercules rode out of the woods. With one hand he held Ianthe's reins, and with the other he held a rope, The other, he held a rope. The makeshift reins for the golden deer, who trotted obediently beside him. Her steps, like muffled thunder. When Hercules reached the farmhouse, he let out a whistle. He couldn't leave without saying goodbye to his hosts. Standing in the doorway, the farmer and his wife could hardly believe their eyes. What a surreal sight! Hercules and the Golden Deer, right there in front

Starting point is 00:53:52 of them. Hercules invited the couple to come closer. The deer was gentle. he reassured them, and he had Artemis' blessing. The farmer and his wife stood on either side of the deer, tentatively stroking her golden fur. It was so soft, so warm, and it smelled like something they couldn't name. Like the fragrance of wildflowers, mixed with rain and earth, and something else, some divine essence. This was a story to tell their children, and their grandchildren. The tale would be passed down through the generations, their encounter with the hero Hercules rode on. He travelled south, attracting curious onlookers whenever he passed through a village. The people had never seen such a thing, a deer that size, shining like the sun. And more amazing still, it seemed tame, walking calmly alongside Hercules and his horse.

Starting point is 00:56:11 By the time Hercules reached the King's palace, the news of his achievement had already arrived, having spread throughout the land. And there was no need for Hercules to announce his return. That night, as he approached the palace entrance, he saw that the king and his servants were standing outside, waiting for him. A servant had already alerted the rest of the palace, after spotting the distant light in the darkness. An ethereal glow, like the sun and moon, merged together. That was how the king knew that flutter of anticipation in his chest. The magnificent creature would soon be his. The deer would make a fine addition to his menagerie of exotic animals.

Starting point is 00:57:52 After dismounting, Hercules greeted the king, who couldn't take his eyes off the deer. As you can see, said Hercules, I've completed my third task. The king nodded, still spellbound. For Hercules, this was confirmation enough. If the king agreed that the task was complete, the next step was to fulfill his promise to Artemis. Hercules gently removed the rope from the deer's neck, and she understood at once. She turned and transformed into a shimmering streak of gold as she sped away into the dark. into the dark. While the king watched in dismay, Hercules patted him on the shoulder. Next time, said Hercules, there might be a prize they could keep. But the golden deer was not for them or any mortal. She belonged to Artemis. The excitement over, everyone in the palace returned to their rooms

Starting point is 00:59:52 Everyone in the palace returned to their rooms and settled down for the night. As they drifted into sleep, they thought of the golden deer. They imagined her running across the moonlit fields through the dark woods and back to the sacred grove of Artemis. నినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినిన� Music Music నినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినినిన� you

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

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