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

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Starting point is 00:00:38 Meeting with friends before the show? We can book your reservation. And when you get to the main event, skip to the good bit using the card member entrance. Let's go seize the night. In case you didn't know, our company Slumber Studios also has a sleep app called Slumber. With well over a thousand episodes, it has every type of sleep-inducing content you could possibly want, from stories, meditations, audiobooks and history, to soundscapes and music. New episodes are added each week, and you can even search by narrator and listen exclusively to episodes narrated by me or by any of my wonderful fellow storytellers.

Starting point is 00:01:34 Slumber has other unique features too, like the ability to add and adjust background sounds to create your own perfect mix. So I highly recommend you give Slumber a try. It's available in the Apple App Store and on Google Play. And as a Get Sleepy listener you can unlock all of the content in the app free for one month. Just go to slumber., and we get sleepy. Thanks so much for joining me. My name's Thomas and I'm your host. Tonight I'll be guiding you through another of Hercules adventures, the eighth of his 12 labors. This time the hero explores a woodland by moonlight as he goes in search of some special horses. The story is an adaptation of the Greek myth commonly known as the Mares of Diomedes. This version is quite different from the original myth. We've taken out any

Starting point is 00:03:07 violence so you can look forward to a relaxing tale with a happy ending. Assuming you don't fall asleep first, but it's fine if you do. You can always come back and listen again. A big thank you to Alexandra as always for writing all the tales in our Hercules series. Get Sleepy Premium is the very best way to listen to the show and we'd love for you to try it. The first seven days are free of charge, so you can be sure you're happy. Our premium subscribers have a huge choice of over 750 full length stories and meditations, including lots of extra long episodes, and nothing will disrupt your rest as there are no ads whatsoever. Plus, every Thursday we release a brand new bonus episode just for

Starting point is 00:04:07 our premium supporters. Tomorrow, Jessica will be reading a lovely story set in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest of the United States, where a couple and their two dogs explore this beautiful part of the world. Try Get Sleepy Premium and enjoy all the sleepy content you could possibly need. Visit GetSleepy.com slash support or follow the link in the show notes to learn more. So my friends, let's get settled in for tonight's story. Make yourself cozy and comfortable, taking some deep, slow, intentional breaths. If your mind is still feeling quite active, don't try to fight it. The more we resist, the noisier it tends to become. So instead, just shift your focus onto my voice and onto your own breathing. Sense the rise and fall of your chest and stomach. Just like clouds floating overhead, your thoughts can come and go as they please. Your consciousness is just like the calm, clear blue sky beyond the clouds.

Starting point is 00:06:10 It's a constant that is always there. Sometimes there are lots of clouds floating around, maybe so many that you can't see the blue sky at all. Your thoughts are a lot like these clouds, and your conscious mind is the ever present present blue sky, watching them come and go. Eventually, clouds will always part and float away, and that allows the blue sky to appear once more, clearing your mind and bringing a sense of serenity and clarity. So, continue to breathe steadily and naturally, steadily and naturally, understanding that the transition into rest can take some time. And with a greater sense of ease and peace, open up your imagination to tonight's dreamy story alongside Hercules.

Starting point is 00:07:50 We join our hero by the Black Sea in what would be modern day Turkey as he prepares to tackle his next task. next task. This is where our story begins. The tide was coming in, creeping up the shore in hushed rhythmic waves. As Hercules stood there watching the waves, he remembered another beach and another dusk. Not so long ago, he'd walked along the coast of Crete at sunset, leading the legendary bull back to the waiting ship. Now, Hercules was on a beach far, far away. This was the coast of Thrace to the northeast of Greece. to the northeast of Greece. After a long journey across the Aegean Sea, Hercules had spent days traveling the land by horse until he reached the shore of the Black Sea. Now it was dusk and he was stretching his legs on the beach, while his horse, Ianthe, trotted beside him. He had missed her on his adventure, and he was glad to have her with him this time. Ianthe's mere presence was reassuring. She walked slowly, her steps muffled by the sand, letting out a quiet snort or whinny every now and then.

Starting point is 00:10:30 Hercules gave her an affectionate pat on the neck. Perhaps she would be helpful for this particular task, seeing as it involved horses. This time, the king had given Hercules very clear instructions to bring back the horses of Diomedes. Diomedes was a king who ruled this part of Thrace. Near his palace, he was known to have an enclosure of wild horses, which he had captured but not tamed. No one could ride the creatures. They were said to be as swift as the wind and as wild as the ocean when it was stirred up by one of Poseidon's storms. And for that reason, they made for interesting, albeit challenging, pets.

Starting point is 00:11:53 Hercules' cousin, King Eurystheus, had been acquiring an impressive collection of animals. Thanks to Hercules, the king now owned a to Thrace, capture the horses, and bring them to the king. Part of the challenge was the journey. It was a long way there and back. But in this moment, Hercules was focused on the task at hand, how to find and capture the horses without being spotted. He had a vague idea of where they were kept. The Palace of Diomedes was just about visible

Starting point is 00:13:11 in the distance, further up the coast. Hercules could see the roof glinting pink and gold in the sunset. Presumably, the land where the horses were kept was somewhere on the other side, at he could try another route. He could go through the woodland and search for the border between the forest and the horse's enclosure. It was worth a try, and this was the perfect time of day, or rather, night. By the time Hercules got close to the horses, he would be under the cover of darkness. He would be under the cover of darkness. Even if he wasn't able to capture the horses straight away, at least he could catch a glimpse of them and assess the situation. On the beach, Hercules climbed onto Ianthes' back. Then, once he was comfortably in position, he stroked her neck.

Starting point is 00:14:57 The horse could interpret every touch and command that Hercules gave her, so she knew the meaning of this stroke. It meant, go. At once, the horse and rider moved away from the sea, heading towards the dark cluster of trees that lined the beach. In the fading light, the pines looked black, silhouetted against a pink sky. Entering the forest felt like stepping into another world. It was darker, quieter. Even the air was different somehow. Sheltered from the sea breeze, this place had a dreamlike stillness. This place had a dreamlike stillness.

Starting point is 00:16:15 The only sounds were the quiet chirps of insects and the occasional note of bird song, which seemed to be coming from far away. To some, the woods may have seemed a little unsettling, especially as it grew darker and darker. But Hercules had always felt at home among the trees. It spent his childhood playing in the woods, often staying out till late. And it was in those magical twilights that Hercules had overcome a fear, his fear of the dark. When he was very young, he'd always slept with an oil lamp burning. He felt safer that way. But as he grew a little older and began exploring, he realized that the night was

Starting point is 00:17:29 nothing to be afraid of. Besides, it was rarely as dark as it first seemed. Hercules discovered that his eyes adjusted after a while, and that there was always a source of light. Wherever he went, there was always the moon. So now, as he rode his horse into the darkening woods, Hercules was unafraid, and Ianthe, sensing his confidence, was also at ease. She trotted onwards, deeper into the heart of the forest, finding a path between the pines. When night arrived, the moonlight filtered through the leaves, casting streaks of silver over the trees. It was beautiful, but it didn't offer much visibility.

Starting point is 00:18:54 With so little light, Hercules became more attuned to the subtle sounds around him. to the subtle sounds around him. It was quiet, but there was always sound, just as there was always a hint of light, even in the darkest of places. He could hear his own breaths, almost in sync with Ianthe's heavier breathing. He could hear the familiar rhythm of her hooves, muffled slightly by the soft earth and fallen pine needles. Then there were the other living things, chirping crickets, the trill of a nightjar, and an owl calling out over and over again. over again. Although Hercules couldn't see the owl, he recognized its call. This type of bird was known as the Owl of Athena and associated with knowledge and wisdom, just like the goddess. Given Hercules' close relationship with Athena, the owl's presence felt comforting. It seemed like a good omen. As he rode on, Hercules became almost hypnotized by the call of the owl.

Starting point is 00:20:57 He was so focused on the repetitive sound that it took him a moment to become aware sound, then it took him a moment to become aware of other sounds in the distance. Drumbeats and women's voices singing. For a second, he doubted himself. He must be imagining things, dreaming. But the sounds were becoming louder and louder, and there was no mistaking it. No animal could make music like that. No animal could make music like that. Then, Hercules remembered the stories he'd heard. The tribe who lived in this part of the country were said to revere the god of wine, Dionysus, and the followers of Dionysus often worshipped outdoors at night in mysterious rituals. That would explain the music, perhaps.

Starting point is 00:22:31 the music, perhaps. Hercules pulled gently on the reins to make Ianthe slow her pace. He didn't want to disturb the people, whoever they were. Gradually, the music became louder and light began to spread through the trees, the warm orange glow of torchlight. Now, Hercules could hear the words, though he couldn't understand them. The women were singing in a different language, it seemed, or maybe it was only their accent. Then, listening carefully, Hercules was able to make out a familiar name. Dianysus, the women sang, their voices rising to an ecstatic pitch. Slowly and cautiously, Hercules edged forward until he was on the perimeter of the clearing. Now, he could see. After so long in the dark, it was the most extraordinary sight. In fact, it was almost too much to take in at once. Hercules found himself blinking, then staring as he tried to soak in all the details of the ethereal scene. The women were dancing. There were between 10 and 20 of

Starting point is 00:24:32 them twirling around to the rhythm of the drums. One girl played a pipe, which sounded just like a bird. The women were all dressed in white, and as they danced, they shook their long hair, which was woven with flowers and ivy. and ivy. Some carried flaming torches, while one woman held a thursus. This was a wand of giant fennel wrapped in ivy with a pinecone on top, a symbolic object favored by followers of the wine god. On the ground nearby were terracotta pots, each filled to the brim with red wine. wine. The women danced joyfully, weaving around each other and stamping their feet to the rhythm, all the while singing the most beautiful song. As Hercules watched, he imagined them dancing all night without tiring,

Starting point is 00:26:12 going to sleep only when the sun rose. They were in a trance, energized by joy and devotion. Hercules also found himself spellbound. After a while, he could hardly distinguish the women from the shadows they cast on the trees. Everything seemed to mix and intermingle, blending together in a golden haze. The women were free to dance until daybreak, but Hercules had a task to complete that night. At last, he stirred himself from his trance and rode on around the clearing. He took care to move as quietly as possible so as not to disturb the dancers. Though perhaps, he thought, they might not even notice. The women were in another world, in a divine ecstasy. Hercules was a little reluctant to leave them behind. He listened for as long as he could, following their joyful song, as it grew fainter and

Starting point is 00:27:56 fainter, until it finally faded away. It was as if the worshippers had been swallowed up by the woods, closing the door of their open-air temple. And the strange thing was, once they were out of earshot, Hercules forgot the tune immediately. He'd listened for so long, transfixed by the melody. Yet now, he couldn't hum more than a couple of notes. The song escaped him as tantalizing and evanescent as a dream. It was a shame, thought Hercules, but perhaps the disappearance of the song made it all the more beautiful. Often, the most special moments in life were the ones that felt fleeting and impossible to capture. These were the thoughts drifting through his mind as he continued his journey, immersed once again in the moonlit dark and the near silence. After a while, the thoughts left him too.

Starting point is 00:29:48 The thoughts left him, too. It was as if his mind had emptied out completely, becoming a reflection of his surroundings. He forgot where he was and where he was going. For a moment, he even seemed to forget himself. He was just a body moving through space, completely at peace. This time, it was Ianthe that stirred him from his trance. The horse let out a soft snort, and just as she understood him, he understood her. She wanted his attention. — look, she seemed to be saying. Listen. At first, Hercules only saw the darkness, and he heard nothing at all. But then, he became aware of a space up ahead, a gap in the trees. The gap let in the moonlight and the night breeze, and with it came the sound of the air carried across an open space and a musky scent. The gap was like a portal, bringing them to the threshold of another realm.

Starting point is 00:31:40 Riding out of the trees, Hercules realized where he was. Not in another world, as it had seemed in his forest trance, but exactly where he wanted to be, on the edge of Diomedes' land. the edge of Diomedes' land. In front of him was a fence. On the other side, in the distance, he could see the horses. There were four of them resting in the grass. If they were outside in the middle of the night, Hercules reasoned, they had to be the horses he was looking for. Instead of sleeping in the stables, they were outside, free, or as free as they could be within the confines of the enclosure. It seemed large, thought Hercules,

Starting point is 00:33:00 but not quite large enough for horses that were essentially wild. These animals spent most of their lives running through fields and forests completely free, and now, they were in this modest enclosure, a small area of land between Diomedes Palace and the woods. Hercules' cousin, the king, planned to give the horses plenty of space once they were his. As he awaited their arrival, the king was overseeing the construction of a vast enclosure. There, the horses would feel as though they were living freely in nature. Because of this, Hercules had no qualms about taking the horses from Diomedes. He was bringing them to a better home, if only they would let him. they would let him. After dismounting, Hercules walked up to the fence and considered his next steps.

Starting point is 00:34:42 First, he examined the fence, which was tall and solidly built. He could climb over it, but there wasn't much point in him going to the other side. He needed the horses to come over to this side. Another option was to break the fence, but this would be no easy task. And then, even if he did manage to create a gap in the fence, there was no guarantee that the horses would come through it. Besides, Hercules reasoned. Even if he found a way to get the horses out of the enclosure, that only solved part of the problem. They were wild, untamed creatures who had no reason to obey him. Somehow, he would have to earn their trust. The first step was getting their attention.

Starting point is 00:36:08 At the moment, the horses were resting on the far side of the enclosure, oblivious to his presence. But Hercules had an idea. He whispered to Ianthe, who let out a loud whinny. Right away, the other horses turned in their direction. One of them, a magnificent black stallion, came trotting over, and the others soon followed. Hercules found himself face to face with four wild horses. They were shades of black and gray, gleaming silver in the moonlight. And while they seemed fairly placid, Hercules could tell that these horses were different. They weren't used to humans, and there was no sense of mutual understanding. They were much more interested in Ianthe. The black stallion pushed his nose through the bars of the fence, sniffing Ianthe curiously. As he watched the two horses interact, Hercules reflected. His ability to communicate with Ianthe had its limits. If only they could speak to each other, if only Hercules could tell Ianthe to share his message,

Starting point is 00:38:11 to ask the other horses to somehow jump the fence and follow him. Meanwhile, Ianthe and the stallion seemed to be engaged in their own silent conversation. At one point, the stallion gave Ianthe a friendly lick on the side of her face. Despite their differences, the horses seemed to be getting along. And then, as Hercules reflected on the interaction, one thought led to another. One thought led to another. Licking was a form of communication, and so was taste in a way. He might not be able to win the horses over with words, but what about food? Rummaging in his pockets, Hercules found what he was looking for. Horse treats. But these were no ordinary treats. They had been given to him by a special friend who knew better than anyone what horses liked. Kyren was half-horse, after all. He knew their tastes. When Hercules had visited the centaurs earlier that summer, Chiron had given him some treats for Ianthe.

Starting point is 00:40:15 They were the equivalent of catnip for horses, he explained. he explained. Hercules wasn't sure exactly what the treats contained, though he recalled that they had a strong minty smell. Now, as he stood by the fence, he took out one of the treats and sniffed it. Yes, that was it, the fresh invigorating scent of peppermint. When Hercules glanced up through the fence, all four horses were staring at him. He knew this look. It was the same expression that Ianthe had when she was hungry, or rather, when she was hungry for something in particular. Turning towards Ianthe, Hercules saw that she, too, was keen for a peppermint treat. Later, he promised her.

Starting point is 00:41:49 Later, he promised her. And whether it was the word itself or his tone of voice, she seemed to understand. Good girl, said Hercules, patting her on the nose. Then, with one of the treats in his palm, he stepped closer to the fence, approaching the black tongue as far as it would go. But Hercules was careful not to let him reach the treat. No, said Hercules, taking a step back. If you want it, you'll have to come over here. It almost felt like they were having a conversation. And even if the horse didn't understand the words, perhaps he would understand something, somehow. What happened next was something Hercules would remember for the rest of his life.

Starting point is 00:43:21 The stallion turned and cantered away until he was in the middle of the enclosure. Then he turned again towards Hercules, cantering, galloping, and then leaping over the fence. To Hercules, it almost seemed to happen in slow motion. Afterwards, he could see the stallion in his mind's eye, a majestic creature, black and glossy in the moonlight, rising in the air. At the peak of his jump, the horse blocked out the moon. For a brief moment, all went black like an eclipse. And then the stallion landed, his his palm in search of the treat. And to Hercules' astonishment, this was enough.

Starting point is 00:45:02 He didn't even need to take out more treats to lure the other horses. One by one, they followed their leader over the fence, jumping with extraordinary grace. Once all four of them were over, Hercules shared some more of the peppermint treats, and as the horses ate, he reflected on his luck. The creatures were much tamer than Hercules had been led to believe. Or at least, they were easily tamed with the right motivation, delicious treats, and an intriguing new companion. and an intriguing new companion. Already, the Black Stallion and Ianthe seemed to have formed a special bond. What luck, thought Hercules. He was so grateful for Kyren's gift, and of course, for Ianthe. He could always depend on her. Ready for the return journey, Hercules climbed onto the back of his own beloved horse and began to lead the way through the woods. The journey home would be a long one, across the lands of Thrace and then the Aegean Sea. But there was no rush and Hercules

Starting point is 00:47:13 felt relaxed now, knowing that the horses would follow him. Something magical had happened by the fence, and for the time being, the horses were his. They followed him into the trees, forming a peaceful procession. Meanwhile, somewhere else in the woods, the followers of Dionysus were still singing and dancing. As he ventured deeper into the pines, Hercules thought he could hear faint echoes of the women's song and the distant drumbeat. Even in the middle of the night and in the middle of the woods there was light and life. Smiling to himself, Hercules rode on through the trees. The You You You You You You You You You You I'm going to go ahead and start the video. You You You You You You you

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

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