Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - Hercules and the King’s Stables

Starting point is 00:00:00 Get Sleepy is a production of Slumber Studios and is made possible thanks to the generous support of our sponsors and premium members. If you'd like to listen ad-free and access weekly bonus episodes, extra long stories and our entire back catalogue, you can try out premium free for 7 days by following the link in the episode notes. Now, a quick word from our sponsors. That's the sound of unaged whiskey, transforming into Jack Daniel's Tennessee whiskey in Lynchburg, Tennessee. Around 1860, nearest green taught Jack Daniel

Starting point is 00:00:41 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. This episode is brought to you by RBC Student Banking. Students, get $100 when you open

Starting point is 00:01:03 an RBC Advantage Banking account, get $100 when you open an RBC Advantage banking account, which includes no monthly fee, unlimited debit transactions in Canada, Avian points on debit purchases, and so, so much more. Unlock more perks for less with RBC Vantage. Conditions apply. Offer ends June 30, 2024. New eligible clients only. Complete criteria by August 30, 2024. Visit r we relax, and we get sleepy. My name's Thomas. It is such an honor to be your host. Tonight's story is about the fifth of Hercules' twelve labors, the Augean stables. It was written by Alex and I'll be reading it to you. So far, Hercules has battled monsters and captured legendary creatures, but this task is a little different as it

Starting point is 00:02:14 involves cleaning, and it's going to be a cleanup of epic proportions as the King's stables are home to thousands of divine cattle. If you love listening to Get Sleepy but you'd rather do so without hearing any ads, why not try our supporters feed, Get Sleepy Premium, with well over 700 full-length stories and meditations, including extra long episodes and series stitches, you'll never run out of dreamy content to help you get your best sleep possible. Also, every single Thursday we release a brand new bonus episode just for our premium subscribers. Tomorrow TK will be reading to us as a girl named Millie how sits for her grandparents in their gorgeous beach house by the sea. The first seven days of your subscription are free so try a get Sleepy Premium and enjoy all the sleepy content you could possibly need

Starting point is 00:03:27 completely ad free. Visit GetSleepy.com slash support or follow the link in the show notes to learn more. Thank you all so much. So my friends, let's prepare for tonight's story now by making our way towards a deeper sense of presence and peace. Begin with some gentle, full breaths, drawing the air in through the nose and then slowly releasing it through past lips. I really hope you've had a pleasant and satisfying day. However, just as there tends to be every single day, I'm sure it had its challenging moments

Starting point is 00:04:34 too, or times when you felt a little flat. It can be difficult to accept when you feel that way. We'd all love to be able to say we're feeling great all of the time, but of course it's unrealistic. Ups and downs are a part of life and there can be all sorts of factors that affect our mood. and there can be all sorts of factors that affect our mood. So, no matter how you're feeling in this moment, see if you can be gentle with yourself and try to meet your emotions and thoughts with a degree of acceptance.

Starting point is 00:05:29 Try saying it in your mind. I accept where I am and how I feel. You may or may not like how you're feeling right now, but it's not to say you're stuck with it. Acceptance is about freeing yourself of blame and frustration. I accept where I am and how I feel. It's quite a powerful thing to be able to do. So draw in one more calming deep breath and as you let it go, relax your shoulders, your jaw, any areas that feel tense. And let your mind be at ease. All you need to do now is close your eyes and listen to the sound of my

Starting point is 00:06:53 voice. It's time to join Hercules as he's on his way to start his fifth task. This is where our story begins. After a restful winter at the King's palace, Hercules was on the road again. The king, his cousin, hadn't told him exactly what his next task would be. He'd showered Hercules with praise for his most recent success, capturing the wild boar that lived on Mount Aromanthos. The creature now happily resided in the palace gardens. But for some reason, the king had been secretive about Hercules' upcoming quest. secretive about Hercules' upcoming quest. Whenever Hercules asked, the King would simply smile and wave his hand as if to dismiss the question. You'll find out when you get there, said the King. For the moment, Hercules should enjoy his time at the palace, resting and feasting.

Starting point is 00:08:55 But with the melting of the snow and the welcome arrival of spring, Hercules was ready to set off. And now, he was riding through the fields of Elis to the west, on his way to meet another king. All that his cousin had told him was that he should travel to Elis and pay a visit to King Orgeus, the ruler of the region. When Hercules arrived at the palace, Orgeus would tell him what to do. So far, it had been a pleasant journey through the woods and farmland, following the river Alpheus. As Hercules rode alongside the stream at a gentle canter, he gazed at the water and recalled the myth about the river.

Starting point is 00:10:13 The story went something like this. Once upon a time, there was a beautiful nymph named Arithusa. She often bathed in the stream near her home, soaking in the cold water on hot summer afternoons. One day, while she was swimming, she met the river god, Alpheus. Mesmerized by her beauty, he fell in love with her. But the nymph was not in love, and she had chosen to devote her life to the goddess Artemis, so she rejected the River God's advances. Undeterred, Alpheus pursued the nymph who called out to her goddess and protect her for help. Artemis hid the nymph inside a silvery cloud, so she was all but invisible. But still, Alpheus chased after her. Then the goddess had another idea. She transformed the nymph into a river, a river that flowed underground, beneath the sea, and all the way to a faraway island. And that was where the nymph Arithusa lived to this day, safe in her

Starting point is 00:12:10 sacred spring on the island. As Hercules recalled this story, he smiled, thinking of his own encounter with the goddess Artemis. On his third quest, he had made a bargain with the goddess, capturing her beloved dear, before setting it free once more. He wondered if he would meet Artemis again on another quest, or perhaps he would catch sight of Alpheus, who still lived in this river. It was said that these days he lived a more peaceful existence, no longer chasing after nymphs. Hercules cast his eyes up and down the river, but there was no sign of any divine presence. All he could see was the clear water sparkling in the sunshine, and all he could hear was the calming flow of the stream, the chirps of birds,

Starting point is 00:13:46 and the whirring of grasshoppers. Still, he thought, there was no telling who or what he might encounter next. It made life more interesting, knowing that there were gods and divine creatures in these lands. At around midday, Hercules caught sight of a settlement in the distance. This must be it, he realized, feeling a rush of excitement. The kingdom of Orgeas, he was nearly there. All he knew about Orgeas was that the king's stables were famous. It was a vast building, home to thousands of divine cattle. Soon, Hercules and his horse Ianthe were trotting up the path that led to the palace. He looked around with curiosity and more than a little surprise. It was certainly an impressive estate,

Starting point is 00:15:20 but it seemed to have been neglected. The trees needed pruning, and the walls could have done with a lick of paint. A statue of a god near the entrance was missing a hand. Compared to the palace that belonged to his cousin, the luxurious residence where Hercules had spent the winter, this place seemed slightly shabby. Hercules remembered that King Orgeus was old, much older than his cousin. Perhaps he was struggling to keep on top of things, and perhaps, thought Hercules, that was why he had been sent here, to give the king a hand. had been sent here to give the king a hand. But hopefully, it wasn't something so mundane. Hercules wanted his next task to be a noble one, something heroic, like capturing another legendary creature.

Starting point is 00:16:56 He was feeling recharged after his rest over the winter and ready for a new challenge. But when he entered the palace and met King Orgeus, he was dismayed to realize that his first instinct was correct. Orgeus sat in the throne room of the Great Hall, surrounded by dust and cobwebs. He was an elderly man, and he looked as though he'd rather be in bed than sitting on his throne. With a weary smile, he thanked Hercules for coming weary smile, he thanked Hercules for coming and explained the situation. It was time to retire, Orgeus had decided, so his son could take over. He simply didn't have the energy to maintain the palace, finding new servants and making sure they were keeping everything in order. The palace was bad enough, but the stables, that was his main concern. Over the years, the stables where the cows lived had become

Starting point is 00:18:31 terribly dirty, and he couldn't expect a favor to ask from Hercules. Would he clean out the stables? Of course, said Hercules, though he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. Cleaning the stables was hardly a heroic task. He wondered if this was his cousin's idea of a practical joke, sending him to shovel out stables. Perhaps he intended to take him down a peg or two. After leaving the Great Hall, Hercules went straight to the stables. stables. The palace seemed pristine in comparison. The stables were a giant, sprawling complex filled with thousands of cows who seemed quite happy. But it was still a shame, thought Hercules.

Starting point is 00:20:07 They were beautiful creatures, divine cattle that were said to be immortal. Their eyes were a deep brown with golden flecks, and their soft, white fur seemed to shine. I'll get this cleaned up, thought Hercules. Once he was away from the stables out in the fresh air, he took a deep breath and wondered where to begin. He certainly wasn't going to start shoveling as it would take him an eternity. There had to be a quicker way, but right now, his mind was blank. He would sleep on it, hoping thatcules visited Ianthe in the stables. Fortunately, these stables were in much better condition. Perhaps because there were only a handful of horses, rather than a never-ending sea

Starting point is 00:21:48 of cows. Hercules liked to spend some time with Ianthe every evening, making sure she had enough food and water, and brushing her mane till it was as smooth as silk. As he stood there, slowly running the brush through the horse's hair, he heard the sound of approaching hooves. Turning towards the entrance, he saw a man enter on horseback. Even in the dim light of the stables, he noticed the resemblance. the resemblance. This man looked exactly like Orgeus, only decades younger. You must be Phileas, the son of the king, said Hercules. And you must be the great hero Hercules," said Phileas. As he dismounted, Phileas explained that he'd just returned from a long journey.

Starting point is 00:23:18 He'd planned to return the following week, but when he heard that Hercules was coming to the palace, he set off at once. He didn't want to miss an opportunity to meet the famous hero and to lend a hand if possible. When he heard this, Hercules laughed with astonishment. The king's son wanted to help him clean the stables, surely not. But Phileas insisted that it would be an honor. Besides, he knew how much it meant to his father. The great cleanup of the stables was something they'd been talking about for months, if not years. It was long overdue. years. It was long overdue. Phileas said he would meet Hercules the next morning and together they would work out a way to clean the stables but without getting their hands dirty. Hercules laughed again and said that they would need some help from the gods or divine inspiration at the very least.

Starting point is 00:25:04 Well said, Phileas, you never know. The two men left the stables and returned to the palace, where they wished each other good night before heading to their respective rooms. Hercules was pleasantly surprised by his bedroom, which was clean, comfortable, and decorated with beautiful designs. Everything here had potential, he thought. It only needed to be looked after in the right way. Lying on a soft bed beneath a warm quilt, Hercules soon drifted off. drifted off. It seemed that it barely closed his eyes and he was already sinking into sleep and into dreams of his travels. He dreamt of the river, the sparkling waters of the Alpheus, twisting and turning through the countryside. In his dream, he followed it endlessly until he seemed to merge with the river itself,

Starting point is 00:26:49 to merge with the river itself, becoming part of the flowing water. Hercules could hear the birds singing in the trees. These were reasons to feel content but Hercules also felt happy for another reason, he knew exactly what to do. He knew exactly what to do. After a light breakfast and a refreshing bath, Hercules dressed and went outside to meet Phileas in the palace grounds. The king's son was already there, waiting for him by a tree near the stables. Phileas smiled as he greeted Hercules. He could tell from the look on the hero's face that he had a plan. First, said Hercules, they needed to move the cattle.

Starting point is 00:28:28 The men went to the stables and opened all the doors, encouraging the cows to come out into the pasture. One by one, the cows came plodding out, mooing happily as they felt the sunshine on their backs. This was their favorite time of day. For them, the simple pleasure of grazing in the stables. Hercules stopped counting after a hundred. Watching the stream of cows pass before them, Phileas asked Hercules what he planned to do next. Bring me an axe, said Hercules. It was time to remodel the stables.

Starting point is 00:29:40 Phileas watched in amazement as Hercules used the axe to destroy one of the stable walls. First one, then another, so the stables were wide open on both sides. It would have taken another man hours or even days to knock down those walls. But of course, Hercules was no ordinary man. With his super strength, wielding the axe as if it weighed nothing, he destroyed the walls in no time, and he said, to see a demonstration of such strength. To see a man knock down walls without even breaking a sweat. Hercules smiled modestly. He was just getting started. Next, they would need a couple of spades. Seeing his friend's crestfallen expression, Hercules laughed. No, it wasn't for that. They wouldn't be but digging a trench.

Starting point is 00:31:48 Phileas was mystified, but he followed Hercules' instructions, digging in the ground just outside the stables where a wall had once been. Hercules dug too and made much quicker progress, but he was grateful to have an assistant and he told him so. Chatting as they worked, the time flew by. After a break for lunch and a rest in the shade, they got back to work, digging and digging until they were almost at the river. Phileas smiled and congratulated Hercules on his ingenuity. Now he understood. Soon, the stables would be spotless. He asked Phileas to return to the stables to keep an eye on the cattle and to make sure they stayed in the pasture. The building needed to be completely empty.

Starting point is 00:33:29 Phileas nodded and returned in the direction of the stables, walking alongside the newly dug trench. Meanwhile, Hercules gazed at the river and considered his next steps. He would wait a while to give Phileas time to get back, and then he would dig the final part of the trench. As he waited, he looked at the river Alpheus, recalling his journey the day before and last night's dream. He thought of the river god and the nymph who was transformed into a stream. Suddenly, everything seemed connected, all this water flowing, intermingling. to mingling. He paused there for a while, feeling strangely content.

Starting point is 00:34:59 Sometimes, the anticipation of completing a task was the best part. Hercules knelt down by the river and splashed the fresh water over his face, washing away the sweat and dirt. how such a simple act could make him feel refreshed, almost reborn. Then, he turned his attention back to the trench. It ended just a few inches away from the riverbank, winches away from the riverbank, but in a moment, the trench would become a tributary of the alpheus. Hercules picked up his spade and began to dig. Back in the pasture, Phileas watched over the cows. They were grazing serenely, oblivious to what had been going on at the stables. Lucky creatures, thought Phileas, they lived in the moment with no worries at all. All they needed was grass, water, sunshine, and each other's company.

Starting point is 00:36:50 and each other's company. Perhaps, he thought, it was better to be a cow than a king. But these thoughts were interrupted by a sound in the distance, a rumbling, rushing sound, almost like a roaring waterfall. Turning towards the source of the sound, he saw the water. The great rush of the river had filled the stables, entering on one side and exiting on another. And as it left, it washed the stables clean. The flow of water seemed endless. Phileas watched in wonder, hardly able to believe his eyes.

Starting point is 00:38:01 But at last, as if by magic, the water stopped. The stable began to drain out, the remaining water streaming down the hill and forming great puddles in the grass. Some of the cows wandered over and stepped right into the puddles as if to wash their hooves. The stables were clean at last. Hercules had done a year's work in a day. a year's work in a day. That evening, as they feasted and celebrated in the palace, Hercules was keen to point out that he had not worked alone. He'd had some help from Phileas, who would make a fine king. Before Phileas could say anything, before he could point out that all the ideas and strength had come from Hercules alone, the hero winked at him from across the table. Phileas stayed silent, graciously accepting the compliment from Hercules, and the praise from the other men around the table.

Starting point is 00:39:54 Maybe it was true, thought Phileas. He would make a fine king. He'd learned a lot that day, and he was ready for the throne. Sitting next to him was his father, King Orgeus, who beamed with childlike joy. The old man suddenly looked younger and livelier, as if a weight had been lifted. Just before dinner, he'd been given a tour of the stables, and he was delighted with the results. The stables were so clean, they positively sparkled. Even the cows looked shinier. Orgeas began to reminisce fondly about how he'd acquired his divine cattle. he'd acquired his divine cattle. They had been a gift from his father, the sun god Helios. Imagine, he said, a child of five being given a herd of immortal cows for his birthday. But the gods were like that, with their strange whims and fancies.

Starting point is 00:41:31 The feast went on until late in the evening. Once Hercules had his fill, he said goodnight to the king and his son, then slipped outside to check on Ianthe. And after visiting his horse, Hercules went across to the other stables. The vast building had been transformed. It wasn't quite perfect yet, as it was still missing some walls. Hercules would see to it in the morning, but other than that, it was quite a sight. The walls and floor were pristine, almost palatial. Breathing in, Hercules noticed the unusual freshness of the scent.

Starting point is 00:43:01 Perhaps it was his imagination, but he thought he could even smell the river. Water and earth mixed together to create the most soothing scent. The cows certainly seemed to be relaxed. Some were standing placidly, their tails slowly swishing back and forth, while others were dozing on the ground. They slept in similar positions to dogs, their legs tucked under and their heads resting on the straw. Young calves were curled up next to their mothers, fast asleep. And in the hush of the stable, the occasional snoring sound could be heard. The sound of deep rest. Watching the cows, Hercules also began to feel sleepy. Soon, he too would rest stand here, reflecting on a successful day's work, and listening to the quiet breathing of the cattle as they slept in the cleanest of stables. You You You You You You You You You You The You You You You You You You You You You you

Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - Hercules and the King’s Stables

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