Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - Star Tours #2: The Big Dipper

Starting point is 00:00:01 Welcome to Get Sleepy, where we listen, we relax, and we get sleepy. My name's Thomas. Thank you so much for being here, joining us in this calming space for a good night's rest. This evening, we're continuing our Star Tours adventures, written by Kayla and read by me. Tonight we'll be travelling to South Korea to visit an ancient astronomy tower. From there, we'll continue our journey on a spaceship and discover the story of the Big Dipper, also known as the Plough. So, my friends, let's prepare for an out-of-this-world adventure by first bringing our full attention

Starting point is 00:01:04 to the here and now. Being present is something we speak about quite a lot nowadays. But as I'm sure you'll agree, it's not easy to achieve on a regular basis. Our minds have a tendency to wander off in all directions, to throw up thoughts that interfere, and to look ahead or backwards. But that's okay. Don't get frustrated if your version of presence isn't quite on the level of those who've dedicated years of practice to meditation or finding that mental ability to be in the here and now.

Starting point is 00:01:57 My dad has meditated first thing every morning and last thing before bed every day for a number of decades. His dedication is so admirable and there's no doubt the car. and spiritual nature of this regular practice is reflected in his kind and gentle character. But I know that he would say, even after all these years of practice, not every meditation brings 100% presence and fulfillment. So, as you lie in your bed, gradually distancing yourself from the thoughts of the day, Breathing steadily and softly, just pay as much attention as your mind allows to this very moment.

Starting point is 00:03:01 Enjoy the relaxing sensations of comfort provided by the support of your bed and pillows, and by the gentle rhythm of your breathing. Notice how your body responds. perhaps releasing tension or stress in the muscles. Maybe your jaw loosens and your shoulders sink back a little more. Whether you're able to feel a sense of presence or not, it's wonderful to just be here, giving yourself an opportunity to relax and rest.

Starting point is 00:04:03 So now, as you continue to breathe smoothly and deeply, imagine the particles of your breath rising in the sky to intermingle with the stars in just a moment. We'll be up there ourselves among the stars. But we'll start on Earth. This is where our story begins. Tonight, you find yourself in Kyeongju, a coastal town in South Korea. In ancient times, it was the capital of the Silla Kingdom.

Starting point is 00:05:21 Back then, Kyeongju was a thriving scientific hub, filled with curious astronomers and astrologers. You stand outside the new space station, dark grey panelled windows making up its walls. It's surrounded by squat trees and rolling farmland. But most importantly, perhaps, a small stone observatory is just outside the building. In the 7th century CE, the observatory of Chemsung Day, was built. The name means stargazing tower. And it is because of this ancient landmark that Star Tours base themselves in this region. The small stone tower has a wide, round base,

Starting point is 00:06:34 and tapers towards the top, a bit like a bottle. At the top is a flat stone structure. The building was used for astronomical observations, such as determining when each solstice and equinox would occur. The one square window is south-facing, right in the middle of the tower. There are 12 layers of brick, both above and below, perhaps representing the 12 months in a year, or the 24 solar terms. You imagine astronomers over the ages, gazing out of that window at the night sky. It's a cloudless night tonight. And when you look up, you can see the stars blazing overhead.

Starting point is 00:07:47 The same stars those ancient astronomers would have gazed at. A light wind brushes your face, coming from the open field, behind the observatory. The space station is named after Queen Sundog, as the observatory was built under her reign in the 7th century. She was the first reigning queen of the Silla Kingdom. Only kings came before her. Sundog encouraged arts and sciences to flourish under her rule. Chomsung-day is only one of her accomplishments, but as the oldest observatory in East Asia, it is one of her most long-lasting achievements. After taking in the ancient observatory for some time,

Starting point is 00:09:03 an announcement notifies you, it's time to board your flight. You follow a small group of people up a silver ramp, that winds into the space station. Small plaques tell you more about the history of the place you're in. Like the fact that farming was very important to ancient Koreans, this is one of the reasons why many monarchs invested in astronomy. Learning to read the night sky, let farmers know when the seasons were coming and going.

Starting point is 00:09:50 and helped them plan for better crop yields. The other passengers on your flight are a mixed bunch. People from all walks of life enjoy learning about the history of the stars. A group of men with greying hair sip coffee as they make their way to the boarding gate. Their smiles highlighting years of laughter. a family with adult children is reminiscing about childhood trips. They're excited to go on this new adventure together, and just ahead, a poised woman travelling alone, looks around in wonder at the marvellous sights and sounds of this place,

Starting point is 00:10:54 which is both modern and historic. The ramp leads you inside the grey walls of the station. The roof doesn't reach above the tree line, and the other end of the building is only a few hundred metres away. The station was purposefully built with minimalist design, so as not to take away from the beautiful and historical place it is based in. Because it's such a small station, Your tour experience is more intimate.

Starting point is 00:11:43 Yours is the only flight departing this evening, and only a dozen other people will be on board with you. You're led right to the gate of your ship, where a smiling man is waiting to greet you. He welcomes your group to Star Tour's career and introduces himself as Minjun. His eyes sparkle as he takes you aboard the ship and shows you to your individual sleeping pods. A curved headboard gives you privacy, but most of the rest of the ship, including the floor,

Starting point is 00:12:36 ceiling and walls, is clear from your pod. You can see the observatory and the stars in the night sky. Minjun tells you that there is a cafe just through the next door, if you need anything to eat or drink throughout your trip, or if you just want to find a place to talk with fellow passengers. The main room of the ship is a quiet space. You can also order food or drinks directly to your pot if you don't wish to leave your cocoon of blankets. You climb onto your bed with light grey sheets and a soft comforter. There's an assortment of pillows for you to choose from,

Starting point is 00:13:41 and you move them around and plump them up until you have everything just right. Then you lie back in bed and pull the blankets over your chest. Looking up at the stars, you wear. wait for your tour to begin. The engine starts to hum gently and Minjun announces that you're ready for take-off. You wiggle your fingers and toes, getting excited to see the stars up close. The ship lifts off from the ground and rises into the night. The rocking motion is soft and gentle.

Starting point is 00:14:43 and makes you feel even more relaxed. You roll onto your side to look at the ground that's moving away from you. The observatory gets smaller and smaller before disappearing into the night below. Welcome to Star Tours, Minjun says. Tonight we'll be exploring the big dipper or the plough as many people. people call it, one of the most famous star groupings in the world. While it's often referred to as a constellation, technically the big dipper is an asterism. It's the most visible part of a bigger constellation. Ursa Major, or the Great Bear, this constellation is one of the oldest in the sky,

Starting point is 00:15:57 As it's mentioned in both Homeric poetry and the Bible, Ursa Major and the Big Dipper have been sparking imaginations for centuries. South Koreans have also been fascinated by these stars. A heartwarming tale from folklore tells of the Big Dipper's origin. It's known as the story. story of the Seven Sons. That suns spelt S-O-N-S. We don't know exactly when or where the story originated, but it could have very well been in the time of the Scylla Kingdom when the observatory you were just viewing was first built under the encouragement of Queen Sundock. Astronomical

Starting point is 00:17:08 knowledge advanced during this period, with both arts and sciences flourishing. It's possible that this is when our story originated. However, astronomical observations in Korea go back to at least the Stone Age before the Astronomy Tower was constructed. Koreans built stone monuments, known as dolmens. Some of these have been built to align with celestial events, like solstices. Wherever or whenever our story comes from, one thing is clear. The Koreans have a long and beautiful connection to astronomy. The ship goes quiet for a moment, and you watch the star, stream past. You feel almost weightless in this place, even though you have no problems staying snuggled up in bed. How wondrous it is to visit the stars in this intimate way. Soon,

Starting point is 00:18:46 the ship slows down and Minjun speaks again. We've now reached our destination for the night. If you look outside the window, you'll see before you, the big dipper. Gazing outside the window, you see the seven stars bright and blazing while witnessing them from Earth is spectacular. Getting to view these stars while you yourself are in the night sky is something else. The stars look bigger from close up, about the size of a fist, even though they are still thousands of light years away. The big dipper fills up the windows of the ship, so it looks like they're framing the stars.

Starting point is 00:19:59 Our tale tonight begins many years ago, says Minjun, before one could travel to the stars, in the mountains of Korea. A mother lived with her seven sons. In front of you, colors dance their way onto the clear windows of the ship. They use the stars as points, and soon form images of a woman and seven young men. You watch as the night sky is transformed into a mountain town. The The boys and their mother had a small house on the mountain side, just outside the town. Their life was simple, but happy. Since they had no father, the mother and sons worked together. They tended to the animals, chopped wood, and plowed the fields.

Starting point is 00:21:23 While they didn't have much in the way of material goods, they always had to be. each other. Besides, the mother and her seven sons enjoyed working in the mountains. Fresh air and cool breezes carried scents of flowers, plants, and berries. When they tended to their crops, they enjoyed the feeling of dipping their hands into the soft earth. They appreciated the craftspeople in their village and were never far from a friendly wave or a cup of tea. When they sat down for a meal, the family always had the freshest food that the mountain provided. The whole family was healthy and happy. Even though the mother raised seven boys by herself, she never found a lover or remarried. Her son sometimes wondered if she would be happier with a partner in her life. Someone who could truly be

Starting point is 00:22:48 her equal, but none of them pushed her matter, for their family was full enough with love. In the night sky in front of you, you watch the seven sons and their mother, retire to their rooms for the night. You sink even deeper into your bed. As Minjun continues the story. One night, the oldest son heard the door of his mother's room open. It was a cold winter night, and a light snow was falling on the mountain. Perhaps you went out to watch the snowfall, thought the sun. He fell asleep as the snow frosted the window panes. When the son heard his mother return, it was in the early hours of the morning. He peaked into the hallway to watch her disappear into her room. The hem of her dress was soaked in water and mud, even though the mother had been out all night.

Starting point is 00:24:30 She was especially joyous the next day, singing songs as they worked in the fields, and cracking jokes when they retired to household chores. That evening, the oldest son once again heard his mother sneak out into the snowy night, and as before, he heard her return in the early morning, and saw her shoes and hem were covered with mud, and again the next day, despite that the mother had been out all night. She was the liveliest of the family.

Starting point is 00:25:23 On the third night, when the son heard his mother departing, he decided to follow her, in the night sky. The images transport you to the house, house of the mother and her sons, the small wooden structure teeters on the mountain side. And you can see why the floorboards creak when the mother sneaks out of the house. Minjun continues, the oldest son couldn't begin to guess where his mother was spending her nights,

Starting point is 00:26:11 but he wanted to find out to make sure she was safe when he heard the front door close. He tiptoed out of his room, bundled up in a jacket and shoes, and went out into the night. Luckily, the moon was shining and he saw his mother walking down the slope of the mountain, towards the river that led to the village. The snow fell and melted on the ground. The stars shone brightly above and danced on the wet earth. One could almost smell the flowers in slumber. The river trickled, making swirling patterns around the rocks

Starting point is 00:27:19 as the son watched his mother approach the water. When she reached the bank, she pulled up her skirts, stepped in and crossed to the other side. She approached one of the houses with a candle burning in the window. The son recognized it as the house of the local potter. His mother knocked on the door

Starting point is 00:27:57 and was greeted with a smile and a hug. The son watched them for a few minutes, laughing by the flickering candle, before he returned home. He smiled as he walked back up the hill, tracing a familiar path. The only way home he'd ever known, the mystery of what was making his mother so happy,

Starting point is 00:28:33 had finally been revealed. The next day, when he was out chopping wood, he pulled his brothers aside. He told him of what he'd seen the night before, and how it explained why their mother had been so happy in recent days. All the sons were delighted for her. But worried too, it's winter. they said. She can't keep walking through the river. She'll catch a cold. Some of the sons thought

Starting point is 00:29:26 they should stop their mother from going. Perhaps they could invite the potter to their house, or tell her to wait until the spring, but the youngest son had a better idea. We should build her a bridge, he said, rather than attend her. to the fields. The brothers did just that. They searched to the mountainside until they each found a big, flat stone. Together, they traced the path to the river. When they arrived, each brother placed his stone in front of the other, creating stepping stones. The next night, the mother once again tiptoed out of her room and followed the mountain path down to the river. She loved hearing the flowing water whispering around each bend. But on this night, she thought the water sounded a little

Starting point is 00:30:53 different when she got to the point where she usually crossed. She noticed seven stepping stones. She didn't remember them being there before, but she was happy she wouldn't have to get her shoes and dress wet this time. Yet again, she spent a wonderful night with her new love. She knew she'd be tired the next day and couldn't keep this up forever. She had seven sons to care for, but she enjoyed these special moments while they lasted. Perhaps one day she'd be able to tell her children where she was going, or even invite the potter over for tea. However, she didn't want to upset the balance in her loving home.

Starting point is 00:32:14 the first rays of light started poking through the clouds, the mother hopped across the seven stones and watched the sun glitter in the trees as she made her way back home. She was surprised to find her sons waiting up for her with a hot pot of tea. The mother wrapped her fingers around her warm mug as she raised an eyebrow at her sons. The boys confessed that they knew her secret and they were happy for her. They told her they had put the rocks there so she could visit the potter whenever she wanted. But they didn't want her to have to sneak out at night anymore. she should bring her new love to meet them. That way, she was free to enjoy his company, both under sun and stars. The mother was filled with warmth, but wasn't from the tea or the rising

Starting point is 00:33:42 sun. She gave each of her sons a big hug, and then rushed to tell the potter the good news. When the mother arrived back with the potter, the sons had made a fragrant stew, the family with their new addition, sat down to a breakfast, filled with smiles and laughter. The family lived a long and healthy life together because the sons had been so loyal and caring to their mother. They were honored in the night sky. When they passed from the earth to the heavens, they were each given a star in Ursa Major, so that their kindness could be remembered for many years to come. At these words, the shapes and colors fade from the window of the ship. at the seven glowing stars, representing the seven sons, and you smile, thinking about how much the

Starting point is 00:35:19 family loved each other, lying back. You gaze upwards to see the stars from a different angle. You feel cozy and safe here, just like the mother and sons did in their mountain home. In June informs you that since the tale is over, you'll leave you to spend the night as you wish. Perhaps you'll continue gazing at the stars, enjoying the weightless feeling as you float in space, in utter peace. Or perhaps you'll feel your eyelids slowly start to close, knowing that the seven brothers are looking down on you, guiding you into a restful sleep. Soon, the ship will make its way back to earth, and when it does, you'll return home from this astronomical adventure. But for now, you're still

Starting point is 00:36:51 floating among the stars. Taking in their past and present glory, you let the general The gentle rumbling of the engine and the soft movement of the ship lull you into a deep slumber.

Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - Star Tours #2: The Big Dipper

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