Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - Star Tours #6: Ullaktut and Nanurjuk

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Starting point is 00:01:18 Discover coffee plus on espresso.com. Welcome to get sleepy. When we listen, we relax. and we get sleepy. I'm your host, Thomas, here once again to give you a calm, peaceful place to relax in while you make your way towards sleep. Thank you so much for joining me. This evening, we'll begin our adventure in one of the northernmost parts of Canada. Then it will be time for another sleepy trip into space, as we learn all about the constellations of Ulaqtuk and Nanurjuk.

Starting point is 00:02:11 In some Inuit traditions, they're known as the Hunters and the Polar Bear. Once again, a big thanks goes to Kayla for this captivating series. Our final Star Tours adventure will be coming up next Monday night. forget that you can hear all our episodes completely add free on our supporters feed, Get Sleepy Premium. It's the very best way to listen to the show, and our premium members have full access to our entire catalogue of episodes, which now stands at well over a thousand. Your listenership means the world to us, and if you're enjoying the show and finding

Starting point is 00:02:59 that it's helping you sleep better, we'd truly appreciate you. your support in its continued production. So head to getsleepy.com slash support or just follow the link in the show notes to find out more. Now, we'll get to our story very soon, but let's just make sure we're as settled as can be by grounding ourselves in the moment and practicing some gratitude. start by slowing your breathing, even if it's just by a small margin. This begins to signal to your brain that it's time to rest. Now, briefly trace your memory back over the events of the day just gone. Whatever happened today, there will have been moments in which you felt a sense of joy, contentment,

Starting point is 00:04:12 or gratitude, perhaps all three rolled into one. So think about the day just gone and try to pick out a moment that you feel grateful to have experienced. Maybe it was your morning coffee or a delicious home-cooked meal. Perhaps it was a passing smile with a stranger. Or a friendly message received from a colleague, a friend or a loved one. Maybe you're grateful for the weather that came today, perhaps for the work you were able to do, and the sense of accomplishment you found. We in this community come from many different walks of life. So the moment you pick out may well be completely unique to you. And I'm happy that you've had a chance to remind yourself of that positive moment. Every day, there will always be reasons to feel grateful. Sometimes,

Starting point is 00:05:43 we just need to make that conscious effort to acknowledge those moments. Now you're starting to settle more and more, making your way towards sleep. I invite you to imagine a beautiful night sky above a snowy landscape, here, so far north. You have the most wonderful view of the stars, and this is where our story begins. Tonight's tour departs from the hamlet of Igluleg in the far north of Canada. This community, in the territory of Nunavut, is in the Arctic Circle. In the summer months, the sun shines bright all day and night, hiding the stars.

Starting point is 00:07:20 But now, in the cozy winter months, the sky is dark most of the time. It's the perfect opportunity for stargazing, or watching the brilliant Aurora light up the night sky, bundled up in comfy winter gear, a soft jacket, warm boots, and a woolly hat and mittens. You venture out into the village of Iglu Lake. The flat, snowy terrain stretches out and meets the ICC. It's not uncommon to spot a family of walruses floating by on an ice flow. or to watch Arctic sea birds diving into the water to catch fish. The flat land makes way for the wide dark sky that seems to go on forever,

Starting point is 00:08:34 creating links between this world and the world of legends. Being in this place in the winter months, a time that most other visitors avoid, feels so special as you pass by a community building. You hear the sounds of traditional Inuit music. You still have time until your Star Tours trip departs. There's no rush. So, you follow the sounds of music and laughter.

Starting point is 00:09:23 Inside, you find the performers from the Arctic circus, practicing their craft, the artists greet you and invite you to watch as they work together to perform feats of physical strength, flexibility and sheer artistry. People of all ages are here learning and sharing new skills. As the troop practices, you take in the traditional songs, stories and dances, you marvel at the sense of community and artistic practice that thrives in such a small town in the far north. And the way in which these artists find joy during the long, dark days, combined together, the music and movements are mesmerizing. And you hope that you You can see them perform their full act on stage one day.

Starting point is 00:10:45 For now, you feel such joy and gratitude that you were able to witness this practice. Waving goodbye to the performers, you wrap your scarf around your neck and zip your coat all the way up to go back outside into the snowy landscape. The snow crunches underfoot as you make your way to the research center where your tour departs. The muffled sounds of arctic sea birds and the wind occasionally blowing up a gust of snow gently surround you as you walk through the village. The research center is in the middle of town, but the town is surrounded by such an expanse of wilderness. that it doesn't feel like there's any separation between the people and the nature they've lived

Starting point is 00:12:00 side by side with for centuries. The unique white building of the research facility looks almost like a mushroom. A rounded centre blossoms out into an upper deck where you can observe the night sky. The interstellar ship is hovering up. the research center. It's the smallest ship in the Star Tours fleet, which will make your journey to the stars a beautiful and intimate experience. Not many people get to visit to this village in the far north. You feel a wave of gratitude for all you've been able to experience in this magical place. Even before you board you board.

Starting point is 00:13:05 the interstellar. You enter the research centre to find a few other tourists who've unzipped their coats and removed their wet boots while waiting to board. There will only be a small group tonight, given how tricky it can be to reach this village. It's what makes it one of the most special Star Tours' experiences, while many visitors to the night. north this time of year, come specifically to see the northern lights. You're quite happy that they're not visible tonight, as their beautiful light dims the brightness of the stars around them. Your guide, Arnick, greets you all with a broad smile. He invites everyone to take a seat in the research centre, while the last preparations for the ship.

Starting point is 00:14:20 are made. Arnick tells you that because of the stark contrast in the sky between the winter and summer months, there are many traditions related to the changing skies and seasons in inuit culture. Talvijuak, the great darkness, is present now in the winter months. In the past, children would often play with string figures or cat's cradles to pass the long dark days. New types of string figures would become very popular, and a collector might go on a long journey to a neighbouring town to get their hands on the latest one. However, it was important not to play with the cat's cradles for too long. The string must be. entangle the sun when it appeared on the horizon, delaying the arrival of long summer days.

Starting point is 00:15:44 In the summer months, the most popular game was one still played by children today. The one with a ball attached to a cup by a string, the ball represented the sun and encouraged it to stay in the sky. For adults, the flames of soapstone lamps would burn all winter in the darkness. Those flames were ceremonially extinguished, when the sun returned during Sikina root. The lightness. After the explanation, Arnick invites your group to board the ship, as it's a small group. everyone boards together and finds their assigned pods. You feel like you're walking on air as you board the ship, which has windows on all sides. It is warm and cozy within, and each pod is well stacked with blankets and pillows to help you get comfortable. You settle into your own pod and find that

Starting point is 00:17:21 the bed is adjustable, so you can rest on a slight recline or completely flat, no matter how you set up your bed, you'll have an incredible view of the night sky. Anik brings round a Labrador tea and a freshly baked piece of Banach bread for you to enjoy during the journey. You place your tea and snack on the bedside table and pull out the perfect set of pillows and blankets. After you snuggle in, Anik announces that the ship is ready for departure as it hovers away from the research centre. You feel the gentle rumble of the engine. You take a sip of the warm, relaxing tea. As the ship travels higher and higher, soon you can't even see the town below. It's just flat, snow-covered land and the Arctic Sea, twinkling under the light of the stars.

Starting point is 00:18:58 As the ship travels further still into the night sky, you're gradually surrounded by stars. Being wrapped up so snugly in your bed with the warming tea and the freshly baked bread makes you feel completely relaxed on this soothing adventure. You're so far away from Earth now that the stars look a little bigger, shining bright in the darkness. Arnick tells you that you'll be looking at two connected constellations tonight, Uluktut and Nanirchuk. But first, he wants to tell you a little bit more about Inuit astronomy

Starting point is 00:20:02 and the role of the night sky for the communities that have lived in the far north for many generations. The stars and constellations have played an important role for the Inuit. With such long, dark days, the stars were essential in navigation during the winter months. Many of the legends tied to the stars were designed to be memorable, so that people could remember how the constellations fit together as they made their way home. Sometimes, indigenous knowledge is shared through stories, and unfortunately, because many of the stories were passed down through oral tradition, some knowledge has been lost, but these stories can be just as useful for understanding the sky as other kinds of scientific observations. And tonight's story helps people remember the positioning of two clusters of stars.

Starting point is 00:21:33 So, let's begin this evening's legend, says Anik. One day in the dark winter months, a group of family and friends were traveling through the snow, looking for a place to make an encampment. Strong husky dogs left paw prints in the snow as they pulled sleds full of supplies and smiling people across the open landscape. As you listen, the windows of the ship turn into a live theatre of the stars. Lines connect the constellations so you can see the shapes

Starting point is 00:22:30 clearly. And colour is projected onto them, so you can witness the motion of the characters in the story. Anik continues. When the people stopped and set up camp, a group of four boys realised that it was a very special night. It was so calm, and there was no fog obstructing their views. And the Aurora was inactive, so the stars were shining clear and bright overhead, while the rest of their camp was getting ready to retire for the night. The boys decided to play a game of football. They wanted to embrace this special night and enjoy some friendly competition under the stars. understood the importance of the stars to help them navigate in the darkness. But for the boys, that ever-present winter sky felt like a second home.

Starting point is 00:24:02 They kicked the ball around, watching it bounce in the snow, and laughed as the huskies joined them, barking and wagging their tails whilst chasing the ball. Every now and then, one of the boys would rest on the ground and let a dog sit on his lap, petting it soft far. The snow crunched underfoot as the human and canine friends ran around and played. The stars overhead provided just enough light for them to see the ball, and the boys stayed warm, wrapped up in fuzzy parkers and boots, just getting a feel of the crisp night air on their cheeks. To one sight, they could see the shelters of their friends and family, the flames of burning fires glowing in the snow, like the stars shining in the above. On the other side there was only darkness. Land and sky stretching out forever into a world of possibility.

Starting point is 00:25:46 It was there on the side of possibility that one of the friends saw something large and white, walking on four feet, emotioned to the others to stop playing. Even the dogs knew to be silent, as they all watched a beautiful polar bear pad softly across the landscape. It's white fur looking impossibly clean for a wild animal. For a few moments,

Starting point is 00:26:30 the boys and dogs stared at the bear, And the bear stared back. Even in the far north, it's rare to come across such a majestic creature, and each wanted to marvel at the other's beauty. There was something different about this bear. It seemed both wild and tame all at once. Did he smile at us? One of the boys asked. them had seen a polar bear before, but they all felt like it was calling to them, wanting to join in on the fun. There was something about this creature that made the boys feel safe and welcome. Like they might all build a home together and live in harmony, the boys walked closer to the creature. This time they were sure the bear smiled and winked at them as it turned and began trotting away.

Starting point is 00:28:00 The friends laughed and ran after the bear. After a few steps, they noticed they could no longer hear the sound of the snow crunching under their boots. Looking down, they saw that their feet were hovering. a few inches off the ground. They could hardly believe they were getting ready to enjoy a magical winter's night. The boys continued to follow the bear, floating up into the sky. The polar bear looked almost like a star, its fur bright against the dark of the night. When the friends grew tired, They slowed to a walk.

Starting point is 00:29:05 The bear noticed and turned to them. Then it smiled and began doing flips in the sky. The boys joined in on the fun, lying back and diving forward, feeling free in their weightlessness. All the tension in their body from the long days of travel floated away, and the friends felt completely at peace in the night sky. The air was cool and refreshing, turning their cheeks red. But even up in the sky, their cozy parkers, boots, hats,

Starting point is 00:30:03 and mittens kept them warm on this wintertime adventure turning to one another. Each recognized the same look of pure joy in their friends' faces. And then, even better, they realized their dogs were flying too. The huskies were panting just behind them, coming along to join the adventure. The boys played with the dogs and never lost sight of their guide. the polar bear up ahead. But as they were diving and rolling, one of the friends dropped his glove,

Starting point is 00:31:06 not wanting to be cold on this incredible journey. He dove towards the earth to retrieve it. But then he saw there was no need to follow the mitten all the way back to the ground. There was one more dog coming along. and she had caught the glove in her mouth. The boy laughed and took the glove, scratching the dog behind the ears.

Starting point is 00:31:46 Then he turned again to follow his friends and saw them up ahead in the night sky. They were following the big white polar bear who was guiding them on this wonderful journey. the dog ran ahead to catch up with her canine friends. For a moment, the boys stopped running and just enjoyed floating weightlessly in the sky. He watched the dogs running ahead, getting close to the polar bear. Then he looked back down to the earth below, where he could just about see the spectre.

Starting point is 00:32:44 in the snow where the encampment was. The land looked spectacular from such a height. Perhaps, says Arnick, that's something you can relate to tonight. Then he continues. The white snow stretched out until it met the Black Sea with its floating blocks of ice. The fires of the encampment looked almost like stars in the ground now that the boy was seeing the earth from up above. And then something spectacular started to happen. Only because he'd fallen behind the others, did he get to watch the full spectacle unfold. The polar bear and the dogs began to turn into the stars, their fur, already white, started to glow until they glittered happily in their new home. The boy smiled.

Starting point is 00:34:22 He looked to his friends who were just ahead of him, and they all nodded. They didn't need words to say what they were feeling while they loved their family and friends below. The night sky, this place of adventure and possibility, felt the most like home to them. They wished they could turn into stars too. Then they looked at their hands and saw their mittens start to turn silver. Their legs and feet began twinkling and glowing, laughing, the boys watched each other as they turned into stars. They knew that they'd always be together in the night sky. Able to enjoy their favorite time of year,

Starting point is 00:35:38 the polar bear and his canine friends form the constellation Nanajuk. While the boys make up Ulaqqtut and the boy who was a bit of a bit of, behind because he turned back for his mitten is a little lower in the sky than the others, but he's still close enough to enjoy the long nights with his friends. Anik finishes the story by sharing that when Star Tours began, he felt like the four friends, able to fly into the night sky. and feel at home among the stars. Perhaps you'll begin to feel that way too, he says.

Starting point is 00:36:44 The colours and lines fade from the windows of the ship. Now, all that's surrounding you is the night sky with its brilliant stars. Anik will be awake if you have any questions about the story or wish to drink more tea or have another snack. But when you're ready, it's time to enjoy the rest of this journey in a deep slumber. Take a moment to adjust your position in bed if you need to. Finding the most comfortable spot, close your eyes, letting the stories of the stars play out behind your eyelids.

Starting point is 00:37:54 The engine of the ship rumbles as it prepares for the return trip to Earth. Once you arrive, you think you may have a new fondness for the long, dark nights of the far north. But for now, you let the feelings of comfort and sense. safety fill you from the inside out as the ship gently rocks back and forth, sending you off into a deep sleep.

Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - Star Tours #6: Ullaktut and Nanurjuk

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