Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - Starry with a Chance of Sleep

Starting point is 00:00:00 Hey friends, for the best Get Sleepy experience, be sure to check out our supporters feed Get Sleepy Premium for our free listening weekly bonus episodes and access to our entire catalogue. Now, a quick word from our sponsors who make the free version of this show possible. Welcome to Get Sleepy, where we listen, we relax, and we get sleepy. My name is Thomas, thank you so much for tuning in. We have an amazing lineup of episodes for you this week, including a bonus tomorrow night that will be available for everyone wherever you listen to the show. It's called 101 Gratitude Affirmations for Deep Sleep, and I think you'll love it. And then, in our usual Wednesday slot, we make our long anticipated sixth visit to a very

Starting point is 00:01:07 cozy, comforting and familiar place. A series that is proven to be our most popular of all time. Lillie's Rainy Day Bakery. I can't wait for you to listen and to hear your feedback on all of this week's episodes, including tonight's, where we'll be journeying into the heavens and stargazing on a whole new level. In this relaxing tale written by Chase and read by Arif, you'll learn about the constellations in a unique way as you float through the night sky on a cloud. And as you gaze at the twinkling stars,

Starting point is 00:01:56 you'll experience a sense of calm and comfort. and comfort. Tonight's story itself begins with a soothing visualization, so I won't delay too long before I hand over to a reef and let you enjoy as comfortable as can be, making any small adjustments necessary to find the right spot for your body to rest in at this time. Your comfy bed is here to support you to offer you a safe and restful The coon-like feeling of snuggling up in bed. Once you're settled, join, three, two, three, four, five, and gently exhale, four, three, two, one. As you continue to breathe, just trust in yourself to find the perfect pace of breath, to encourage a greater sense of softness in the body and peace in the mind. And now, as you slowly drift towards a good night's rest, let's begin our story. It starts right here in your very own bed. very I'm bad. Now that you're snuggled up in bed, imagine that the mattress is beginning to lift slowly

Starting point is 00:05:12 off the ground. It's as if it has become weightless, or it's as though a giant hand has gently scooped you up. As you feel yourself being carried towards the large open window, you are reminded of a magical carpet ride. But in your case, it's a mattress ride, and it feels delightful. White blossoms of dense air begin to form under and all around you. Then you realize that they have made a big cushion of clouds under your bed. You're surrounded by puffs of white, like tufts of cotton. It's also gloriously fluffy and at the same time solid supporting you completely. supporting you completely.

Starting point is 00:06:28 You find yourself extending your arms and legs out on the bed, feeling the substance of the cloud around you. Your arms and legs go right through, as a warm breeze tickles and caresses your skin. How wonderful you think. And it feels precisely how you imagined it might feel to fly on a cloud bed. You're slowly gliding towards the open window, and then the cloud carries you out into the fresh air of the night. You go up and up, and watch as your home gradually fades into the distance. Your bed of clouds moves through the night air,

Starting point is 00:07:30 flying over the houses that dot the landscape. The towns are all fast asleep. Then you drift past mountains, lakes and streams, which are visible only as dark smudges beneath you. Somewhere in the shadows you spot a grove of trees and watch as it grows smaller. As you slowly make your way through the air, you pass through a few other wisps of clouds. But apart from these, the sky is clear and unblemished. No source of electricity disrupts the blank canvas of night. The sky is so clear, it feels wide open. And in this moment, it's as if it's completely yours.

Starting point is 00:08:40 The darkness provides a stark contrast against the incandescent lights of the stars up above. They're shining so brightly, like diamonds. You feel as if you are drifting through a painting. You've entered the most beautiful night'scape. It's clearer than any picture, and more brilliant than any image ever taken by a telescope. It seems that all the stars and planets have shown up for an aerial performance tonight, just for you. You recline back into the soft bed, your eyes soaking in every exquisite detail of the night, as the last of the clouds gives way to reveal the heavens.

Starting point is 00:09:47 Drifting through the air, you continue to gaze up at the crystal clear night sky. What appear to be millions upon millions of stars, dot the blanket of dark sky. You've never seen it lit up this brightly before. Tonight's sky is a light show of twinkling orbs. The stars are glow with a brilliant luminosity. You can see so many constellations painted across the sky. There are too many to count, you think. With your finger, you trace one of the easiest patterns to find.

Starting point is 00:10:41 It's one of the first things that people learn to recognize in the night sky, the much beloved, big, dipper. It shimmers above the horizon, a proud grouping of stars showing off in an astonishing fashion. Depending on your perspective, the cluster of stars can be seen as a large spoon or another kind of dot-to-dot figure. Right now, you see the spoon. You see the spoon. With your finger, you draw a line through the three higher stars that comprise the handle. Then your finger swishes through the air to draw the bowl with the four lower stars. The Big Dipper isn't actually an official constellation. It's an asterism or a noticeable pattern of stars.

Starting point is 00:11:56 There are many asterisms in the night sky, but this one may be the most widely known. The Big Dipper is just one part of the constellation known as Ersa Major or the Great Bear. The stars of the Big Dipper outline the Bear's tail and hind quarters. The name Ersa Major dates back to antiquity. In Latin it means the greater bear. In the second century the Greco-Roman astronomer, Ptolemy, catalogued Ersa Major as one of the 48 constellations. And today, it is one of the 88 constellations officially recognized across the world, according to NASA. You think of how far astronomy has come over the centuries. That fact, coupled with this intimate viewing of such splendor, fails you with this sense

Starting point is 00:13:14 of awe. What a world we live in, and what a universe. It's humbling to think of just how big that universe is. Ursa majors association with the bear the Big Dipper were associated with Kylisto. She was a beautiful nymph who was loved by Jupiter, the most important of all Roman gods, who was known as Zeus in Greek mythology. According to legend, the Nymph Castillo was turned into a bear by Jupiter's wife. The goddess did this out of jealousy to steal away the Nymph's beauty. In the star-lower of the Meek Monation in Northern Canada, the constellation is also associated with the bear. The three stars of the Big Dipper's

Starting point is 00:14:37 Handle are seen as hunters chasing the bear. As you think about this, you reflect that there's a common thread across time and place. This collective vision of a bear is something that unites people and looking at the constellation now, in the perfectly clear night sky, you realize just how distinct it is. If you look at just the right angle, you can't help but see a huge bear glowing from light years away. For a moment you lose yourself in this thought, mesmerized by the splattering of stars. Then you decide that you want to orient yourself to the night sky even better. You'd like to locate the North Star or Polaris and then the Little Dipper. As the Earth spins, both the big and little Dipper dance continuously above the horizon, and as they do, they circle the North Star.

Starting point is 00:16:10 If you can find the Big Dipper, you can find the others. First, you look at the two parts of the Big Dipper, the ball, and handle. Then you use your finger to locate the two outer stars in the Big Dipper's ball. These are called Dubby and Mirac, and are commonly known as the pointers. commonly known as the pointers. Drawing an imaginary line between them leads you straight to the North Star. This marks the end of the little dippers handle. Just pointing at the North Star seems to make it burn brighter. Its bold intensity and luminosity are remarkable. But although it is hard to imagine, it is not the brightest star in the night sky.

Starting point is 00:17:21 The North Star is commonly believed to be the brightest because of its prominence appearing fixed in the North, and it's always been famous, particularly because of its usefulness for navigation. It is this star so easy to find that has led many intrepid travelers on their adventures, and it has also kept them from getting lost. Throughout history, the North Star has brought sailors and travelers safely home after their lengthy journeys. Seeing it now has a profound effect on you. You're gazing upon the very marker that so many people have counted on to find their way home throughout time.

Starting point is 00:18:27 The feeling is hard to put into words, but you feel it deep within you. It says though you're acknowledging a sense of trust that is universal. You know that there is always a guardian in the night sky to point you in the right direction. As you face the North Star, you sit up and stretch out your arms so they're lateral to your body. Somehow, it's reassuring to know that your left hand is now pointing to the west, and your right is due east. This is how centuries of civilizations and cultures cultures have found their way across oceans and deserts. You smile, thinking of how you will always have the North Star to guide you on your way. Its nature's own celestial compass, and the North Star is not only nature's compass, but also its grandest clock. The Big Dipper acts as the hour hand, circling around in one day.

Starting point is 00:19:59 The Big Dipper's pointer stars always point to North, even as the rest of the group of stars travel around the North Star. What's even more remarkable is the fact that the North Star is not simply one star, but a triple star system. What we see as a single point of light is actually three stars, which orbit a common center of mass. The first and primary star is a super giant, it's hotter than the sun, and about six times heavier. The other two companion stars are dwarf stars, which are still roughly the same temperature

Starting point is 00:20:57 as the primary one. You think of how altogether the stars shoot light-years across the galaxy to reach our eyes as one. It's like a staggering celestial dance that never stops moving. Space is their stage and we are their awestruck audience. The North Star marks the end of the Little Dipper's Handle, so once you've found the North Star, it's easier to identify the little dipper. Looking up, you find the rest of the distinctive pattern of stars.

Starting point is 00:21:54 It's just like a smaller version of the big dipper, but flipped on its handle upside down as a mirror image. Although many think that they are looking up at a constellation when viewing the little dipper, it is yet another asterism. This cluster of stars of similar brightness comprises just a portion of the constellation of Ursa Minor, also known as the Little Bear. Just like Ursa Major, Ursa Minor also has its roots in ancient civilizations and legends of old. In Latin, its name means lesser bear, Ida and her sister, Adrastea.

Starting point is 00:23:10 The two sisters raised the god Zeus on the island of Crete. As a reward, the god placed them in the heavens as the constellations are some major and minor. According to another myth, Ursa Minor represented Arcas, the son of Zeus and the nymph Galisto. Arcas joined his mother up in the night sky in the form of a smaller bear. But in other cultures, the constellation is viewed slightly differently.

Starting point is 00:23:54 For the ancient Babylonians, you notice the comfortable silence of the night. And as you drift on below the stars, you reflect on just how expansive space is. It seems endless. Then you think about how lucky you are that you can witness such wonder. It's amazing to stargaze like this, watching them shine so bright, high above and far away. And at that very second, a huge streak of brilliant white light flashes through your vision, arcing across the entirety of the sky. It's a shooting star of considerable size and brightness.

Starting point is 00:25:14 Your eyes widen as you admire its graceful beauty. It's something that could never be adequately described in words. And just when you think the night couldn't give you any more gifts, curtains of green and blue light suddenly shimmer across the whole sky. It's an aurora. You stare, open mouthed, watching as the shafts of light dance through the air. And as you gaze up at the sky, you feel grateful for this blessing. An aurora is a rare occurrence and a glorious sight to behold. It is breathtaking nature's own display of fireworks.

Starting point is 00:26:23 The hues are so vivid, these incredible displays of colors and patterns of radiance have been observed since ancient times. You watch the green and blue swirls of illumination flow across the night sky. Purple and yellow rays flicker around the night's edges. The sight of this spectacular natural phenomenon feels surreal. You find yourself baffled at the notion of seeing the aurora tonight. It's as if some unseen magical wand has produced the on the surface of the sun. The process starts when solar activity ejects a cloud of gas.

Starting point is 00:27:36 When this solar wind reaches the earth, it collides with the earth's magnetic field and causes complex changes. These changes produce currents of charged particles that flow along lines of magnetic force. Ultimately, giving way to dazzling light shows, or to put it in simpler terms. Solar wind interacts with the Earth's magnetic field to create an aurora. As you muse over the science behind it all, the swirling rivers of greenish blue and purple luminescence begin to fade. Only the yellow glow remains, pulsating steadily.

Starting point is 00:28:39 Then, just as you think the show is over, all of the colors suddenly return with a vividness beyond comparison. They're bursting with intensity, lighting up all across the whole sky. It is like a nighttime rainbow performing a grand finale. You sigh, settling back into the pillowy embrace of your bed on the cloud. out. You're beginning to feel quite sleepy. The cloud seems to sense your tiredness as it slowly begins to glide through the sky, taking you back towards home. You resist the urge to yawn, as you reflect that you have never felt so comfortable, so calm, or so blessed. What a gift this night has been. Soon, the cloud reaches your window. You slowly drift into your room, and the mattress settles back into its frame,

Starting point is 00:30:20 just as the irresistible pull of sleep back into you. And moments later, you drift into starry dreams. ... I'm going to go back to the next video. I'm going to go back to the next video. I'm going to go back to the next video. I'm going to go back to the next video. I'm going to go back to the next video. I'm going to go back to the next video. I'm going to go back to the next video.

Starting point is 00:31:18 I'm going to go back to the next video. I'm going to go back to the next video. I'm going to go back to the next video. I'm going to go back to the next video. I'm going to go back to the next video. I'm going to go back to the next video. ... ... ... ... ... ... … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... you ... … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … ... you you

Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - Starry with a Chance of Sleep

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.