Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - The Cave of Sleep (Encore)
Episode Date: August 21, 2026Narrator: Thomas Jones 🇬🇧 Writer: Diana Avram-Anghel ✍️ Sound effects: sea waves 🌊 Welcome back, sleepyheads. Tonight, we replay an episode from May 2020 in which we fol...low a woman whose love for Greek mythology leads her to the god of sleep himself. 😴 Get Sleepy Premium Listen completely ad-free and access our entire catalogue of stories and meditations by subscribing to our premium feed. Your support means the world to us and makes it possible to keep the show running! ❤️ Get your 7-day free trial: getsleepy.com/support. Connect Stay up to date on all our news and even vote on upcoming episodes! Website: slumberstudios.com/getsleepy/ Facebook: facebook.com/getsleepypod/ Instagram: instagram.com/getsleepypod/ Our Apps Redeem exclusive unlimited access to Premium content for 1 month FREE in our mobile apps built by the Get Sleepy and Slumber Studios team: Deep Sleep Sounds: deepsleepsounds.com/getsleepy/ Slumber: slumber.fm/getsleepy/ FAQs Have a query for us or need help with something? You might find your answer here: Get Sleepy FAQs About Get Sleepy Get Sleepy is the #1 storytelling podcast designed to help you get a great night’s rest. By combining sleep meditations with a relaxing bedtime story, each episode will guide you gently towards sleep. Thank you so much for listening! Feedback? Let us know your thoughts! slumberstudios.com/contact-us/. Get Sleepy is a production of Slumber Studios. Check out our podcasts, apps, and more at slumberstudios.com. That’s all for now. Sweet dreams ❤️ 😴 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Welcome to get sleepy.
When we listen, we relax, and we get sleepy.
As always, I'm your host, Thomas.
Thank you for joining us for another encore episode.
This one is taken from May 1st, 2020, and was written by Diana.
My narration style and my microphone have both undergone some changes since then,
so don't be too surprised if you notice a difference in how I sound.
This story, which proved incredibly popular with our listeners, will follow a woman whose love for
Greek mythology leads her to the God of Sleep himself.
So, settle into your bed, make sure you're comfortably positioned and ready to drift off whenever
the time comes.
Close your eyes if you're yet to do so.
And perhaps you'd like to enjoy a few deep, slow cycles of breath to help relax your nervous system.
And as you continue to wind down, we'll turn to our story.
We begin at one of history's greatest storytelling platforms.
The Theatre of Dionysus in Athens, Greece, where the warm our world.
afternoon air carries the sweet scent of local Mediterranean plants.
Iris admired the ruins of the ancient stage.
The narrow surface was raised on massive stone blocks,
beautifully decorated with creamy white sculptures.
Not surprisingly, most sculptures represented Dionysus,
the Greek god of wine and theatre.
The theatre was named in his honour,
in his honour, after all. Iris smiled. She loved mythology, and, for a few moments, she pictured a time
when plays honoured the entertainment-loving God. She imagined warm summer nights when people attended
the first performances, the lively acts that unfolded on this very stage, and the loud applause
from an appreciative audience.
Thousands of years later, the world's first theatre was quiet.
Now, Iris was its only guest.
She planned to wander through the stage and seating areas
to see what stories the old ruins may tell.
The space between the stage and the seats was circular
and had been paved with marble.
Some of the tiles were.
cracked and some were missing, and some had a few fresh blades of grass growing along their
edges. In ancient times, this space belonged to the chorus, a group of people who helped the
audience follow the performance. Sometimes they commented on the play, while other times they sang
and danced. The rose closest to the stage also caught her attention.
These were seats of privilege, reserved for priests and other guests of honour.
Made of white marble, the massive thrones reminded Iris of giant chess pieces.
Some seats were broken, while others managed to pass the test of time.
Iris picked a seat from the empty row and watched the empty stage in silence.
The marble throne wasn't particularly comfortable, but the rock felt cool,
which was a nice contrast to the warm air.
From the seats of privilege, Iris headed to the theatre's teared seating.
A flight of stairs, old-like time itself, took Iris to the upper rose.
With every step she took, she pictured people of Athens attending the plays.
She saw how the theatre had changed over time.
At first the audience sat.
on the grass. Perhaps later they used wooden benches. Finally, they cut permanent seats from
rock in the hillside, with perfect symmetry. Whenever she stopped to look back at the stage,
it looked smaller and farther. The view from the upper seats was not ideal. Still, performances
would have been amazing, thanks to the theatre's superior acoustics at the time.
From the last row of the Amper Theatre, the performance area looked like a monochrome mosaic.
Behind the tiny stage, Iris could see the Greek capital city, with its white, picturesque buildings.
Above it, the sky was filled with rich, fiery hues.
Sitting here, Iris imagined the sunset over Athens.
It must be dramatic.
Like the end of a classical play, she thought.
Having enjoyed her visit, Iris left the ancient theatre.
She walked toward the city centre, thinking about the ruins
and enjoying the lull of the early evening.
Traffic was slow, and yellow lights,
started to flicker along the streets. The Athenians spent time outside, enjoying the fresh evening air.
Seeing the locals happy faces, Iris remembered an old myth. The most prosperous city in ancient
Greece was named after the goddess of wisdom, Athena. She beat out a rival god who also
wanted to be the city's patron deity, by giving the Athenians a virgin deity.
valuable gift, an olive tree. It provided food, wood and oil, which would make the city rich.
Blooming olive trees still graced the streets of Athens. The precious oil and fruits were served
with every meal. Iris passed olive trees on her walk home. The streets were empty and the Athenians
switched off their lights one by one. From the large window in her room, Iris took a moment to glance at the
moon. It was thin, glowing white, and shaped like a sickle. When a yawn arrived, she decided it was time
to change into her pajamas and settle into bed. Everything around was silent. Her body felt heavy
after a long day. Breathing deeply, Iris closed her eyes and was overcome with a sense of contentment.
Ever since she was a little girl, she wanted to learn more about the ancient gods.
In Athens, she could feel their presence. Enjoying the peaceful night, her breath softened.
Her thoughts became quieter. The tick of the clocks.
soon went unnoticed. And before long, she drifted off to sleep. Deep in her slumber,
Iris found herself standing at the entrance of a mysterious cave. Past the entrance, there was only
darkness. In the background, however, she heard the crystal-blue waves of the Mediterranean
lapping a rocky edge and shorebirds calling to one another. Though the water,
water's edge was her favourite place to be. She couldn't switch off her natural curiosity.
She walked inside the cave, touching its cold, damp walls. The wind followed suit.
It hummed sweet and low, just like a lullaby. After a few careful steps in the failing light,
Iris thought she had stepped under the night sky. A dim light illumined.
illuminated the inside of the cave. It seemed like this cave was filled with millions of stars.
But as she looked closer, the stars were moving. Then one of the lights danced around her,
landing on her shoulder. A firefly. The cave was unlike anything she'd ever seen. Dreams hung
from the ceilings like icicles.
From a distance, they looked like little clouds of magic.
But as Iris moved closer, the dreams revealed themselves in bright detail.
Some lit up with bright colours, while others had a deep, calming shade.
There were long dreams, daydreams and forgotten dreams.
Instead of rock formations on the ground, a field of blooming poppies
covered the cave's floor.
Iris looked around in disbelief.
After a few moments of awe, she approached towards the nearest dream.
Up close, the dream was even more beautiful.
It glistened like an Arctic landscape and reflected her curious eyes.
Hesitant at first, Iris held her breath as she shyly touched the dream with her finger.
Inside its shell, the dream was warm and soft.
It didn't feel familiar like it was her own.
As soon as she touched it, Iris saw vibrant images of happy people.
She smelled freshly mowed grass and felt the taste of cherries in her mouth.
This was a vivid dream with delightful sensations.
Iris felt grateful to experience something so personal.
But before she could touch another dream,
she heard a calm and gentle voice echo from the depths of the cave.
I've been expecting you, it whispered.
She couldn't see where the voice came from,
but she followed the voice's echo through the cave's labyrinth of corridors.
She brushed the fireflies aside and manoeuvred around dangling dreams until she noticed a fuzzy light coming from behind a corner.
Iris turned the corner to find a chamber lit by the light of a million dreams.
An old man rested on a throne made of snow-white pillows.
His eyes lay closed, resting, because of the myth that she'd,
read as a child, Iris instantly recognized the gentlest of all Greek gods.
Hypnos, the god of sleep. Hearing her footsteps in the corridor, Hypnos opened his eyes
and shook himself free from his own sleepy influence. He welcomed Iris to the cave of sleep,
gesturing toward the dreams and the sea of sleep-inducing plants.
As he introduced Iris to his kingdom, a swarm of fireflies prepared a comfortable bed just for
her, flying together in a luminous cloud the tiny creatures lifted sheets and fluffed pillows.
Their movements were as graceful as a dance. The bed looked softer than a whisper.
It was positioned beside the mighty throne.
Hypnos was delighted to have a visitor.
I'm so glad you came.
It's been years since anyone has visited me,
he whispered between yorns.
I have a very important story to tell you,
and I want you to share it with the world.
Iris nodded happily and snuggled into her freshly made bed.
On the fluffy sheets, she recognised the scent of lavender, which sent a tingle down her spine.
Laying flat on her back, she looked up at the ceiling, where the dreams dangled and the fireflies flittered by.
Once upon a time, Hypnus started.
A charming group of goddesses grace the earth and the skies.
Aglaia was splendid. With golden hair and a confident smile, she was brighter than the midday sun.
Euphrasine was always happy and unable to conceal her joy.
She lit the world with her vibrant personality.
Thalia was the dancer.
She attended balls and festivities, which made her.
bloom. And then there was Piscithia, who unlike her sisters, valued relaxation above anything
else. Pasithia loved her home and the company of the other Olympian gods, but she also treasured her time
alone. When the others celebrated, the goddess of relaxation surrounded herself with nature.
Sometimes she chose a forest to listen to the songs of the birds and breathe in the colour green.
Other times she walked on the beach to enjoy the cold waves that splashed up her ankles.
And then most often she climbed up a mountaintop to be closer to the stars and the moon.
When she took time for herself,
Positia slowed down.
She noticed more colours, enjoyed new smells and unfamiliar sounds, and appreciated the little things around her.
Then she discovered that her mood improved.
Her body felt refreshed and filled with glowing energy.
tried to share her knowledge with the other gods, but they rarely stopped to listen. Absorbed by their
powers and might, they didn't see or understand the joy that could be found in simply existing,
rather than trying to control your existence. One evening, as she looked for a place to unwind,
the goddess of relaxation noticed something peculiar. In the middle of the middle of the middle of
of a field with red blooming poppies laid a young man with his eyes closed.
The goddess stopped, curious to find out if he was also from Zeus' kingdom.
She sat next to him, hoping that they could talk.
But the stranger was fast asleep.
When she gently touched his forehead and brushed his hair to the side, his
expression changed. His face relaxed and he appeared to be smiling. It was the gentlest smile
that she had ever seen. It didn't take long for the goddess to start yawning. In the tranquility
of the quiet pasture, she felt her eyelids getting heavy. Her body felt tired and so she decided
to lie down for a while. Once she stretched out on the
the ground between the dormant flowers. Each breath seemed longer and softer than her last.
And, with the wind quietly singing, Pisithia drifted off comfortably to sleep. The goddess
woke up at dawn's first light. Above her, the sky was amidst a changing colour. The wind was still holding its breath.
Painted with morning dew, the scarlet field looked even more beautiful.
To her right, the stranger still slept in the arms of nature.
This sleep had been like a magic potion.
The night seemed long and very pleasant.
Her body was well rested and relaxed.
She felt more rejuvenated than ever.
when the first rays of the sun graced the horizon.
The goddess knew that it was time to leave.
She took a last look at the sleeping stranger
and blew him a kiss goodbye.
Just like the time she touched his forehead,
he appeared to be smiling.
Even though she was leaving,
the goddess of relaxation was happy.
Next to the sleeping stranger,
she no longer felt alone among the gods. Throughout the day, Pasithia could think only of the
stranger. She tried to figure out who he might be, but she'd never heard of a god who enjoyed
relaxation as much as he did. So, at sunset, the goddess went back to the field, covered
with blooming poppies. When she reached it, her heart swelled.
with joy at the sight of flowers, bowing gracefully in the wind. The moon rested in the sky above.
But the sleeping stranger was nowhere to be found. The goddess laid down in the field and waited.
She watched the show that nature put on for her. Clouds drifted by the moon, fading its brightness.
sex with loud voices sang near and far. The goddess enjoyed the fresh air, the buzzing
lullaby, the absence of colour. Just like the night before, she felt safe and comfortable.
This was indeed a place where dreams could flow freely. Although she found the flower field,
the sleeping stranger did not return. She sighed and looked at the pale moon with
longing eyes. But then, just as the goddess decided to leave, she saw a faint yellow light
in the distance. It travelled in loops and was headed her way. She stretched out her hand.
The tiny creature landed right on top of her index finger. It was a firefly. With a motherly smile,
Positia welcomed the glowing bug.
No bigger than a button.
It seemed to need a moment to catch its breath.
She giggled as the insect walked along her hand,
tickling her finger with each step.
Then, with its abdomen glowing brightly,
the firefly was ready for take-off.
In a soft voice, it whispered.
This way,
Curious, the goddess decided to follow the tiny messenger.
It flew from her index finger and swooped through the summer air in the direction of a forest.
Contrasting against the deep night, its light was like that of a shooting star.
A glimpse of hope grew inside her beating heart.
Maybe this tiny creature would help her find the sleeping ghost.
stranger. After a long journey through forests and fields, the goddess reached a beautiful beach.
The wish of the waves greeted her gently, and luminous sea algae lit the way.
Piscithia found a mysterious opening in the rocky cliffs along the beach. The goddess touched
its jagged entrance and heard beautiful sounds coming from inside.
It couldn't be the wind, she thought.
It sounds like someone playing the harp.
Unsure of what to do next, the goddess looked at the firefly for advice.
Her glowing messenger went inside it, buzzing happily.
Pesithia stepped into the cave, not minding its darkness.
She realized quickly that it was a magical place.
Certainly a cave of the gods, with every step she felt her body relaxing.
Her mind was at peace.
When she reached the cave's main chamber, she saw the small firefly joining its friends.
The walls of the cave glittered, and the wind's melody stopped for a moment in the center
of the cave, seated on a tall throne made of pillows, was the sleeping stranger from the night
before. A sea of sleep-inducing plants surrounded him, waving hypnotically, but this time he wasn't
sleeping. With a bright smile he welcomed the goddess to the cave of sleep. They saw serenity
in each other's eyes and knew that even Zeus himself couldn't conceive of a better companionship.
Finishing his story, Hypnoss concluded,
Know that any time you long for me, the god of sleep, you may let your mind wander to that
tranquil field covered in red blooming poppies. Lay down, watch the
the moon above you and pay no attention to time.
I will send for you to be brought here to the cave of sleep, just like I sent for my queen
all those years ago, no matter what may come to pass in life, you can always return here
to the peace and tranquility of this cave.
Hypnos's words echoing through her mind, like the walls of the cave.
Iris awoke from her dream.
She was back in her own bed.
Out the window, the moon shone over Athens.
A fresh breeze blew inside, moving the cream-coloured curtains gently.
It was still night-time.
Iris smiled and closed her eyes.
envisioning the tranquil field covered in red blooming poppies.