Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - The Forest Fairies of Cantabria

Starting point is 00:00:00 Hey friends, welcome to Get Sleepy, where we listen, we relax, and we get sleepy. As always I'm your host Thomas, thanks for tuning in. Tonight's relaxing tale will be read by Jessica and was written by Alexandra. It takes placing cantabria in northern Spain. We'll join a teenage boy, Havier, on a lazy summer afternoon as he goes for a walk in the forest near his home. There's something magical about the atmosphere in this peaceful woodland, and although he thinks he's too old for fairy tales, he might just change his mind. Before that, I want to send a big thank you to Canva for Teams, tonight's sponsor.

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Starting point is 00:03:58 Now my friends, it's nearly time for tonight's story, so let's spend a moment settling in and making sure we are relaxed. Whatever today brought your way, you can leave it in the past and let your focus come into the present moment. This moment right here is filled with peace, calm and serenity. Three beautiful words that tend to bring about precisely the feelings they describe when we hear them said or when we repeat them in our mind. So as you allow your breathing to ease into a slow and steady rhythm, feeling your body relaxing into bed. Just continue to repeat those three soothing words in your mind. This moment is filled with peace, calm and serenity. Peace, calm, serenity. I hope that gradually you feel your body and mind coming into a more restful state. And while you enjoy that transition, just listen along to tonight's story beautifully read by Jessica,

Starting point is 00:06:10 maintaining that sense of peace, calm and serenity. It takes place on a summer's day in the countryside of northern Spain. Let's begin. The slowly through the sleepy village. He was on his way home from school, his backpack hung loose over one shoulder. It was lighter than usual, and he felt light too, knowing that the day was over. Today was Friday, and there was nothing he had to do. It was an unusually hot and humid afternoon, so maybe Javier would take a nap in his bedroom. The thought was tempting. He could close the shutters, turn on the electric fan by his bed, then spread out over the cool sheets. And there he would drift off, sleeping until late in the afternoon. Or instead, perhaps he could pass by his friend's house. One of

Starting point is 00:08:11 his best friends from school lived in a house with a huge garden. It had a shady terrace terrace and a swimming pool with the coolest, bluest water. In the summer, Javier often spent the afternoons at his friend's house. They were chatt for hours sitting together on the terrace, or floating in the pool. The thought of his friend's house was tempting too. But then, while he was walking down the street, Havier passed on to retreat. Feeling the cool relief of the shade, he paused for a moment, and he had another idea. It had been a long time since he'd gone for a walk in the forest. On the edge of the village, not far from his home, was a beautiful woodland. As a child he'd gone there all the time to play or explore. Now he was a teenager. His life was so busy. School took up most of his time, and on weekday afternoons he often had football practice. When he was free, he would usually see his friends, or he would help his parents in

Starting point is 00:09:58 the village cafe where they worked. Today, however, he had no plans. He was free to do whatever he wanted. As he stood in the shade of the tree, Havier felt a trickle of sweat run down the back of his neck. First, he decided he would go to the cafe for an ice-cold soda. Then he would head to the forest and find a shady spot to sit and rest for a while. Maybe he would even take a nap beneath the trees. Happy with his plan, Javier ambled on through the village. He crossed to the shady side of the street. Many of the shops already had their shutters down. Here, most businesses closed after lunch and didn't open again till late afternoon.

Starting point is 00:11:16 The cafe, which was owned by Havier's parents, was one of the few places still open at this time. Havier pushed open the door, causing the bell to tinkle. The room was cool thanks to the ceiling fan were quietly overhead. Havier's father appeared from behind the counter, greeting him with a smile. It was so hot today that Havier's father. On days like these, it was best to take it easy. Havier agreed. That was exactly what he intended to do.

Starting point is 00:12:07 He explained his plan for the afternoon. At the mention of the forest, Havier's father grinned. Make sure you keep an eye out for the fairies, he said. This was an ongoing joke between the two of them. According to folklore, the woods in this region were inhabited by fairies, known as the Anahana. These benevolent creatures were believed to be the forest guardians. When Havier was little, he and his father had often gone for walks in the woods together. As they wandered through the trees, Havier's father would point out traces of the forest fairies.

Starting point is 00:13:11 Haviest father would point out traces of the forest fairies, a fallen feather on the ground, an unusual shape on could be a sign that the fairies were among them. Havya was too old for such stories now, but he liked to humour his father. Of course, said Havya, I'll let you know if I see anything. have here. I'll let you know if I see anything." Talking made him realize just how thirsty he was, so he went to the fridge filled with drinks in the corner of the room. Opening the fridge door, he relished the cool blast of air. He took his time scanning the shelves, undecided which soda to choose. Eventually, he picked out a fizzy lemon drink in a bright yellow can. For Javier, it was the taste of childhood. A drink he associated with birthday parties, picnics, and days at the beach.

Starting point is 00:14:35 I'll add it to the tab, said Javier's father. This was another one of his jokes. Havier could have anything he wanted from the fridge. Of course he didn't have to pay. Taking a pack of chewing gum from the counter, he winked at his father. See you later, said Havier. The bell tingled once again, as he walked out the door with the chewing gum in his pocket and the soda can in his hand. It felt so deliciously cool against his skin. Walking down the street, Havier opened the can with a hiss and took a sip. It was just as he remembered, a refreshing burst of lemon that fizzed on his tongue and cooled his throat.

Starting point is 00:15:49 The soda relieved his thirst in an instant, and all of a sudden, the afternoon no longer felt quite so hot. All the same, Havier was happy to reach the forest just 10 minutes later. By that point, he'd already finished every drop of the soda. As well as cooling him down, the drink had given him a welcome lift in energy. Havier tossed the empty can in a bin near the forest entrance. Then he stepped into the shade of the Elm trees and entered another world. The feeling was wonderfully familiar. Every time he visited the forest, he felt a sense of peace wash over him.

Starting point is 00:16:54 His heart rate slowed, and his breathing became slower too and deeper. Among the trees, the air was cool and fresh. He took a deep breath in, savoring all the sense of nature. It hadn't rained for a while, and the earth beneath his feet was hard and dry. Even so, he could still smell the fragrance of the forest. The calming aroma of the leaves, soil and wildflowers all mixed together. Havier wandered down a trail he had followed many times before. He knew this area so well that he didn't even need to think about where he was going. Movement's felt instinctive here. It was like returning home and moving from room to room without thinking. And although Javier was walking through the forest alone, he reflected

Starting point is 00:18:20 that it would be impossible to feel lonely here. Wherever he went, the bird song kept him company. And somehow, when he listened to the birds, it was as though his father was there with him. Hearing the sweet chirping that echoed through the trees, Havya could hear his father's voice too. That sounds like a fire crest, he would say, and that's a night all the names of the birds and the trees. Walking deeper into the forest, Havier tried to identify the trees that he passed. Most of these were oaks, he thought. Then there were the alms, the birches and the lindans. To haveier, all these trees had a presence of their own.

Starting point is 00:19:37 They kept him company too, just like the birds. Surrounded by their ancient solid trunks, he felt safe and protected, cocooned from the rest of the world. There was something unusual about the layout of the trees in this forest. They almost seemed to be arranged in circles. Following the path towards the heart of the forest, Havya imagined that he was moving through rings or layers of trees. A map of the forest trees might resemble the interior of a cut tree trunk. The circular layout was just like the concentric rings inside a trunk. Perhaps it was this that put Javier in such a relaxed, dreamy mood as he walked on. It was like being hypnotized. Or maybe he thought he was just sleepy from the heat. Soon he would find somewhere to sit and rest for a while. All the same, the magical atmosphere of the forest was undeniable.

Starting point is 00:21:17 There was something in the air as if it was charged with some kind of invisible energy. It was no wonder, Lord Havye, that this forest had inspired myths. He had grown up hearing stories of the woodland, protecting the trees, the animals, and any human visitors who happened to be passing through. They were known to be kind, caring for any living creature who was hurt or who lost their way in the woods. And they were generous, sometimes sharing their riches with humans. According to some stories, the unharnoured lived in tree trunks or in underground grottoes which were filled with treasure. In other

Starting point is 00:22:28 tales the fairies dwelled in woodland springs or streams. Havier knew that they were only stories of course. He had never seen a fairy and none of his friends or family claimed to have encountered one. If the Anhana resembled the illustrations in books, it would be easy. They were usually depicted as beautiful young women with crowns of wildflowers and ribbons in their hair. The fairies carried golden staffs and wore shining tunics, and their transparent wings glittered too, like church windows in the sunlight. If the Anhana appeared in this form, they would be unmistakable. Anyone who encountered a winged woman.

Starting point is 00:23:49 If fairies existed, they were most likely shape-shifters. Don't look for wings, Havia's father had told him once as they walked through the forest together. Look at the trees and listen for the song of the Nightingale. The Anhana were believed to take other forms. Sometimes they were trees, insects or birds. Havier smiled at this thought. Perhaps the fairies were all around him right now, and he had no idea. He didn't believe in the Anhana, but he didn't disbelieve. He liked to keep an open mind about such things. One day, if he ever had children, he would tell them the same stories about the Anjana. And they would explore the forest together just like Havier had explored with his father.

Starting point is 00:25:11 His mind was wandering now. He could feel his thoughts becoming soft and dreamy as the sleepiness came over him in waves. When he reached the stream, Havya decided to stop and rest. He found the ideal spot where he could lean against the vast trunk of an old oak tree. The ground was soft and comfortable, and here in the shade the temperature was just perfect. Havier closed his eyes. He could hear nothing but the birds and the flowing water of the stream. This had to be the most peaceful place in the whole of this enchanted forest. so relaxed, so at ease, and so sleepy. With his head resting gently against the tree,

Starting point is 00:26:55 sleep. Even while he was sleeping, he had a vague awareness of time passing, and he could sense things like patches of warm sunlight on his bare arms or the chirping of the birds. He seemed to be slowly drifting in and out, dipping down into sleep, then shifting into a kind of waking trance. into a kind of waking trance. At some point he opened his eyes. He could still feel the rays of sun moving across his body, gently warming him here and there. Looking up, he saw where the light was shining through the leaves above, but it wasn't sunlight. It had a different colour, like silver mixed with gold glittering at the edges. And when he looked down at his body, he noticed something unusual about the patches of light and shadow. They didn't look like the patterns created by sunlight through the leaves. Instead, his body was covered in glowing circles of gold and shadows that resembled butterfly's wings.

Starting point is 00:28:37 It felt like he was bathing in magic rays. The mysterious dance between light and shade went on and on, filling him with a sense of deep contentment. He was both warm and cool, asleep and awake. Then once again he became aware that time had passed, perhaps an hour, or perhaps only a few seconds. But when he awoke this time, he noticed the sounds. At first they seemed to be the same as before. The birds chirping and the flowing water of the stream. But no, the sounds weren't quite the same. Listening carefully, he could hear voices. The bird song transformed into syllables, then words in another language, and the water

Starting point is 00:30:13 was speaking to, or laughing, singing. They were the sweetest sounds, and just like the light and shade, they gave him a sense of happiness and well-being that he could not explain. All he knew was that he was filled with the deepest joy, and within him there was that he was filled with the deepest joy. And within him there was that familiar feeling that he was not alone. He was surrounded by a loving presence. Here in the forest he was safe and protected. They were looking after him. Sometime later, Havya awoke from his nap. He robbed his eyes and stretched his arms. Then he remembered what he had seen, the glowing lights and the patterns of wings moving across his arms, his chest and his legs. He must have dreamt it, but in his heart he felt a wonderful sense of certainty.

Starting point is 00:31:53 It was not just a dream. He knew what he had seen, heard and felt. But even now he was not fully awake. It took caviar a few moments to return to reality as he gradually became aware of his surroundings. Up above, he could hear the birds singing to one another. The melody was as beautiful as before, or perhaps it was even lovelier. He remembered the sound of the voices, that mysterious language he'd heard when he was sleeping or only half awake. Then he turned his gaze to the stream beside him. It flowed on with that sweet, refreshing sound. But now it seemed even sweeter, even more soothing. He recalled the other voices,

Starting point is 00:33:15 the words mixed with laughter and joyful song. Now Havien knew that the Anhana were real. In one form or another, the fairies existed. It was something he now believed instinctively. Although he couldn't explain it, he just knew it to be true. And with this knowledge, he felt a new sense of peace and contentment. Of course he reasoned, maybe this feeling was simply the result of a nap. He had slept so well. His body felt completely rested and his mind was calm and clear. In a moment, he would get up and begin the short walk home.

Starting point is 00:34:31 The temperature was cooler now in the late afternoon. The air was even lighter, fresher. Fresher. Havier took in a deep breath, then let out a happy sigh. That evening he would talk to his father and he would tell him what he had discovered that there really was some kind of magic in the woods. ... ... I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room.

Starting point is 00:36:12 I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. you ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room.

Starting point is 00:40:28 I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room.

Starting point is 00:40:44 I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. ... ... ... ... you you

Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - The Forest Fairies of Cantabria

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