Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - The Odyssey: Part 6 - The Sun God’s Cattle

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Starting point is 00:01:41 we have an exclusive offer for you. Download the White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds app and get 30 days free access to all of the premium content. Just go to deepsleepsounds.com slash get sleepy. That's deepsleepsounds.com slash get sleepy. Welcome to get sleepy, where we listen, we relax and we get sleepy. As always, I'm your host, Thomas. Thanks so much for tuning in. Tonight we'll be continuing our relaxing adaptation of The Odyssey, The whole series was written by Alexandra Turney, and I'm delighted to be narrating it all for you.

Starting point is 00:02:39 If you were with us last time, you might remember some of Odysseus' adventures. He's meeting with the goddess Circe and his journey to the underworld. In tonight's episode, Odysseus continues his story, picking up where he left off in the underwild, he'll then recount his other adventures. The Sirens, the monsters Scylla and Karybdis, and the fateful incident with the sun god's cattle. So much happens in the Odyssey, so don't worry about keeping track of every little detail. If you miss something, you can always come back and listen again another time. At this point, the main thing to remember is that Odysseus is still at the palace of

Starting point is 00:03:43 King Alcinous, and he's telling the story of how he ended up there. First, let's just take a moment to unwind, make sure you're lying in a comfortable position wherever you're listening from. Once you're ready, take a big, deep breath in through the nose and out through the mouth. Feel how the weight of your body sinks into your bed as you exhale throughout this relaxation

Starting point is 00:04:37 and during our story. Thoughts may come and go and that's okay. When they arise, just gently bring your attention back to the breath and reset yourself into a state of calm. Now, begin to visualize a single ray of warm sunlight. Whatever this light touches, warmth and relaxation are induced. dissolving any tension and bringing relief.

Starting point is 00:05:31 So imagine this ray of light, shining just on your toes to begin with. It feels warm and it creates space and ease, as it then begins to spread through your feet and up into your legs, over the knees and all the way to your waist. The light spreads over your abdomen and the warm rays melt away any discomfort. They continue across your chest and back, moving into the shoulders, down the arms, reaching your hands and fingers. Maybe you can feel that soothing sensation as you gently move your fingers.

Starting point is 00:06:55 Now, it spreads over your neck and throat, and finally, the light spreads over your head and face, covering every inch of your body. Your whole body feels relaxed and renewed. As you continue to listen, you can invite sleep to come whenever the time is right. For now though, Let's return to Odysseus as he continues to tell tales of his adventures. This is where our story begins. Odysseus took a long drink of water. Then, when he was ready, he continued his tale, listing all the spirits he had met in the underworld.

Starting point is 00:08:34 He had already spoken of his encounters with Alpino, the prophet Tyresius, and his own beloved mother. While Odysseus was in the land of the dead, there were also many others who came to speak with him. It was bittersweet to be reunited with his companions in battle, Agamemnon, who survived the Trojan War only to be betrayed by his wife on his return. Achilles, who spoke at length, before returning to roam the Asphodel Meadows, Ajax, who still held a grudge against Odysseus, and kept his distance. And after these spirits, there were others, too. Odysseus wandered deeper into the underworld.

Starting point is 00:09:52 Curious to see who else was there. He saw King Minos with his golden scepter. Now a judge of the dead. Then there was Orion, the great hunter, chasing phantom prey in the fields of Hades. Tantalus was there too. And poor Sisyphus, in torment for eternity. Odysseus even met the spirit of Hercules, the legendary hero.

Starting point is 00:10:41 The man himself was immortal, living with the gods. But his spirit roamed to the underworld. Hercules came to speak to Odysseus, telling him of his own adventures, how he had brought Cerberus, the three-headed dog, out of Hades. Odysseus was tempted to stay longer, to explore the underworld and meet with more heroes of the past. But after a while, he grew uneasy and decided that it was time to return to the land of the living. After all, Hades was home to monsters as well as spirits, and Adidas was home to monsters as spirits. and Odysseus was starting to miss the sunlight.

Starting point is 00:11:49 So he retraced his steps through the fields and the fog until he found himself back where he had begun. Standing on the damp, dark earth, at the edge of the world, Odysseus walked on until he reached the shore where his ship awaited, his men were overjoyed to see him back again, safe and sound. And they wasted no time in preparing for their departure. Everyone was eager to leave this land, with its constant mists and dark and gloomy skies.

Starting point is 00:12:47 So they set sail down the great river of Osses. seen as helped by the wind and the current. It wasn't long before they reached the open sea. The shining waves and bright blue sky were a welcome site indeed. On Odysseus's orders, they returned to Iyah. Circe's island, by the time they arrived, it was late at night, a radiant. full moon shone high in the sky, illuminating the coastline with a silvery glow, Odysseus and his men brought their ship onto the beach, then disembarked, weary after the long journey, they settled down in the soft sand, and soon fell fast asleep. At sunrise, Odysseus' sent his men to Circe's palace, where the body of Elpino remained unburied during his visit to the

Starting point is 00:14:26 land of the dead. Edius had spoken to El Pinot's spirit. He had promised to give the young man a proper burial. The men brought Elpino's body to a headland that stretched far into the sea. There, at the edge of the island, they held a funeral. The body was cremated and a tomb built. A mound marked with an awe which had belonged to Elpino. As the men finished their rituals, they caught sight of a familiar figure. From out of the trees came the goddess Circe. accompanied by her servants, their arms were full with baskets of bread and meat and jugs of wine.

Starting point is 00:15:43 Cersie explained that she had heard the news, that Odysseus had returned from the underworld. While others died only once, Odysseus would have the rare privilege of dying twice. Now, said Circe, he and his men must stay for the night. There was plenty to eat and drink, and they could set sail at dawn. So Odysseus and his men went to the beach, where they feasted until nightfall, while the others slept by the ship. Circe took Odysseus by the hand and guided him to a quiet spot at the end of the beach as they sat on the sand listening to the gentle swell of the tide.

Starting point is 00:16:57 They talked of everything. Circe was full of questions, so Odysseus told her all about his time in Hades. Once his tail was over, Circe remained silent for a while, gazing out at the waves. Then she turned to him and stroked his hand. Poor man, she said. Odysseus's travels weren't over yet. The gods had other plans, but Circe was here to help him. so he must listen carefully. On his way home, Odysseus would encounter the sirens. The legendary creatures

Starting point is 00:18:04 who bewitched sailors with their beautiful voices, any man who listened to their song was doomed. He would stay there forever, spellbound on the rocks, and never see his home. land again. Serce told Odysseus that he must be careful. His men should have their ears plugged with wax, so they couldn't hear this siren song. As for Odysseus himself, Circe knew that he would be curious if he wanted to hear their song and survive to tell the tale. He must have his men bind him tightly to the mast, so he could not break free. After passing the sirens, Odysseus had two options. One route would take him through the wandering rocks.

Starting point is 00:19:25 A perilous place battered by waves and raging winds of fire, only one ship had ever made it through, Jason's ship, the Argo, which was under the protection of the goddess Heera. If Odysseus chose the second route, he would find two steep rocks. High up on one of these rocks was a cave. The home of the monster, Silla. was a six-headed beast, she ate everything. Seals, dolphins, whales, and sailors, of course. It was impossible to sail past without at least a few casualties, as the men would be quickly snatched up by her six heads. The other rock was nearby, so close that you could shoot an arrow,

Starting point is 00:20:50 from one side to the other. At the base of this rock, underneath the waves, was another monster, known as Caribdis. Every day, she created a treacherous whirlpool, sucking down the dark water, along with anything that just so happened to be in it. Getting caught by Caribdis, meant certain death. Circe's advice to Odysseus was to sail closer to Silla. Better to lose a few men than his entire crew. Hearing this, Odysseus was dismayed. Surely there had to be another way. What if they somehow avoided Carybdis and fought back when Scylla attacked?

Starting point is 00:22:09 But Cersy shook her head. Silla was not mortal and could not be defeated. All they could do was hurry past her, hoping for the best. Cersi then gave more guidance. She explained that, after the monsters, Odysseus would reach a lovely island called Thranacia. This was where the sun god Helius kept his men. sheep and cows. These animals were sacred creatures, so they must not be harmed. If the sun god's

Starting point is 00:23:04 cattle were left alone, Odysseus and his men would get home safely. If not, Circe had a dark foreboding. At dawn, Circe bid Odysseus goodbye and good luck. Before a time, before a time. Before a turning to her palace. Odysseus went back to the ship, where the men were sleeping. He roused them from their slumber and told him to prepare the ship. They then set sail from Circe's island once more, assisted by a fair wind, a gift from the goddess. Once they were well on their way,

Starting point is 00:24:08 Odysseus gathered his men for a meeting and shared what he had learned from Circe. When they came to the island of the sirens, they would have to take precautions. They must steer right past, and only Odysseus could hear their song. The men must bind him tightly to the mast, and if he begged to be set free, They should only tighten the ropes. With the winds in their favour, the ship soon approached the island of the sirens. But as they came closer,

Starting point is 00:25:02 the winds disappeared, and the waves became calm. The island was now in sight, a meadow full of wildflowers. But the sirens themselves were not yet visible. and thankfully they hadn't started singing. The only sound was the gentle lapping of the waves on the ship's hull. Odysseus and his men made all the necessary preparations.

Starting point is 00:25:47 Odysseus cut up a block of sun-warmed wax and rolled the pieces into little balls. Then he put the soft balls of wax. wax into his men's ears. Next, the men followed Odysseus's instructions, binding his hands and feet, and tying his body to the mast with thick ropes. Odysseus couldn't move, and his men couldn't hear. They were ready to sail on. The men picked up their oars, rowing swiftly. across the calm water. Once the sirens became aware of the ship, they emerged from the long grass

Starting point is 00:26:52 and began singing. One of the women called out to Odysseus. Why not stop and stay a while? So he could listen to their sweet song. The siren's music brought not only joy, but knowledge too. They knew everything that happened. All the secrets of the earth.

Starting point is 00:27:30 Stay, they sang. Stay with us. It was the most exquisite melody Odysseus had ever heard. He wanted to hear more and to get closer, writhing to break free of the ropes. He tried to catch his men's attention, begging them to let him loose. But most of the men kept rowing, while two of them came over to tighten the ropes. Odysseus could only stay there, bound to the mast, listening in both agony and ecstasy.

Starting point is 00:28:26 But at last, they left the island behind. The siren song was nothing more than a distant note on the breeze, becoming fainter by the moment. Then, like a dream, it was gone. Once Odysseus had regained his senses, he gestured to his men. They took the wax out of their ears and set him free. what a relief it was to have sailed past safely. But the men didn't have much time to relax. Just as Circe had predicted, they soon found themselves facing another challenge.

Starting point is 00:29:39 Two tall rocks lay ahead. In the distance, they could hear a great roar. There was smoke too, and the swell of a wave. What was it? The men began to murmur among themselves. Odysseus had told his men about the sirens, as there was a way to protect themselves. But after careful thought, he had decided not to tell them about the monster's Silla and Carybdis. After all, there was nothing they could do but sailor.

Starting point is 00:30:33 past, hoping for the best. So, as they approached, Odysseus walked up and down the deck, encouraging his men. He reminded them that whatever lay ahead, they could face it. They were strong, brave, and capable. The men had survived their encounter with the cyclone. and if Zeus willed it, they would survive this too. Odysseus then told the men to steer away from the smoke and the waves. They should move towards the other rock. Sailing past as quickly as possible as the men rode onwards. Odysseus prepared for battle.

Starting point is 00:31:49 He put on his. his shining armor and picked up his weapons before getting into position on the upper deck. Circe had told him that there was no point in fighting, but Odysseus couldn't help himself. He was a warrior and he had to try at least if Silla's heads lunged towards the ship He would fight. He owed it to himself and to his men. And so, with Odysseus armed, and the men rowing as fast as they could, the ship headed towards the narrow street. As for what followed, Cerses' predictions turned out to be right by steering clear of Carybdis. with her gurgling whirlpool. Some men managed to escape with their lives, but others weren't so lucky,

Starting point is 00:33:20 as avoiding Carybdis brought them closer to the other monster, even as Odysseus slashed his sword through the air. The six heads of Silla carried off six victims. It was a dark day. The men were still mourning their lost companions, when another island appeared on the horizon. Please, they said, let us stop for a while. Adysius was tired too, and he knew that his men deserved a rest. They had endured so much, but he was reluctant to make any promises. especially as they came closer to the island, and he realized what it was. The island of the sun god Helius, both Circe and the prophet Tyresius, had warned Odysseus to avoid this place,

Starting point is 00:34:49 and to avoid harming the sacred cattle that lived there, if anything happened to those cows, Odysseus might never reach Ithaca. And so, with a heavy heart, Odysseus told his men what Circe and Tyresius had said, they must steer clear of the sun-god's island, as it would only bring them misfortune, the men began to grumble. One man, Eurylicus, spoke persuasively. While it seemed that Odysseus had no need of rest, the others were exhausted. Evening was fast approaching, and the last thing they wanted was to spend yet another night at sea. the mercy of the winds and the waves, at least for tonight, they should stay on the island,

Starting point is 00:36:16 after a good meal and a restful night's sleep. They could set sail, ready for whatever awaited them, as the other men nodded in agreement. Odysseus sighed heavily. Nothing was going his way. It seemed that some spirit had it out for him, acknowledging that he was outnumbered. Odysseus agreed to the men's request. They could spend the night on the sun god's island. However, they must all swear an oath, promising not to touch a single animal. Besides, there was no need Circe had provided them with plenty of food. The men willingly made the oath. Then they sailed towards the island,

Starting point is 00:37:35 where they disembarked and began to prepare their evening meal. Dinner was a somewhat somber occasion as they reminisced about the friends they had lost and shed some tears. But at last, their bellies full. They drifted into sweet sleep in the early hours of the morning, when the stars had disappeared, but the sun had not yet risen. A strange storm descended on the earth.

Starting point is 00:38:24 It was summoned by Zeus himself. Darkness fell over the land, and the eye. island was surrounded by wind and fog. The men moved their ship inside a cave to keep it safe. Then Odysseus spoke to the group, reminding them of their oath. All the cows and sheep on this island belonged to the sun god Helius, even if the storm kept them stranded for a while. They must not touch the animals. With some reluctance, the men agreed. They kept their word that day, and the next, and the one after. But all month long, the south wind kept blowing. Leaving the island was out of the question, so the men were forced to rely on their dwindling supplies, but,

Starting point is 00:39:53 But eventually, the food and wine ran out. The men turned to hunting and fishing. Whatever they could catch, it was enough to keep them alive. But that was all. Odysseus walked across the island and found a sheltered spot. There he prayed to the gods, hoping that one of them might take pity on him. All he wanted was to get home. He was so tired.

Starting point is 00:40:45 The God's answer to his prayer was to send him to sleep. Later, Odysseus found out what had happened during his long slumber. Eurylicus had gathered the men and told them that enough was enough. it was time to eat the cattle. If the men eventually made it home to Ithaca, said Eurylicus. They could build a temple in honour of the sun god, but if the gods were angry and decided to destroy their ship on the way, well, so be it better to be swallowed up by the sea

Starting point is 00:41:46 than to waste away on an island, the men needed little convincing. It wasn't long before the meat was roasting on skewers. Instead of barley, the men used oak leaves during their prayers, and with no wine for libations. They had to make do with water instead. When Odysseus awoke, he quickly made his way back to the ship. The skies were still dark, and a strange smoke hung in the air. But as he got closer, he smelled the smoke and realized with a sinking heart what it was. The mouth-watering smell of cooking meat. The disappearance of the cattle had not gone unnoticed by the gods.

Starting point is 00:43:12 Later, when Odysseus was living with the goddess Calypso, he learned about the unfortunate chain of events. The sun-god's daughter lived on the island. When she discovered what had happened to the cows, she immediately went to tell her father, was furious. Helius called a meeting of the gods, demanding that Odysseus's men be punished. Those cows had been precious to him. If the men didn't pay, the sun god would have no choice but to go down to Hades. Forever after, he would shine among the dead. Hearing this, the great god Zeus was alarmed.

Starting point is 00:44:22 Helius must stay, sharing his light with the earth and heavens. Zeus promised that with his thunderbolt, he would destroy Odysseus' ship. He would send fragments flying across the sea. Meanwhile, on the shore, Odysseus watched in dismay, as his men continued. cooking. Already, there were signs of the God's disapproval. The eerie sound of mowing filled the air. Even though there were no cows left, but the men overjoyed to have food at last, hardly seemed to care. Over the next six days, they relished their banquet of beef on the seventh day. The winds finally died down. Odysseus and his men prepared the ship, raising the mast and unfurling the sails.

Starting point is 00:45:55 At last, they could leave the island and continue their journey back home. The way ahead was clear. Nothing but blue skies and calm seas. But then, out of nowhere, A dark storm cloud appeared above their ship. The sky turned black and the waves whipped up, higher and higher, as the winds raged all around. It all happened so quickly. The mast snapped, knocking one of the men overboard. Then came the thunderbolts sent by Zeus himself. The ship went up in flames, and everyone but Odysseus fell overboard.

Starting point is 00:47:10 The men were swept away like gulls in the dark water. Miraculously, Odysseus managed to cling on to what remained of the ship. He used the backstay, a rope made of oxhide, to tie the keel and mast together. creating a makeshift raft all night long, he rode the waves, praying that the winds wouldn't drag him back to Silla and Carybdis. But by sunrise, that's exactly where he ended up. Back between the rocks, as Odysseus was sucked towards the whirlpool of Carybdis, he knew. He knew, he had to act quickly. On the rock just above the whirlpool was a sturdy fig tree. Odysseus leapt up and grabbed hold of the trunk, clinging on with all his strength, while his raft disappeared

Starting point is 00:48:41 into the vortex. He could only hope and pray that it would resurface. And at last, and It did. Carybdis belched up the raft. Odysseus let go of the tree, dropping down into the water. Then he clambered onto the raft, paddling away as fast as he could. Luckily, Scylla did not see him. Odysseus was able to get away, unharmed, for nine days, he drifted, exhausted. He had no idea where he was, or in which direction he was heading.

Starting point is 00:49:52 His fate was up to the gods. On the tenth day, he washed up on the shore of another island, the home of the beautiful goddess, Calypso. He was her guest for the next six. seven years. Odysseus' story had now come to an end. He had already told his host, King Alcinous, about his time with Calypso, and he didn't want to bore his audience by repeating old tales. For the time being, there was no more to tell now that it was late, and they were all weary, Perhaps it was time to go to bed. After a good night's rest, they could enjoy each other's company in the morning. Right now, all Odysseus wanted was to go to sleep, to sink and to slumber. Dreaming sweet dreams of home.

Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - The Odyssey: Part 6 - The Sun God’s Cattle

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