Guided Sleep Meditation & Sleep Hypnosis from Sleep Cove - Ukraine Charity Special - A Classic Ukrainian Folktale

Starting point is 00:00:00 Back by popular demand, the Sleep Cove Premium Sale has started. For the next two months, you can get Sleep Cove Premium for free. That's right, completely free. There you'll get access to all my exclusive episodes, as well as every episode, add free. You'll also have access to my own. other podcasts and their exclusive and ad-free content too. Sleepcove can't carry on without your support. So if you want to become a VIP member and get access to our premium feed,

Starting point is 00:00:46 please go to sleepcove.com slash support. That's sleepcove.com slash support. If you can't support the show right now, please subscribe with the bell to get alerts on all new free content. Thank you. Have you ever gazed in wonder at the Great Pyramid? Have you marvelled at the golden face of Tudankhamun? Or admired the delicate features of Queen Nefertiti?

Starting point is 00:01:21 If you have, you'll probably like The History of Egypt podcast. Every week, we explore tales of this ancient culture. The history of Egypt is available wherever you get your podcasting fix. Come, let me introduce you to the world of ancient Egypt. To Sleep Cove, please listen to this episode in a place where you can safely go to sleep. I want to welcome everyone to this charity episode for the people of Ukraine. Like many of you, I've been watching on with horror, as Ukraine has been invaded and the humanitarian disaster as enfolded in front of our eyes.

Starting point is 00:02:09 I felt helpless and wondered what I could do to help. I don't talk about this often, but before I worked full-time in mental health, I contracted for a technology company that had the majority of its staff based in Ukraine, especially Kharkiv. My colleagues were fantastic people, and after seeing the news of the terrible invasion,

Starting point is 00:02:32 I reached out to them, offering to do a charity special, for a Ukrainian cause of their choice. They also chose a fairy tale which is translated as P-Roller in English as the bedtime story for this episode. It's a tale of how a boy defeats a dragon which seems like a perfect analogy right now.

Starting point is 00:02:56 I'm going to be donating all money made from sponsorship from this episode in the present and the future and I want to introduce the charities that I will be donating to and that you can donate to too. Currently UNICEF are protecting children in the Ukraine. You can go to their website, unisef.org, to donate. They say that home, schools, water supplies and hospitals

Starting point is 00:03:26 have been damaged or destroyed. Children have been separated from their families and hundreds of thousands of people have been left without safe water, electricity or shelter. Explosives including landmines are a daily threat to children's lives. More than 1 million people have now fled to Ukraine and with a number expected to climb to 5 million soon. UNICEF are working around the clock to help keep families safe

Starting point is 00:03:56 and you can donate to their calls by going to unisef.org. I'm also going to be donating a portion of the sponsorship money to a former colleague of mine who is sourcing much-needed equipment on the ground as this is an individual and not an organisation it is hard to share this information how to support them but if you want to email me at Christopher at sleepcove.com I can share the details with you

Starting point is 00:04:24 if you are going to donate you would be great to receive a screenshot of the donation so I can share this on social media you can email me or tag me on social media and then I can share it and I think more people who see donations happening the more likely other people will donate as well times can be stressful in certain circumstances

Starting point is 00:04:49 but sometimes it's good to step back and ask how we can help and I think donating to good causes can definitely help people right now I want to recommend a product that I'm using myself right now. It's called New Moon. As a mental health advocate, I'm always looking for innovative products to help people. When you are looking to tackle your stress and anxieties,

Starting point is 00:05:15 you may not even know where to start or what to use. Of course, many people use this podcast, and this app by Noom is a great tool to help deal with anxiety. I've been using their grounding techniques and meditation exercises to understand stress and deal with it day to day. You learn to realise stress as a mechanism that you can use as a toolkit to manage. I work totally on my own so sometimes it's good to communicate with the NUMM coaches to help your mindset and we all need an extra helping hand now and then. Worry less and feel happier.

Starting point is 00:05:56 Sign up for your trial at NUMM.com slash Sleep Cove. That's N. Sleep Cove. I can really recommend it. And let's begin. The story of P-roller. There once lived a man who had six sons and one daughter, Alenka by name. One day the sons went out to plow and they told their sister to bring them their dinner to the field. How will I find you there? Alanca asked. The brothers said, We will dig a furrow stretching from the hut to the patch we will be ploughing.

Starting point is 00:06:41 You will find us if he follow it. And with that they drove away. Now in the forest behind the field there'd have a dragon and he came and filled in the furrow the brothers had made with earth and made a furrow of his own which led to the door of the field.

Starting point is 00:07:00 this house. And when Alenka went to take her brother's dinner to them, she followed it, and walked straight into the dragon's courtyard, and was at once seized by the dragon. In the evening, the brothers came home and they said to the mother, we were ploughing all day. Why didn't you send us anything to eat? But I did, the mother replied. I sent Alenka to the field we with your dinner, and I thought she would be coming back with you. She must have lost her way. We must go back and look for her, their brothers said. They set out at once, all six of them, and followed the dragon's furrow to his courtyard. They came two through the gate, and there was their sister running out to meet them. Oh my brothers, my dear brothers,

Starting point is 00:07:58 where will I hide you? Alenka cried. The dragon is out now, but he will eat you up when he comes back. And lo, there was the dragon, flying towards them, and hissing like the serpent he was. I spare a man,

Starting point is 00:08:25 to fight me, you have come, or to make peace with me, to fight you, they called back. Very well then. Let us go to the iron threshing floor. They went to the iron threshing floor, but they did not fight along, for the dragon struck them once and drove them into the floor.

Starting point is 00:08:48 Then he pulled them out, more dead than alive, and threw them into a deep dungeon. The mother and father waited for their sons to return, but they waited in vain. One day the mother went to the river with her washing. She looked and there rolling towards her Along the road she saw a tiny pea She picked it up and ate it And in due time a son was born to her And they called him

Starting point is 00:09:21 Bacati Gorrashak Orphe roll along One day his father and he were digging a well And their spades struck a stone It was a huge stone and the father went to call his neighbours to help him lift it. But P. Roll-Along had lifted it and thrown it out by himself before he was back. The neighbours came and looked and were amazed and frightened too,

Starting point is 00:09:54 for they saw that P-roll-along was much stronger than any of them. Indeed, so frightened were they that they wanted to kill him. But P. Roll Along tossed the stone up into the air and then caught it, and seeing the feet of strength they ran away. The father and son went on digging. They dug till their spades, struck a huge piece of iron, and P. Roll Along lifted it out and hid it. Some time passed and one day P. Roll Along asked his parents if it was true that he had six brothers. and a sister. Indeed it is son, their parents said,

Starting point is 00:10:40 but they went away once and never returned, and they told him the whole story. I will go in search of them, said P. Roll along. The mother and father began pleading with him not to. Don't do it, son, they said. Your brothers went to seek your sister, and all six of them perished. and you all alone as you are will fare no better.

Starting point is 00:11:09 No, no, I will, said P. Roll along. They are my own flesh and blood, and I must find out what happened to them. The piece of iron he found to the blacksmith. Forge me a sword, and the bigger it will be the better, said he. And the blacksmith forged him a sword so large and heavy that it was as much as anyone could do to carry it out of his shop. But P rolled along, lifted it easily, and held it high into the air. I'll have a sleep, said he to his father,

Starting point is 00:11:51 wake me up in 12 days' time, when the sword comes flying back. He went to bed and slept for 12 days, and on the 13th day the sword came flying back, making a humming sound as it flew. The father woke him. P. Roll along sprung up and held up a finger, and the sword struck it and split in two. I cannot go to see my brothers and sister, with so poor a sword, said P-roll along. I must have another.

Starting point is 00:12:27 And picking up the broken sword, he took it to the blacksmith. Forge me a new sword out of this one, said he. Make one to suit a man as strong as I. eye. The blacksmith forged him a sword that was even bigger than the first, and P-roll-along, flung it high into the air, and then went to bed, and slept for another twelve days. On the 13th day the sword came flying back, humming as it flew and making the earthquake and tremble. The mother and father woke P-roll-along, who sprang to his feet and held up a finger, and the sword struck it but did not break and only bent a little.

Starting point is 00:13:12 Here is a good sword indeed, said P. Roll along. Now I can go to seek my brothers and sisters. Make me some breadmother and make some rusks. I will set out on my way. He took his sword and a back full of rusks and bidding his mother and father goodbye set forth from home. He followed the dragon's old furrow,

Starting point is 00:13:40 which was barely to be seen, and soon was deep in the forest, and he walked on and on till he came to a fenced-in courtyard that surrounded a large house. He walked into the yard, and on into the house, and he found his sister Alenka there.

Starting point is 00:14:01 Good morning, lass, said, he roll along, who didn't know it was his sister. Good morning to you, good youth. Why have you come here? The dragon is out, but lie will soon be back and will eat you up, Alenka said. We shall see, perhaps he won't, but who are you last? And why are you here? I used to live with my mother and father, but the dragon carried me off, and though my six brothers tried to free me, they did not succeed. Where are your brothers? P. Roll-Along asked.

Starting point is 00:14:41 The dragon threw them into a dungeon, and I do not know if they are alive or dead. Perhaps I can free you, said P. Roll-Along. My six brothers couldn't rescue me, so how can you? We shall see what we shall see, said P-roll-along. and he sat down by a window and waited. By and by the dragon came flying back. He flew into the house and he twitched his nose. I smell a man, cried he.

Starting point is 00:15:17 Of course you do, for here I am, said Pee, roll along, coming forward. What brings you here, my lad? Do you want to fight me or to make peace with me? said the dragon. To fight you. P. Roll-Along cried, Well, then let us go to the iron threshing floor. Let's.

Starting point is 00:15:44 They came to the iron threshing floor, and the dragon faced P-roll-along. You strike first, he said. No, you do, said P-roll-along. They crossed swords, and the dragon struck P-roll-along, such a blow that he sank ankle deep into the iron threshing floor. But P. Roll-Along was out again in a flash, and he practised his sword and gave the dragon an answering blow that drove him knee-deep into the iron-threshing floor. The dragon heaved himself out, and he again came to P-roll-along and drove him as deep into the floor as he had just been driven himself. But P-roll-along was not one to be

Starting point is 00:16:34 frightened, and he struck the dragon a blow which drove him waist deep into the floor, and then another that killed him on the spot. He then made his way to the dungeon, freed his brothers who were more dead than alive, and taking them and his sister Alenka with him, and all the gold and silver in the dragon's house too, set out for home. But he never told them that he was their brother. Whether they were long on the way or not nobody knows, foot by and by they sat down for a rest under the oak tree, and so tired was Pee roll along after his battle, that he fell fast asleep, and his six brothers talked it all over among themselves, and said,

Starting point is 00:17:27 People will laugh at us when they learned that the six of us could not do away with the dragon, while this young lad here did it all by himself, and he will get all the dragon's riches besides, and they decided to bind Pea Roll Along while he was asleep and helpless to the oak tree and leave him there to be devoured by the wild beasts. No sooner said then done, they bound him up to the tree and left him there and went away.

Starting point is 00:17:58 When Pea Rollalong slept on and felt nothing, He slept for a day and he slept for a night, and then he woke to find himself bound to the oak tree. But he joked in heed and low, out of the tree, roots and all, from the ground, and pea roll along throat over his shoulder and went home. He came up to the house, and he heard his brothers talking to their mother. Did you have any more children, mother, after we left home? they asked her. Yes indeed, the mother replied.

Starting point is 00:18:39 I had a son, Pea Roll Along by name, who went off to seek you. Then it must have been him we bowed to the oak tree. We'd better go back at once and untie him, the brother said. But Pea Roll Along, brandished the oak he was carrying and struck the roof of the hut so hard that the hut all but crumbled to the ground. Stay where you are, since you are what you are and know better my brothers, he cried, I will go off by myself and roam the wild world.

Starting point is 00:19:16 And he shouldered his sword and set out on his way. And on he walked, and he saw two mountains ahead of him. Between them stood a man who had his hands and feet set against them and was trying to push them apart. Good morning, friend, P. Roll Along called out. Good morning to you, the man replied. What are you doing? I'm moving the mountains apart to make a path, he replied.

Starting point is 00:19:50 Where are you going? To the world and to make a fortune, he said. I'm out to do the same, what's your name? Said Pee, roll along. Move mountain. What's yours? My name is Pea Roll Along. Let's go together.

Starting point is 00:20:10 Yes, Les. They both agreed. They went along together, and they walked and they walked, and they saw a man in the forest who was pulling out oak trees by the roots, and he had only to give a tree one twist, and out it came. Good morning, friend, called Pea Roll Along and move mountains. good morning to you my lads the man called back what are you doing they asked him uprooting trees in order to make a path he replied where are you going to seek my fortune we're out to do the same what's your name twist oak he said what's yours our names are pea-roll along and move mountain let's go together let's they all agreed. So the three of them went on together. They walked and they walked and by and by they saw a man

Starting point is 00:21:11 sitting on the bank of a river. The man had their longest of long whiskers and he only had to twirl one of them for the waters depart and roll away, leaving a path and thus enabling all who wanted to walk over the riverbed. Good morning friend, the group called out to him. Good morning to you, my lads. What are you doing? said the group. I'm parting the waters in order to cross the river. Where are you going? To seek my fortune, he replied. We're out to do the same, what's your name? The group said in unison. Twirl whisker, what are yours? Our names are P-roll-along, move mountain and twist oak. Let's go together, all agreed. They went on together and had an easy time of it.

Starting point is 00:22:13 The Moof Mountain moved aside every mountain, to host oak uprooted every forest, and twill with care part of the waters of every river that lay in their bath. They walked and they walked and they came to a small hut, standing in the middle of a lot. They stepped inside, and would you believe it? There was no one there. Here's where we will spend the night, said Pete.

Starting point is 00:22:42 P. Roll along. They spent the night in the hut, and in the morning, P. Rollalong said, You stay at home, move Mountain and cook our dinner for us, and we three will go hunting. They went away and moved Mountain, cooked a big dinner, and lay down for a sleep. Suddenly came a wrap at the door, rap tap, tap. Open the door, someone called. I'm no servant of yours to open doors Move mountain caught back The door opened and the same voice called again

Starting point is 00:23:19 Carry me over the threshold You're no lord of mine So don't wail or whine Move mountain called back And lo there climbed over the threshold The tiniest old man That ever was seen With a beard so long that it trailed over the floor

Starting point is 00:23:39 A little old man caught Moved Mountain by the hair And hung him up on a nail on the wall Then he ate all there was to eat And drank all there was to drink And after cutting a long strip of skin From Moove Mountain's back He went away Move Mountain twisted and turned

Starting point is 00:24:02 On the nail till he broke loose And then he sat to work cooking dinner anew he was still at it when his friends returned Why are you so late getting dinner? I dozed off and forgot all about it, said Move Mountain. They ate their fill and they went to bed and on the following morning P-roll-along said Now you stay at home to a stoke

Starting point is 00:24:30 And the rest of us will go hunting He went away and Twist Oak cooked a big dinner and lay down for asleep. Suddenly there was a wrap and the door. Rap, tap, tap. Open the door, a voice called. I'm no servant of yours to open doors. Twist Oak called back.

Starting point is 00:24:54 Carry me over the threshold. The same voice called again. You're no lord of mine, so don't whale or wine. Twist Oak replied. And low, they're climbed over the threshold. and stepped into the hut the tiniest old man that ever was seen were the beard so long that it trailed over the floor

Starting point is 00:25:16 he caught Twist Oak by the hair and hung him on a nail and then he ate all there was to eat and drank all there was to drink and after cutting a long strip of skin from Twist Oak's back went away Twist Oak twisted and turned this way

Starting point is 00:25:35 and that till he succeeded in breaking free and then he at once set to work cooking dinner anew. He was still at it when his friend returned. Why he so late getting dinner, they asked. I dozed off and only woke a little while ago, said Twist Oak. But to move Mountain said nothing, for he knew what had happened. On the third day, twirl whisker,

Starting point is 00:26:06 was the one to remain at home and the same thing happened to him. P-roller said, You are indeed slow getting dinner, all three of you. Tomorrow you'll go hunting and I'll stay at home. Morning came and P-roll along remained at home while his three friends went hunting. He cooked a big dinner and just as he lay down for asleep there came a wrap at the door, wrap tap tap Open the door Someone called Pee Roll along

Starting point is 00:26:42 Open the door And there before him Was the tiniest old man That ever lived With a beard so long That it trailed over the floor Carry me over the threshold My lad

Starting point is 00:26:54 Said the little old man Proll along picked him up Carried him into the hut And set him down on the floor And the little old man began dancing round and round, taking little flying jumps at him. What do you want? asked P. Roll along. You'll see what I want, said the little old man,

Starting point is 00:27:16 and stretching out his hand he was about to seize P. Roll along by the hair. But P. Roll along cried out, ah, that's the sort you are, and caught him by the beard instead. Then, taking an axe, he dragged the little old man, to an oak tree, split the oak tree into, and thrust the little old man's beard into the cleft, pinning it fast. You were mean enough to try and catch me by the hair, said he to the little old man, so now you'll have to stay here until I return. He went back to the hut, and he found his three friends waiting for him there. Is dinner ready, they asked? Yes, it's been

Starting point is 00:28:01 ready and waiting a long time. P. Roll-Along replied. They sat down and began eating and after they had finished, P. Roll-Along said, come with me and I will show you the most unusual sight. He led them outside, but oddly enough there was no oak tree there and no little old man either, for the little old man had pulled out the oak tree by the roots and dragged it away with him. P. Roll along then told his friends of all that had happened to him, and they on their parts confessed that their little old man had them hanging from an ale and had cut strips off skin from their backs. He's a wicked old thing. That little man is, and we better go and find him, said P, roll along. Now the little odd man had been dragging the oak tree and had left a trail

Starting point is 00:29:01 they found easy to follow, and it led them to a hole in the ground so deep that it seemed bottomless. P. Roll along turned to the Moove Mountain. Climmed down the hole, Moved Mountain, he said. No, I won't, answered Move Mountain. How about you, Twist Oak, or you twirl whisker. But neither Twist Oak nor Twirl Whisker would risk climbing. down the hole. Very well then I'll do it, said P-roll-along. Let's plate a rope. They plaited a rope and P-roll-along wound one end of it round his head. Let me down, he said. They began letting him down

Starting point is 00:29:49 and it took them a long time, for so deep was the hole that to reach his bottom, it was likely to reach the nether world. But they got him down at last, and P-roll. along set out to explore the place. On and on he walked and there before him was a huge palace. He went inside and everything there sparkled and shone, for the palace was made of gold and precious stones. He passed from chamber to chamber and all of a sudden who should come running towards him but a princess? And so beautiful was she that no pen could describe her and no tongue sing her praises. What brings you here, could you, she asked?

Starting point is 00:30:39 I'm looking for a little old man with a beard that trails over the ground, said P roll along. Ah, she said, the little old man has got his beard stuck in the cleft of an oak tree and is trying to pull it out, but don't go to him or he will kill you, as he did many others before. for you. You won't be killing me, said P. Roll along. It was I who stuck his beard in the cleft. But who are you and what are you doing here? I am a princess and the daughter of a king. The little old man carried me off and is keeping me captive here, the princess said. I will free you, never fear. Just take me to him. The princess let P. Roll along. to the little old man and low. There he sat stroking his beard, which he had pulled out of the cleft.

Starting point is 00:31:41 At the side of P-roll-along, the little old man turned red with anger. What brings you here? Have you come to fight me or to make peace with me? he asked. I'm here to fight you, said P-roll-along. Do you think her would make peace with the likes of you? They crossed swords, and they fought long and fiercely, till at last P. Roll-Along struck the little old man hard, and he died. After that, P. Roll-Along and the princess took all the gold and gems they could find in the palace, and filling three sacks of them, made for the hole down which P-Rol-Long had climbed into the Underground Kingdom. They came to it soon enough, and P-Rolololong began calling to his friends.

Starting point is 00:32:31 Are you still there, my brothers? He cried. We are, came the reply. P. Roller along tied one of the sacks to the rope. Pull it up, brothers, he cried again. The sack is yours. They pulled up the sack and let down the rope, and P. Roller along tied the second sack to it.

Starting point is 00:32:52 Put it up, this one is yours too, he called. He sent up the third sack as well, and they tied the princess to the rope. The princess is mine, he called. The three friends pulled out the princess and now only P-roll-along was left at the bottom of the hole. Let's pull him up a little way

Starting point is 00:33:13 and then let go of the rope, said they. He will be killed and the princess will be ours. But P rolled along guessed what they were up to and tied a large stone to the rope. Now pull me up, he called. He pulled up the rope and they let you go. of it, and down came the stone with a crash. A fine lot of friends I have, said P roll along, and he sent out to Rome, the kingdom at the bottom

Starting point is 00:33:43 of the hole. All of a sudden the sky became overcast, and the rain came down, and hail too. P. Roll along, hid under a oak tree, and he stood there as he heard the chirping of baby eagles coming from a nest at the top of the tree. He climbed the tree, and taking off his coat, covered the eagles with it. A rain stopped, and a huge eagle the nestling's father came flying. Who was it that covered you, my little ones? asked he. We'll tell you if you promise not to eat him up, said the nestlings. Never fear I won't. well do you see that man sitting under the tree it was he who did it the eagle flew down from the tree ask of me whatever you want and i will do it said he to pee roll along this is the first time that none of my children has drowned in such a downpour with me away take me to my own kingdom said p roll along that is not easy to do but if we take six barrels of meat and six of water with us,

Starting point is 00:35:04 I may be able to do it, the eagle said. Every time my head turned to the right, you will throw a piece of meat into my mouth, and every time I turn to the left, you will give me a sip of water. If you don't do it, we'll never get there, for I'll die on the way. They took six barrels of meat and six of water,

Starting point is 00:35:29 Pea Rolla Long put them on the eagle's back and climbed on himself, and away they flew, and whenever the eagle turned his head to the right, P. Roller would put some meat into his mouth, and whenever he turned it to the left, he would give him a sip of water. They flew for a long time and had nearly reached Pea Rolla Long's kingdom, when the eagle turned his head to the right again. Pee Rollerong looked into the barrel And the last of the six And seeing that there was not a scrub of meat left He cut a piece of his own leg And gave it to him What was it I just ate

Starting point is 00:36:14 The eagle asked It was very good A piece of my own flesh Pee roll along replied Pointing to his leg The eagle said nothing But he spat out the piece of meat and leaving Pea Roll Along to wait for him, flew off to fetch some living water.

Starting point is 00:36:34 He was back with it before long, and no sooner had they put the piece that he had cut off to Peerola's leg and sprinkled it with water, it grew fast to it again and healed. After that the eagle flew home and Pea Roll Along went to seek his three faithless friends. Now the three had made their way to the palace On the princess's father And were now living and quarrelling among themselves But each wanted to marry the princess And would not give her up two for the others

Starting point is 00:37:10 It was there that P Roller Long found them And when they saw him they turned white with fright Pea Rollalong said My own brothers portrayed me So what can I ask of you I think I'll have to forgive you. And forgive them he did. Soon after that he married the princess

Starting point is 00:37:32 and the two of them lived happily together ever after.

Guided Sleep Meditation & Sleep Hypnosis from Sleep Cove - Ukraine Charity Special - A Classic Ukrainian Folktale

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