Get Sleepy: "A Dream of the Hermitage Cats"

Podcast: Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
Episode Date: January 26, 2026
Host: Thomas (Slumber Studios)
Story By: Alicia Stefan
Narrator: Arif

Episode Overview

This episode brings listeners on a gentle, imaginative journey with Michael, an art history student, who takes a dreamlike night-time tour of the illustrious Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. The experience is uniquely guided by the Hermitage’s legendary resident cats, blending art, history, and feline company for a soothing bedtime adventure.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Guided Relaxation to Prepare for Sleep (Starts ~04:00)

• Thomas leads listeners through calming breathing techniques, focusing on releasing tension in the facial muscles.
• Emphasizes appreciation for the face’s importance in daily life and encourages deep relaxation from the forehead down to the jaw.
• “Your whole face is now welcome to relax and rest throughout the night. You’ve spent some time giving it the care and attention it deserves…” (09:50, Thomas)

2. Setting the Scene: Michael at the Library (Begins ~11:41)

• Michael, an art history student, finds sanctuary in his favorite corner of the library on a snowy evening.
• The tranquility and sensory experience of an old library set the tone: “He loved that he could be together with all these people and yet find a spot that hid him completely from view…” (13:10, Narrator)
• The snowy weather inspires Michael as he works on a presentation about the Hermitage Museum.

3. The Hermitage’s History Unfolded

(14:40–29:00)

• Michael reviews research on the Hermitage, noting its vastness—over 3 million artifacts, only 5% on display.
• Notable historical facts:
  • Empress Catherine the Great began the collection in 1764, acquiring paintings originally meant for Frederick II of Prussia.
  • Catherine’s ambitious expansions and acquisitions, from the Small Hermitage to the Great Hermitage, and famed purchases from European collections.
  • “If a person viewed every item in the exhibits for one minute, eight hours per day, it would take ten years to see them all.” (17:01, Michael, quoting an article)
• Michael contemplates which masterpieces to highlight, including works by da Vinci, Rembrandt, Raphael, and Caravaggio, as well as unique artifacts like the Peacock Clock.

4. Discovery: The Hermitage Cats

(29:50–32:30)

• Michael uncovers the Hermitage’s feline residents, learning of their storied history dating back to a 1745 decree by Empress Elizabeth Petrovna.
• The cats were originally brought in for mouse control and have since become beloved, pampered icons of the museum.
• “Nowadays they no longer even had to work for their keep… Instead, they reigned supreme at the Hermitage, greeting guests outdoors, lounging about and enjoying dedicated staff who took care of them.” (31:40, Narrator)
• Annual “Day of the Hermitage Cats” since 2009 adds charm and humanity to the institution.

5. Dreamlike Journey to the Hermitage

(35:20 onward)

• As Michael dozes, his imagination whisks him away to the Hermitage on a snowy Russian night.
• Detailed, sensory tour of the Winter Palace:
  • Michael is led by three different cats (one black, one white with a red ribbon, and a tabby) through lavish halls, gilded staircases, tapestry galleries, and the Pavilion.
  • Vivid descriptions of art and architecture: “Natural light that streamed in from windows up high. This was a stairway that was made to impress…” (43:30, Narrator)
• Notable encounters:
  • The cats serve as quiet, mysterious guides, never speaking but always leading.
  • Michael’s awe at the Peacock Clock’s mechanical show: “The clock began to chime with tiny little bells… The peacock stretched and moved… gently as its enormous wings elevated slowly to the sky.” (58:40, Narrator)

6. Full Circle and Closure

• As the magical museum tour winds down, the trio of cats sit as if to say goodbye.
• Michael feels comforted knowing the cats will guard the artwork until he returns: “He sensed that the art was safe here… And he felt certain the cats would take care of it for him until he was able to return.” (61:30, Narrator)
• The dream softly fades, merging the scenes of the palace and the snowy library as Michael drifts to sleep.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Hermitage’s Size:
  “If a person viewed every item in the exhibits for one minute, eight hours per day, it would take ten years to see them all.”
  — Michael, quoting an article (17:01)

• On Catherine the Great’s Collecting:
  “She loved to think of herself as a patron of the arts… In her lifetime… she achieved her goal of presenting Russian society as one of enlightenment and culture.”
  — Narrator (28:20)

• On the Hermitage Cats:
  “Nowadays they no longer even had to work for their keep… Instead, they reigned supreme at the Hermitage, greeting guests outdoors, lounging about and enjoying dedicated staff who took care of them.”
  — Narrator (31:40)

• Peacock Clock Moment:
  “The clock began to chime with tiny little bells… The peacock stretched and moved its own delicate head gently as its enormous wings elevated slowly to the sky.”
  — Narrator (58:40)

• Museum’s Guardians:
  “He felt certain that the cats would take care of it for him until he was able to return.”
  — Narrator (61:30)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 04:00–10:40: Guided relaxation and facial tension release
• 11:41–14:40: Michael’s library refuge and research setup
• 14:40–29:00: Hermitage’s history, Catherine the Great’s art collection
• 29:50–32:30: The Hermitage cats’ origins and present-day role
• 35:20–61:30: Dreamlike journey through the Hermitage with feline guides
• 58:40–61:30: The peacock clock and cats’ farewell

Final Thoughts

This episode of Get Sleepy masterfully weaves together art history, architectural grandeur, and the whimsical reality of the Hermitage’s cats into a seamless, peaceful dream narrative. The calming narration, vivid imagery, and inventive cat-guided museum tour create a magical, restful experience—perfect for sleep or deep relaxation.