← Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
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- [00:01]
Thomas
Get Sleepy is a production of Slumber Studios. To listen ad free, access our entire catalogue of episodes and support the show directly. Check out our premium feed by going to getsleepy.com support now a quick word from our sponsors. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. For some of us, summer is the best season. We often spend time traveling, attending weddings and celebrations, or if you have kids, planning lots of days out. However, juggling it all can get pretty tough and overwhelming. It's the time of year where I've found I can easily end up making too many plans and eventually I sense my social battery feeling utterly depleted. I think it's so key to keep the occasional weekend as free of plans as possible. Therapy can help people better understand their needs, feel more confident about setting boundaries, and create a version of summer that actually feels good. With over 30,000 therapists, BetterHelp is the world's largest online therapy platform, and it's such a great place to start your therapy journey. BetterHelp covers the usually tricky job of matching you with the right therapist, and you can switch therapists at any time. You don't have to say yes to everything this summer. Find support in therapy. Sign up and get 10% off@betterhelp.com getsleepy that's 10% off for our listeners at betterhelp.com getsleepy
- [01:48]
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- [02:19]
Thomas
Welcome to Get Sleepy, where we listen, we relax, and we get sleepy. As always, I'm your host, Thomas, and it's wonderful to have your company. Tonight's story was written by Frankie and will be read by Chloe. We'll be following a lady named Gwen as she explores the secrets of Epping Forest and the legends of fairies that reside there. Epping Forest lies in Essex, which is the county I was born and raised in, so this is a particularly fun one for me to listen to and I hope you all enjoy it too. So get yourself settled in and comfortable wherever you're resting. If you're yet to close your eyes, now is a good time to do that. Gently use your other senses to explore your environment. Notice how the covers are settling down on your body and how they feel against your skin. Are they cool and refreshing or snug and warm? Use your ears to really zone in on my voice and you may find that that in itself is summons feelings of comfort and familiarity, particularly if you've been listening to the show for quite some time already. Take a long, deep breath in now, enjoying the sensation as the air enters in through your nose. And then let it out with a sigh, feeling your shoulders dip and the neck and facial muscles relax. Repeat that slow and controlled breath, enjoying all the sensations that come with it. Make sure your jaw is unclenched and your tongue is just relaxed in your mouth. Gradually allow your breathing to return to normal as your body and mind move that bit closer to sleep. Now picture a green wooded landscape. With each intake of breath, imagine that you're absorbing the fresh air of rural England. This is where our story begins.
- [06:27]
Narrator
Gwen walks up a quaint street in a small village in Essex, England. The village backs up against Epping Forest, her final destination. The ancient forest covers nearly 6,000 acres north of the spring sprawling metropolis that is London. Gwen needs this break from the fast pace of city life. This morning she packed lunch in her backpack and took the underground, also known as the tube, to the end of the line. She ended up here, on the border between civilization and wilderness. Gwen is happy to take her time with her adventure today, and she has plenty of it. Today is midsummer. It's the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. Gwen reaches the end of the street and is faced with the expanse of the forest. Here, the rows of maisonette houses end abruptly. They face one another in silent reverence to their much older neighbour. Gwen takes one last look at the rows of neat houses with their Tudor facades and blooming rose bushes before following the dirt path into the forest. Immediately, the sounds of the outside world are hushed by the vegetation. The distant sirens, cars driving past and general bustle of village life fade away like a dream the moment after you wake up. Even the bright, harsh summer sunlight is softened as it filters down between the leaves of the trees. The ancient oaks tower next to the vibrant beech trees. Here and there, the brown trunks are interrupted by the stark white trunk of a birch tree. The dark green leaves of holly trees shine like precious emeralds. There are very few bushes or shrubs, making it easy to wander between tree trunks unhindered. The forest floor is carpeted by the remains of leaves long dropped and seasons gone past. Gwen follows the sloping path up a small hill. Already the muggy feeling of London summertime in the air has been replaced by a fresh, cool breeze. At the top of the hill, Gwen pauses to enjoy the uninterrupted view of the forest and the sound of leaves rustling in the wind. But wait. What is that? A distant tinkling is so sweet that Gwen never wants it to end. Is it a bell? Is it laughter? She heads down the other side of the hill towards the mysterious sound. She skips and jumps over fallen branches, propelled down the hill by momentum. The exhilaration bubbles up in her stomach, and by the time she is at the bottom of the hill, she has erupted in a fit of giggles. The tinkling is louder down here. As Gwen strolls lazily through the forest, she tries to remember what her grandmother told her about midsummer when she was a little girl. As she searches the forest for the source of the lovely sound, a memory of her Nan comes to the forefront of her mind. Gwen can almost smell the comforting scent of floral perfume that always wafted around her Nan. She can hear her voice in her head reminding her that midsummer is the day for fairies. Nan used to bake cookies with her on the summer solstice. All day the house would be filled with warm summer sun and the smell of cookies fresh from the oven. They would always be sure to leave one or two on a little plate by the back door as an offering for the fairies. They bring you good luck, Nan had said. Gwen would hide behind a bush, watching the little plate and munching her own cookies, hoping to catch a glimpse of a fairy. Gwen's granddad always used the day to gather any bracken or green waste from the yard to burn that night. He would build a small bonfire at sunset and waft some of the smoke over little Gwen to keep you safe, grandad said as the fragrant smoke passed over her, and to mark you as a human child so the fairies don't mistake you as one of their own. He would add lavender and sage to the fire to make it smell nice. To this day, those smells bring her back to her childhood. Gwen thinks about how these little practices always stuck with her and chuckles to herself. Of course, as a child with an active imagination, the stories of fairies were just a way to keep her occupied. And yet she cannot shake them from her mind as she continues through the forest. The tinkling sound changes as it gets louder. At first, Gwen thought it was a few little bells or a wind chime caught by the light breeze. As the sound becomes clearer, Gwen realizes it is an enticing medley of laughter and strange music. Wandering through the forest, she keeps her eyes peeled for movement. A flash of color in the corner of her eye appears to be a few bright leaves. Upon closer inspection, a figure just around the Next tree disappears as soon as she gets close. Finally, Gwen comes upon a huge oak tree. The music and laughter are so close that she is certain they are just on the other side of the massive trunk. Gwen dashes around the tree, excited to finally discover the source of the sound. But she finds nothing on the other side. Just another equally peaceful and serene view of the forest. The music and laughter have disappeared as mysteriously as they appeared. Gwen turns and looks at the tree trunk, slightly disappointed. She muses to herself that she must have been imagining the sounds. Caught up in the memories of fairy tales, she notices that the bark of the tree looks a little odd. This knot in the bark almost looks like a nose. And that crack curves like a kind smile. Gwen takes a step back. She can just about make out a friendly face smiling at her from the bark of the tree. It's so subtle that she's afraid that if she blinks, it will disappear. The face reminds her of her grandparents. It looks ancient, wise, wrinkled and warm. Gwen smiles back at it and takes a step closer to get a better look. Then she pauses, her foot hovering just above a small mushroom. She lowers her foot, careful not to disturb the fungi. She notices a whole circle of little mushrooms at the base of the oak tree. Some are waxy and yellow, while others are white and soft. There are ones with spotted caps and others with feathery gills. A fairy ring. The voice of her Nan whispers inside her head. The magical tinkling seems to echo from the ring of mushrooms for a few seconds before fading away again. Gwen considers her options. She should clearly go in, shouldn't she? It's not every day that you are beckoned into a fairy ring. But there's something keeping her from going. Something back in her memories, desperately trying to attract her attention. Gwen turns away from the fairy ring, closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. Breath. She calms her mind and grounds herself. This is all very exciting, but she shouldn't get carried away. Gwen takes deep, measured breaths and casts her mind back to her Nan. Years before, a midsummer long gone now, she and Nan sat at the scrubbed kitchen table. They had a few of the fresh cookies on a plate between them and nettle tea steaming gently in their cups. Gwen had just told Nan that she wished she could see fairies. Perhaps one day you will, Nan had said. Just remember to keep a little iron on you so you can find your way home to me, sweetness. That's what she was trying to remember. Iron. Gwen opens her eyes and digs through her backpack for a few moments. Down at the bottom of the bag. Her fingers wrap around the item she has been searching for. Gwen pulls out the metal fork and looks at it. She contemplates if this was what her nan had in mind when she told Gwen to carry iron with her. But Gwen is fresh out of horseshoes, so this will have to do
- [19:53]
Thomas
with
- [19:53]
Narrator
the comforting solidity of the fork in her hand. Gwen takes another look at the face in the tree. The kind eyes fill her with warmth and certainty. Gwen steps into the fairy ring. She feels a warm tingling rising from the soles of her feet, all the way up her body as it passes through her. She's filled with an overwhelming sense of peace. Before her eyes, the air seems to glitter like tiny pieces of pure sunlight drifting through the ether. Nothing in her surroundings has changed in an obvious way, but there is a golden outline to every detail. The leaves of the oak tree seem to be gold leafed. The face in the trunk of the tree smiles a little wider at her and gives her a wink. Gwen cannot help but return the smile with her own wide grin. The music and laughter have returned as joyful and sweet as ever. Gwen turns away from the tree and steps into a land very nearly like her own, but also distinctly different. The sky is permanently painted in the most vibrant sunset colors in the west. Around the sun are bright yellows and oranges. They give way to bright pink and coral, reflecting off fluffy clouds. The eastern sky is a gradient of purple, lilac and light blue. Even in the warm light, the stars can be seen scattered across the sky. A little way off is a huge banquet table laden with sweets, cakes, fresh fruit and flowers. Upon closer inspection, Gwen realizes that the table is a fallen log covered in soft green moss like a tablecloth. There are shining brass plates and goblets at every place setting. They shine in the afternoon sun and are carved with delicate depictions of flowers and interwoven vines. Around the table, on each of the carved wooden stools, is a beautiful being. They are laughing, singing, eating and playing music together. Each one is as lovely as the next, and yet no two look alike. Looking along the table, Gwen sees the vast array of human features represented. Each being is made more beautiful by the expression of pure joy on their face. Gwen notices they all have pointed ears and she knows immediately what the beings are. The fairies welcome her to an empty stool with a chorus of cheerful greetings. She sits down and is immediately handed a goblet of golden liquid. At the first touch of the liquid to her lips, Gwen is greeted by a sweet yet floral taste. But it's not the sweetness of sugar. This drink has a richer, deeper flavor that calls to mind honeysuckle and morning dew. The smell is a rich bouquet of flowers and earthiness. Gwen looks into the warm brown eyes of the fairy next to her and asks what the drink is called. It's a fairy drink made from honey only found in fairyland, the fairy says with a cheeky smile. Gwen sips her drink and samples everything set out before her. The fresh fruit is at the perfect point of ripeness. Each piece is juicy, with the ideal balance of sweet and tart. Gwen tries fruits she knows, like blackberries and apples and fruits she has never seen before. Her favourite is a large citrus fruit like grapefruit. It's violet in colour and tastes like lollipops she used to enjoy as a child. The cakes, cookies and sweetbreads around the table were made by a master baker. Some have fruit in them, while others have warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. They are perfectly light and unlike anything she has ever had before. The food before her is a symphony of delicious flavours. And yet, the most incredible part of the scene is the music. About a third of the fairies around the table have an instrument. There are lyres, pan flutes, mandolins, small drums and many more that she does not know. Though there appears to be no conductor or even any break between songs, it is the loveliest music Gwen has ever heard. The sounds of the instruments weave together under expert hands, so that Gwen has to focus very hard to pick out individual sounds. The music flows, ebbs, climaxes, softens and moves together like the ocean waves. It seems to react to the flow of conversation around the table. When someone tells a joke, the music erupts with laughter along with the listeners. When a story is being told, the music adds the perfect soundtrack to the saga. Gwen, having had her fill of the food, closes her eyes to fully enjoy the sound of the music. As if by unspoken agreement, the others around the table become calm and turn their focus fully to the sound as well. A few of them sing, adding another level to the magical orchestra. The music now has center stage. It starts soft, calling to the mind. The early autumn wind. Through the music, Gwen imagines leaves changing from bright green to dusky gold to fiery orange and then to deep red. As they fall lightly to the ground, she feels the trees and plants preparing themselves for sleep. They wrap themselves in protective layers and give their final gifts of the harvest to the animals. The entire forest works together to prepare for winter. The music changes again, bringing about the serene calm of winter. The days become shorter, allowing for more time for sleep and rest. Gwen feels the peaceful warmth of a burrow below the snow. The music paints a picture of hibernation, recovery and recharging in the middle of winter. Gwen has never thought of this season as such a necessary part of the seasonal cycle before. But she understands now that the world needs winter to prepare for spring. And then spring begins. Through the music, the first leaves appear on branches and the first green shoots push through the earth. The sun begins to return, bringing with it life giving energy. The music builds and Gwen sees in her mind's eye the plants of the forest bursting forth with flowers of every color. The first to arrive at the daffodils, their yellow trumpets announcing the arrival of spring. Next come the tiny buttercups dotting the green grass like stars across the night sky. Magnolia trees bring forth their flowers like pale pink candles in their branches. Roses, daisies and snapdragons add their range of colors to the chorus. All of these blooms are set against a background of vibrant green grasses, leaves and bushes. Birds sing their love songs in the trees. Or is that just the sound of the pan flute next to her? Gwen doesn't need to know the answer, but smiles to herself as she listens. The climax of the music lets her know that summer has arrived again. The plants and animals are their most active. The creatures of the forest welcome their young into the world and raise them under the blessed light of the sun. Bees buzz merrily from flower to flower, ensuring the bounty of the next year. The fairies themselves, overjoyed to see their beloved son again fly through the forest, spreading magic everywhere. Gwen opens her eyes to see all of the fairies singing together in celebration of Midsummer. The magical song begins to wind down gently. The music becomes soft once again and Gwen feels the warm satisfaction of good food and good company. She closes her eyes again, lulled by the new change in the music. Her consciousness moves easily from fully alert to the misty state between dreaming and waking. Her mind feels free here as she lets it float where it may. The color of spring flowers, the taste of sweet lemon cake, the smell of lavender. The music seems to guide her peaceful mind back through the forest to the fairy ring. Then she feels the cool metal of the fork in her hand and it draws her back. Gwen opens her eyes to find herself back on the hill in Epping Forest. The fairy ring and the kindly face are gone. All that remains is the silent oak tree welcoming her home again. Sun is setting, and although it does not contain the same magical brilliance of the sun in fairyland, Gwen is certain she has never seen it so beautiful before.
- [42:19]
Thomas
It.