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- [00:01]
Tom
Get Sleepy is a production of Slumber Studios and is made possible thanks to the generous support of our sponsors and Premium members. If you'd like to listen ad free and access weekly bonus episodes, extra long stories and our entire back catalogue, you can try out Premium free for seven days by following the link in the episode notes. Now a quick word from our sponsors.
- [00:30]
Sprite Sponsor
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- [00:53]
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- [01:05]
Tom
Mm.
- [01:05]
Marshall's Sponsor
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- [01:24]
Tom
Hey friends, welcome to Get Sleepy where we listen, we relax, and we get sleepy. My name's Tom and it's such an honor to be your host. To all who celebrate, I want to send warm wishes of love and joy on this Christmas Eve. I truly hope this festive period is special for you, full of good health and merriment and of course, plenty of well earned rest. We will also have our usual Thursday bonus episode for Premium members coming out tomorrow night on Christmas itself. I'll tell you a little bit more about the premium feed shortly. But first let's talk about the story coming up tonight. It will be read by Elizabeth and was once again written by Alicia Stefan. The quest for immortality is one that seems to reach as far back as humanity itself. Whether they focus on a relic, a magic drink, or a sacred fruit, each culture seems to have its own stories of those who have sought the divine gift of eternal life. Tonight, we'll be sharing just one of those stories. You'll be taking a magical journey to ancient Korea, where you'll hear a retelling of a fairy tale once collected by William Griffiths. This sweet story of young love will unfold in a world of dragons, flying chariots and palaces in the sky. Now, if you know someone who would love the gift of good sleep this festive season, why not treat them to a Get Sleepy Premium subscription? Or if you've been enjoying the show and would love to listen ad free. With access to our entire catalogue of over a thousand episodes and our weekly Premium bonus episodes, why not pop it on your own wish list for Christmas? It's pretty simple to do. When you go to getsleepy.com support you'll see the option to gift a subscription, so in just a few clicks you have the perfect gift or sorted. For more information on signing up to Get Sleepy Premium or to gift a subscription to a loved one or friend, just go to getsleepy.com support thank you all so much and I'm wishing you a very happy festive season and end to the year. Now then, 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 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 mouth. Gradually allow your breathing to return to normal as your body and mind move that bit closer to sleep. And now see if you can picture a world where magic and mortals live side by side. Any ordinary human, if they are lucky, might be touched by the divine and invited to a banquet with the gods. This is where our story begins.
- [07:15]
Narrator Interjection
Sa.
- [07:39]
Elizabeth
Long, long ago, farther than mortals could reach, there lived a mystical queen. Her palace was situated on an island in the clouds of the western sky. It was made up of all the colours of the sunset and of the waters below. The Queen's kingdom in the heavens was a sparkling realm that shimmered day and night. Saturated in pink, red, orange and blue, the Western Queen's dominion was truly a place of dreams. It was called the island of Gems. As unreachable as it was for humans, her kingdom also seemed endless. Surrounding her palace, which reflected the ever changing images of the sky and the clouds, there was a wonderland of natural beauty. Everywhere one looked there were lush forests, crystal blue waterfalls and fields waving with bright wildflowers Indeed. The very trees were magical. The jewel toned fruits that grew abundantly on their branches would give longevity and vigor to anyone who ate them. Because of this, all the inhabitants of the Queen's kingdom led an enchanted life. As long as they served her well, they would live indefinitely on the island of Gems, never growing older. The Queen kept a flock of glittering azure pigeons who acted as messengers to the mortal world. When their mistress was feeling generous, the sparkling blue birds would be given gifts to distribute to the Queen's human subjects. If a person was faithful and lucky, they might receive fine clothing, jewels and other luxuries. Gifts from the Queen were a blessing from heaven, borne by the beautiful azure pigeons who loved to serve her. The Queen also depended greatly on her gentle water dragons to help her carry out her work. These were not the fire breathing beasts that so many of us have become accustomed to hearing about in fairy tales. Instead, they were kind and gentle and they were also known for being extremely sensitive and intelligent. The water dragons were honoured by humans because they assisted in producing bountiful harvests. Everywhere the water dragons flew, they spread valuable rain to make the crops grow for the mortals below. Even better, there was never a dragon rain shower that wasn't followed by a shimmering rainbow. Any human knew that the approach of one of the Western Queen's dragons was a very good piece of luck and that happiness would follow in their wake. Of course, no human was able to reach the Queen's kingdom without a magical escort. In this respect, the dragons were even more important to adventurous lads and maidens. It was the dream of every young person that they would be hand picked to visit the Western Queen's palace. And that she would send a dragon and a chariot to fetch them. To be granted a ride in an airborne chariot, to see far off mountains and forests and to roam the wider world. That was the dream of many a hopeful lad or maiden, and a mark of privilege indeed. Occasionally, the Queen would hear of a very special youth whom she wished to meet. In such a case, she would dispatch one of her lovely serving maidens along with a faithful dragon to bring the lucky mortal to her. The mighty flying beast would glide gracefully through the skies with the royal chariot behind it, bringing life giving rain in its wake. It would speed many miles over mountain and sea, cloaked in mists and rainbows to fetch the chosen human. To receive one of the Queen's dragons was the secret hope of every ambitious mortal. But it was not a dream that often came true. If chosen, the rare and fortunate guest would then experience the Journey of a lifetime in the royal chariot of their gracious dragon escort. Once arriving in the Queen's hallowed halls, they would be treated to such a banquet as they had never before foreseen. Tales of these grand affairs had been passed down from one human storyteller to another. The distant acquaintance of your grandfather's uncle might have been rumoured to be such a lucky guest. For example, the stories of the entertainments they enjoyed and the sweet delicacies they had eaten defied imagination. Although no one seemed to actually meet the lucky person, it seemed everybody knew somebody who knew another person whose distant relation had been to the palace of the Western Queen. So the stories were passed on, and hope burned brightly for many an adventurous soul. It just so happened that there was a very promising young fellow named Ji Ho who discovered he was about to become one of the Western Queen's favored few. An azure pigeon arrived one day with an invitation that was delivered to his parents. The correspondence inside the elegant envelope informed his mother and father that a serving maiden would be coming for him in one week in a dragon chariot, and that their cherished son would be returned after enjoying a banquet with the Queen. Most parents would have been thrilled by such a missive, but his mother immediately became concerned. You see, her son Jiho was known far and wide to be one of the smartest, most skilled and most dashing young men available for marriage. Because of this, his parents had secured him an engagement to a very wealthy and beautiful young lady of their acquaintance. The two were supposed to be married soon. Jiho's mother had heard tales of the Western Queen's marvellous kingdom, and she knew that it was filled with lovely maidens and other exotic temptations. Further, she imagined Jiho might enjoy his chariot ride with his lovely companion too much, and that he would call off his marriage, deciding to travel the world. What if he never wanted to return to ordinary life in his village? All of these possibilities sat in the back of his mother's mind. No, she was not as pleased with this invitation as she should have. After all, having a son who had visited the Western Queen was a nice thing to tell the neighbours about. However, it would be much better in the long run to have a prosperous son and an honourable daughter in law who had brought a large dowry. No good mother would deny her son an invitation to the island of Gems. Instead, she began counseling Jiho about appropriate behavior. She hoped that if she could prevent him from losing his common sense, she would see him back home, safe and sound. Her instructions were these. Do not speak to the serving maiden in the chariot. However beautiful and charming she may be, do not allow yourself to be distracted by the temptations on the island of Gems. Always remember that you are engaged to be married, and do not bring shame to your family. Jiho received all of this advice obediently because he was a good and responsible son. He assured his mother that she would find no fault with his behavior and not to worry. Meanwhile, the Western Queen reminded her serving maiden to observe strict protocol. Always be dignified and polite. Do not become familiar with the young man. The maiden, whose name was Ara, was to stay on her own side of the chariot and not form any attachment to Jiho. Ara was one of the Queen's favourites due to her sweet nature and her conscientious behavior. Of course, she made a commitment to follow all of the Queen's instructions to the letter. On the day of the chariot's arrival, Jiho waited at the window, dressed in his finest clothing. It's safe to say that very little work was being done in the village at all. In fact, his mother had not been able to keep herself from boasting about the invitation. And every person in town was peeking out of their window. They were hoping to catch a glimpse of the fabled water dragon when it arrived with the Queen's conveyance. In the late afternoon, just as the world was transitioning to the golden hour, a cool and refreshing breeze blew through the small streets of the village. There was a tangible hum of excitement as every doorway and window filled with eager faces. Then the townspeople all watched open mouthed as the shining dragon landed near Jiho's house. Behind the noble beast was the richest chariot they could have imagined. It seemed to be encrusted with jewels of every color, and these precious stones winked and sparkled in the sun's gentle rays. Seated on one side of the chariot on red velvet cushions, was a maiden of such beauty that she was almost too pretty to look at. Her skin was so clear and her raven hair so shining that she looked like a goddess. All too soon, the moment with the dragon was over. Jiho climbed proudly into the chariot, waved to his parents, and the dragon sprang lightly into the air, floating away with a grace and speed that belied its epic size. The chariot glided smoothly toward the clouds. And in its wake, the life giving grain of the water dragon gently blessed the village with its gifts. When it disappeared, a glorious rainbow spanned the sky. Up, up, up into the heavens the chariot flew. Jiho was mesmerized by all that he saw. The villages and pastures of his home on earth grew smaller until they were a patchwork of miniatures delicately running through them. He could see all the silvery rivers weaving their way from the mountains to the sea around the chariot. Misty clouds gave him the feeling of being suspended in another world. The only way he knew for sure that he was moving was the soft wind rushing past his face and the gentle undulation of the chariot with each flap of its mighty wings. The Water dragon drew Jiho closer to the legendary island of Gems. There was so much to see see that he was hardly even tempted to speak to his lovely companion. She, for her part, kept her vow to be silent. She sat politely on her side with her hands folded in her lap, looking straight ahead. Secretly, she was impressed by how handsome her companion was. However, Ji Ho would never have guessed that by her grace and composure. In fact, he was really not used to women ignoring him, and he found her a little bit intimidating. This was a new experience for him. Just as the last rays of the setting sun had finished their tour of the world and returned home, the chariot also arrived at the island of Gems. Jiho had already discovered more that day than he felt he'd ever seen before in his life. It was almost incredible that the adventure of the banquet still lay ahead for him. Nonetheless, he summoned his most dignified bearing and nodded politely to Ara as other serving maidens arrived to help him out of the chariot. Each and every one of Ara's sisters was a luminous beauty. Nonetheless. Jiho could not help but think that the girl who escorted him was by far the prettiest. Ara vanished attend to her duties, and Jiho was soon preoccupied by the incredible sights and sounds of the palace courtyard. The pretty maidens welcomed him graciously, offering him trays of delicious sweets. One girl in a glistening blue robe handed him an elegant glass full of a sweet scented drink that bubbled lightly. Jiho took a sip. It was the best tasting drink he had ever had. His mouth filled with the taste of a thousand different fruits, and he felt oddly energized, as if waking to the beauty of a world he had never before seen. In fact, as he strolled through the vibrant gardens of this palace, nibbling on the treats he was offered, he had the odd sense that something wonderful was happening to him with each bite. Every delicacy had a different flavour and a different positive effect on him. He felt more clear headed, smarter, funnier, or more peaceful, depending on which food he had taken. One might be red, another green, and another yellow. It might taste of apples, of grapes, or of bananas. Some of the little Treats were delicious in ways he couldn't even identify. All he knew was that he felt more marvelous with each passing moment. The world around him became the most vibrant place he had ever seen. Enveloped in this haze of delight, Jiho lost track of the time. He felt he could stay in this garden forever. Alas, another lovely maiden appeared in his path. With a polite bow, she invited him to follow her to the banquet room. Jiho could hardly imagine what better delights might await, but he eagerly followed her into the palace. They walked down a vast hallway with an impossibly tall ceiling far above his head. Azure pigeons soared gracefully from one end of the ceiling to the other. He felt that he was almost as much outdoors as he was in. The maiden pushed open a grand set of double doors, motioning for him to enter. When he walked into the banquet room, he didn't know what to look at first. At the head of the room was a long table. Numerous people sat there, dressed in their fine clothing. Although the styles of dress varied, he could see that these guests were collected from near and far. A sumptuous feast was laid before them and they delightedly partook of one heaping platter after another as the beautiful maidens of the palace removed empty dishes and replaced them with new ones. The serving maids themselves wore the most beautiful robes he had ever seen, as if to reflect each color of the rainbow. The dresses glittered in gauzy pinks, blues, oranges, greens and purples. Like dancers in an enchanting ballet. These maidens of the sky seemed almost to float as they made their rounds, ensuring that each and every guest had what they most wanted. The walls of the banquet hall were decorated with gold flourishes and draped with rich fabrics. Looking up, Jiho could not even see the ceiling. Instead, he could swear he was looking at the clearest night sky he had ever seen, as if the palace were above the clouds. Not even a tiny bit of vapor blocked the view of the sparkling heavens which were ablaze with stars, adding to the feeling of tranquility and beauty. The entrancing strains of a harp floated through the room, playing a lovely melody. Jiho settled happily into his cushioned seat, gladly accepted, accepting something from every serving dish that was offered to him. As he did so, he once again spied the lovely girl who had escorted him in the chariot. She was draped in an ethereal rose coloured gown and her jet black hair was piled on her head, secured with a gem studded comb. As she moved around the room, he could have sworn he saw her peeking at him from the corner of her.
- [35:40]
Tom
Eye.
- [35:43]
Elizabeth
She may have done so. Or it might have been the euphoria he was experiencing from the magical food. Either way, he could not stop trying to catch her gaze. His mother's advice seemed a distant memory. Jiho's appetite didn't wane. No matter how many foods he tried, he still hungered for the next treat. When a diamond encrusted plate appeared holding a small mound of the most beautiful peaches he'd ever seen. He accepted one. He carefully pared the fruit and began to eat it. And this peach. Compared to every other food he had enjoyed thus far, it was superior. As he hungrily consumed the entire fruit, he marveled at its perfect texture and flavour. But he also felt himself filled with a surge of vitality and health. Somehow he knew that the peach was giving him the gift of unusual longevity. He sensed that with each bite, he was gaining. Another year to explore far off lands. Another year to realize his dreams. Another year to make his mark on the world. As he finished the last slice of the peach, he looked up and locked eyes with the object of his admiration. Forgetting every promise he'd made to his mother, he eagerly introduced himself to the girl. He was soaring high on the promises of the magic fruits and hoping she would respond, he asked her what her name was. She did not respond to him. Conscious of her duties and of the Queen's rules, she cast her eyes downward and blushed lightly. Jiho felt a flash of disappointment, but he was determined to make an impression on this woman who stood before him. As Ara began to clear his empty plate, he impulsively picked up another of the marvellous peaches and tossed it in her direction like a ball. Without thinking, Ara reached out and caught the peach in her hand. Then, losing her judgment in the face of Jiho's charm, she did the unthinkable. She took a bite of the enchanted fruit. Having swallowed it, she felt bold enough to tell him what her name was. Even as the girl felt a burst of vitality course through her, she knew she had made a grave error. The spell of the moment was broken. As she looked around the room, every other serving maid was looking at her wide eyed. For they had never seen one of their sisters make such a mistake. To live on on the island of Gems was a sacred privilege, and the code of conduct was ironclad. Ara had crossed a line that none of them had ever crossed before. She had fraternized with a mortal guest. But then the music of the harbinger stopped. And he realized that first the Maids. Then the guests were looking at him and at the lovely maiden he had so wished to meet. Even through the veil of enchantment wrought by the banquet, he realized what he had done. At that moment, it was as if a heavy mist fell over the entire room. Within seconds, Jiho could no longer see the dinner, his fellow guests, or the servers. He did not know what happened after that, but he opened his eyes and found himself at home on his own doorstep. Just like that. So it was that the proud young fellow who had left in a dragon chariot full of excitement found himself at the end of his adventure. Rather suddenly, his parents and the neighbours begged for stories and details about the island of Gems, but he hadn't the heart to tell them of its marvels. He closed himself inside his room and began to pine. As it turned out, the forbidden connection he had made with the serving maid could not truly be severed. Now he was separated from her, but unable to forget their meeting, he was fixated on dreaming of what could have been. Jiho sank into a deep melancholy. He refused all but the most basic meals, abandoned his studies, and became gloomy and useless. Word spread of the change in his character, and upon hearing of it, the parents of his future bride broke off the engagement. Jiho's parents were very displeased, but he didn't care much. He was too smitten by the lovely girl he'd met on the island of Gems. Jiho's sad behavior persisted for a year. Finally, knowing he had to make sense of his life without Ara, he packed a bag and bid his parents farewell. He was determined to begin travelling. He wasn't sure what he expected to find, but he knew he needed to make a path forward for himself. Perhaps deep down, he was really in search of any wisdom that would help him get back to the island of Gems and his beloved. However, even he knew in his heart that he would never find a way back to the Western Queen's domain without her express invitation and a dragon chariot. And what of Ara, who had disgraced herself at the banquet and fallen out of the Queen's favour? As soon as the banquet was over, she had been summoned before her sovereign, gravely chastised to be part of the Queen's court, protected from the concerns of mortals, surrounded by unimaginable beauty. That was a privilege. The ladies who surrounded the Queen in this all female court were meant to stand apart from the world of men. As such, Aaron was told, she must be banished. Her beautiful clothing was replaced with ordinary robes. Her jeweled combs were returned to the royal wardrobe. Dressed every inch like a mortal maiden, she was packed into a dragon chariot, and her loving sisters pensively bid her farewell. As the chariot stood in the courtyard, Ara made one final request of the West Queen. She knew that once she left the island of Gems, she would no longer have the gift of eternal youth. This was a privilege granted to those who served the Queen. With a mortal life ahead of her, she begged the Queen to let her take one of the magic peaches. Then, she said, at least she would have the years she needed to search for Jiho. For although he had been returned to the mortal world, his consumption of an entire magic peach was sure to lengthen his life for many generations, if not forever. Although the Western Queen had to maintain a detached image, she was actually very sensitive underneath. Seeing Ara, one of her dearest maidens, beg for this favour, she could not find it in her heart to refuse the girl. She commanded one of Ara's sisters to bring her a peach, and the girl handed it into the chariot, gently squeezing Ara's hand in sympathy. Then, without further delay, the Queen told the dragon to be gone, and Ara made her last departure from the enchanted island. At this point in the story, time becomes meaningless. Ara and Jiho made their way in the mortal world, making what seemed like an infinite number of journeys and seeing an infinite number of sunrises and sunsets. They each saw more moon cycles than they could count. The world they had at first known slowly evolved and changed around them. Still, whatever enlightenment or dreams they were pursuing, they did not forget one another. This was because, as the Western Queen well knew, a romance forged on the island of Gems was a permanent one. Perhaps that was why she allowed Ara to eat the magic peach. The long life conveyed by that marvellous fruit was not the same as immortality, of course. Because of that, as they wandered the world separately, both Ara and Jiho did did age, but only very slowly. Indeed, their appearances changed at such a gradual rate that a person wouldn't have seen it during their own natural lifetime. To avoid attracting gnosis, neither of them ever settled completely among any single group of people. They became beautiful shadows who drifted from one place to another, always finding new wisdom and then quietly leaving. But if a person had been very observant, they might have noticed that each of the two lovers tended to have a beautiful azure pigeon hovering around them, observing from some distance away. It was as if the little birds were watching over them. When nearly a thousand years had passed, Jiho was living as a mysterious hermit in the mountains. People from neighbouring villages would sometimes come to him with small gifts, seeking his wisdom. As long as any of the townspeople could remember, he had been a solitary man with the long white beard and clothing from many dynasties ago. But he seemed to know everything a person could learn about life, and he was much respected. One day, a young boy came bounding up to the hermit's cottage, calling to him that an elderly lady was traveling the road up the mountain to see him. The lad related that he had passed her on the journey. He had noticed her because of her strangely old fashioned dress. The boy had asked her if she needed help, and she had smiled, saying she was merely in search of the wise hermit who was rumored to live here. Jiho was used to receiving visitors who had made pilgrimages to his home. So he patted the boy on the head and thanked him, sending him on his way home with the bit of wisdom the child had come seeking. The boy made his departure again, passing the lady as he left, Jiho squinted into the sun, taking in this solitary figure who approached his remote doorstep. As he scrutinized her slowly, the hope he had long ago nearly abandoned began to rise in his heart. For there she was. It was Ara. She was now a much older woman, but her beauty was undimmed. Rather, it had refined and matured into something even more luminous. Perhaps it was the bond from the island of Gems that caused Ara to know Jiho in an instant. Overcome with emotion, the separated lovers walked toward each other and stood, hardly able to believe their eyes. It had taken many centuries, and they had persevered in isolation. But they had found one another in the end. As they clasped hands, unable to find the words they wanted to speak, their attention was drawn to the most amazing sight. An azure pigeon flew into their view. Instinctively, Jiho reached out his hand as if to welcome an old friend. But instead of alighting on his palm, the pigeon dropped a peach into his hand. Then it hovered briefly and darted away. Jiho and Ara gazed at the peach. They both knew what it was. Smiling at each other, they walked to Jiho's cottage, where he used a simple knife to divide it into two halves. Then, sitting on a bench in front of his humble home, the two reunited lovers watched the sun set. As they did, each of them very slowly ate one half of the fruit that had changed their destinies. So it was that the Western Queen gave them the precious gift of forgiveness after all their trials. They lingered there through the night, marveling at the beauty of the moon and the stars and enjoying each other's company. And when the rays of the sunrise graced the earth for another day. They were once again a young couple with eyes for nobody else.
- [57:04]
Narrator Interjection
Sa. Sam. Sa.