← 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
- [00:23]
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- [00:49]
Thomas
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- [00:51]
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- [01:17]
Thomas
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. If you were with us last time, you might remember some of Odysseus adventures, his 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 Underworld. He'll then recount his other adventures, the Sirens, the monsters Scylla and Charybdis, 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 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 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. 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. 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. He had already spoken of his encounters with Alpenor, the prophet Teiresias 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, curious to see who else was there. He saw King Minos, with his golden sceptre, 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. The man himself was immortal, living with the gods, but his spirit roamed 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 Odysseus was starting to miss the sunlight. 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. So they set sail down the great river of Oceanus, 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 sight indeed. On Odysseus orders, they returned to Aeaea, 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 Elpenor remained unburied. During his visit to the land of the dead, Odysseus had spoken to Elpenor's spirit. He had promised to give the young man a proper burial. The men brought Elpenor'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 oar which had belonged to Elpenor. 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. Circe 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. They talked of everything. Circe was full of questions, so Odysseus told her all about his time in Hades. Once his tale 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 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 homeland again. Circe told Odysseus that he must be careful. His men should have their ears plugged with wax so they couldn't hear the siren's 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, 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 Hera. 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 Scylla. Scylla was a six headed beast. She at 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 from one side to the other. At the base of this rock, underneath the waves, was another monster known as Charybdis. 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 Charybdis meant certain death. Circe's advice to Odysseus was to sail closer to Scylla. 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 Charybdis and fought back when Scylla attacked? But Circe shook her head. Scylla was not mortal and could not be defeated. All they could do was hurry past her, hoping for the Best Circe then gave more guidance. She explained that after the monsters, Odysseus would reach a lovely island called Thrinacia. This was where the sun God Helius kept his many sheep and cows. These animals were sacred creatures so they must not be harmed by. If the sun God's 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 returning 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, 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 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. Odysseus cut up a block of sun warmed wax and rolled the pieces into little balls. Then he put the soft balls of wax into his men's ears. Next the men followed Odysseus 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 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. 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. But at last they left the island behind. The siren's 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. 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 Scylla and Charybdis. After all, there was nothing they could do but sail 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 Cyclops, 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. He put on his shining armour 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 Scylla'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 strait. As for what followed, Circe's predictions turned out to be right. By steering clear of Charybdis with her gurgling whirlpool, some men managed to escape with their lives. But others weren't so lucky, as avoiding Charybdis brought them closer to the other monster. Even as Odysseus slashed his sword through the air, the six heads of Scylla 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. Odysseus 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 Helios. Both Circe and the prophet Teiresias had warned Odysseus to avoid this place 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 Teiresias 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, Eurylochus, 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 at the mercy of the winds and the waves. At least for tonight, they should stay on the island. 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. The men willingly made the oath. Then they sailed towards the island where they disembarked and began to prepare their evening meal. Dinner was a somewhat sombre 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. It was summoned by Zeus himself. Darkness fell over the land and the island was surrounded by wind and f. 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, Heleus. Even if the storm could 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 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. The God's answer to his prayer was to send him to sleep. Later Odysseus found out what had happened. During his long slumber, Eurylochus 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 Eurylochus, 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 than to waste away on an island. The men needed a 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 realised 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. 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, who was furious. Helius called a meeting of the gods demanding that Odysseus 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. Helios 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 mooing 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. 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 masts snapped, knocking one of the men overboard. Then came the thunderbolts sent by Zeus himself to the ship went up in flames and everyone but Odysseus fell overboard. 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 Scylla and Charybdis. But by sunrise, that's exactly where he ended up, back between the rocks. As Odysseus was sucked towards the whirlpool of Charybdis, 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 into the vortex. He could only hope and pray that it would resurface. And at last, it did. Charybdis 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, unhappy. For nine days he drifted, exhausted. He had no idea where he was or in which direction he was heading. His fate was up to the gods. On the 10th day, he washed up on the shore of another island, the home of the beautiful goddess Calypso. He was her guest for the next 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 can enjoy each other's company in the morning. Right now, all Odysseus wanted was was to go to sleep, to sink into slumber, dreaming sweet dreams of home.