Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - Hercules and the Giant’s Cattle

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Starting point is 00:02:09 And then, Hercules will have another challenge, to transport the cows across the sea, all the way back to Greece. The story begins with Hercules asleep on the beach, having just arrived on the island of Erethia. Thank you as always to Alexandra for writing this series, we really hope you've all been enjoying Hercules Adventures so far. The continued production of Get Sleepy relies on your listenership and support, and the very best way you can support the show is by subscribing to Get Sleepy Premium. As well as having all of our love and appreciation, you can enjoy over 800 full length stories

Starting point is 00:03:06 and meditations on the premium feed, including dozens of long length episodes to keep you company throughout the night. Of course, we also rely on our sponsors to cover our production costs, but on premium there are no ads whatsoever, keeping your sleep understabbed. Also, every Thursday night we release a brand new bonus episode just for our premium supporters. Tomorrow, Jessica will be reading a beautiful story centered on mindfulness called A Journey with Your your inner child so be sure to join us for that one. Try a Get Sleepy Premium with a seven-day free trial to begin. Visit getsleepy.com slash support or my friends. Now, it's time to get settled in and prepare

Starting point is 00:04:12 for our story. Make sure you're as comfortable as can be, sinking into the support of your bed and enjoying the soft embrace of your pillow beneath your head and the duvet covering your body. Close your eyes and take a deep breath in, letting your mind clear. Now imagine that you're lying on a beach. The sand is soft and warm you move your hand ever so slightly and you can feel the silky grains sifting through your fingers

Starting point is 00:05:24 you're resting in the shade of the trees but you're not so far from the water's edge. You can hear the calming rhythm of the ocean waves, the tide coming in and then going out. As you listen to the waves your breathing becomes slow and deep. You breathe in and out, feeling deeply relaxed. There's nothing you need to do but enjoy the peace and tranquility of this moment, breathing slowly and steadily while you listen along. And it's in a place just like this, a peaceful sandy beach that we find Hercules as we begin our story. Hercules lay in the sand, fast asleep.

Starting point is 00:07:20 He was covered by the cool shade of the trees. Specks of sunlight filtered through the leaves, creating shifting patterns across his body. But Hercules was hardly aware of the shade, the sun, or even the sound of the nearby waves. He was in deep dreams, tired after his long journey. And his dreams were filled with memories of that surreal voyage. He saw himself gliding across the sea. This strange vessel had been a gift from the Sun God Helios. It was the cup that he used himself to travel across the sea, sailing from west to east every night. Taking pity on Hercules as he set off on yet another long journey, the god had given him the cup.

Starting point is 00:09:11 Bright, beautiful images flashed through Hercules' mind. He saw the golden edges of the cup rising up around him. He saw the waves transformed into a white blur as he moved faster and faster. And ahead, he saw the hazy outline of the island shimmering on the horizon like a mirage. It was a dream, yet it was not a dream. Even in his sleeping state, Hercules knew that, somehow, it had really happened. The images became softer and fainter, like gradually dissipating waves. For a while, Hercules' sleep was dreamless, blissful. He experienced the deep rest he'd been craving. When he finally awoke in the late afternoon, it took him a while to remember where he was. He came to his senses slowly, becoming aware of the soft sand beneath him,

Starting point is 00:10:58 then the rhythmic sound of the waves lapping on the shore. of the waves lapping on the shore. At last, he opened his eyes and saw the trees. They were just like the trees that grew along the coast in his homeland with the same fragrant scent. For a moment, he thought he was back in Greece, but then he remembered his dream and he knew where he was. He was on the island of Arethia in the western Mediterranean, the furthest west he had ever traveled. And he had arrived here not by boat, but by a magical golden cup, a gift from the god Helios. Sitting up, Hercules shielded his eyes from the sun and looked along the coastline. The vessel was nowhere to be seen. Still feeling a little groggy from his sleep, Hercules

Starting point is 00:12:30 yawned and tried to recall his mission. The king had sent him to the island for his tenth quest. The island was home to someone. Hercules closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths until his mind cleared. Now, he could remember his conversation with the king. He could even hear his voice. Geryon is no ordinary giant. That was what the king had said. Hercules remembered because it made him laugh. The distinction between ordinary and extraordinary giants. It was all coming back to him now. Gereon the Giant lived on the island with his herd of red cattle. Hercules had been sent here to take the cows from Gereon and transport them all the way back to Greece. This island was small, Hercules reasoned, so finding a giant and his cattle should be easy.

Starting point is 00:14:15 The challenge would be getting the cows off the island without having to fight their owner. But if he had to fight, well, as always, Hercules was prepared. He had his shield and spear. Having fought the lion, the hydra, and countless other opponents, he was sure he could take on the giant. Now feeling fully awake, Hercules decided to get ready. to get ready. First, he took a refreshing dip in the sea and dried off, walking along the sand. Then, he returned to the cluster of trees where he'd slept and foraged for berries. The fruit was unlike anything he'd ever seen or tasted. The round orange berries had a rough texture and a sweet flavor. It was a humble meal, but it would give him the energy he needed. Hercules continued through the trees until he found a kind of path leading up the side of the rock face. Up and up he went until the land leveled out

Starting point is 00:16:12 and he found himself in a field. There were sheep grazing in the field and goats too. in the field and goats too. These weren't the cows he was searching for, but it was a good sign, he thought. Perhaps there was more farmland nearby. And sure enough, after walking a little further, Hercules spotted the cattle. There were at least forty of them, if not more, and they were beautiful creatures with red glossy coats. Hercules could understand why the king wanted them. Still, he thought, it was a long way to travel just for some cows, no matter how lovely their coats. Seeing Hercules, some of the cows started to moo.

Starting point is 00:17:37 Soon, all the cattle were mooing in unison. Whether it was a greeting or a warning, Hercules couldn't tell. But he held his spear tightly, ready for the appearance of the giant. Or at least, Hercules thought he was ready. Nothing could have prepared him for the sight. The creature that emerged from the trees was, as the king had said, no ordinary giant. Geryon stood at least nine feet tall. He had two legs, but three bodies, three sets of arms, and three heads. As if that wasn't enough, he also had a pair of gray feathered wings, like those of a goose. The three-headed giant wasn't alone. As he came closer, Hercules saw that he was accompanied by a large black dog, with not one, but two heads.

Starting point is 00:19:12 The three heads of the giant and the two heads of the dog stared at Hercules. Their expressions weren't particularly friendly. Who are you? asked Gereon, speaking with just one of his heads. What do you want? Hercules hesitated for a moment, weighing up his options. Somehow, he doubted that Gereon would be open to negotiation. My name is Hercules, he said, and I've come to take your cattle. your cattle." To his surprise, the giantars, and of course, three helmets. They were old and slowly, and his three

Starting point is 00:20:54 beards were flecked with white. Nonetheless, he seemed to relish the prospect of a battle. The hero and the giant faced each other and raised their spears. They hesitated for a moment until one of the cows let out a long, reverberating moo, like a starting signal. Fearlessly, Hercules lunged forwards. There was a brief clashing of metal as they fought. But then, in no time at all, Geryon found himself without weapons. Hercules had knocked all three spears out of his hands. The giant looked perplexed. It had all happened so quickly. This arrogant young human moved with the speed of a god. Huffing, Gerion picked up his fallen spears as fast as he could, then turned to face Hercules once again. This time, the giant managed to hold onto his weapons for a little longer, but Hercules was so quick, ducking and diving, that hitting him was out of the question.

Starting point is 00:22:53 Geryon could only do his best to keep a firm grip on his spears as his heads looked around in bewilderment. At last, beginning to feel slightly dizzy, Geryon called out, enough! Hercules took a few steps back and lowered his spear. Enough, Geryon replied. Let us talk. For a moment, Hercules considered teasing him. Just minutes ago, the giant had presented himself as a warrior, and already he had surrendered. But Hercules decided to have mercy. There was no need to humiliate Gereon by pointing out the obvious, that his fighting days were far behind him. Strangely, Hercules could

Starting point is 00:24:12 see a bit of himself in the giant. He could imagine what it might feel like to be past your prime, no longer capable of winning battles or achieving heroic feats. One day, many years from now, Hercules would find himself in a similar position. For now, at least, he could fight a giant, but nobody could fight time. Looking Geryon up and down, Hercules nodded. Then, he glanced at the dog, who was still watching him intently. He wasn't usually nervous around animals, but it was a very big dog, and it did have two heads. two heads. This is Orthrus, said the giant. He does whatever I tell him. Looking at his dog, Geryon uttered a few words.

Starting point is 00:25:50 Instantly, Orthrus sat down, and his expression changed. He now looked relaxed, almost friendly. The giant explained that the dog had a brother, the three-headed Cerberus who guarded the gates of the Underworld. Hercules considered asking for more information. He was curious as to why a three-headed giant had a two-headed dog, to why a three-headed giant had a two-headed dog and how a two-headed dog had a three-headed brother. Just thinking about it was making Hercules own head spin. He reminded himself to focus on his mission, the giant's cattle. Hercules suggested that they sit and talk. Gereon nodded and said he knew just the spot. As the sun began to set, Hercules sat down at a wooden table near the giant's house. It was a beautiful place. From where he sat, Hercules had a view of the fields,

Starting point is 00:27:28 From where he sat, Hercules had a view of the fields, the trees, and the sun setting over the sea. While he had seen many beautiful sunsets in his life, he'd never seen one quite like this. It turned everything red. The sky, the sea, the earth. Even the cows seemed to have a greater vibrancy, their coats reflecting the light of the setting sun. While Hercules admired the scenery, Geryon set the table with plates of bread, goat's cheese, meat, and vegetables glistening in in oil. He then sat down with evident relief, easing himself into a solidly built chair and tucking his feathered wings behind him. During their brief battle, Hercules had been so focused on the giant's many heads and arms that he'd almost forgotten about his wings. Now he couldn't help but ask, could the giant fly?

Starting point is 00:29:14 Not anymore, said Geryon. In his youth, he had been able to fly short distances. He would beat his wings, leap from the edge of the land, and hover over the sea. Hercules followed the giant's gaze towards the water, now gleaming with dazzling red light. Geryon's expression was wistful. was wistful. Once again, Hercules found himself feeling a little sorry for the giant who could no longer fight or fly. And now, he was about to lose his cattle. As if reading his mind, Geryon said, you can have the cows. Hercules was taken aback, but before he could ask why the giant was willing to give up so easily, Gereon continued. He wanted to know Hercules' plans, where he would take the cows, and what their living conditions would be like. The king, said Hercules, had specifically requested the cows.

Starting point is 00:30:47 He already had quite an impressive collection of animals, most of which had been captured by Hercules on previous quests. There was the boar of Eremanthos, the white bull of Crete, and the wild horses that had once belonged to Diomedes. Now the king wanted to add Geryon's cattle to his collection. They would be well looked after, Hercules promised, living in a specially built enclosure. Geryon looked pensive, and his three heads nodded. That was all that mattered to him, that the cows had a good home. Nearby, the cows were starting to shuffle across the field towards the barn. In the last rays of the sun, they looked like a single undulating wave of red. The creatures were clearly important to Gereon. For that reason, said Hercules,

Starting point is 00:32:21 it was surprising that the giant was so willing to say goodbye. Geryon sighed. It came as a surprise to him as well, he said. But something had happened during his short fight with Hercules. had happened during his short fight with Hercules. The truth had finally dawned on him, something that he'd already known deep down, but had been unable to admit until that moment. Geryon was old and he was tired. As much as he loved the cows, soon the day would come when he could no longer care for them. At last, he accepted that he was ready to enjoy his retirement. He would live a simpler life from now on, just him and his dog. He would tend to his crops, go for walks along the beach, and take long, leisurely naps in the afternoon.

Starting point is 00:33:50 Without the responsibility of caring for the cows, Geryon could finally relax. Hercules felt reassured by this response. He was not depriving the giant of anything, but relieving him of his burden. They continued their meal in companionable silence. When there were just a few scraps of food left, the two panting heads of the dog popped up from under the table. It seemed that Orthrus was expecting a treat. Watch this, said the giant. He picked up a piece of meat and tossed it towards the dog's two heads. Each mouth caught one of the ends, resulting in a brief tug of war. Orthrus ate twice as much as other dogs, said Geryon, and the giant also had quite an appetite, in proportion with his three heads and bodies. in proportion with his three heads and bodies.

Starting point is 00:35:35 In fact, this meal was just a snack. Later on, Gerion would have another dinner. Hercules was fascinated by the giant and his dog. He had so many questions to ask. But at the same time, he was starting to feel sleepy. Despite his nap on the beach earlier that day, he still hadn't fully recovered from his journey. Hercules was starting to lose track of time. He couldn't remember when exactly he had left Greece or how long the journey across the sea had taken him. But then again, perhaps it didn't matter. That was all in the past. And now, he was here, enjoying this tranquil moment on the island, watching the first stars emerge. Hercules let out a contented sigh, which turned into a yawn, and to his relief, Geryon said that he could stay for the night.

Starting point is 00:37:12 The giant was not used to receiving visitors, and the house, well, Hercules would see it for himself, Hercules would see it for himself, but it would do for one night. Hercules was curious, wondering what Gereon meant. If the house was dirty, he could cope with that. For his fifth labor, Hercules had cleaned out those stables, so nothing could shock him now. If the giant's house was humble, that was no problem either. Hercules was used to being a guest in modest dwellings. But Gereon's house was neither dirty nor humble. It was, in its own peculiar way, a palace. a palace. As he stepped inside, Hercules looked around in wonder. There was just one floor and one room. The ceiling was at least twenty feet high, and the walls were lined with tall wooden shelves. But nothing was in a straight line. The planks of the shelves had been carved into sinuous shapes, so the wood itself seemed to flow. Hercules admired other details, a carved wine rack, and a bed the size of a ship.

Starting point is 00:39:29 Everything was large, designed for Geryon's proportions. But it wasn't just the size of things that struck Hercules. It was the detail. All the furniture and furnishings, all the contents of this eccentric house, had been made with love. Gerion was clearly a giant of many talents. Hercules made sure to compliment his host, who smiled bashfully. Yes, said Geryon, he had built and designed it all himself. Now that he was retiring, perhaps he would have time to start on another project. Looking around the room, Hercules wasn't sure that there was space for a new project,

Starting point is 00:40:52 but Garian, with all his creativity, would surely find a solution. While the giant potted around his home, the dog settled down in his favorite spot on the rug. Meanwhile, Hercules made himself comfortable in his bed for the night, the cushioned bench in the center of the room. Like everything else in the house, it had been built for a giant, he seemed to sink into the spongy cushion beneath him. It was heavenly. The only source of light was an oil lantern in the far corner of the room, creating a cozy glow.

Starting point is 00:42:13 It provided just enough illumination for Hercules to be able to gaze up at the ceiling. Or at least, he thought he could see the ceiling. Or at least, he thought he could see the ceiling. It was so high up. With half-closed eyes, he had the sensation of looking up and up, of looking up and up, searching for a ceiling that merged into the night sky. Or it was like being in a temple, he thought. He might be drifting off beneath the high ceiling of a temple, breathing in the calming scent of incense. Hercules thoughts wandered and his breaths deepened, and soon he was fast asleep. Hercules slept well and awoke in a good mood the next morning. He felt victorious as he bid goodbye to the giant and his dog, before leading the cattle towards the waiting ship.

Starting point is 00:43:52 Now, all he had to do was travel back to Greece and bring the cows to the king. the king. But in the days that followed, Hercules realized that his quest was only half complete. The goddess Hera had other plans for him. She had tried to thwart Hercules before on numerous occasions. During his battle with the Hydra, Hera had sent another monster to attack him. And most recently, during Hercules' travels to the land of the Amazons, the goddess had whipped up storms at sea. This time, Hercules' voyage went smoothly. He and the cows traveled in various ships, stopping off at islands along the way. For a week, they stopped in a village not far from the coast,

Starting point is 00:45:18 a humble settlement scattered over some hills. scattered over some hills. Although it didn't look like much, centuries from now, it would be known as the City of Rome. After this stopover, Hercules and the cattle boarded another ship and then another until they finally arrived in Greece. Hercules was so grateful to finally be back home. back home. After stepping out onto the shore, no storms, but a little gadfly. She sent the fly towards the cattle, where it bit each cow in turn. Mooing in discomfort, the cows began to wander off in different directions. Hercules called out, begging them to come back, he needed the herd to stick together.

Starting point is 00:47:10 But with surprising speed, the cows scattered, and it didn't take long for Hercules to lose sight of them. Some walked along the beach, others moved towards the town, and others still went around in circles, swatting their tails. It was too coincidental, thought Hercules, to lose the cattle just when he thought his task was over. He was sure that Hera was behind it. Over the following weeks, Hercules roamed all over the land trying to gather the herd. It was frustrating at times, but he consoled himself with the fact that at least he was not alone. he was not alone. He was reunited with his beloved horse, Ianthe, so he could travel more quickly. And he had some help from unexpected sources. When news spread that Hercules was looking for the cattle, people were keen to come to

Starting point is 00:48:50 his aid. Especially the people of Nomea, where Hercules had defeated the lion. And the residence of Lake Stemphalia, where the hero had chased away the bronze-beaked birds. The people in these places remembered Hercules and were still grateful for his help. So, they formed search parties to look for the missing cows and assisted him in reuniting the herd. At last, after weeks of searching, Hercules succeeded in finding all the cows. And one cool autumn afternoon, he found himself on a familiar road riding towards the palace. A crisp breeze rustled through the trees, some of which had turned red. The smell of the sea blew towards him, mingling with the floral scent of the cyclamen that grew on the roadside. On a nearby farm, men were making wine with freshly harvested grapes,

Starting point is 00:50:40 and it was then that Hercules realized. And it was then that Hercules realized. It's been over a year, he thought. More than a year had passed since it set out on his journey, beginning his tenth labor. When he left, it was summer, the summer of a previous year. Although it was a long time, in a way it seemed like nothing. Returning to the palace, it felt as though he'd been here only yesterday. This was the sensation of homecoming. The king was delighted to see Hercules at long last and to have a beautiful herd of cows to add to his collection. It created the perfect enclosure, he told Hercules. There was a huge field and a newly built stable with a high ceiling. Hearing this, Hercules smiled.

Starting point is 00:52:18 He was reminded of another building with a high ceiling, the house of Geryon the Giant. The king asked Hercules why he was smiling. It's a long story, said Hercules. He would tell the king all about his adventures later, but now it was time to rest. You You You You You Music You You You You You You You You The You You You I'm going to go ahead and start the video. You You You You you

Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - Hercules and the Giant’s Cattle

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