Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - Hercules and the Warrior Queen

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Starting point is 00:01:57 so you never miss a new release. Thanks so much for joining me for another of Hercules Adventures, all of which were written for us by the wonderful Alexandra Turney. This time our hero begins his ninth quest. It's a myth that's best known as the Belt of Hippolyta. In this relaxing adaptation, Hercules visits the Amazons, a tribe of female warriors, and meets their queen, Hippolyta. Hercules' aim is to somehow get her leather belt, but ideally without resorting to conflict. without resorting to conflict. Before we begin, let's take some time to unwind and settle into the peace and comfort of the present moment. I know a lot of you are

Starting point is 00:03:01 like me in that you have a bit of an unfortunate tendency to start overthinking when you come to bed at night. It's a very common thing, so take comfort in knowing that not only do I understand exactly what that's like, but so do many, many other people all around the world. I also know that plenty of you have found some success in using a very simple technique, one I've spoken about several times before on the show. It's a way of responding to those disruptive and unwanted thoughts directly so they can leave you be while you get some rest. There are two words you can use each time a thought or reminder comes up.

Starting point is 00:04:01 Those two words are not now. Those two words are not now. If you can sense some busyness of thought at this very moment, why not try it? Allow that thought to come to the forefront of your mind, but then simply say to it, not now. In this way, you've acknowledged that thought. You've satisfied the mind's urge to search for problems, warnings, or information. for problems, warnings or information, but you are telling your mind that now is not the right time to deal with it. Anything important can be tomorrow's responsibility. At this moment, just say not now and allow that thought or reminder to switch off or to drift away from your attention. Gradually as your mind clears, you can simply follow your breaths You can simply follow your breaths or just focus on the sound of my voice as we begin tonight's story.

Starting point is 00:05:34 We're joining Hercules once again as his boat approaches the southern shore of the Black Sea. The sun was right above the ship. Hercules leaned against the railing, enjoying the feel Just ahead, the shoreline was coming more clearly into view. He could now make out the shapes of trees and plumes of campfire smoke rising into the air. At last, they were nearing their destination after the longest journey. Some time had passed since Hercules' last quest, fetching the horses of Diomedes. After finding the horses, Hercules had sailed all the way home and given the animals to his cousin, the king. Then, the king had told Hercules what his next task would be, Hercules what his next task would be, to bring back the bout of Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons. Hearing this, Hercules couldn't help but let out an exasperated sigh. The king was making him retrace his steps. He would have to go all the way back across the Aegean Sea, then through the region of Thrace and halfway across the Black Sea. Not only would the journey be long, but difficult. There were said to be hostile tribes along

Starting point is 00:08:13 the route. Then, when Hercules finally reached the land of the Amazons, he would have to be prepared for a battle. The Amazon warriors were notoriously fierce, and their queen, Hippolyta, was a woman to be feared. It had seemed to Hercules that this time the king really wanted to challenge him. All this way and all these obstacles just to retrieve the warrior queen's belt. Now, as the ship came closer to the shore, Hercules reflected on the journey. It had been hard at times, with stormy seas and numerous battles, but he had made it. Or rather, they had made it. Hercules and his men. For the first time in his labors, Hercules was accompanied by fellow soldiers. Some were new recruits, others were men that Hercules had known since childhood, old friends

Starting point is 00:09:52 that were like brothers to him. One of these men, Kairos, now came to stand beside him on deck. Kairos had a small, delicate build, but he was stronger than he looked. He had fought bravely alongside Hercules in recent battles, and his presence was a comfort. Hercules turned towards Kairos, whose gaze was fixed on the shore. What do you think? asked Hercules. He wanted his friend's opinion on their next adversaries, the Amazon warriors. The smoke from their camps was visible, rising up above the trees. Kairos told Hercules what he knew of the Amazons, that the women were as strong as any men, if not stronger, and that the queen, he was hoping that they could avoid a battle. He was tired of fighting. Maybe they could find some other way to get their hands on the Queen's belt. After all, that was their mission,

Starting point is 00:11:50 simply to bring back the belt. There was no need for conflict. What if, said Hercules. Kairos looked at him curiously, but Hercules left the thought unspoken. He would keep the idea to himself for now, the possibility that somehow he could charm the Queen, or make a bargain, or ask the gods for help. There were always other options. Right now, as Hercules looked at the green expanse of land ahead, he felt strangely calm and optimistic. Perhaps it was simply relief to be arriving after such a long journey, but it was also mixed with the slight thrill of anticipation, but it was also mixed with the slight thrill of anticipation, something he always felt when he first set eyes on a new place.

Starting point is 00:13:21 The unfamiliar landscape and the fresh exotic fragrances in the air. It all filled him with excitement and a sense that anything was possible. Most evocative of all was that cloud of smoke rising above the treetops and dissipating in the warm air. The smoke was beautiful in itself, but it also represented something, civilization of a settlement. Hercules knew that near that smoke, hidden in the ship, Hercules and his small army made their way through the trees. The men were glad to be on land at last, and so were their horses. Hercules own horse, Ianthe, seemed delighted to stretch her legs, trotting energetically up the slope.

Starting point is 00:14:57 Soon enough, they reached the border of the Amazon settlement. Most of it was obscured by the trees, but from here Hercules was able to make out a few details. It seemed like the settlement mainly consisted of tents with only a couple of mud brick buildings. Hercules remembered hearing that the Amazons hadn't lived here for long. It was said to be their new capital. On the whole, they were nomadic people, more interested in hunting, archery, and warfare than city building. The border of the settlement was guarded by the Amazon warriors. They were women, like all the members of the tribe. When they saw Hercules and his men, they raised their spears.

Starting point is 00:16:16 We come in peace, said Hercules. One of the female warriors snorted in derision. He had brought quite an army with him, she said, for a peaceful mission. Well, said Hercules, he didn't dare come alone. He knew of the Amazon's reputation. They were said to be fearless, the best and bravest fighters in the world. The women nodded, accepting the compliment. the compliment. Then he explained why he had come, to speak to their queen, Hippolyta. He had a favor to ask her. The Amazon women turned to each other and talked among themselves in their own tongue, a language that Hercules did not understand. He and his men waited patiently, hopefully, until at last the women ended their private conversation. Hercules could enter, they said, but he could not bring his army.

Starting point is 00:17:56 After some negotiation, Hercules was allowed to bring just one companion. He chose Kairos, the friend and soldier he trusted the most. It was not ideal, thought Hercules, being separated from his army. But maybe he should see it as a positive sign. The Amazons were open to negotiation. If they wanted a battle, they would already be fighting. But instead, Hercules and Kairos were now riding through Amazon territory, on their way to meet the Queen. In many ways, the settlement resembled other encampments that Hercules had seen. Everywhere he looked, there were tents, horses, and warriors at work, polishing their armor or repairing their weapons. The only difference was that all of these warriors were female.

Starting point is 00:19:27 In the entire camp, there wasn't a single man. Male visitors were tolerated, it seemed, for now at least. The Amazons brought Hercules and Kairos to a large tent at the center of the settlement. Then after handing over their weapons, but it certainly wasn't this. As he stepped into the tent, followed by Kairos, he was struck by the domestic atmosphere. It felt almost cozy. In the middle of the tent, sitting cross-legged on a large rug was a woman. She had dark, striking features, but she also had a certain softness to her. Sitting beside her was a young girl, her daughter judging by the resemblance, and the two were deep in conversation. Faced with this scene, Hercules felt more relaxed about having given up his weapons. He understood the situation. The Amazons had taken him at his word and consented to a friendly conversation.

Starting point is 00:21:27 Now, Hercules' hopes of avoiding battle didn't seem so far-fetched. Welcome, said the woman on the rug. Stepping closer, Hercules noticed the delicate golden diadem on the woman's head. It was a subtle crown, almost hidden by her dark curls. So this was the warrior queen, Hippolyta. Again, not what Hercules had been expecting, but sometimes that was a positive thing. Hercules and Kairos introduced themselves and explained their mission. They had been sent here by King Eurystheus as part of a series of quests. King had ordered Hercules to retrieve a leather belt which belonged to Hippolyta. And so, said Hercules, if the queen could be so kind.

Starting point is 00:22:59 Hippolyta laughed. lifting up the fold of her tunic, she revealed the belt around her waist, which she then unfastened and placed on the rug. This was it, said Hippolyta, her treasured belt. It had been a gift from her father. Did Hercules know who her father was? Hercules shook his head. My father is Ares, said Hippolyta. Ares, as they all knew, was the god of war. The tent fell silent. There was nothing more Hippolyta needed to say, as Hercules understood. The belt was a gift from her father, a god. It was priceless and she had no reason to give it to Hercules or anyone. There was nothing, or at least nothing material, that could be offered in exchange. Hercules stood there for a moment, thinking.

Starting point is 00:24:38 He was conscious of all the eyes on him, Hippolyta and her daughter both skeptical, and Kairos silently questioning him, now what? At last, Hercules asked for permission to sit down. Hippolyta nodded, and Hercules and Kairos settled down on the soft rug, opposite the queen and her daughter. I'd like to tell you a story," said Hercules. It had all begun a long time ago when he visited the Oracle at Delphi. Hercules was not a natural storyteller. Ever since he was a young boy, he'd preferred to express himself through actions rather than words. But as he sat there in the tent recounting his adventures, the words flowed out of him. of him. He told the story of the Oracle, the King, and the eight quests he had completed so far.

Starting point is 00:26:19 He described his battle with the Nemean Lion, how he lured Diomedes' horses over the fence and everything in between. So much had happened. He had traveled so far from one sea to another and encountered the most extraordinary creatures. There had been hard times too. On the way to the land of the Amazons, Her explained, these storms had been whipped up by the goddess Hera. She was a vengeful deity who had long held a grudge against Hercules. But the men had survived. Once the wind had calmed and the water was smooth once more, they had sailed on across the Black Sea until they caught sight of the Amazon camp.

Starting point is 00:27:39 That was the end of their journey for the time being. And now, said Hercules, they were tired, just like Hippolyta's daughter by the looks of it. it. The young girl had fallen asleep during the story. She was curled up on the rug, her head resting on her mother's lap. For most of Hercules' long story, she had been listening attentively, spellbound by his tales of wild beasts and far away lands. But eventually, his low voice had lulled her into sleep. Hippolyta, on the other hand, was still listening, and she now looked at Hercules differently, without suspicion. In her eyes, there was something like admiration. No wonder you're tired, she told Hercules. After all that he had done, all that he had endured, perhaps he deserved the belt. There was another long silence in the tent, but this time it was a comfortable one, a

Starting point is 00:29:32 tranquil, reflective pause. Hercules and Kairos sat patiently, while all around them women lit additional lamps and candles. The sun had set during Hercules' story, and the tent had become dark. Now, with more flames burning and a growing bond between the host and her guests, the space felt warm and welcoming. Hippolyta looked thoughtfully at the man, then gave her answer. then gave her answer. She would give Hercules the belt. Although it was precious to her, his story had inspired her, and she felt he had earned a reward. And for some reason, call it intuition, she felt she could trust him. However, Hercules would have to wait until morning. Hippolyta didn't want to make an impulsive decision, so it was best to

Starting point is 00:31:09 sleep on it. In the meantime, Hercules and Kairos were welcome to stay overnight in the camp. There was a tent reserved for male visitors, who were few and far between. So, it was decided. Later that evening, after a hearty meal around the campfire, Hercules and Kairos retired to their tent on the edge of the settlement. As they settled down for the night, they talked in whispers. It was strange, they both agreed, being guests in an all-female society. They were well and truly outnumbered. But despite their fierce reputation, the Amazons had been surprisingly welcoming. Kairos complimented Hercules on his storytelling skills. It was all because of the story, he said. Simply by telling Hippolyta about his adventures, Hercules had convinced her to give him the belt. They had come to the land of the Amazons expecting a battle,

Starting point is 00:33:00 but instead, it seemed it had all been resolved with a conversation. Who could have imagined? Hercules agreed that it almost seemed too good to be true. They could celebrate in the morning, he said, once the belt was in their hands. For now, it was time to rest. The two friends lie beneath soft blankets with their eyes closed, chatting until they were too sleepy to talk. It began to rain lightly. Hercules could hear the drops on the roof of the tent, a gentle, pitter-patter. Soothed by the sound and weary beyond words, he fell into a dreamless sleep. Across the camp, the Amazon women were also fast asleep in their tents, but their sleep

Starting point is 00:34:29 was not dreamless. They dreamt of Hercules, and their dreams were permeated with an inexplicable sense of unease. Some of the women heard a voice telling them not to trust their Greek visitor. Others had visions of Hercules riding away, carrying their queen with him. Little did they know, these dreams all had the same source, the goddess Hera. All along, she had been watching Hercules, and she didn't want him to win this easily. As soon as she had seen that Hippolyta was willing to give away her bout,

Starting point is 00:35:36 Hera decided to influence the Amazons. So that night, she sent them dreams of Hercules. They weren't nightmares, but they were tossed and turned, Hercules was sleeping peacefully, oblivious. The next morning, the air felt fresh after the rainfall. Hercules and Kairos are woke full of optimism. After tending to their horses, they made their way to Hippolyta's tent, ready to claim their prize. But to their bewilderment, the entrance was blocked. The place where they had spent such a pleasant afternoon the day before, sharing stories with the Queen, was now guarded. A line of warriors stood in front of the tent, and the women eyed Hercules and Kairos with suspicion.

Starting point is 00:37:21 Hercules explained that they were there to see Hippolyta. She was expecting them. The women shook their heads and Hercules tried to plead his case. Back and forth they went, their argument becoming increasingly heated. Hearing raised voices, Hippolyta emerged from the tent. Hercules hardly recognized her. Yesterday, she had worn a tunic, her hair loose. With her daughter curled up beside her, she had seemed soft and approachable. Now, however, Hippolyta was in full battle gear, in armor from the neck down. All that was missing was her helmet, but it seemed she had already taken off her diadem in preparation. Her head was bare, her dark hair tied back.

Starting point is 00:38:51 This, thought Hercules, was surely not a good sign. Although he was disconcerted, he knew that he had to appear confident. The day before, he had impressed the Queen with his tales of heroism and adventure. He didn't want to lose her respect. So, in a self-assured tone, Hercules explained that he and Kairos wished to speak to Hippolyta. It seemed that something had changed since their last meeting. But whatever it was, he said, he was sure they could find a solution. Hippolyta didn't look convinced, but it was only fair that she explained the reason for her change of heart before she sent him on his way. She nodded. So, once more, Hercules and Kairos entered the tent.

Starting point is 00:40:22 This time, however, they were escorted by a group of armed women. After last night's dreams, the Amazons didn't want to leave their queen alone with Hercules. Hippolyta spoke first. She told him about the dreams, the troubling visions that had come to the women in their sleep last night. They were messages that Hercules was not to be trusted. Regretfully, she could no longer give him the belt, and she would have to ask him to leave. To her surprise, Hercules laughed. It was a strange, almost self-mocking laugh, as if to say, I knew it. If all the women had experienced the same dreams, said Hercules, it must be divine intervention. A god was behind the dreams, turning the Amazons against him. As he had told Hippolyta yesterday, the goddess Hera had it out for him. She had tried to thwart him before.

Starting point is 00:42:06 Hera was the one who had sent those storms, the wind and rain that nearly wrecked their ship on the way here. Hercules was sure of it. Now, it seemed, the goddess had found another way to cause problems for Hercules, by influencing the Amazon women in their sleep. That may be so, said Hippolyta, but there was no way of knowing for sure. The women had to trust their intuition. Yesterday, said Hercules, the Queen's intuition had told her to trust him. Yes, Hippolyta added, but now her gut was telling her something different. It seemed they had reached a stalemate. Hercules looked around at the frowning faces of the women and the spears at their sides.

Starting point is 00:43:32 He really hoped it wouldn't come to this. But before they resorted to battle, there was still another option, prayer. Just as one goddess had worked against him, perhaps another one would help him. Hercules closed his eyes, and in his mind, he spoke to his protector, the goddess of wisdom and warfare. Please, he asked Athena, help us to resolve this peacefully. His eyes were still closed when he heard the gasps of awe from Kairos, Hippolyta, and all the women that surrounded him. Opening his eyes, Hercules saw a familiar figure. In the center of the tent, standing between him and Hippolyta, was the goddess Athena. She was as shining and radiant as always, and like the other women, she was dressed in her armor. First, Athena turned to Hercules, greeting him with a smile.

Starting point is 00:45:31 greeting him with a smile. Then she turned to Hippolyta and spoke one warrior to another. Athena told Hippolyta to trust Hercules and to give him the belt he asked for. It was what the gods wanted. Well, not Hera, perhaps, but all the others were on Hercules' side. And you should be too, said Athena. too," said Athena. Then, before Hippolyta could respond, the goddess disappeared. Faster than fading smoke, she didn't leave so much as a trace of her presence. The women exchanged looks of astonishment. They could hardly believe their eyes. It was like another shared dream.

Starting point is 00:46:40 Only this time, they were all awake. There was no one who could have vouched for Hercules better than Athena. She knew him well, and she was a goddess. Not only that, she was the goddess of warfare. Naturally, the Amazons respected Athena. They saw themselves in her, a warrior and the embodiment of female power. So, they had no choice but to believe her and to do what she said. Hippolyta untied the heavy belt from around her waist and looked at it one last time. It was made of dark leather with bronze plates and gold embroidery. Her father, the god Ares, had given it to her when she was just a little girl. He knew that his daughter would one day become the greatest of warriors. Since then, Hippolyta had worn the belt in so many battles.

Starting point is 00:48:30 Hippolyta had worn the belt in so many battles. Cuts and scuff marks were visible on the leather. Perhaps, she reasoned with herself, it was time for a new belt. She could always ask her father. With a sigh, Hippoly. A little later, Hercules and Kairos sat astride their horses, slowly making their way out of the Amazon camp. Their weapons had been returned to them, and they were escorted out by several women, Hippolyta among them. When they reached the border, the Greeks and the Amazons wished each other goodbye and good luck in any future battles. Hippolyta told Hercules that he had earned the belt, and she was glad to have played

Starting point is 00:49:58 a part in his success, helping him complete his ninth labor. How many left? she asked. Three more, said Hercules. Three more tasks. Three more adventures. So you're nearly there, said Hippolyta. They smiled at each other, a smile of mutual respect, and perhaps something more. Then Hercules bid a final farewell to the warrior queen and rode into the trees followed by Kairos. Just beyond the woods was the beach, and the ship that would take them home. You The You You I'm going to go ahead and start the video. The You You You You The You I'm going to go ahead and start the video. You You You The You You You You you

Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - Hercules and the Warrior Queen

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