Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - Libra’s Dreamy Day on Earth

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Starting point is 00:01:47 the world that could do with a little help in getting a good night's rest. We truly appreciate your love and support. Tonight we're continuing our unique and creative Zodiac series, read by me and written by Frankie. On this occasion, we'll follow Libra, which happens to be my star sign. He spends his day on Earth at a literary festival in Edinburgh. A great lover of creativity and balance, we'll join Libra in finding out what makes a good story. Of course, good stories are best received by those who are ready to hear them, so let's

Starting point is 00:02:38 take a few minutes to get ourselves ready and to build a broader sense of separation from the wakeful hours of the day. Imagine yourself on a warm beach. Your body is lying on the sand which shifts and moves to fit the shape of your body perfectly. It's as if the earth has changed in a thousand little ways just to create a space where you fit comfortably within it. within it. There is a cool breeze on this beach. It ruffles your hair and blows a refreshingly gentle wind across your face. You can hear the sound of the surf nearby. As the waves lap the shore, they begin to mirror the rate of your own breathing. Your deep inhales seem to pull the waves in, while your slow exhales expel them out again.

Starting point is 00:04:13 Take a few moments to breathe with the water. You feel the warmth of the sun complimenting the cool breeze they take with them a few grains of sand back into the ocean. Imagine these grains of sand are like the thoughts from the day that still rest persistently in your mind. With every exhale allow one of those thoughts to be washed out to sea on the tide. They will float back to you by morning, but for now they can be released. Take a few more deep breaths. Now, we travel a short distance from this beach near Edinburgh, Scotland, to the heart of the Old Town. The blonde sandstone buildings mirror the colour of the sand, and a mysterious figure walks evenly through the cobbled streets.

Starting point is 00:06:10 This is where our story begins. Libra arrives back on Earth just as the morning sun is gathering strength in the sky. It's a crisp autumn day in Edinburgh. The blue of the sky is accompanied by wispy threads of clouds, like cotton balls that have been drawn by a curious child. The cobblestones of the street beneath his feet feel comforting and smooth from hundreds of years of shoes, wheels, and tires. All around him are the Victorian tenement buildings that bring to the mind of a casual pedestrian a fantastical city where magic could be found around any corner. Perhaps this dramatic and

Starting point is 00:07:50 beautiful setting is why the city has inspired so much literature and poetry. Libra certainly feels caught up in its spell today. The old town part of the city is already bustling this morning. Commuters walk briskly with cups of coffee in their hands. Families of tourists stare at their phones, attempting to navigate the winding alleys and hidden staircases of the streets. Students make their way groggily to early morning classes. Libra walks between them all, calmly and eagerly. He slips down a couple of alleys and up a staircase to arrive before a grand sandstone building tucked away on a side street. In true Edinburgh fashion, the building itself is a range of two and three story buildings laid out around a central courtyard and built right next to one another. As soon as

Starting point is 00:09:29 Libra steps through the entrance, which must certainly have been a gateway in years gone by, he feels the hectic energy of the rest of the city melting away. Inside the courtyard, there are booths stacked with books and crafts, signs pointing the way to various rooms, and tables housing friendly-looking people. Libra is here for a literary festival, as is everyone else. The modest gathering boasts talks by authors and professors, a range of newly published books, and a chance for lovers of the written word to connect and share their passion with one another. Libra couldn't be more excited. He's a lover of all things creative, as well as an extrovert who enjoys

Starting point is 00:10:49 nothing more than connecting with others. It's no surprise that stories and storytelling hold a special place in his heart. Libra walks up to the registration table and turns on the charm. As he is handed his pass, he jokes and laughs with the people behind the table, relishing the opportunity to brighten the day of someone else. The first event he has signed up for is an exploration to the other end of the courtyard and up to a light-filled room. The ceilings are high with delicate designs around making the chandelier nearly pointless for all the light they bring in. Comfy chairs are arranged in a large circle around the room, half of which are already filled up. the room, half of which are already filled up. Libra takes a seat and waits patiently for the event to start. It's not long before the chairs are filled. A renowned writer with a strong, passionate voice begins the session by telling a story.

Starting point is 00:12:51 Libra closes his eyes to better enjoy the experience. Her excellent voice takes him on a journey to a land before the rise of humans. She tells him of how the animals, desperate for light in a world filled with darkness, convince the raven to help bring the light. to help bring the light. The story unfolds from the mouth of the teller, like the first spring stream coming down from the mountains. It starts as a trickle and then builds to a steady flow. Libra allows it to wash over him, picturing the brightness of light after so many years in the dark. When the story is finished, Libra opens his eyes and claps with the rest of the group. The storyteller smiles coyly at their applause and goes on to explain the incredible importance of oral storytelling to the development of human beings. Oral storytelling was more than a way to stay entertained during the long, cold hours of winter.

Starting point is 00:14:41 It was also a way to create, preserve, and pass on culture. It connected people, allowing them to share experiences and learn from one another. Part of the beauty of oral storytelling is not that everyone tells the same story in the exact same way, but that each teller changes the story slightly, making it their own. In this way, someone could listen to a story they know well, and find something completely new in the way it is told. Libra takes all of this in, and reflects on the nature of stories as they relate to himself and his siblings. Each sign of the zodiac has a story that allows them to reside so strongly in the minds of people. Indeed, their very personalities are crafted around these stories.

Starting point is 00:16:07 The stories were originally told around the entire Mediterranean and beyond, long before they were written down and preserved. The storyteller encourages each person to go home that evening and tell a story to their loved ones. The aim is to share the joy and comfort of a story with someone they love. Libra makes a mental note to tell his siblings about his day, anticipating the rapt looks on their faces as they listen. The session ends and Libra makes his way through grand hallways to another room, ready to break away from oral stories and dive into the written word. Libra finds his way to a smaller room lined with three long tables in a U-shape. Chairs are placed around the outside of

Starting point is 00:17:30 the U so everyone can see one another and the projector screen at one end. The room starts to fill up and people take their seats, smiling shyly at one another or chatting animatedly to friends. Libra recognizes a few people from the last session. As the lecturer enters and turns on the projector, the words, the world's first novel, appear on the screen. Libra settles excitedly into his seat. The lecturer is a professor at the University of Edinburgh and normally teaches literature. As a practiced public speaker, he is sure to make eye contact with each person in the room as he begins his speech. He takes his time, his words coming out evenly and clearly. Libra learns that historians and students of literature are constantly debating the candidates for the oldest novel. But

Starting point is 00:19:08 the strongest at the moment is the tale of Genji, which was written in the early 11th century in Japan. The writer's name was Murasaki Shikibu, and she was a lady-in-waiting in the imperial court. Modern translations of the novel run close to 1,300 pages long, and the story contains over 400 different characters. This epic work of fiction follows the life and loves of the ancient Japanese prince Genji. Libra is blown away by the impressive length and scope of the story, creating a well of admiration and respect for the writer. Murasaki would write the novel in chapters and then present her chapters to her peers at a ladies' salon in the court. Libra imagines a room full of aristocratic ladies, listening with rapt attention to the

Starting point is 00:20:38 latest installment, congratulating Murasaki on her work, and engaging in excited discussion afterwards. The professor goes on to discuss the qualities of a novel and what makes a story particularly engaging for readers. A novel is a work of narrative fiction, which means that it's a story partially or mostly made up and not a recollection of a real-life event. It is written in prose, which simply means it is not written in verse like poetry. Novels are also unique in that they allow the reader to experience intimacy with the story. Most often, this is with the central character or characters. This sense of intimacy allows the reader to connect with the characters and experience the plot as more than just a sequence of events.

Starting point is 00:22:10 Libra thinks about the novels that he has enjoyed, and what made them so engaging. He loved the determined chivalry of Don Quixote, even in the face of scorn and humiliation. The unquenchable desire for knowledge of Victor Frankenstein kept him glued to the page. Libra is certain he read all of the Sherlock Holmes novels as much for the friendship of Holmes and Watson as for the mysteries. Libra comes to the conclusion that what makes a good novel is the characters, because people like reading about people. No matter how outlandish, fantastic, or dramatic the plot, as long as there are characters can connect to, they will always be able to place themselves in the story. The lecture ends and Libra fills full to the brim with knowledge. He wanders back outside and into the bright sunlight. All around him, people are alighting on picnic tables and enjoying their lunches.

Starting point is 00:24:06 There's a light breeze which only serves to make the cottony clouds move slightly faster across the sky. Libra takes the first bite of a fresh, crisp apple and memakers have set up all along the courtyard, displaying a wide range of delightful objects. The first table he approaches is laden with all sizes of leather-bound notebooks. The woman behind the table cheerfully lets him know that the notebooks are all handmade from faux leather. There are tiny notebooks half the size of his palm. The larger ones remind him of the ancient tomes kept in the dark rooms of dusty libraries, covered in tiny, handwritten scrolls about times long past. He runs his hands over their soft covers, enjoying the smooth feeling of the faux leather. Each notebook, no matter what the size, size is carved with a unique design. Some are Celtic inspired, others seem to have come

Starting point is 00:25:50 directly from the Faerie realm. Though he is sorely tempted, Libra draws himself away from the beautiful notebooks, despite the collections of blank pages and imaginative possibilities that call to him from between their covers. The next table is dedicated entirely to pens. Libra has never seen so many different and uniquely beautiful writing implements. There are stylish ball points in marbled tortoiseshell cases with with caps that snap satisfyingly into place. Some twist smoothly to reveal their point, and have gold hooks on them for perfect placement in a pocket. There are fountain pens with their intricate points, There are fountain pens with their intricate points,

Starting point is 00:27:10 fed continuously by a hidden container of rich ink. Libra is not surprised to find a collection of quills made from all kinds of feathers. Libra runs his hands over large brown eagle feathers, spotted owl feathers, and even the iridescent feathers of a peacock. The man who makes the pens assures Libra that all of his feathers are cruelty-free and come from the zoo where their birds regularly molt their plumage. Libra spends a moment taking in the table just as the sun breaks free from a wisp of cloud. The goods lying on the table sparkle like jewels. For many writers, Libra considers, good pens are more precious than gems. Libra takes his time pouring over the tables set up by publishers and writers. Some have displays of colorful graphic novels where

Starting point is 00:28:41 visual art and the written word are blended together into a truly beautiful and moving art form. Libra finds a table full of delicate books of poetry from poets all over the world. He loves that books of poetry are often small enough to carry in a pocket, like a little token of beauty to be taken with you everywhere. One table is even awash in zines. Each one as creative and unique as the next. They are about every subject and idea under the sun. Libra has to pull himself away from the table when he realizes that his next event is about to start.

Starting point is 00:29:53 He hurries up a set of grand oak stairs in one of the buildings and makes his way into an old lecture hall. These buildings must have belonged to the university at one point. The tiered seating is arranged in a semicircle reminiscent of the ancient Greek Greek amphitheaters. Light filters in from windows up near the high ceilings, giving the impression that even the sun would like to sit in on a lesson. As Libra takes a seat and leans forward against the banister. He can almost imagine the lectures 200 years ago on art, literature, and philosophy that would have likely been held in this room. The speakers file into the room and sit on a row of chairs on the floor of the hall. There is one interviewer and three authors, all prepared to discuss modern genres and

Starting point is 00:31:20 what makes them so popular for readers. The first writer opens the event with a discussion of literary fiction versus genre fiction. Literary fiction is closer to the tale of Genji because it is character driven and poetic in its use of language. That being said, the genre can contain a wide variety of stories, because there are very few clear tropes. It can contain social commentary, political criticism, or even just an exploration of the human condition. These attributes make literary fiction a continuously popular style throughout the ages. The speaker then moves on to different forms of genre fiction. Libra allows the information to wash over him and complements each genre by comparing them to his zodiac siblings.

Starting point is 00:32:52 Fantasy and science fiction reminds him of his Gemini brothers. They are inexorably linked and yet different in many important ways. While they both deal with worlds, characters, and situations that differ from the real world, sci-fi magic and is completely fantastical. Libra considers that for humans, magic can be seen simply as an event of effect that hasn't been proven by science yet. Science and magic seem to be two sides of the same coin, much like the Gemini twins. Similarly, fantasy and science fiction are read to explore other worlds, something that the inquisitive twins would never miss an opportunity to do. Mysteries remind Libra of his sister Scorpio. They are read for the suspense and the puzzle. A reader enjoys searching

Starting point is 00:34:30 through the hazy half-truths and the foggy facts to uncover what happened. Libra considers Scorpio to be a constant mystery. She enjoys secrets and keeping things to herself. But when one figures her out, it is the best prize of all. It's no surprise that mysteries are one of the most popular genres, particularly in recent times. As humankind began to answer some of the big questions explore the questions of the human mind. Romance is forever the home of Libra's sister Pisces. Her unending fountain of compassion and interpersonal connection reminds him so much of these stories. Whether they have a happy ending or not, they are always about the most intimate, personal

Starting point is 00:35:59 connection. They are joyful or bittersweet, but by their very nature, they reveal to humans that they need one another. Libra makes a mental note to bring a book back for Pisces, knowing that she will love nothing more than reading it for the pure joy of shedding tears at the end of the story. The lecture finishes and Libra allows his feet to carry him outside to the courtyard. He takes a deep breath. His mind wanders to all the things he learned and discovered today. He feels intellectually full and pleasantly content. He takes one last look around the courtyard before strolling back out to the cobbled streets. The city is calmer than it was this morning, with most people heading home in the waning

Starting point is 00:37:29 sunlight. Humans are such incredible beings, Libra thinks. How could they not be, when such a key part of their cultures and their evolution involves stories? They thrive on the ability to share experiences, to use their imaginations, and learn about their own world. use their imaginations and learn about their own world. Stories are what define them, connect them, and entertain them. Ultimately, their stories are about other humans, about one another. It's delightfully endearing to think that humans are fascinated by each other and love nothing more than learning about their kind. Even within the city of Edinburgh, a thousand stories grow and flourish between

Starting point is 00:38:53 the fairy-tale buildings. Libra's feet pound a comforting rhythm beneath him as he turns his face to the sky and begins to tell himself a story. You The I'm going to go ahead and close the video. You I'm going to go ahead and start the video. You You The You You I'm going to go ahead and start the video. You I'm going to go ahead and start the video. The I'm going to go ahead and close the video. You You You The You You You You You you

Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - Libra’s Dreamy Day on Earth

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