Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - The Magical Autumn Night Market

Starting point is 00:00:00 Thanks to Shopify for sponsoring tonight's episode. When you think about companies with healthy sales like Gymshark, Skims or Huell, sure you think about a great product, an attractive brand and strong marketing, but an often overlooked secret is actually the businesses behind the business, making selling simple. For millions of brands, that business is Shopify. So if you're into growing your business, your commerce platform needs to be ready to sell wherever your customers are, on the web, in your store, in their feed, and everywhere in between. their feed and everywhere in between. Businesses that sell more, sell on Shopify. Upgrade your business and get the same checkout Gymshark and other big brands use. Sign up for your $1 per month trial, we relax, and we get sleepy.

Starting point is 00:01:31 My name's Thomas, thank you so much for listening. Tonight we'll be traveling to a magical autumn night market with our friend Sabrina. This is no ordinary market and we'll be encountering all sorts of enchanting wonders there. As always, the market is perfectly safe and filled with gentle surprises to put a smile on your face as you drift off. It was written by Alicia Levesque and will be read by Jessica. First though, we all know the importance of getting consistent quality sleep and how much that can improve our day to day-day lives. So if this show helps you sleep better, why not give a Get Sleepy Premium subscription a try?

Starting point is 00:02:32 With well over 750 full-length stories and meditations to choose from, including lots of long-length episodes, our supporters get the very best listening experience on Get Sleepy Premium. There are no ads whatsoever, so your rest will be understaffed no matter how many episodes you want to listen to. Plus, every Thursday night, we release a brand new bonus episode just for our supporters. Tomorrow, Marcellus will read us a story about a day in the life of a special family with a unique gift. They are able to weave the wind as they see fit. Give Get Sleepy Premium a try with a 7-day free trial to begin. a try with a 7 day free trial to begin. Visit getseepy.com slash support or follow the link in the show notes to learn more. Thanks so much my friends. It's time that we relax and unwind now, so we can enjoy tonight's story in the best possible frame of mind.

Starting point is 00:03:51 Make sure you're comfortable in your bed, allowing your body to adjust if needed and resting your head softly into your pillow. Any tension or stress you can feel within can melt away as you allow the weight of your body to completely relax into the supportive surface below. If you're feeling sleepy already then just enjoy that feeling and allow yourself to go with it. There's no reason or need for you to resist sleep so feel free to drift off at any time, knowing that you can always come back to this story on another night. But if you're not quite feeling that sleepy yet, or you can sense excess energy in your body and some resistance to let go and rest.

Starting point is 00:05:09 Then just join me for a few deep breaths. Breathing in and allowing tension to collect in your shoulders, then relaxing them back down as you gently exhale back out. Again breathe in and squeeze your shoulders up towards your neck, hold there for a moment, and then enjoy the release as you exhale. We'll do one more together, but you're welcome to continue in your own time for as long as you'd like. So breathe in, squeeze the shoulders and hold, then slowly exhale, feeling tension flow out and away. As your breathing settles into the rhythm of sleep, enjoy this dreamlike journey into a charming other of a world. This is where our story begins. As the sun began to lower in the sky, a young woman named Sabrina was just about to rise from her warm, soft bed. Her eyes fluttered open slowly, and she gently pushed her luxurious duvet off to the side.

Starting point is 00:07:33 She turned towards the picture window by her bed to pull back her gauzy curtains. As she did, a soft glow flowed into her bedroom. She smiled at the beautiful sunset painting the clear sky. She didn't have to get up at any particular time, but her body felt so comfortable with her schedule that she found herself naturally waking at the same time each evening. As she gave her body a gentle stretch, she took a moment to appreciate how relaxed and refreshed she felt after a good day's sleep. While she loved her night shift job and the wonderful friends she had made there, she also appreciated the value of time reserved just for herself,

Starting point is 00:08:40 so she was happy she didn't have to work tonight. so she was happy she didn't have to work tonight. Sabrina draped her soft, warm shawl around her shoulders and slowly padded into her cozy little kitchen. There, her eyes landed on her favorite copper tea kettle. Sabrina wrapped her hand around the white porcelain handle, taking a moment to admire the blue flower design so delicately painted on it. She filled it with fresh, cool water, knowing just how much she needed without even looking. While it heated on the stove, she got her tea leaves ready, along with her favorite mug, and waited for the familiar whistle to sound.

Starting point is 00:09:43 When it was ready, she poured the steaming water into her mug, which she carried out to the small gazebo in her back garden. She sat in a large husk chair, fitted with a round, flush cushion, and placed her tea down on the table next to her. cushion and placed her tea down on the table next to her. She took her time as she settled into the chair. Sabrina always liked to tuck her feet up onto her so that her oversized shawl could cover her whole body. Enveloped in warmth, she reached one hand out to take her first sip of warm, spicy tea. She savored the familiar, calm feeling of the first sip as she looked out around her. She was fully grounded in this peaceful moment. She began to notice the first changes in nature as autumn slowly edged its way in. The crispness in the air that had

Starting point is 00:11:01 not been there just days before signaled to the trees that it was time for them to get ready for their own rejuvenating rest. Before that, they would provide one last beautiful show of colors. Sabrina reached out to a branch that gently brushed its way into the gazebo. The green leaf was showing a bit of pale yellow towards the tip. As she continued to study the leaves, she noticed other autumn colors peeking through the lush green. She smiled as she delicately released the leaf. Autumn was her favorite time of year, and she was back inside at a leisurely pace. This was her night off, and she had no particular schedule.

Starting point is 00:12:17 There were things she wanted to do, but she knew that they would be there when she was good and ready for them. The next part of her cozy waking routine consisted of a long, toasty shower. The water relaxed her muscles. As it cascaded over her, she imagined it washing away the previous day. This was her personal way of starting each new day refreshed and ready to embrace new experiences. As her feet stepped out onto the padded bath mat, she enjoyed the steamy warmth of the room. She dressed in her most comfortable trousers and a favorite t-shirt,

Starting point is 00:13:17 perfectly worn in by years of love. of love. To finish off her cozy ensemble, Sabrina put her arms into the soft sleeves of her fuzzy plum cardigan. Its familiar warmth always made her feel at home, no matter where she was. Sabrina knew that she wanted to enjoy this time of year when the weather was perfect for being outdoors. She put on her exceptionally comfortable walking shoes and slung the strap of her worn canvas bag over her shoulder. A gentle feeling of spontaneity washed over her as she went out into the night air, ready to find adventure. While there were many things to love about daytime, Sabrina always appreciated her walks at night.

Starting point is 00:14:27 There was no sun beating down on her, just the gentle glow of the moon, against a twinkling menagerie of stars. No matter how warm the days got, the evenings promised a welcome reprieve. Walking and exploring were among Sabrina's favorite activities, and evenings were most definitely the best time to do them. She had no particular direction in mind when she set out, but she certainly wasn't surprised to notice herself heading towards the familiar street that would lead her downtown. Sabrina had been in love with downtown since she'd moved here.

Starting point is 00:15:25 It always amazed her that this town was so small and cozy, yet it somehow managed to have something fascinating going on almost every night. As Sabrina walked towards the town square, she noticed that a nearby brick courtyard was lit up. While she wasn't aware of anything special going on, she decided to peek in anyway. In the past, she and her friends had taken in many an impromptu show here, and they always left with smiles on their faces. As she passed through the wide archway, a man with a violin case walked past her

Starting point is 00:16:18 towards a van parked nearby. It was instantly clear to Sabrina that the van was used as a tour bus. Several other people walked to the van and back to the courtyard, carrying all sorts of musical instruments and equipment. While Sabrina was familiar with most of the local musicians, she didn't recognize the vintage-style logo that decorated the van and instrument cases. Always one for new discoveries, Sabrina moved further into the courtyard and sat on one of the curved stone benches, making herself comfortable. The band had just started to warm up, and Sabrina found it impossible not to tap a foot

Starting point is 00:17:20 to the strangely ethereal music. The sound wasn't like anything she would have expected, but that made it even lovelier. As she took in her surroundings, Sabrina noticed that the usual plain string lights had been replaced with Edison bulbs. lights had been replaced with Edison bulbs. Someone had also added luminaries all around, with dragonfly shapes cut into them. They cast little glowing dragonflies all around the courtyard. The bright flowers of summer in the various planters had been replaced by ones in richer jewel tones, able to withstand the cooler weather that was coming. She shifted her attention back to the music. A gentle breeze picked up, and Sabrina felt something gently brush her leg.

Starting point is 00:18:30 She reached out to grasp it, and saw that it was a colorful flyer. The Ore Tunnel Night Market. The most magical night of the year, it read. Something about the style of the flyer was familiar to her, but she couldn't quite place it. She definitely knew she had never heard of this event before and scanned the flyer for more details. Unable to find any more information, she turned the flyer around. There was nothing on the back, either. She flipped it over one last time and an arrow towards the bottom of the page began to glow. Sabrina blinked and shook the paper a bit. As she did, she thought she saw the arrow

Starting point is 00:19:35 move on the page. Her curiosity had taken full control. Sabrina stood up, her eyes glued to the arrow. As she gently turned, the arrow moved too. She took a step, and the arrow gently moved again, guiding her in the other direction. The last notes of the ethereal song accompanied Sabrina out of the courtyard as she followed the direction of the gently glowing arrow. Laughing at the impossible situation she was in, she continued to follow the arrow through downtown. Finally, she came to a park and the arrow pulsed gently, letting her know she was on

Starting point is 00:20:36 the right path. She slowed a bit as she walked through the park, taking time to enjoy the beautiful sculptures and the flowers that surrounded them. Finally, she came to a brick bridge with lush ivy growing on either side. While she had been to this park before, she couldn't seem to recall ever having seen this bridge before. As she started to walk across it, the arrow on the flyer began to glow brighter, and the pulse became stronger.

Starting point is 00:21:32 When she reached the middle of the bridge, the gentle moonlight brightened noticeably, and she could hear the sounds of merriment in the distance. With each step, the sounds grew louder as the unmistakable smell of food reached her nose. Making the final step across the bridge, Sabrina saw a little open doorway in the ivy before her. It was so small that she had to duck to fit. Without any hesitation, she stepped through and into a new and incredible world. She stood still for a moment as she allowed her senses to adjust. At first glance, it simply looked like a lively farmer's market in the city. But as she gazed about, she noticed that the clothes on the people were a slightly different style than she had ever seen before.

Starting point is 00:22:54 Of all the people bustling around, many were a fair bit taller or shorter than average. She breathed in the delectable aroma of food around her, and she also realized that she couldn't quite place what exactly it was that she was smelling. With a desire to experience more, she walked into the magic around her. Her first stop was a booth displaying the most ornate jewelry she had ever seen. Looking closer, she noticed that most of it was in the shape of mythical creatures. The woman behind the booth gave her a warm smile and encouraged her to try on anything she liked. Sabrina noticed a beautiful silver dragon around the woman's long, elegant neck. It was so intricate that Sabrina couldn't help but compliment the woman on its beauty. but compliment the woman on its beauty. As the words left her mouth, the silver necklace began to move. Little icy blue eyes stared at Sabrina as delicate wings flapped in a gesture

Starting point is 00:24:19 of greeting. The silver dragon's tiny mouth formed a mischievous little grin. He likes you, said the woman behind the booth as she chuckled and petted the dragon's tiny head. Sabrina heard a soft purr coming from the little silver animal, and as she looked up at the woman, she noticed that her eyes were a smoky shade of lavender. After all that had led her here, Sabrina wasn't as surprised as she thought she would be. wasn't as surprised as she thought she would be. In fact, her delight only grew and she could hardly wait to see the rest of the market. Bidding the little dragon and his handler good evening,

Starting point is 00:25:18 she moved along briskly, a smile gracing her lips. a smile gracing her lips. Another market-goer smiled back and pointed her in the direction of Genie's fresh juices, a lively stand close by that was handing out goblets filled with sparkling liquid. Sabrina eagerly made her way over and got in line. Although there were quite a few people ahead of her, she didn't mind at all. The line snaked past other booths, allowing people to browse as they waited. The line moved steadily, and Sabrina soon found herself in front of a booth filled with racks upon racks of shawls. She reached out to touch one that looked unimaginably soft, letting the fabric slip through her fingers. The proprietor saw her and smiled at her, gently shaking his head of silver-gray hair.

Starting point is 00:26:37 He held up one bejeweled finger, a gesture for her to wait, as he stepped away with a soft rustle of his robes. Almost instantly, he reappeared with the most exquisite shawl in his hands. He held it out to Sabrina with a warm smile on his face. with a warm smile on his face. She carefully took the shawl from him and lightly draped it around her shoulders. She would never be able to guess what it was made of, but the fabric felt like a warm, starlit evening wrapped around her. It softly twinkled with her movements. She closed her eyes and snuggled deeper into it. As her face got close to the fabric, an abstract, yet familiar scent reached her nose. She didn't know how she knew it, but this shawl smelled like moonlight. She opened her eyes to see that the proprietor was nodding gently, a smile still on his mysterious

Starting point is 00:28:03 face. She reached for the wallet in her bag, but he waved her away as he walked back into the corner of his stand. He had just given her the most beautiful gift. most beautiful gift. Turning her attention back to the line, it seemed like no time had passed at all. Sabrina was now standing before a smiling little girl with aquamarine hair and a pad of paper in her hand. She looked at Sabrina for a bit, not saying a word, and then smiled to herself. The girl wrote something down on the pad and rushed behind a curtain. Going with the magical flow of the evening, Sabrina waited patiently, her new shawl keeping her cozy as she did so.

Starting point is 00:29:13 The delightful little girl reappeared seemingly out of nowhere, holding out a goblet the same plum shade as Sabrina's cardigan. The moment it was in Sabrina's hands, the little girl vanished and instantly reappeared in front of the next customer. As she waited on her customers, a wind rustled the little girl's aqua curls, and Sabrina noticed gently pointed ears peeking through the vibrant hair. Before taking a sip, Sabrina brought the mystery beverage to her nose. A huge smile lit up her whole face as the familiar scent brought back sweet memories. All through Sabrina's childhood, her mother would make a summer punch whenever they had guests over.

Starting point is 00:30:19 It was made from frozen tropical fruits blended with sparkling soda. The secret was that her mom always included bananas for an unexpected sweet flavor. Sabrina had never tasted another drink like it until this moment. another drink like it, until this moment. As she sipped the cool juice from the pretty plum goblet, her heart was warmed with cherished childhood memories. One look at the other customers leaving Genie's fresh juices told Sabrina that they, too, were having a sweet, nostalgic experience of their own. Looking up, Sabrina noticed the slight changes in the sky that only a true night owl would recognize, as it began its slow shift towards morning. She was beginning to feel a bit tired too, but she still had some energy left, and there

Starting point is 00:31:39 was more she wished to see at the market. She came to an open area with a large fountain. She sat down by it to enjoy her drink and saw several people setting up various musical instruments that she couldn't quite identify. Sabrina noticed how the scene before her mirrored the one that had led her here just hours ago. Now it seemed like another lifetime. The movements of the performers even appeared oddly similar, and the logo on the drum kit sparked her memory. As she continued watching, one of the performers looked right at her and winked.

Starting point is 00:32:36 Was it possible they meant for her to find that flyer? After tonight, she wouldn't say anything was impossible. This time around, she would stay for the performance. The band began to play their instruments, a sound like she had never experienced before before surrounded her. It didn't just fill her ears, it filled her entire body and the very air she breathed. The ethereal sounds bounced and vibrated off the fountain and the surrounding brick walls. It was the sweetest music she had ever heard. The otherworldly performance was over too soon, and the performers vanished before Sabrina had a chance to speak with them. As she got up to explore more, something on the ground caught her attention. Bending to pick it up, she realized it was an album. There was writing on it.

Starting point is 00:33:56 She was able to make out the words to Sabrina. to Sabrina. With a smile of slight disbelief, she slipped it into her bag and walked to the other side of the market. Moving through the last stalls, she passed by so many fantastical things that she didn't think she could describe them all, even if she tried. When she came to a booth selling pens, the person standing at the table waved her over, obliging them. She stopped to try one out. As she reached for a golden pen studded with purple jewels, it slowly floated away from her. Sabrina watched with fascination as it landed near a piece of parchment. Holding itself upright, it slowly wrote, Hello Sabrina, in glowing golden ink.

Starting point is 00:35:08 The owner of the booth laughed heartily at her surprise, and Sabrina couldn't help but join in. It was all so wondrous that it was impossible not to bubble with laughter at every unusual delight. Coming to the end of the market, Sabrina saw a booth with no table or racks of any sort. The various lanterns being displayed there were simply floating on their own. Immediately, Sabrina reached out for a silver one that was sparkling with what reminded her of the famed Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights. Not quite able to reach it, the kind shopkeeper gently assisted her. As the lantern floated into her hand, Sabrina felt a kind of peace wash over her.

Starting point is 00:36:17 She had always wanted to see the northern lights, and she couldn't believe how realistic these looked. As with the shawl she had acquired earlier, the shopkeeper waved her away when she reached for her bag, sending her along with an unimaginably beautiful lantern and a kind smile. lantern and a kind smile. Sabrina walked home in blissful days. It was like she had just had the best dream of her entire life. The closer she got to home, the more realistic that thought seemed. As she stepped through her doorway, the sun took its place in the early morning sky. Her heart was full with the adventures of a night well-lived,

Starting point is 00:37:19 and her body was gently directing her towards sleep. Her body was gently directing her towards sleep. Listening to the needs of her body, she hung her exquisite new shawl in her closet before climbing into bed. Sabrina took her time getting settled. In the soft light of her new aurora lantern, her body naturally settled into a restful position. Turning over on her side, she drifted off in perfect comfort.

Starting point is 00:38:12 As Sabrina's breathing slowed to the rhythm of rejuvenating sleep, the lantern gently floated a few inches off the nightstand, casting a peaceful, calming glow over its new owner, and bringing her the sweetest dreams of magic. You You I'm going to go ahead and start the video. You You I'm going to go ahead and start the video. You You You You You You The You I'm going to go ahead and start the video. You You You I'm going to go ahead and start the video. You You You. . . . . you

Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - The Magical Autumn Night Market

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