The Cosy Canal Boat - A Guided Sleep Story

Embark on a calming, meditative journey on a peaceful canal boat. Here you will glide along a river through the heart of the English countryside. You will journey through a magical forest, meeting many animals on the way, before watching a glorious sunset. Then comes a cosy hot chocolate as you sit by the fire with your best friend.

Music: Liborio Conti & Enlightened Audio
Sound Effects: Gentle Birdsong, Fireplace, Lapping Water, Doors & Footsteps, Night Crickets

Transcript

A warm welcome to tonight's sleep story,

Where you will take a wonderful adventure on a calming canal boat,

Accompanied by your best friend as you bask in the sunset and enjoy the peace and tranquility that surrounds you.

Begin by making yourself nice and comfortable where you are and give yourself permission to let go of everything tonight,

This is your story and your adventure.

And when you are ready,

Just allow the eyelids to feel heavier and heavier until they gently close.

Before we begin,

We will do a short guided breathing pattern called 3-4-5,

This will allow you to slow down and relax,

Preparing your body and your mind for a wonderful,

Peaceful rest.

When you are ready,

Breathe in through the nose for three,

Hold for four,

And breathe out for five,

Let all of it go now,

Again that's in for three,

Hold for four,

And release,

Blowing away the thoughts of yesterday,

Today and tomorrow,

Again in for three,

Hold,

And let it go.

Continue to breathe in this way in your own time,

And with each breath out,

Allow your body to sink just that bit deeper into your mattress,

And now,

Allow the breath to fall back into a natural rhythm.

Enjoy this new relaxation flowing through your body,

Allow yourself to let go now and for your imagination to unlock as we take an enchanted adventure on your cozy canal boat.

The modern world of industry and machinery is fading now,

The hectic hustle and bustle of everyday life is no more,

And you are entering a land of peace and simplicity.

The world is transforming around you,

And you find yourself in the heart of the English countryside,

Where little streams and rivers are peppered through the rolling hills.

You are standing on your very own narrow boat,

Drifting along a gentle river.

Here the world feels still,

And it's as if time itself has stopped.

The comforting sound of lapping water surrounds you now,

And a gentle breeze blows across your face.

On either side of you are steep grassy banks,

Peppered with wildflowers of white,

Blue,

And yellow.

There are bumblebees floating along the riverside and pollinating these beautiful flowers,

Spreading life across the land.

Within the thick grass on the banks of the river,

You see families of rabbits hopping around or huddling together,

And their tiny heads peep out at you curiously.

Dotted along the horizon are tall,

Bushy trees.

They remind you of green lollipops,

With their long smooth trunks and perfect spheres of leaves.

The trees create a beautiful silhouette on the golden green horizon,

And within the leaves you can hear a faint bird song far off in the distance.

You take in this majestic landscape,

And it feels as though you are inside a beautiful oil painting that has suddenly come to life.

You can almost see the brush strokes across the rolling green hills and the eternal blue sky.

This place is like a hidden sanctuary just for you,

A place where you can escape and be immersed in this magical countryside.

Your boat is decorated in your two favorite colors,

With a small cabin perched just behind you.

The cabin leads down into a small lounge area below.

The lounge divides into a small kitchen and two cozy bedrooms,

One for you and one for your best friend.

Speaking of your best friend,

The cabin door suddenly opens behind you,

And you turn to see their smiling face as they throw their arms around you into a warm hug.

This is the icing on the cake.

It's one thing to be immersed in this beautiful landscape and to enjoy these breathtaking views,

But it's even better to take this journey with someone who is so close to your heart.

You stand together in a peaceful silence and take in this beautiful simplicity.

It is quaint and quiet here,

And you feel comforted to know that right now you can just let go of everything.

There is nothing left to do and nothing left to think.

Bit by bit,

You can feel any remaining worries,

Concerns or thoughts from the day fading out of sight.

They melt away under the late afternoon sun and disappear from your mind.

A new clarity overtakes you as you just simply be in this moment.

You breathe in this beautiful fresh air,

Slow and deep,

As you bask in the late afternoon sun.

You feel this healing country air filling your lungs and coursing through your body,

And as every single muscle begins to relax,

You cannot help but smile.

In the next moment,

The river curves towards a tunnel of emerald trees.

Your boat journeys under this thick canopy of leaves,

And the sun pierces through the tiny gaps above,

Creating mini spotlights of gold.

The light dances on the water and the air turns a little cooler.

The refreshing breeze is a welcome change from the naked heat of the sun.

In the trees now,

Red squirrels are darting up and down the trunks and along the branches.

Many are carrying acorns or stuffing small nuts into their tiny mouths,

Puffing out their cheeks.

As these beautiful red squirrels spot your boat,

Their heads turn to look at you.

Their little ears twitch with interest,

And their long fluffy tails swish back and forth.

And then,

All at once,

These lovely little creatures descend from the trees and begin to run along the banks of the river,

Keeping up with your boat.

They run with a new excitement,

And it's as if they are guiding your journey now through this mini forest,

As they welcome you to their beautiful home.

You and your friend share a smile and chuckle at the innocence of these animals.

You let them lead the way down the twisting river underneath the golden starlight.

One by one,

More and more animals of the forest begin to join this parade,

And all of them seem to have a very soft glow around them.

You have entered a new world entirely,

A world of magic governed by the powers of the old enchanted earth.

You watch wide-eyed as majestic stag and deer gallop through the pulsing trees and jump over the riverbanks in front of you,

Arching from one side to the other.

Leaping out of the water alongside your boat are collections of tiny silver fish.

They swim in families,

And together they create a starlight glitter underneath the surface of the water.

Descending from the leaves now are hundreds of butterflies,

Glistening in all the colors of the rainbow.

They drift over your boat and flit just above the water,

Dancing underneath the golden spotlights.

The rabbits have returned now to join you on your adventure.

They follow your boat with excited hops along the banks of the river.

Little fluffy balls of brown,

Gray,

Black,

And white are bobbing up and down in the rich green grass as the youngest of the rabbits try their hardest to keep up.

This enchanting atmosphere is finished off with beautiful dragonflies darting on the surface of the water and glistening in tiny specks of gold.

You are completely mesmerized by this wonderful display unfolding before you.

A deep magic has taken over this land,

A magic powered by the old earth,

Drawing together all the animals of the forest and showcasing these incredible wonders of nature.

All of them live together in this hidden sanctuary,

Existing in perfect harmony.

You feel yourself entering a state of total tranquility accompanied by your best friend.

And as you drift further and further down this golden blue river,

You allow yourself to feel at home here,

Becoming more and more relaxed.

Your body is light and your mind is free.

The busyness of life has faded now,

And time moves in slow motion as you enjoy every single moment of this breathtaking display.

Here and now,

Nothing else matters.

And,

Just then,

You round a long,

Slow corner of the river,

Emerging round a collection of trees and towards the exit of the forest.

A soft,

White light pulses at the end of the tunnel of trees.

If you could,

You would stay in this forest forever.

But as you look out to the end of the grove,

You have a feeling that even more magic and comfort awaits you.

All of these beautiful animals stand together on both banks of the river,

Bidding you a fond farewell.

You know now that you are most welcome here,

And that you can return whenever you need to.

This is a beautiful memory,

One that you will never forget.

As you emerge from this hidden grove,

You are met by the soft green,

Red,

And gold of a countryside sunset.

It bathes your skin in a gentle warmth.

The warmth begins to relax the muscles in your body,

And you find yourself sitting down on the deck of your boat,

Allowing these beautiful,

Healing sensations to run through you.

And as your eyes adjust,

You are met by the most incredible sight you have ever seen.

Filling the horizon is a collection of glistening rainbows,

Six to be precise.

They arch over this beautiful curved landscape and pulse with a soft glow.

The trees have given way to the rolling hills once again,

And the emerald green countryside is illuminated by a kaleidoscope of color,

As the setting sun slowly descends beyond the horizon.

Within the rainbows,

You see a faint silver stardust mingling among the colors.

And suddenly,

You get the feeling that your body is no longer touching the deck of your boat.

A weightlessness overtakes you,

And you get the sensation that you are floating ever so slightly,

Supported by the rich magic within these rainbows.

You watch the huge sun setting in slow motion,

As the golden red turns to a soft purple and blue,

And the new light of dusk descends upon you.

This entire land is preparing for a deep,

Peaceful slumber.

One by one,

The rainbows begin to fade.

The colorful sky darkens bit by bit,

And as you float here,

Side by side with your best friend,

You welcome the new light of the moon slowly revealing itself above you.

A silver spotlight illuminates your boat and reflects on the water.

The purple and blue dusk is coming alive with specks of pure white,

As the nearest stars begin to show themselves.

They pulse in their own steady rhythm and give the effect of a moving glitter across the night.

The sun has disappeared now,

And you are surrounded by the cool twilight air.

The colorful sunset display has given way to the simple tranquility of the night.

You are completely at peace,

And a new calmness washes over you,

As your feet plant themselves back down onto your boat.

The air is still and quiet.

The birds and the animals of the land have turned themselves in for the night.

The moon stands high above you,

Pulsing proudly over this magical land.

A wave of tiredness begins to fill your body,

And your eyes are just that bit heavier.

Your boat approaches a small clearing with a sturdy wooden post in the bank of the river,

The perfect place to anchor down for the night.

Your best friend steers you gently over to the clearing,

And you throw a thick rope over the post.

Your boat drifts gently to the riverbank,

Before at last coming to a stop.

And now,

Ready for supper and an early night,

You and your friend wander to the cabin,

Open the door,

And descend below deck.

You are met by the warmth of a cozy little fireplace,

And the soft light from a golden lamp in the corner of the room.

The fireplace is covered with a glass door,

And hanging on the walls above are pictures of family and friends,

Beautiful snapshots of unforgettable memories.

On the floor is a fluffy rug in your favorite color,

And opposite the fireplace is a large sofa full of blankets and cushions.

To your right is a small kitchen characterized by a lovely farmhouse sink,

Small cooking hobs,

Vintage wooden cupboards,

And a fridge perched in the corner.

Lining the wall above the sofa is a row of porthole windows,

And they sit just above the water.

You watch the moonlight dancing on the river,

As the water ripples in the cool evening breeze.

Suddenly,

A feeling of comfort and safety begins to fill your heart,

As the warmth of the fire washes over you,

And you take in your lovely little lounge.

This is your home away from home,

Your sanctuary to come and relax whenever you need to,

And to leave all the worries of yesterday,

Today,

And tomorrow far behind you.

Your friend turns to you with a mischievous smile,

And tells you that they are craving hot chocolate.

Just the thought of this warm,

Silky chocolate makes your taste buds tingle,

And as your friend clicks on the gas and fills the copper kettle,

You take a seat flopping down on the cloud-like sofa.

You close your eyes and enjoy the peace and quiet of your cozy boat.

The gentle crackle of the fire is the perfect comfort,

And you feel all the muscles in your body begin to soften and relax as you completely let go.

You reminisce on the wonderful animal display in the forest,

And the collection of rainbows pulsing above you as you watched the golden red sunset transform into the enchanted twilight.

This land truly feels like a secret slice of magic that has been created just for you.

The rich smell of chocolate fills the air now,

And you hear your friend pouring the drinks.

They shuffle over to you and hand you your favorite mug.

It is the perfect temperature in your hands,

And the delicious aroma completely envelops you as a light steam rises from the rim.

Your friend sits down beside you,

And with a shared smile you clink your mugs together and take your first sip.

The thick,

Velvety chocolate coats your tongue,

And the beautiful sweet flavor is a delight.

You sit now in a comfortable silence with your best friend.

You are completely at peace with each other and just happy to be in their company,

The sign of a true friendship.

With every sip of this delicious drink,

You feel your body becoming lovely and warm.

You wrap a soft blanket around you and tuck your legs up on the sofa.

It is a simple,

Little moment to enjoy,

But often these are the moments that we treasure.

Gradually,

A conversation begins to bubble,

And before you know it,

You and your friend are chatting away without pause as if you both suddenly had a hundred things to share.

You talk about your hopes and dreams for the future,

The places you would like to go,

And the things that you would like to do.

You share secrets as naturally as talking about the weather,

And you begin to lose all concept of time as you dive deeper into the conversation,

Sipping on your beautiful hot chocolate.

Here is someone that you can truly be yourself around.

There is no need to pretend or to put on a front.

They appreciate you just as you are,

And that in itself is a huge comfort.

The talk turns to your friendship,

And you begin to reminisce on all your adventures together.

There are smiles,

Laughter,

And tears of joy as you remember some of your favorite times with this brilliant person.

And then,

You begin to fantasize about the future.

You discuss the places you would like to visit together,

And the adventures that you would love to share.

You feel incredibly grateful to have this person in your life.

They are someone that you can always rely on.

No matter where they are,

They will always be rooting for you and cheering you on.

And just that thought alone brings a smile to your face.

And now,

Bit by bit,

You feel the warmth of the hot chocolate working its magic as your eyelids become heavier and heavier.

Your friend notices you drifting off already,

And with a chuckle,

They suggest that the two of you get some rest before another canal boat adventure tomorrow.

With sleepy eyes,

You nod your head in agreement and thank them for this delicious hot chocolate.

You share one last hug and bid them a warm goodnight as you start to slowly shuffle down the narrow wooden corridor towards your little room.

Your eyes are half closed,

And you are not sure you will make it before dropping off to sleep right where you are.

Just then,

You feel the handle of your door,

And with a sigh of relief,

You swing it open and shuffle into your room.

A large,

Cozy bed awaits you,

Illuminated by the silver and blue moonlight that pours in through the window on the ceiling.

There is an air of enchantment in the room as you find yourself surrounded by a soft stardust.

As you slip into bed,

You wrap yourself in the beautiful thick duvet,

And you allow your head to sink deep into the soft pillow as you let go of any holding on to night.

Above you,

The pulsing moon watches over you,

And the infinite stars pepper the night.

You can see the faint pattern of the Milky Way spiraling in slow motion against the backdrop of the blue and black twilight.

The river laps on the side of your boat,

And you feel a very gentle sway as if you are being rocked to sleep.

You feel yourself becoming heavier and heavier as you slowly sink into the mattress.

You are letting go of everything.

Your head is heavy and completely supported by the fluffy pillow.

Your face is soft as all the muscles relax.

Your neck and shoulders are loose,

And you feel any tension slowly melting away.

Your chest and stomach are free,

And your breath is slow and deep.

Your arms and legs are heavy,

And you don't think that you could lift them up if you tried.

Your entire body is free,

And you are in a state of total relaxation.

Your thoughts are fading and being collected by the stardust.

One by one,

These thoughts disappear until your mind is completely clear,

And there is nothing left to think.

You are safe and warm on your cozy canal boat,

Enveloped by the magic of twilight and guarded by the moon and the stars.

You allow yourself to completely let go as you sink deeper and deeper into comfort,

Ready to enter a world of beautiful dreams.

You can rest now.

You can rest now.

You can rest now.