Hello,
Dream Traveler,
And welcome to the Story Nexus.
Tonight,
You will be falling asleep in the Backwoods Cabin.
It's nestled in the woods behind the main lodge.
It's been specially made up just for you,
And you are very welcome here.
To prepare for this journey,
We'll need to bring you down from daily consciousness and ready for nighttime rest.
Lie down in your bed,
Or wherever you feel safe and comfortable,
And take a few deep breaths in,
And just let go of the day,
Let go of the thoughts and any tension in your body.
Continue to breathe deeply,
Noticing where any tension is,
And then allowing that to be washed away with every exhale.
Feel your mind starting to slow.
You are entering twilight time,
Where all things go to rest and sleep deeply.
Now that your body is beginning to get into a rhythm,
See yourself on the edge of a forest.
It's twilight.
The sky is very dark,
But not black yet.
The birds are chirping.
These are nocturnal birds,
And they will chirp all night long.
It is a little cool,
But you're feeling warm.
You are dressed well.
Before you is a clearing.
In the middle of the clearing is a lodge two stories high,
With big windows so you can see right into it.
It's got a fireplace there,
With a burning fire,
And several large,
Comfortable-looking couches in front of it.
There looks to be somebody inside.
It's the caretaker.
He's expecting you.
He sees you and waves.
He motions for you to come inside,
And so you make your way across the clearing and into the lodge.
Now that you're inside,
You can see that the ceilings are high and vaulted.
The second floor only takes up half of the upper level,
And one side is open with just a balcony railing.
The stairs are off to one side,
On the opposite wall facing the fire.
This is the area for the caretaker.
He stands there smiling at you.
You can see that there are huge windows behind him on the opposite side of the entrance.
They are huge glass doors that slide open to the outside.
The caretaker walks over and points outside the glass doors.
You walk over and see that there is a small log cabin,
Perhaps 30 or 40 feet away from the back of the lodge.
This is where you'll be falling asleep tonight.
The caretaker can tell that you are ready for sleep.
He opens the sliding glass door so that you can pass through and walk to your cabin.
There is light snow on the ground and there seems to be rocks and leaves underneath the snow.
As you get closer to the cabin,
You smile.
It feels so homey and welcoming.
There is a small window to one side of the door.
You can see that there is a bed made up inside.
You open the door and walk in.
Immediately to your left,
In the corner,
Is a large fireplace and it's already got a crackling fire in it.
The cabin itself is not very big,
But it's just for you.
You will not be disturbed here.
It is perfectly safe.
There is a table and chair near the back of the cabin and there is a large sofa in front of the hearth.
To your right is a large,
Comfortable-looking bed against the wall.
The pillows are big and fluffy and there are layers of blankets.
The sheets on the bed are high-thread-count cotton and they smell sweet and a little bit like pine.
One of the most outstanding features inside this cabin is the artwork on the mantle above the fire.
It's a large painting,
About four feet wide and about five feet high.
It stretches up close to the ceiling.
It's leaning against the brick and glows in the firelight.
It's a hand-painted,
Oil and acrylic work of art on canvas.
The artist has recreated a section of the forest in the middle of winter.
The floor is blanketed in snow and the dark trunks of the trees disappear halfway up off the top of the painting.
It's a beautiful,
Stark contrast.
The artist has also created a focal point of an animal coming out of the center of the forest.
It's an image of a gray wolf.
It's a simple yet beautiful image,
Striking and appropriate for this cabin environment.
The gray wolf's eyes have been painted in such a way that it feels like it's looking at you as you stare at it.
It's a fascinating feeling.
You know these woods are home to the gray wolf.
Gray wolves live in packs,
Usually four to nine members.
It's like a close-knit family.
A male and female gray wolf will typically mate for life.
And although wolves are known for breaking away from the pack and becoming a lone wolf,
They do prefer to be in the company of other wolves,
Their family.
A gray wolf's lifespan is anywhere from 8 to 15 years.
In this depiction of the gray wolf,
You find the image to be inspiring.
You now turn to look more closely at the inside of this cabin.
The bed does dominate this space.
Anything you need can be found at the main lodge,
Just a few feet away.
You go to sit on the bed and then gaze into the fire and watch the flames flicker.
It lulls you into a state of sleepiness.
You find yourself craving sleep.
You undress and get in under the covers of this wonderfully comfortable bed.
It supports you perfectly,
And the layers of blankets are just enough for you to feel warm and comfortable without being overheated.
You tuck a pillow up under your head and close your eyes.
You notice the crackling of the fire and the faint sound of birds singing in the trees right outside the walls of the cabin.
It all feels so warm and comfortable and safe.
You're about ready to drop off to sleep now.
But you open your eyes just halfway to take one last look at the gray wolf.
You feel a slight surge of power run through you.
The gray wolf may visit you in your dreams tonight.
And if it does,
It's a very good omen.
Now,
All you need to do is succumb to that feeling of sleep and let it pull you into a deep,
Restorative space.
