Welcome to a bedtime story,
Legend of the Fireflies.
Not everyone has been fortunate enough to see the early evening sparks of a firefly.
And even fewer people know the secrets behind the legend of the fireflies.
I will share these secrets with you here tonight.
But first,
Let's get ready for bedtime.
As you lay down in your bed,
Begin to relax.
Imagine your body softening,
From your head to your little toes.
And,
Notice how you're feeling heavier as your head sinks comfortably into the pillow.
Your body,
Legs and arms settling softly into the cozy bed under you.
Now gently close your eyes.
Nothing else to do now,
Except relax,
Listening to my voice as I begin the story.
Fireflies usually come out around bedtime,
So many people,
Especially young people,
Have never seen one.
You'll find fireflies hovering near the edge of the forests and marshlands,
And in some backyards,
Soon after the sun has gone down for the night.
It has been said that you don't find fireflies,
They find you.
They only spark with their tiny flashes of light during the early part of summer.
And so,
It was early one warm summer evening,
When Sonali and Paria were finishing a game of hopscotch in the backyard.
And,
They were about to go indoors,
When Paria noticed a very short,
But bright spark near the shrubs at the back of the yard.
What could it be?
Paria told Sonali what she saw,
So they thought about the possibilities.
Could it be a falling star?
They've heard stories about falling stars,
And wishing upon a falling star.
But don't they come down directly from the stars above?
Paria saw the flash of light go sideways,
As if it was going from one side of the yard to the other.
So it couldn't be that.
Sonali thought it could be a spark from a fireplace or distant forest fire.
But,
They didn't smell or see smoke.
So it wouldn't be that.
Then suddenly,
Another spark appeared,
Then another,
And another.
An amazing show of tiny lights moving in one direction,
Then another,
Then vanishing.
All in a second or two,
Then again,
And again.
Paria and Sonali watched the mysterious flying sparks,
Wondering what could they be.
When from the yard next door,
Fox called out to them.
So,
I see you are watching the fireflies tonight.
Fox knew about fireflies,
But it was a new experience for Sonali and Paria.
First,
Fox pointed out that fireflies aren't flies at all.
In fact,
They're a special kind of beetle.
He also explained that fireflies have a magical power,
Called bioluminescence.
That can make their bodies blink with light.
They only do this in the early evening,
And only during a few weeks of the year.
But the most magical thing about the fireflies,
Fox told them,
Is what their sparks of light have taught people around the world for thousands of years.
Fox told Paria and Sonali that ancient people who lived a long time ago passed on the legend of the fireflies as it exists to this day.
They learned that the mysterious blinking light of fireflies are a source of healing energy and may have a special superpower to make wishes come true,
Especially wishes that help others.
Sonali realized the blink of a firefly is a lot like the flash of light from a falling star.
And people have been wishing on falling stars for hundreds of years.
And Paria remembers her grandfather mentioning how plants in the garden grow because of the light that comes from the sun,
Even though the sun is far,
Far away.
She wondered,
Could the light of fireflies be helping people grow too?
Fox said he was certain all these kinds of light from the sun,
Falling stars,
And fireflies,
Was positive energy that is everywhere in the universe.
And they wondered,
If it is everywhere,
Could people also have and share this good energy?
Just as they were thinking about this,
A bunch of fireflies sparked up all around them.
Almost making the yard around them glow in the warmth of their beautiful,
Loving light.
It was as if the fireflies were sending them a message.
Maybe people can also share this energy of the universe.
Fox said the ancient people learned from the fireflies that we can use our minds to imagine sending healing energy,
Love,
And compassion to others.
And that we could do so during meditation.
He said it is still a common meditation practice today.
Soon the flurry of firefly sparks went away.
Maybe it was their bedtime too.
Sunilee and Paria thanked Fox for sharing his knowledge of the legend of the fireflies.
They had learned a lot tonight.
It was nearing bedtime.
So as the three said their goodbyes and began to go back inside their homes for a good,
Restful sleep,
They all agreed they would try tonight to imagine sending light filled with love and compassion to the people they love,
Even if they don't glow like a firefly.
At the end of this day,
As they snuggled into their beds,
They were now ready for a restful sleep.
As they slowly calmed their minds,
They imagined sending a person they love some of the same magical light that the fireflies shared with them.
You may even want to think about sending your healing light and love to someone special to you.
Just like Sunilee,
Paria and Fox.
Just like the ancient people.
Just like the fireflies.
You can also slip into sleepy time any time now.
Gently close your eyes.
Now,
Let's take a big deep breath to help us settle into sleep time.
Take a deep breath in,
Filling your whole body with all that good energy.
Then let all that air out.
Long breath out.
Let all thoughts of the day float far,
Far away.
If you wish,
Keep watching your breath in and out.
And with every breath,
Feeling more and more relaxed.
You are now ready for a deep and restful sleep.
It is time now for pleasant and sweet dreams.
Sleep well,
My friend.
