Isla And The Reindeer

Are your kids struggling with insomnia, anxiety, or self-confidence? This magical sleep story helps kids find their inner light for healing, confidence, and connection and drifts into relaxing music after 20 minutes. Isla is the Grandmother from Yuri and The Dragon and this is her story about Reindeer and finding the light within.

Chrissy Ortner is a clinical hypnotherapist with a background in educational psychology who loves spending time in nature.

Music Credits: Chrissy Ortner and Astrofreq: Native American Flute and Guitar.

Transcript

Welcome,

It's lovely to share this time with you tonight for it's time to rediscover something magical about yourself and how easy it is to feel calm and safe from now on and far into the long distant future.

For this story is a story about you.

All of us carry a special magic inside,

A healing and transforming energy that you might have once thought only belonged to the superheroes or heroines in storybooks.

Stories about this special power are told around campfires,

In whispered voices all around the world,

In those special places where there's kindness and a deep connection to the animals,

The earth,

The moon and the stars.

And as you begin to wriggle and stretch into that most comfortable position for you to listen in,

Perhaps you can notice where you might be holding some stress or tension in your body.

Perhaps you can notice which parts still wish to jump up and down or race around and perhaps you can notice which parts are a little bit curious,

Ready to rest into hearing this story.

You might feel it as a tingling in your toes,

The sleepiness in your bones and the stillness that comes to your eyelids when they are powerfully imagining and only you know what is the best way to let your body settle.

So it's ready to relax,

Listen,

Learn and grow all through this night,

Feeling the comfort of the covers,

The smell of your favorite pillow or the sounds of the night all around you.

You may have heard of Yuri and his nightly adventures with dragons and his grandmother's secret but there is more to her story.

She had the power of inner sight and each night as he flew she would often settle into her comfortable favorite chair,

Staring out at the stars through the window,

Letting her gaze soften.

Sometimes she felt herself flying with him,

Felt the wind in her hair,

Saw the stars all around them,

Both laughing as the rise and fall of beating dragon wings sent shivers down their spines.

Other nights she would swoop across the sky on her magic rug to the lands of ice and snow where the aurora cast brilliant rainbow lights through the sky and the snowflakes settled on eyelashes and tickled her nose.

It was here wrapped in layers of warm blankets she would call to the wild elk and reindeer.

She'd follow their footsteps through deep snow and sometimes she'd find the Sami,

The reindeer herders,

Nestled in their teepees made of hides.

From behind the shadows of the trees grandmother would watch and listen as the Sami sang magical songs to the wind calling in the reindeer.

This was one of her favorite places where the smell of the piney forest soothed her soul and the northern lights dancing in the sky filled her heart with delight.

Grandmother never felt cold here even though she sensed the cold winds blowing.

She could breathe in the memories of the sun's heat into every part of her body and the memories of glorious summer days,

Lazing in sunshine by a riverbank or reaching to pick ripe red cherries and feeling the warmth of their juice on her chin warmed her soul as she breathed it in,

Every part of her body feeling soft and warm.

Sometimes she would play with the wind itself and send leaves flying and snowflakes swirling,

Spiraling high up into the sky and she'd scatter the creatures of the forest with her gentle laughter.

Grandmother loved this wild snowy place for it was here that she first visited when she was only small and just like you loved to daydream.

In that time long long ago she was known as Isla.

Sometimes she would tiptoe to the windowsills and stare out at the stars wondering what was beyond and it was on a night so still,

So quiet that all she could hear was the sound of her own breath,

Felt the beating of her heart but she heard a gentle voice inside her say,

Just nod if you can hear me.

Curiously Isla began to nod,

Not just with her head but her whole body seemed to rock.

Who are you thought Isla,

Surprised to be awakened from her daydream but the voice did not return until she had once more turned her gaze back to the stars.

I am the voice of your spirit self,

She heard the voice that seemed to come from beyond her imagination.

It sung with a soft and tinkling whisper from a place deep inside.

The voice continued,

Just like those stars that you see beyond this room,

Isla you are made from stardust,

The energy of the stars is in every part of you,

Can you feel it?

Once more Isla felt herself nodding,

Can I ask you a question?

She heard herself say,

What are the stars made of?

And the voice answered pure love of course,

The energy of love,

It is so bright you can see it shining from millions of miles away,

Is there a place on earth where I can find it?

Asked Isla,

Of course said the voice,

But first you must close your eyes,

No matter what happens,

Always remember I'm here inside you,

In those still moments,

If you ever need me.

Isla closed her eyes,

Wrapped in a warm blanket she'd taken from her bed,

The sleepiness of the day cradled her in its arms.

The voice continued,

Now Isla let the images float into your mind,

And when you find one that you like,

Hop on board.

This seemed so funny to Isla that she immediately saw an enormous polar bear on ice skates dancing its way across a frozen pond.

It was quickly followed by a small boat floating in the clouds.

She chuckled as she saw her sister playing in a muddy puddle,

And then noticed books all jumbled together on a library shelf.

The last image was of a line of reindeer disappearing into a forest,

Steam rising from their nostrils and their tails held high.

Isla had always wanted to see a reindeer.

Wait,

She called,

I want to come too,

And she felt herself land lightly in the snow,

But it did not feel like snow,

More like that feeling of being covered in bubbles,

When there are more bubbles than water in your bath.

And as she found herself in a clearing,

The reindeer were waiting for her.

Climb aboard,

Said the voice in her heart,

And the largest reindeer bent down as she approached it,

Its huge silky antlers bowing down to the snow.

Isla climbed on and hugged its huge neck,

Clinging tight with her legs,

As the reindeer all trotted through the moonlit snow,

Sometimes leaping over fallen logs,

Weaving through piney trees,

Deeper and deeper into the forest.

And it was the gentle sound of hooves and breath on that night,

The smell of the reindeer,

And the gentle swaying of her body that filled the spaces where time once was.

Isla did not know how long she was travelling,

And nor did she mind.

Maybe it was just minutes,

Or maybe it was hours,

Before the stars shone even higher above them,

And she could see a huge lake spreading out before her,

Far into the distance.

The lake was frozen.

By the edge of the lake,

The reindeers formed a circle around a small mound,

Their heads held low,

Silent and still.

Isla slid off her reindeer,

And kissed its warm muzzle gently.

She turned to where they were all looking.

In the centre,

A young reindeer lay on the ice.

Its breathing was heavy,

Its body shook with cold,

Its eyes were closed.

But as Isla approached it,

It tried to raise its head,

Sensing her presence,

And its body began to shake even more.

They're there,

Said Isla.

She was at first frightened by what she saw,

But her concern for the young reindeer prompted her to place a soothing warm hand on its shoulder,

Just like her mother did for her,

Cradling her up against her heart.

Isla sensed the young reindeer had injured its leg,

And had lain here for many hours,

And as she pressed her hand to its heart,

She felt the cold flow all through her body.

She sensed the animal's pain,

And her thoughts became jumbled with all of the reindeer's panic.

Yet as she turned around,

She felt the circle of reindeer around her,

Sensed that they were all here to help.

Had they brought her here for a reason,

She wondered?

What do I need to do,

She asked herself,

And the words came at once.

Isla,

You are made of starlight,

You are made of pure love,

It's the energy that creates worlds,

It's the energy that's created everything,

And it is yours to do with as you wish.

Isla moved in closer,

Where all stardust she whispered to the reindeer,

And in that moment,

She was surrounded by the swirling of beautiful colors,

And with that sense of wonder,

She saw a tiny light begin to flow from her fingertips,

And felt them tingle with warmth,

And in that moment,

Isla knew she could make it even stronger,

Just by allowing that light to flow,

Flow through her fingers,

Just like turning on a tap.

It felt so good to let all that love inside her shine,

And as she looked at the baby,

She imagined it once more running through the forest,

Long-legged and skippity,

Just as it should be.

She felt its body grow warm,

With each slow breath she took,

Its heartbeat became steady,

And perhaps it was just a moment,

Or maybe much longer,

For time does not matter in those beautiful places,

But Isla shone her light to all that were there,

The young ones and the old,

The rocks and the sky,

The wind and the earth,

And the frozen water,

And the light shone so bright on that still white ice,

That it could be seen far out into space.

The young reindeer opened its eyes,

Licked its dry lips,

And raised itself awkwardly,

Slipping and sliding on unsteady feet,

Until it stood once more.

Isla clapped her hands that tingled with starlight,

She took a big deep breath,

And blew her steamy breath towards the baby reindeer.

It took a step towards her,

Gave itself a shake,

And nuzzled up against her.

All the reindeer drew in close now,

And Isla knew her work was done,

For the first time in her life,

She felt light and free,

She thought of her family and friends,

And knew that it was time to go home,

Placing her hands on her heart,

She whispered,

I am made of starlight,

And she felt her whole body tingle as she looked out across the lake,

The forests,

The reindeer,

And the frozen earth,

And knew that the light that creates all,

Was in everything she could see.

She still felt that light when she awoke the next morning,

Heard its voice gently whispering,

It's time to shine,

And Isla shone her light in many magical ways,

And just like you,

She used it for healing,

For dancing,

For chasing dragons across the night sky,

Sometimes she used it for laughter and mischief,

But most of all,

Isla knew her gift could help her bring more kindness and love into the world,

And maybe you'll remember when you need to feel it,

Placing your hands on your heart,

And letting your light and love flow,

And what magical adventures will you discover tonight,

With stardust lighting the way,

With eyes gently closed,

You might hear a voice say jump on board,

When it feels right,

As your adventures appear before your eyes,

Breathe deep,

Breathe slow,

Your heart beat just right,

Warm and soft,

For your dreams come from starlight,

And your pure love,

You're one with the stars,

The earth,

And the moon,

You're one with the rocks,

And water,

And wind,

An earth mother far below,

She beats in her heart too,

As you allow your starlight to shine,

Drifting and dreaming,

The light of the stars.

Reviews

Wonderful i fell asleep in half the meditation pls make MORE!!!!!!!!!! SO GOOD🧘‍♀️ !!! P.S. definitely make more!!!!!

Hi Chrissy, Thankyou for this lovely story. Your voice is so peaceful & relaxing so inevitably I fell promptly to 😴. I shall listen again to this Reindeer Tale. Léna frm Myrt' NthE Vic. 😌🌻🐱🐱

Thank you!!!!!👩🏾🌌🦌

We used to listen to Uri and the Dragon every night. So fun to hear another story from the group. I hope there are more in this collection