Midnight Reverie: Riding With The Mystical Icelandic Horse

Join me, Clara, as your guide on an immersive journey leading you toward a night of peaceful sleep. Experience the enchanting South Icelandic countryside from the saddle of an Icelandic horse, traversing varied landscapes to reach a stunning volcanic beach. Engage in this immersive experience, embracing the natural serenity as you connect with Glimmer, the Icelandic horse, amidst the captivating landscape. Let the vivid visualizations transport you deep into nature's embrace, offering a tranquil and magical escape into the unspoken connection between rider and horse

Transcript

Hi,

This is Clara and I'm glad you joined me for this guided sleep story.

This episode aims to provide a peaceful and calming environment,

Blending storytelling,

Meditation,

Natural sounds and soothing music to help you unwind and achieve restful sleep.

In this episode we'll explore the dramatic South Icelandic countryside,

Riding on an Icelandic horse,

Traversing diverse landscapes and eventually finding ourselves on a volcanic beach.

Before we begin the visualization,

Let your breath carry you into relaxation.

Nice,

Slow,

Even breaths,

Making space for this time for calm or sleep.

Deep breath in,

Hold for a few moments and release.

Another deep inhale,

Hold and release.

As you breathe deeply,

Let your inhales bring peace to the body and your slow exhales bring calm to your mind.

Listening to the flow of your breath helps guide you into a deeper state of relaxation.

When the intention is to relax the mind,

It's important to allow your body to become as relaxed as possible,

Limiting physical distractions from head to toe.

Encourage your body to relax just a bit more.

Feel your head tilt slightly forward or backward as you take pressure off your neck.

Feel your shoulders slump to relieve stiffness.

Feel your chest become more loose and relaxed with each breath.

Notice now that your back has softened and that your limbs have become loose.

With a relaxed body,

I'd like you to detach even further from distractions,

Ignoring outside sounds and physical sensations.

Direct your focus entirely onto my voice and the experience I'm about to guide you through.

Originating from the Viking settlers during the 9th and 10th centuries,

The Icelandic horse is praised for its unique characteristics that distinguish it in the equine world.

Technically classified as a pony due to its size,

It warrants the classification of a horse due to its strength,

Resilience and spirited nature.

These horses come in various shades including chestnut,

Bay,

Black,

Grey,

Palomino,

Roan,

Dun and pinto and possess thick flowing manes and tails.

The Icelandic horse has deep almond set eyes which seem to communicate a promise of connection and trust.

When you approach one,

It exudes gentleness and kindness.

A stroke on the head prompts the horse to press its muzzle against your arm.

In a wordless display of companionship,

The sure-footedness of the Icelandic horse aligns with its distinct gait called the tolt.

Like walking,

This agile gait embodies a four beat rhythm with lateral and diagonal movements,

Maintaining constant contact with the ground,

Usually with one or two feet,

Ensures a ride free of suspension,

Providing outstanding comfort.

This gait not only offers a smooth journey but also instills riders with a feeling of stability and balance,

Ensuring both horse and rider cross the varying grounds of Iceland safely and confidently.

You've been staying at a remote horse farm in a scenic corner of southern Iceland.

The dramatic scenery here features awe inspiring vistas,

Towering mountains in the distance with snow-covered peaks set against rolling hillsides covered with emerald green moss.

The people who own this farm have asked you to join them for a horseback riding adventure and you've said yes.

After a delicious breakfast,

You head towards the stables.

Excited about the ride ahead,

It's a cloudy day with a slightly warm,

Comfortable breeze.

As you approach the stables,

The welcoming farmhands meet you at the gate with smiles.

They show you your partner for the day who's all settled up and patiently waiting.

She's a beautiful grey Icelandic horse named Glimmer with a thick,

Long,

Dark grey mane and tail and a crescent-shaped white marking on her forehead.

After the farm attendants introduce you,

They share a few stories about Glimmer's sure-footedness,

Assuring you she'll be a great partner on this ride.

When you stroke her neck,

There's a feeling of an unspoken understanding that forms between both of you.

Stepping closer to Glimmer,

You prepare to mount.

The leather creaks softly under your weight as you settle into the saddle.

Then,

You adjust the stirrups,

Making sure they match the length of your legs.

You're ready now.

Secure in the saddle,

With the familiarity of the reins resting in your palms,

Glimmer stands,

Waiting to go.

With a gentle nudge and a soft command,

The group sets off in unison.

Following a broad path across the valley,

It feels sheltered with the towering mountains surrounding you.

Glimmer's confident gait effortlessly carries you forward,

Each step resonating with a shared sense of adventure and wonder.

The beauty of this untamed land,

Cradled between ancient geographical formations,

Inspires a sense of humility and awe.

As you continue along the trail,

Your attention is suddenly drawn to a field nearby.

A herd of horses stands there and their eyes widen with surprise at the sight of you and Glimmer.

With a sudden burst of energy,

They toss their heads and gallop away.

Their thundering hooves echo through the valley and they kick up a cloud of powdery volcanic soil as the dust settles.

You wonder if those wild horses were real or just something you imagined.

Could they have been a mystical vision created by the mysterious energy of this valley?

The old stories about elusive creatures add an extra layer of magic to this already fantastic place.

Meanwhile,

The other riders have vanished into the landscape too,

Leaving you alone with Glimmer.

The transition into solitude doesn't faze you at all.

In fact,

It feels like a natural progression of the journey.

You have complete confidence in Glimmer's ability to navigate this terrain and being alone in this wild landscape resonates with you.

The sensation of solitude brings on a feeling of oneness with the landscape.

As you ride on,

You savor the deeper level of connection to nature that being alone allows.

And yet,

In this moment,

A tinge of unease flits through you.

Glimmer's stride is lively and quick.

You're moving fast,

Almost too fast.

You allow yourself to relax and surrender to the rhythm of Glimmer's gait.

And before long,

You experience flight.

Without wings,

The feeling evolves into an exhilarating sense of weightlessness and freedom.

You forget where your body ends and where the horse begins.

You're merged together,

Bonded by trust and honesty.

The shared journey becomes an extraordinary communion between two beings.

Entwined,

A silent language of unity and unspoken understanding.

You arrive at a wide,

Shallow creek.

The bottom of which is covered with large,

Smooth rocks.

But your horse only slows down to cross without a stumble.

The water splashes on your face and feels cold,

Yet refreshing.

The landscape now transforms into a vibrant expanse of wild lupine and towering grasses swaying in the gentle breeze.

Your gaze drifts downwards and you notice your boots in the stirrups,

Suspended above the clouds of purple and white flowers.

The path is totally obscured by this vegetation,

But Glimmer knows exactly where to tread.

The muffled hoofbeats create a hypnotic tempo in the quiet,

Solitary landscape.

The mountains,

The river and the vast expanse of wildflowers are behind you now.

In front of you is a barren,

Windswept,

Volcanic plain.

The endless expanse that sprawls before you seems to transcend earthly bounds.

You could be on another planet with no visual reference other than the gray sky and the black soil.

The pace increases.

This time when you look down,

You see dust exploding from Glimmer's hooves.

The forceful impact of them against the earth launches dust particles into the air,

Billowing in swirling clouds.

The gritty,

Fine particle scatter into the atmosphere like wisps of smoke rising from the ground,

Casting an ethereal aura around your journey through the otherworldly landscape.

You hang on,

Enjoying the speed and the wind on your face and now the smell of the sea which appears behind some dunes in the distance.

The sand becomes softer and deeper the nearer you get to the sea,

Making it challenging for Glimmer to go through.

So you get off and walk together,

Slowly,

To the beach.

The gray sea breaks gently on the black sand,

Leaving behind a dramatic line of white foam.

The horizon shrouds itself in a gentle haze,

Creating a seamless fusion where the sea and the sky merge,

Welded together without a joint.

While walking along the beach,

Nature's treasures reveal themselves.

A colossal bleached jawbone of a whale rests on the sands,

Accompanied by scattered driftwood.

A flock of seabirds standing on the shore,

Silently observant.

You stop and sit on the sand.

You listen to the soft sound of the surf.

In the calm embrace of this deserted volcanic peach,

Accompanied by Glimmer,

Harmony with nature washes away the significance of time,

Worries about being left behind.

Dissolve into insignificance and the urgency to return vanishes.

For now,

This desolate shore shifts into a sanctuary,

Fostering a blissful communion with nature,

Echoing the unspoken unity shared between horse and rider.

Reviews

The story was wonderful, at least the part I was awake for.

Such a beautiful and soothing voice. I also find the gaps between Clara’s sentences help me nod off every time. Really lovely work, will be exploring Clara’s entire collection of tracks.