Welcome to this guided sleep meditation called Story of the Hedgehog.
Let's begin in your bedroom.
Please prepare your pillow.
Squeeze it tight.
Make a dreamy pillow tonight.
Settle into bed now.
Closing one eye for the hedgehog.
Closing the next eye for the story to begin.
Let your eyes inside go round and round,
Looking for hedgehogs.
Then oh so very quiet,
Rest and listen to the story of this young,
Young hedgehog.
I start an adventure today.
I am young and mother has taught me well.
Being alone is nothing to do with being alone.
I am an explorer,
A forager and an adventurous hedgehog.
I am aware of giants,
The humans who smile at me.
I have seen my reflection.
I am unusually sweet.
Prickly is my armour,
Eyes and nose as sweet as a rose.
I can smell food a mile in any direction.
I never wonder.
I know where I do go.
My first day of freedom,
For I follow no one.
As I grow,
I take up more of this land.
A land lover.
I do not climb,
Nor fly or swim.
I get caught in the human world,
Just as much as the others.
These being all animals near and far.
The nature,
Yes,
The seasons,
Very much so.
I shall hibernate yearly before the snow.
My body clock awakens as the sun does set.
Lots of fleas on me,
You see.
Mother nature made me this way.
Having my own protection is my curl-up prickly ball.
If I were human,
Well,
I would probably like to go shopping and fill my basket with lovely meals and treats.
Go on a big holiday,
On a plane of course.
Read a book whilst sitting in a sunny chair.
Have a birthday party with lots of friends and family.
Sleep in a fluffy bed with my own fluffy pillow.
But the outdoors is my greatest love.
Seasons come and go each year.
All the colours of the rainbow.
The rain is exciting and playful.
The wind speaks many languages to me.
But snow?
Well,
That's time for me to go and sleep a lot.
Imagine if I went down a snow hill.
I would turn into a snowball.
I'll just be me,
Knee hedgehog.
Now,
My mother taught me well.
Today I explore for fruits that have fallen.
My nose is like a compass.
Plus,
Some important journeys,
I carry down the family dream.
In fact,
Proper gardeners welcome me to remove unwanted grubs nestling amongst their own produce.
I hear the new craze,
Humans buying hedgehog hotels,
Offering winter retreats,
Away from the harshness of winter.
Some fresh dry hay is added inside.
The sun does not shine inside.
There are no windows,
You see.
And so deeply I shall enter into this winter sleep.
To the point my heart beats steady and slow.
Once I've fattened up for winter away.
You may have noticed we don't adventure,
Adventure together,
Unless it's with Mother,
Learning the skills of the great outdoors.
The scenery is amazing.
Even raindrops that remain on the tree branches and leaves,
How they sparkle like glass Christmas lights,
Stay there they do all day long.
And to see a rainbow,
I would have to lay on my back to take it all in and wish for the good things in a hedgehog life,
That I was born to be just me.
There is something,
Something I really love,
And that's the kindness of you.
I'm sure if you start talking to me,
You might turn into a hedgehog too.
Anything is possible in dreams.
Right then,
I'm going to show you around the outdoors.
You'll soon get used to looking like me.
We don't have to walk slow,
We can run a little,
Especially when full of delicious fruits with lots of energy.
Maybe you can tell me about winter,
And tell me what fun I miss playing outdoors.
This I can add to my dreams.
I want to know what it tastes like,
And how cold it is,
And what you make with it.
And then I shall share my spring,
My summer and autumn with you.
It's time,
Time for you to continue this magical dream.
Goodnight to you both.
Have a great hedgehog dream.
