Into The Velvet Hollow: A Mystical Sleepy Journey

Bewitching and deeply soothing, "Into the Velvet Hollow" is an evocative bedtime story for grown-ups, drawing inspiration from the spectral charm and ancient mists. Travel through the heart of a Hudson Valley forest in the 19th century to the Luminous Haven, a sanctuary where your ancestors' magic ensures a night of profoundly restorative sleep.

Encounter beguiling visions and healing souls in this fantastical story. This journey is your perfect escape from the ordinary world, offering unparalleled anxiety relief and acting as a powerful sleep aid with a hint of magic. It's time to dream away.

Transcript

As you fall asleep tonight,

The mystique of All Hallows' Eve awaits.

Stirred by the ancient mists and moonlit tales of the enchanted Velvet Hollow,

Travel back in time and beyond the veil to enjoy fantastical encounters before arriving at an ancestral haven tucked deep within the woods.

Welcome to Michelle's Sanctuary.

I'm Michelle and I hope my voice brings waves of magic and comfort and captures the essence of the autumn season.

As you settle,

Think of me as a whimsical friend,

Helping you to reconnect with the playful spirit of your younger self during this delicate crossing between wakefulness and slumber.

This sleep story is inspired by the ethereal energy of the Hudson Valley and the folklore surrounding the legend of Sleepy Hollow.

I grew up in a community named after Washington Irving's tale,

Spending much of my childhood in a house on Haunted Circle.

The beguiling names and energy of my upbringing certainly captured my imagination as a young girl,

And I thought it would make for a fun sleepy escape.

As you settle in,

Know you can customize this experience however you wish,

And fall asleep at any time.

You are listening to Into the Velvet Hollow,

A sleep story that speaks directly to the soul,

Stirred by the ancient mists and moonlit tales of All Hallows' Eve,

And the profound spectral influence of the Hudson Valley's oldest hideaways.

Tonight,

We travel beyond the veil into the deep,

Quiet folds of the Catskill Mountains on a mystical autumn night in the early 19th century.

This journey begins as your horse's hooves land upon the soft,

Deep earth of Velvet Hollow,

Where the air is immediately heavy with a sweet,

Cool scent of vibrant,

Decaying leaves and damp,

Undisturbed moss.

The humming glow of the will of the wisps calmly illuminates your journey,

And leads you to the healing mother of the forest,

Who offers guidance in the moonlight.

Velvet Hollow is a reminder of the hope that may be found beyond the temporal world,

Where everything dances in peace and harmony.

The comforting and enveloping lush purples and blacks of nightfall give way to the luminous haven,

Which pulses with a serene glow that welcomes you home.

This dwelling is woven from the magic of your own lineage,

To offer eternal sanctuary from the ordinary world.

While asleep beneath stars in a protective home cloaked in mist and wrapped in the peaceful silence that your ancestors carefully preserved just for you,

It's time to dream away.

Journey inward as you settle in the sanctuary of your room and mind.

Invite in a gentle stillness,

Allowing your breath to become the magic that carries you away.

Draw in the cool air deliberately,

Sensing the crisp,

Damp fragrance of this nineteenth-century night that carries the scent of fallen apples and wet stone.

Then,

Let out a casual sigh,

Feeling the ease of releasing today's thoughts as you become lighter and more open to sleepy adventures.

Inhale and then expel another long,

Easing breath,

Washing away all restlessness as the very spirit of the Hudson Valley stirs within you.

As you breathe inward,

Welcome the invigorating pure air,

Feeling it become soft and warm within your chest.

And as you exhale,

Imagine the walls of your room dissolving,

Giving way to the gentle darkness of all Hallow's Eve as I count us down.

Five,

Tune into the subtle,

Rhythmic sound of your horse's hooves carrying you on to the old,

Forgotten path.

A sound that is already beginning to soften into silence.

Four,

An absolute certainty of safety and belonging guides you as your body attunes itself to the profound,

Mist-cloaked,

Timeless quiet of Velvet Hollow.

Three,

Cascading streams of gentle,

Inward warmth flow through you,

Spreading like the protective,

Serene glow of the luminous haven in the distance.

Feel this profound peace saturate every layer of your body.

Two,

This stillness settles into every part of you,

Tracing down your spine,

Across the front of your body,

Down your arms and legs,

Leaving a blissful warmth in your hands and feet.

One,

Connect with the unbroken quietude of the mystical woods.

Your eyelids are closed,

And your breathing softens back to its most effortless,

Comforting pattern as the story begins.

At the turn of the 19th century,

Just a short journey above the bustling city of New York,

Farmlands and rustic cottages dappled the Hudson Valley in its undeveloped land.

It was a mystical getaway for affluent families seeking refuge from city life.

Drawn by horse and carriage before the advent of convenient train travel.

Around 1805,

One such family found a peaceful new home in the region.

It was their imaginative five-year-old son,

Samuel,

Who first named the spot,

Struck by the extraordinary visual and sensory experience of the fading light,

As the deep purples and lush blacks of the autumnal twilight settled over the dense,

Foggy woods.

He described the sight as a soft,

Heavy blanket and whispered to his mother that the entire valley was wrapped in velvet.

And so their ancestral hideaway was named,

Forever carrying the comforting texture and hue of that magical fading light,

Velvet Hollow.

Now,

Twenty years later,

You find yourself in this magical hamlet with modest cabins and cottages along small farms and orchards.

A thin veil of mist rises above the muddied road that leads to Velvet Hollow,

As candles are placed in windowsills and the sun slips away as the festivities of All Hallows' Eve begin.

For most,

It is an intimate affair,

Full of reverence and silent dinners with beloved ones,

Conjuring memories of ancestors no longer in the mortal plane.

But for others,

There's just a hint of the celebratory nature the holiday will bring in the centuries to come,

Where potatoes in lieu of pumpkins are carved and turned into lanterns.

The folklore of Irving's Legend of Sleepy Hollow has had a wide influence,

Expanding traditions beyond those of Scottish and Irish immigrants,

As evidenced by the prevalence of harvest feasts and bonfires,

As well as the carving of root vegetables into lanterns.

Young,

Eager,

And unmarried dreamers use this time to find future forecasts for their love lives.

Maidens dressed in their most festive gowns gaze into the mirrored images of dark pools of water along the Velvet Hollow stream,

Filled with the hope for a moonlit reveal of their future spouse.

Others,

Who are already coupled,

Find divinations in a playful game,

Gathering by the fire and inquiring if their love will last.

They place two nuts carefully on a grate or hearth,

Watching them roast.

A vibrant burn signals everlasting love and longevity,

While a nut that cracks,

Pops,

And hisses predicts that something may go awry.

But the strong-willed souls of Velvet Hollow merely enjoy these festive games and gatherings with a sense of fun and glee.

Already they know their resilience and strength,

Having carved out a life during precarious times.

They all deeply believe that the precious resources of this timeless hollow will always provide what they need,

Be it spiritual or physical.

You are carried forward by your horse's soft,

Steady gait.

Kept warm inside your long-wool cape against the crisp,

Earthy snap of the night air.

Overhead,

The stars begin to bloom in the darkness as the opal moon ascends to the sky.

It's like catching the silvery,

Dense mist that hovers above the ground.

Your horse,

Usually so sure,

Slows her pace,

Feeling the first quiet pull of the Velvet Hollow's magic.

One of your hands holds the reins,

Wrapped loosely around your palm,

While the other carefully grips the smooth wood of an ancient,

Softly glowing lantern that spreads a gentle orange-gold light before you.

You come to the edge of the thick forest,

Where the looming trees merge like a mystical,

Carved archway.

Over the narrow path,

Deep into the woods,

The low mist slithers along the ground,

Ebbing and flowing like an incoming tide,

And you can almost hear it whisper soft assurances that you are on the right path.

Passing beneath this natural archway,

You cross the quiet threshold and enter into a hidden realm where the rules of the conventional world gently dissolve,

And the fantastical begins to softly emerge.

Your horse settles,

So trustworthy beneath you as you ride on.

The trees above shed their final rust and scarlet-hued leaves,

Which swirl around the path.

It is a carpet of fallen foliage,

So deep and soft that your horse's hooves now tread with a muffled,

Cushioned landing.

The canvas of stars peeks through the barren limbs that wind up like fingers grasping at the moon.

The air now thrums with a subtle,

Yet palpable energy that causes your skin to tingle and your ears to perk up as you become fully immersed in the heart of the velvet hollow and its beguiling offerings.

The dim,

Orange-gold light of your lantern is no longer needed as the true,

Vibrant illumination of the hollow takes over,

Dancing just ahead of you.

In the deep purple-black velvet expanse,

The will-o'-the-wisps appear,

These hopeful miniature spheres of pure,

Radiant energy.

Frosty blue,

Lavender,

Emerald,

And soft gold sparks that weave in the intricate,

Silent path deeper into the woods.

They are your welcoming committee,

Flickering and zipping with playful,

Protective speed,

Guiding your way.

These phantom lights are always present in Velvet Hollow at night,

But even more abundant and ubiquitous on All Hallows' Eve.

The benevolent guides help lead those who are welcome in the woodlands to its cherished hideaways and keepers of its magic.

As the path follows the soft gurgle of the stream,

You catch sight of the first signs of the night's rituals.

Two young maidens,

Donned in velvet capes,

Are giggling nervously.

They kneel on the mossy bank of a pool that has formed from the babbling stream.

Their faces,

Pale in the moonlight,

Are reflected in the dark,

Glassy pool of water.

They are utterly focused on their quiet act of divination,

Searching the mirrored surface for a fleeting vision of their future love.

Their hushed excitement and shared hope add a joyful,

Light energy to this enchanting night.

You pass them silently,

A respectful guest that goes unnoticed,

Recognizing this time of hopeful seeking.

The will-o'-the-wisps multiply into a cloud of benevolent sparks dashing through the darkness.

These more vibrant hues,

Ruby,

Amethyst,

Aquamarine,

And teal lead you away from the stream.

Drawing you toward a majestic,

Tall sycamore tree.

It is ancient and broad,

And its energy feels as old as the mountains themselves.

From its nearly barren branches,

Small glowing orbs hang.

Coming closer,

You see these lanterns are carved from smooth,

Pale turnips and rough earthen potatoes.

They cast warm,

Flickering patterns on the forest floor,

A simple protective magic woven from the harvest to keep out any negativity.

Nestled into the wide,

Shadowed base of the tree is a seamless cut in the trunk that reveals a door that would be invisible were it not for the faint,

Gilded light spilling from the cracks.

This is the secret home of Adeline,

The healing mother of the forest.

You guide your horse to the edge of the stream,

Where the giggles of maidens may be ever-so-softly heard amidst the soundtrack of rushing water.

Your mare settles without pause,

Lowering her head to lap from the crystalline,

Cold water.

The act of tending to your horse brings a smile to your face,

And a warmth of gratitude to your heart as you admire her moonlit mane.

Your loving gaze is interrupted by a faint click,

And the door within the tree trunk opens.

Adeline steps out,

Her face framed by the gentle light,

And her smile radiating a deep,

Knowing peace.

She is wrapped in simple burgundy wool,

Yet she seems to be woven from the very earth and mist around her.

Her hair is long and wild,

Glistening silvery white waves that reflect the moonlight.

Welcome,

My child,

She murmurs,

Her voice like the slow,

Steady current of the stream.

I've been eagerly waiting for your arrival.

She holds out a wooden chalice,

Rough-hewn and warm to the touch.

Steam rises from the liquid within,

Carrying the beautiful,

Complex scent of cinnamon,

Cloves,

Apple,

And wild chamomile.

It is a potent,

Comforting,

Autumnal tonic.

You take the chalice,

The warmth immediately soothing your chilled fingers.

Adeline raises a hand in a gentle gesture of welcome,

And offers a quiet toast to the night,

To the thinnest veil,

And to the visitors who find their way to her.

You sip the silky beverage.

It is rich,

Sweet,

And leaves a tingling warmth in your chest.

The healing mother invites you to step inside her home beneath the earth.

The space is small,

Round,

And utterly devoted to the practice of peace and healing.

The air inside is thick,

With a pure,

Fragrant steam of mountain herbs.

In the center of the room,

Built directly into the packed earth floor,

Rests a large,

Black iron cauldron.

Beneath the cauldron,

Small,

Bright flames dance.

And from the brew,

A thick,

Sweet-smelling steam rises,

Coiling and swirling.

As the flames flicker,

Tiny sparks ascend,

Winking out like miniature shooting stars in the dim room.

The scent here is exquisite.

A dense blend of sweet pine pitch,

Crushed lavender,

Wood smoke,

And a sharp,

Invigorating scent of ancient,

Clean magic.

Adeline gestures toward the cauldron.

You feel the truth of her quiet knowledge settle into you.

Her voice a melodic sound against the pops and crackles of the burning logs.

She lets you know that in Velvet Hollow,

Time does not exist as you know it.

There is no past or future here.

All moments are one,

Happening at once.

And because you exist in this boundless space,

Adeline shares a vision of the lineage,

But all the other times are existing just beyond the veil.

And in this space,

Adeline reveals that in 1820,

Healers like her prefer the quiet,

Protected shadows of the Hollow.

For the most recent centuries have been unkind to their presumed witchcraft,

But the secrecy will not last forever.

One day,

Her great-great-great granddaughters,

Ava,

Cora,

And Carla,

Will embrace the title of witch without fear.

They will be the generation to shed the need for hiding,

Spreading the family's powerful light and healing to all who come to their cottage,

No longer afraid to shine.

Adeline assures you that your ancestors,

The gentle guardians of your lineage,

Are not ghosts in the past,

But active presences in the single,

Magical now.

They are not judging or watching with scrutiny.

They are merely beaming their proud,

Hopeful love directly to you.

They understand the human journey,

And all its missteps and opportunities to learn and grow.

And they admire the steps that you have taken.

She invites you to approach the cauldron.

The steam is now rising to a smooth,

Glossy surface.

The color of clover honey,

Shimmering in autumn sunlight.

This is your connection to their love and their hope,

Adeline whispers.

Focus your energy not on worry,

But on healing,

Happiness,

And joy.

As you gaze into the surface,

She guides you to recall and feel one memory of pure,

Unbridled fun.

A burst of carefree laughter that still echoes with the thrilling discovery of a new passion.

The surface of the brew shimmers with that image.

A jewel-toned flash of joy that you were and still are.

Adeline smiles,

Her face a serene map of knowing support.

Her sparkling violet eyes awaken a great sense of being alive.

Electrified by the wonders of this fleeting moment.

She implores you to ask your heart one single question,

Whatever it is you wish to know about your life.

She urges you to take a moment and breathe deeply,

So that this question comes from a place of clarity and hope.

You ask your question.

The one quiet wish you carry for your future,

Your life,

Or your purpose.

The glossy surface of the brew stirs gently.

It parts the surface of the rippling liquid,

And an image begins to form.

Not as a literal answer,

But as a feeling,

A promise.

A vibrant,

Moving vision of blissful success,

Deep contentment,

And bright,

Easy laughter.

A future more hopeful and inspiring than you had ever dared to conceive.

The vision is pure energy,

A perfect blueprint of your highest good.

Celebrating what you have perhaps,

Secretly,

Always considered your greatest talent.

Adeline chuckles softly,

Her eyes twinkling,

And once more seems to understand.

Seeing the secrets you've held,

With the same ease you discovered her secret home in Velvet Hollow.

For a moment,

You consider that you know her from a dream,

Or from another time.

She seems to read your mind as she answers,

Perhaps you have,

My child.

The deepest love and the greatest protection transcend the ordinary timeline of a human life.

The healing mother moves to a shelf lined with dried herbs and smooth river stones.

She takes down a patchwork quilt,

Thick and heavy,

One of many lush blankets arranged on these shelves.

It seems to sparkle in the dim light that catches its ruby red,

Amethyst purple,

Emerald green,

And sapphire blue patterns.

She drapes the heavy,

Warm quilt over your shoulders.

Upon closer inspection,

You see symbols and images stitched into the fabric that tell the positive,

Magical story of your own life.

With each comforting square,

Your most positive and uplifting memories come flooding back,

Settling deep into your bones.

You wear it well,

The surprise token of appreciation and guidance.

Some pieces remain mysterious,

But Adeline insists you will come to understand them in time when you return to life beyond the Hollow.

You thank Adeline the warmth of the tonic and the quilt,

A profound comfort against the cold of the night.

Go now and rest in the peace of your lineage,

She instructs,

Giving you a gentle,

Maternal push toward the door.

The haven awaits.

You emerge from the base of the ancient oak,

The will-o'-the-wisp returning to escort you.

You quietly fetch your horse and she rises calmly from the stream,

Now refreshed and ready to proceed.

You get a sense that there was some presence here,

Keeping her calm,

Keeping her company.

You continue for only a short distance,

Led by the concentrated swarm of magical lights.

Suddenly,

The deep forest gives way to a small hidden clearing,

The true heart of the storybook forest hamlet,

Where several simple,

Modest stone cottages and low,

Rustic farmhouses are settled into the dark earth.

Their chimneys emit thin wisps of cozy wood smoke,

And their windows hold the gentle,

Flickering light of a few tallow candles.

This is the secluded community of Velvet Hollow.

And without any words spoken or any explanation,

You instantly recognize the luminous haven.

It stands out against the simplicity of the hamlet,

With an almost impossible beauty.

It is anachronistic in the finest way,

A structure that seems to shimmer pearly white,

With a vibrant aura around it.

It is built of smooth,

Opalescent stone,

And vast curved windows of heavy crystalline glass.

That shouldn't exist in 1825.

It radiates a serene,

Moonstone light that makes the surrounding mist glow a pure silver.

It feels like a blend of the future and the ancient past,

A house built of celestial dreams.

You dismount,

Guiding your horse contentedly into a small stable.

You step toward the haven.

The door is heavy,

Carved from a single piece of light wood,

And it swings open silently,

Inviting you into this heavenly dwelling.

The scent inside is immediate and powerful,

Elevating your mood with the notes of pure,

Clean air,

Deep lavender,

Cedar,

And an otherworldly perfume that brings instant peace.

The interior is illuminated by an internal glow that emanates from the walls and surfaces,

Creating no shadows.

And while radiant,

It's still nocturnal and soothing in a way.

In the center,

Where a hearth should be,

A fire glows in an ivory enclosure.

It is the quiet,

Perfect contained light of the ancestral magic,

And it brings with it an instantaneous,

Deep sense of calm.

You feel utterly safe,

Utterly protected.

This is the refuge,

Created by your own lineage.

And the familiar energy of those you have known,

And those you may have heard about down the line,

Is joined by the energy of souls way back,

Cheering you on silently.

The contentedness is followed by a long,

Inescapable yawn.

All you need is in this haven,

And with grace and ease,

You make your way through the routine motions of preparing for sleep.

And yet,

At the same time,

Nothing feels routine about it.

And as you change out of your cape and boots and heavy layers and soft-footed pajamas,

You feel as if you are drifting in a dream.

You walk to a bed that appears to be floating,

Strung from the gleaming white beams,

And the room gradually dims on its own.

You settle in with a heavy,

Jewel-toned patchwork quilt pulled up to your chin.

The scent of wood smoke,

Decaying leaves,

And new magic settles around you.

And here,

In Velvet Hollow,

You are held safe by the love of your ancestors.

Your body is heavy,

Your mind is clear,

And your spirit is light.

You are wrapped in the peaceful silence that has been carefully preserved just for you,

Trusting in the vibrant future that awaits.

But for now,

That future is but a dream,

A night of healing slumber.

Fighting enchantment.

Fighting.

Reviews

Perfect, thank you so much Michelle!
Wishing you a very happy Thanksgiving! 💙💙

Thank you 🙏 kindly Michelle for this Hallowed Eve bedtime story. I had it on repeat but don’t recall much as I fell sound asleep and only woke up once. Autumn 🍁 is fading fast with blustery winds and freezing temperatures at night! Winter is hovering close by and snow ❄️ is definitely on the horizon! Looking forward to listening to this again! 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

Had a restful hallows sleep last night.
Thanks for sharing 🙏

Another great story & how fun to have the house in a tree trunk. Thank you, Michelle.

Great story, as always. But I would expect nothing expect great from a sleep story or meditation from you. I fell right to sleep which I'd rarely lately

Was soon asleep with this one. Will be listening to it again thank you . Subscription renewed for another year too love this app x