Fall asleep in tonight's sleep meditation story as you relax and take this time for a mental vacation.
You are listening to The Overwater Villa in the Maldives,
A bedtime story that will take you to an island bungalow on the aquamarine waters of the Indian Ocean.
To the companion of your choice,
You come to an island by a small motorboat.
You spend the afternoon in paradise snorkeling and exploring the vibrant,
Magical underwater life.
At day's end,
You retreat to the villa to watch the fiery sunset and enjoy tropical delicacies.
You wash away the day in an outdoor shower beneath the velvety celestial sky and crescent moon.
You retreat to your simple yet luxurious suite.
Glass flooring surrounds a canopy bed and reveals the aquatic life below.
You float to sleep inspired by the sea.
It's time to dream away.
I would like to welcome you to Michelle's Sanctuary.
I am Michelle and you may think of my voice as that of your dear friend and trusted champion.
I am here to encourage you to take the best care of yourself that you can.
On this voyage,
We will go deep into an aquatic escape where peace is as abundant as crystals of salt in the Indian Ocean.
At times,
You may use your imagination to conjure worry and enhance anxiety.
But your imagination is better used to inspire thoughts of beauty and to self-soothe.
Its power is yours to tame to envision what you most desire in your life.
You have earned this time to embrace all that feels good and celebrate that you have made it through another day.
You deserve rest and respite and the story is here to serve you in any way you desire.
You may customize every experience and you may surrender to sleep at any point.
There is no right or wrong way to do this.
You know what is best for you right now and you may trust yourself completely.
Let's dive into the sanctuary of your room and the sanctuary of your mind.
As you remember that you are in a safe place,
You are free to take in the deepest breath you can and feel your body rise and expand.
Take up all the space you desire and open your mouth and relax your jaw into a great big yawn.
Then sigh and make a sound.
Wiggle out impressions of your day and shake them off.
Sink into the softness of your bed and again take in the deepest breath possible.
Your breath is your vehicle.
You can control it even when things feel out of control.
Run again and signal to your body that it is time to stand down,
That sleep is on the way and blow out your air as if blowing through a straw with pursed lips.
Your exhale becomes visible in a stream of light that begins to sparkle like gold stardust.
Portals come together and form a portal.
With each relaxing breath,
The portal expands.
Brilliant golden light showers you and you feel a gentle tug,
An intuitive desire to enter the light.
Your body begins to float.
A warm electrifying sensation travels from the crown of your head to the soles of your feet.
You gracefully fall through the sky like a feather.
You are in a pristine new world,
Seated on a tiny wooden motorboat with a dear companion of your choice.
Tranquil aquamarine water spans for as far as the eye can see.
The ocean is so clear that you can see the sea floor.
The waves blend into the baby blue sky and you float through these serene,
Soothing colors.
The boat gracefully travels over the gentle waves of the Indian Ocean.
A local guide named Samir navigates the boat beneath the warm sunlight of the afternoon.
You inhale and smell the slightly sweet and salty air.
It is all at once tropical and hypnotic.
You can feel your eyes sparkling with life in the same way that the eyes of your chosen traveling companion shine as well.
The water impurity of the landscape is so pristine and intoxicating that you wonder,
How can this be real?
Up ahead there is an island,
Verdant and lush with a perimeter of powdery,
White sandy beaches.
The old motor of the boat sputters when the guide navigates around the island and suddenly you see the overwater villas that inspired this far off trip to the Maldives.
Long,
Tawny brown docks spread out like fingers from the sandy shore.
At the end of each dock is a private bungalow with a thatched roof.
The bungalows are like coconuts floating on the crystal blue water.
The boat docks and the guide assists you and your companion out of the boat with a hand that has been weathered by the sun and sea.
You feel the rough calluses and strength in his hand.
You look into his brown eyes which feel familiar and trustworthy as if you have met somewhere before.
Samir carefully unloads your bags and carries them as he leads you to your water villa.
You walk down the dock and feel light and delicate like silk floating on a clothesline on a summer breeze.
The sun is intense but the tropical winds soften the heat and you simply feel good.
The dock softly creaks as you walk towards your bungalow,
The deluxe villa exceeds all expectations and the glass French doors of the living room and bedrooms open out over the sea.
Samir leads you into the living room.
Your ivory curtains are like whispers that dance in the breeze and capture the ease of being here.
Like many of the things you will encounter on this perfect day,
They remind you to surrender and go with the flow.
Samir wishes you a wonderful holiday before he departs and returns to his motorboat.
You look to your travel partner and your faces expand into the biggest smiles of gratitude and joy.
The bungalow is constructed of bamboo floors and teak wood walls that lead to high A-frame ceilings.
The subtle salty aroma from the sea marries the fragrant coconut diffusers in the room.
A saltwater pool is steps away from the cream-hued living room sofa.
A waterfall cascades from the pool into the Indian Ocean.
Glass flooring weaves like a wide ribbon through the bamboo planks of the bungalow to reveal the aquamarine water and colorful tropical fish swimming just below.
You are surrounded by water and sky.
A ceiling fan made of palm leaf blades slowly spins and cools the room.
There is a honey brown rattan table where a silver tray sits holding two chilled glasses of tropical juice and a welcome note with your name on it.
You pick up the cream-hued linen cardstock and read aloud the handwritten quote by Mohit Kaushik,
Let the waves carry you where the light cannot.
You pass one of the glasses to your friend and raise the other,
Softly clinking them in a toast to celebrate life and this precious moment.
A cool,
Sweet and tangy drink quenches your thirst as it cascades down your throat.
You salivate from the acidity and continue to finish the fresh and vibrant juice.
With no agenda,
You are free to simply relax and take your time acclimating to the new environment.
While the sun is still high,
You and your companion decide to go snorkeling.
You change into your swimwear and lather yourself with tropical fragranced natural sunscreen.
Near the pool,
You discover a netted bag of snorkeling gear.
You and your companion dip the mask and flippers into the pool so you may easily put them on.
You walk towards the edge of the dock and in tandem you and your loved one jump into the glassy turquoise water.
You float on the surface of the gentle waves.
Half of your body meets the sun-warmed air and the other is immersed in water where air and sea meet.
Your body,
Comprised of more than 90% water,
Cannot feel more natural than it does on this voyage.
It's a reunion with water,
The source of all life.
Your flippers gracefully launch you forward and you swim with ease out towards the coral reefs.
Through your goggles you look at the sandy floor that is tinted blue by the water and endless sky.
Your torso undulates with the waves when you arrive at the reef and stop swimming.
You simply float for a moment and take in the splendor of the underwater world.
Like an artist's palette,
The colors are plentiful.
And some shades you are seeing for the very first time,
Rainbow bouquets of amethyst and fuchsia and teal anemones flow in the tide like dancing gardens.
Mint green sea grass rises from the sandy ocean floor towards the light as it sways to and fro.
The ocean sets the rhythm for this underwater world and it is as gentle and soothing as a loving ballad.
A neon yellow seahorse rises out of the reef like a carousel horse and bobs vertically up and down.
The trumpet-like snout causes you to imagine what music would come out of this mythical creature if it could speak.
Schools of tropical fish,
Some as small as paper clips and others the size of your palm,
Dash around the saffron-hued reef.
Some of these fish have the markings of a tiger.
Others are pearly greens and blues.
Some are as yellow as a canary.
While some are purple and silver striped.
Like listening jewels,
They capture the hues of gemstones from emeralds to opal and topaz and rubies.
You and your companion further investigate as the water rolls over your sun-kissed back like satin sheets.
Your body is light,
Your skin is warm,
And you feel more comfortable than you have in some time.
From head to toe,
Your muscles relax like jelly and the weight of your body is supported by the sea as you simply float.
A green sea turtle swims between you and your companion.
A stream of tiny champagne bubbles floats from its ancient-looking snout.
For over 110 million years,
The sea turtles have inhabited this planet,
Continuing to thrive and adapt.
Their resilience inspires you as you connect with your own resilience.
You have survived many challenges to make it to this moment in time,
Where peace and abundance and beauty unfold before you.
You swim further out to beige and lavender coral,
Dappled by amethyst spines of sea urchins.
A starfish floats in front of you and you extend your palm behind it.
For a moment,
The suction of its little tube feet latch into your hand and it crawls down your arm,
Pleasantly tickling you.
It soon releases and you watch it drift towards the sandy floor.
A bloom of jellyfish appears like Chinese lanterns and you and your companion watch them from afar.
They glow in the late afternoon sun like translucent lilac,
Cerulean blue,
Opal mobiles that spin around in a circle.
Their feathery tentacles are like celebratory streamers that welcome you to this underwater world.
They remind you of balloons floating in the summer sky and you float with the same lightness as well.
You swim along the shoreline and come to a cove within the reefs.
An elephant gray manta ray flaps in the blue waves as if wearing a magical cape.
You approach the animal and its mouth opens in what appears to be a mischievous smile.
You look into its small eyes.
It approaches you like a happy dog,
Silently encouraging you to pet its rubbery body.
You gently pet the animal and it gleefully wiggles beneath your comforting touch.
In the silent underwater world,
You remember how to connect beyond words,
Relying on your energy and intuition to guide you.
The sun begins to set and the cool tones of the sea are now cast in soft rosy pink.
You and your loved ones swim back towards the bungalow,
Silently thanking the sea creatures for welcoming you into their magical world.
You approach the wooden dock and use your strength to peel yourself out of the water and hoist yourself onto the warm wooden planks.
Your friend follows and you help one another remove the snorkeling gear.
The breeze cools your wet face and you relish the sensation of breathing without a mask.
Each breath is a gift.
The sun becomes like a fiery ball of lava and the sky is ablaze with strokes of magenta,
Aubergine and cotton candy pink.
The pastel hues reflect on the water and are like looking through a glass display of sorbet.
You and your friend walk towards loungers near the cascading waterfall of the bungalow's pool.
The pink skies cast the aqua waters in a dreamy glow.
The white sand of the shore is now the shade of cherry blossoms.
A tray of fruit salad and fresh delicacies sits between the two loungers.
You and your travel partner sink into the plush comforts of the upholstered seat and dip your feet into the pool.
There are two coconut cream smoothies in tall daiquiri glasses.
You lift the bamboo straw to your salty lips and slowly sip the thick sweet elixir.
Your body is warm and toasty and you relish the cool beverage as it flows down your throat and fills your stomach.
The sun disappears for the day and leaves you with a longing for more daylight hours.
And yet this longing soothes you because it makes you realize how precious and memorable the day was.
You and your friend finish your light meal.
Serene melodies played on a classical guitar carry over the water from a beachside gathering.
It has been said that the planet earth should really be called the planet ocean.
And in the Maldives it makes all the more sense.
The water is boundless and being faced with its enormity makes all your concerns seem small and this feeling fills you with wonder and peace.
Light sets in and the first stars begin to appear in the marine blue sky.
A faint crescent moon slowly grows bright and you are enchanted by the drastic change.
Golden lights illuminate the underside of the villas and docks and they glow on the water.
The Indian Ocean is a dark canvas speckled with tiny mirrors reflecting the moonlight and celestial sky.
You and your companion walk to the two individual outdoor showers on the east side of the bungalow.
Your salt-crusted skin glows from a day in the sun.
Privacy walls made of bamboo reeds enclose the outdoor showers.
And beneath a velvety ebony blanket of stars,
You turn on the shower and water streams out of the shower head like rain.
You step onto smooth black stones of the shower floor and feel them press into tense parts of your feet,
Relieving you of any tension created from wearing flippers and swimming all afternoon.
You can tentatively sigh beneath the perfect water pressure and rinse off the remnants of ocean water and sunscreen.
You remove your swimwear and hang it on a bamboo hook.
The complimentary shower gel is sweet and tropical and suds form on your body like papaya scented kisses.
You tilt your face towards the moon and the staccato pressure of the water massages your scalp.
You wash your hair with coconut scented shampoo and notice how deep your breathing is when you inhale the intoxicating tropical aroma.
When you are clean,
You turn the chrome handle of the shower off.
You dry yourself with a soft,
Plush white towel that was neatly folded and stored in a shower cubby.
You inhale the fragrance of the clean linen as you bury your face into the downy towel.
There is a white terry cloth robe that hangs on a shower hook and you slip into it,
Cinching the belt tightly around your waist.
You walk past the pool and find your companion bundled in an identical robe and seated in a colorful hammock chair.
You walk to the neighboring chair and sink into it.
Like a cocoon,
The hammock perfectly surrounds your body and you rock back and forth.
Your clean feet dangle over the Indian Ocean as it lapses against the wood pilings of the bungalow.
You feel a sense of freedom.
The rocking motion and soft sounds of the surf begin to lull you to sleep.
You look to the stars and moon and sea and whisper thank you to a universe that has bestowed so much beauty upon you.
You wish to encapsulate this beauty and contain it in a glass vial as a reminder,
The reflective aquamarine water glowing vibrantly with bioluminescence is the ideal sparkling keepsake.
Its beauty will forever transport you to life in paradise like an elixir that absolves all worry and stress.
You and your companion stand and walk towards the bungalow.
You say good night and split ways to head to your respective suites.
You follow the illuminated glass flooring entranced by the ripples on the water below.
A sea turtle swims beneath the bungalow and mirrors your motion towards the bedroom.
The canopy bed sits in the middle of three glass pathways that reveal the ocean below.
You turn off the lights and can still see the water sparkling in the darkness.
You pull back the luxurious duvet and cool sateen sheets and hoist yourself onto the tall bed.
You collapse into the plush mattress that's like a cloud floating over the Indian Ocean.
You feel the slight rocking of the bungalow as it gives and takes with the tide.
Your muscles melt like warm wax beneath the weighted duvet.
Your lungs sigh with the contentment that comes at the end of an active,
Fulfilling day.
You feel a deep sense of peace.
You surrender to the sounds of the ocean breeze rustling the thatched roof.
It reminds you of palms floating against the night sky.
You feel complete and so very tired.
Your eyelids are heavy like wet sand when you close them on your sleepy eyes.
You float in the darkness,
Letting go of your waking life as you gracefully slip towards sleep.
Feeling a sense of unity with a magical and secret world of the sea.
Knowing you are safe.
You are tended to.
You are free to continue to explore all the wondrous experiences your imagination may conjure.
There are no limits.
You can relive the most pleasing images of your journeys in the Maldives,
Underwater,
On top of the ocean in your luxurious bungalow.
And I will guide you across the bridge between your waking and sleeping life.
I am going to count you down towards a night of restorative and healing sleep.
Letting go.
Ten.
Nine.
Eight.
Seven.
Six.
Five.
Four.
Three.
Two.
One.
Finding peace.
Feeling stillness.
Finding sleep.
It's time to dream away.
Good night.
