Fall asleep as you relax and unwind at the end of the day.
You're listening to The Coffee House.
In a sleep story and guided bedtime meditation,
You will journey to a cozy cafe on a snowy day and meet a dear loved one.
After an evening spent reconnecting,
You venture out into the snowstorm and hunker down for the night in a historic cottage.
The snow continues to fall and you cuddle up with your beloved pet and drift asleep by the fire.
It's time to dream away.
I would like to welcome you to Michelle's Sanctuary.
I am Michelle and as you are listening,
You may think of my voice as that of your dear friend and guide.
I am here to reconnect you to the soothing powers of your imagination.
When you uncover the ability to self-soothe,
You are empowered to handle anything that life brings you.
Let me remind you that right now,
You deserve this time to shut out the world and to go deeper within,
To settle in for the night and to drift asleep.
Congratulations on making it through another day.
Your peaceful reward of healing sleep awaits and at any point you desire,
You can tune out my voice and cross over the bridge to your sleeping life.
In this place and time,
You are free to do whatever you desire.
Get comfortable and wiggle out any impressions of your day.
Snuggle up and take in the deepest,
Fullest breath that you have taken all day.
You have saved the best for last.
Let your inhalation turn into a big sleepy yawn and then sigh it all out.
Make a sound and simply let go.
And inhale again deeply and then exhale.
And as you do imagine that there is a snow globe that rests on your belly.
Each breath in and out is like a wave that causes the special trinket to rise and fall.
You feel the weight of it resting on you.
Your hands cup the cool glass of the globe and you slide them down the shiny,
Buttery,
Mahogany wood base.
You are soothed by the tactile sensation of the globe,
Comforted by its weight and its smooth,
Round edges.
You gently shake the snow globe and watch the snowflakes float through glittery water before they land on the ceramic replication of a picturesque village.
You rest the snow globe on your chest and it rises and falls with your relaxed breaths.
You run your fingers around the snow globe and feel a magnetic pull,
Inviting you into the world propped against your heart.
You close your eyes and suddenly you are inside the world of the snow globe.
Your body feels light and free,
Relieved of the weight you may have been carrying in your waking life.
You find yourself walking through the historic village in the snow globe.
Lace like snowflakes fall from the elephant gray sky and circulate with the grace of ballerinas on the chilly air.
Your boots crunch on the fresh layer of pristine white snow.
The sound marries the content voices of the townspeople going about their late afternoon.
You wear a parka made of fabric in your favorite color and a wool hat and knit scarf.
Atop an oversized knit sweater and comfortable pants that keep you warm against the cold.
Your plush socks and boots keep your feet dry.
And in this attire you feel invincible and ready to weather the storm.
Your hands are protected with soft wool mittens that are perfect for forming snowballs while keeping your hands dry.
There is a pond in the center of the village that becomes a popular ice skating spot in winter.
You watch the ice skaters relish the experience.
There is a little boy on the edge of the pond and he looks to you as he pauses for a moment.
He wears a cornflower blue and ivory knit wool hat with ear flaps and pom poms that dangle in the snowy breeze.
He opens his mouth and catches snowflakes on his tongue.
And with a mischievous grin he encourages you to do the same.
His beguiling smile enchants you and it is a reminder of how fun it is to catch snowflakes.
You look to the sky and feel the snowflakes fall onto your lashes and melt on your eyelids.
They land on your cheeks and lips and tongue and you taste the metallic frozen crystals that remind you of licking ice cream off a metal spoon.
You cannot help but laugh.
You look at the young boy and he laughs as well.
And then he takes off across the ice,
Darting around other skaters in a jubilant display of balance and speed.
You stand still for a moment as a couple walks by with their happy dog.
The dog's fur is coated with a layer of powdered snow that she shakes off while walking by.
And you are captivated by the visual of the snow flying from her fur and landing on the slick white dusted cobblestone sidewalk.
You resume walking and pass by a local library and craft store.
You walk by a five and dime and small grocery store that sells locally made jams and bread and cheeses.
The village is the kind of place where anyone can visit and feel welcome and part of the community.
Everyone you pass offers a wave or subtle nod or smile with a comradery that makes you feel safe.
You walk past a ballet studio and watch as a class is taught by an elegant older woman.
The students look at her in awe before mimicking her graceful moves at the bar.
Their soft pink and black leotards and skirts move like brush strokes of paint on a canvas,
Fluid and graceful.
You continue past an art gallery and pause to reflect on the scenic and vibrantly colorful oil paintings that stand on brass easels beneath golden spotlights.
The paintings capture nautical themes and changing seasons.
They seem to glow in the light that's like rays of sun bouncing off ocean waves in the late afternoons of summer.
You continue to the corner of Main Street and are drawn to a shop.
There is a sign made of tangerine-hued neon light that reads the coffee spot.
The shop is located in one of the oldest buildings in the town.
At one point a feed shop,
Then a printing press and then a soda shop.
It is now an iconic cafe.
You inhale the fragrant aroma of freshly baked pastries and the rich chocolate and smoky smell of roasted coffee beans.
Windows wrap around the coffee house so customers may look out onto Main Street and the quiet residential side street that is strung with Victorian homes.
You exhale and see your breath condense on the wintry air and decide to go into the shop to warm up.
Your mittened thumb lands on the antique latch of the front door and presses down and as you open the creaking old door,
A wave of warm air rushes towards your face.
You close the door behind you and listen as a silver bell rings above the entryway to announce your arrival.
The gentle ring joins an orchestral sound,
Created from the sounds of spoons clinking against ceramic mugs held by customers and another spoon clinking within a metal frothing pitcher held by a barista.
The melody of voices and quiet conversations marries the whirling espresso beans being ground into a dark brown powder and the sound of a crackling fire that burns brightly in a fireplace in the back of the shop.
You approach the counter,
Waiting behind a customer dressed in a fuzzy hat and oversized fuzzy coat.
You are captivated by its whimsy.
Your attention turns to the display case that stores almond croissants and coffee cakes and oversized blueberry and chocolate chip muffins.
You tune into the sound of a needle landing on a record and the soft and gentle crackle before an old Motown song begins to play.
You walk to the counter and the barista meets you with a friendly greeting and you feel as if you are being met by family.
There is a familiarity that goes beyond this moment and it feels as if you have been here before.
You enjoy this dreamy sensation of deja vu as you place your order.
You watch as your drink is prepared and then turn your attention to the flowing rich muddy brown liquids and a silvery metal canister that shoots out puffy white clouds of whipped cream.
You watch as chocolate shavings and sprinkling cinnamon land on the white foam of a cappuccino that has been shaped into a perfect heart.
The barista brings your drink to you in an oversized ebony mug with the word serendipity etched across it in metallic gold cursive lettering.
You remove your mittens and place them in your coat pockets.
As you reach to pay,
The barista explains you have been taken care of by someone who waits for you in the back of the coffee house.
Your brows furrow in surprise and while grateful you begin to wonder who could be waiting for you.
On this journey you didn't even see yourself taking.
You balance the ceramic mug in your cold fingers and appreciate the feeling of warmth.
Your face tingles as the heat of the shop relieves your skin of the numbness from the cold.
You walk past a few cafe tables,
Past a writer toiling away on a laptop and a couple that lean and snuggle against the window,
Cut up in their own little world.
You walk into the sitting room in the back of the coffee shop and it is quiet and still.
You look to the fire that devours the logs that are piled high between the soot covered brick of the fireplace.
Two oversized velvet armchairs face the fireplace.
They are deep and wide enough for more than one person.
You see the silhouette of a head in one of the chairs and feel an instant connection and sense of ease before even knowing who it is.
Your rubber-soled boots softly squeak on the hardwood floors where clumps of snowflakes fall and form small puddles.
The sound grabs the attention of the person in the chair and they turn their head and stand and suddenly the person awaiting your visit is revealed.
This could be someone you have loved deeply in this life.
Someone who perhaps you have not seen in a very long time but think of often.
Or perhaps it is someone who you see often but have been longing to devote more quality time with.
Or perhaps this is someone from the past,
Representing a time in your life that was important and full of joy.
Or maybe this is a person you would love to have in your life.
Someone who opens all the beautiful colors and expressions of your imagination.
They rise and walk towards you.
They help you sit down your warm drink on an artistic side table that is painted in broad colorful strokes that flow like rainbow tendrils.
Everything about this coffee house has intricate details of color and art and beauty.
You remove your parka that is now covered in glassy droplets of melted snow and place it on the back of the chair.
All the while you do this,
You feel the warm and attentive gaze of your loved one.
It feels like it has been so long since you have had such a deep connection and since time has passed since you connected in this way.
Yet at the same time this bond is so strong it feels as if no time has passed at all.
You feel love from this deep connection.
The spontaneous smile that erupted on your face causes your cheeks to hurt in a pleasurable way.
You make eye contact and pause for a second before going in for a big hug.
You both linger in this embrace and feel your hearts come together.
It feels so good to be squeezed in this special hug.
A hug you have waited for longer than you realized until this moment.
No words need to be spoken as your eyes and their eyes convey it all.
Your loved one grabs your hands and squeezes them,
Warming them up and chasing away the cold that lingers from the walk in the snow.
You walk around the velvet armchair.
It is a rich sapphire blue like the deepest ocean waters and you rest in it.
It conforms to your body with the softness of a wave.
You settle in and feel the warmth of the fire on your face and on your feet.
Your companion joins you in their seat and you study their face now cast in an amber glow.
You know this face as well as your own.
You can read this face like a book,
Sensing every thought and feeling to arise before it is ever fully expressed.
And you love knowing this special person may read you just as well.
It feels good to be understood.
The fire crackles and pops louder and more pronounced than the soft crackle of the vinyl album playing throughout the cozy coffee house.
And you find yourself letting out all the thoughts and feelings that you have held deep within.
They flow out of you in rapid succession and it feels like a purge.
With every revelation,
You are met with love and encouragement and support.
And your loved one shares as well,
Opening up with candid,
Open-hearted energy.
Stories are retold of the best of your memories from days gone by.
Or stories about the dreams of things you wish to come.
And the luminous orange-gold flames flicker and grow tall as they lick the soot-covered brick walls.
The translucent fire becomes like a cinema screen made of clover honey and these stories play out before you as if projected from the movie reels of your mind and your shared imagery.
Like watching old home movies,
You are entranced by this magical moment.
And you become the observer,
Hovering in the coffee shop and watching you and your loved one watch the memories unfold.
Like a dream within a dream within a dream.
Like a memory within a memory.
You take a sip of your warm drink and feel the smooth,
Creamy beverage cascade down your throat and fill your stomach.
You relish the outside warmth of the fire and the warmth you feel on the inside.
Hours pass by like layers in a montage of healing conversations and silent exchanges.
You feel more like yourself than you have felt in a very long time.
Your head rests on the back of the chair and you sink into it.
Like a pearl nestled in an oyster shell,
You enjoy the plush support of the chair.
The coffee house empties and you and your loved one are the last to remain.
The snow continues to fall and the dark of night sets in.
Out of compassion for the employees who are now ready to close down,
You both rise to leave.
You slowly bundle up again,
Preparing for the cold.
You wrap your scarf around your neck and put on your parka,
Now dry from the heat of the fire.
Your lungs feel relaxed and your heart at ease.
This feeling of content exhaustion that comes from hours of joy and laughter.
Your loved one is dressed for the cold as well and gently rubs your back in a circular motion.
It feels nice and you relish the safety and intimacy that you feel.
It's a feeling that has developed over time.
You hear the sleeves of your parka softly rustle against the back of the velvet chair in a soothing shush as you leave the back of the coffee house.
You follow your loved one towards the door and brace for the cold.
The door opens and in a dreamy haze you are suddenly refreshed by the rush of snowflakes and the winter wind.
You smile and set out into the night.
The snow is as high as your knees and continues to fall in wet and heavy flakes.
It swirls around you on a brisk wind and your nose and cheeks tingle.
Main street is now quiet before an occasional car that passes by with headlights that illuminate the sparkling falling snowflakes and tires that crunch on the salted roadway.
You hear the dull sound of a snowplow scraping a side street.
The percussive patters of salt and sand spread on the roadway remind you of a jazz brush on a snare drum.
Your companion bends down and in the glow of a street lamp you watch them gather snow and form a snowball.
And you too do the same when your companion launches the snowball in your direction and you feel the soft hit against your back.
You finish perfecting your snowball in your wool mittens and dust off and pat down the fluffy snow.
You bring your arm back and feel your muscles stretch and shoulder release.
You playfully launch the snowball towards your companion.
You laugh and so do they.
You feel carefree and unencumbered.
Your companion comes and links arms with you as you walk towards the residential part of the village.
Picket fences line the street and small cottages are lit from within by incandescent light and roaring fires in their fireplaces.
You see the swirling black trails of smoke from chimneys.
The pristine white snowflakes dance on the smoke and contrast the dark plumes.
You inhale the smell of clean snow and burning wood as you turn on an unpaved lane that leads to your cottage.
The village has the quaintness of a storybook town.
The historic cottages and bungalows are coated in snow as thick as white icing on gingerbread homes.
Your beloved indicates it's time to say goodbye as they must return home as well.
You feel the hope that you will see one another again and they embrace you in a strong hug that you continue to feel even after it ends.
You watch them walk through the canvas of white,
Leaving in and out of the shadows and golden light of the street lamps until they are out of your view.
You grab the picket fence door with your mittened hand and undo the latch with your other hand.
The door drags a bit against the snow and you walk the pathway to your storybook cottage.
You walk up the stone steps towards a porch.
Painted in your favorite color,
There is a wooden rocking chair covered in a coating of snow.
You often rock in the chair in the warmer months and looking at it reminds you that this wintry moment is but a season that will pass.
You stomp your feet on a doormat and then open the door to the cottage and step into the foyer.
You are greeted by a furry companion who runs against your damp pants and wet boots.
Your pet is so delighted by your return that the melting snow does little to stop their enthusiasm.
You hang your coat and scarf and place your mittens into the pockets of your parka.
The room smells like cinnamon and sweet dry wood from a wood pile that sits in a basket in the foyer.
You take a couple of logs and tuck them beneath your arms then head to the living room to start a fire.
You grab a lighter from the mantle and watch it ignite the kindling in the fireplace.
Your pet dutifully sits nearby and watches you with adoring eyes.
Rubbing its furry body against your feet and rolling over in a state of bliss.
You add one log and then another to the fire and watch as it burns slowly and then fully catches.
In the glow of the fire,
You retreat to the couch and your pet jumps onto the sofa to snuggle.
You cover yourself in a soft plush blanket and feel your toes and legs,
Your torso and arms and hands and face become warm.
You rest your head on a mountain of throw pillows and sigh.
Reflections of the day wash over you like a rippling wave of gratitude.
The surprise encounter with your loved one was a reminder that something good and unexpected can come out of every day.
You listen to your pet now sigh as well and look into their loving eyes.
And together you sink down deeper and deeper into the comforts of the sofa.
Deeper into a state of relaxation.
The snow pelts against the cottage windows and the wind howls around the home.
Sparks fly up the chute,
Traveling on the draft towards the chimney and then towards the night sky.
The wood crackles and pops and your mind drifts towards sleep.
You feel toasty and warm and safe.
You feel loved.
You feel as if you could float across the passage to your sleeping life with the grace of a snowflake that surrenders to the winter wind as it drifts down,
Down,
Down.
And I am going to count you down to a place of healing and restorative sleep where you may dream of memories with your loved one.
Where you may imagine reconnecting once again.
To a place where you may be restored and find stillness and peace that comes with a night of hibernation.
Ten,
Nine,
Eight,
Seven,
Six,
Five,
Four,
Three,
Two,
One.
Finding rest.
Finding respite.
Finding solace.
Finding sleep.
It's time to dream away.
Good night.
Good night.
Good night.
Good night.
Good night.
Good night.
Good night.
Good night.
Good night.
Good night.
Good night.
Good night.
