The Arch Of Sleep

Slip under "The Arch of Sleep" with this cozy, relaxing bedtime story set in the Utah desert. Embark on a timeless journey to Moab, where a night of healing awaits in a cabin beneath the stars. By day, marvel at majestic red canyons and winding trails that heighten your sense of awe. Come nightfall, lounge in a hot tub as clouds float across the sky, your eyes growing heavy and your heart fulfilled. Fall asleep by a fire, as the desert night brings cool air perfect for slumber. It's time to dream away.

Transcript

Slip under the arch of sleep with this cozy bedtime story set in the Utah desert.

A timeless journey to the Moab brings a night of healing as you find comfort in a cabin beneath the stars.

By day,

Take in the majestic red canyons and winding trails that heighten your sense of awe.

Come nightfall,

Lounge in a hot tub as clouds float across the sky and your eyes become heavy and your heart fulfilled.

Fall asleep by a fire in the cabin as the desert night brings cool air perfect for slumber.

It's time to dream away.

Welcome to Michelle's Sanctuary.

I am Michelle,

Your fellow voyager and companion to new lands with boundless possibilities.

Let this story wash over you like a dream as you approach the arch of sleep that leads you into a realm of restoration and peace.

This is your sanctuary as much as it is mine,

So please feel free to embellish or diminish every detail of this practice to what your needs are right now.

Your needs are ever-changing,

And it's okay to attune yourself to their fickleness.

No moment is ever the same,

And each listen will always be different.

Fall asleep whenever you like.

As you settle into the sanctuary of your room and delve into the unexplored chambers of your mind,

You may enjoy a few rounds of relaxed breathing.

Engage with your breath at a pace that feels right to you,

Going as deep as you like.

Enjoy a pattern of letting out an audible sigh to begin and then sipping in the tonic of night air through your nose as your body expands.

After each inhalation,

You may hold your breath at the top or let it cascade into a yawn before another sigh follows.

Let this continue three or so times,

Alleviating yourself of any pressure or expectations.

As you continue to breathe,

Imagine the air takes on the notes of sage,

Juniper,

And the dry earth of the desert.

Slightly exotic,

The perfumed air is cool as it permeates your room.

It offers a healing elixir,

A hint of wood smoke from a campfire in a canyon,

And the promise of tranquility.

The desert offers solitude,

A place so quiet at times that all you hear is your relaxed breath.

As you inhale,

Perhaps yawn and sigh.

As you exhale,

Get cozy beneath your blankets,

Sink into the support of your bed with a sense of accomplishment for making it through another day.

Surrender to the feeling of peace within,

More relaxed than moments ago,

As you enjoy one last conscious round of breathing before your breath returns to a sleepy rhythm.

The canvas of night awaits the creative brushstrokes of your imagination.

It's time for the story to begin.

The Hopi people have long believed that when one leaves the physical realm,

They become a cloud.

Ancestors hover above,

Revisiting their loved ones in cloud formations,

Raining or snowing on the desert land,

With a promise of life and the gift of hydration.

As you travel from Salt Lake City to the Moab,

You are lost in the ever-changing landscape of red cliffs guarded by snow-capped mountains that jut into the piercing blue sky.

The weather can change on a dime as your head leans against the cool glass window of a tour van and you watch silvery-gray clouds arrive with haste,

Delivering spinning squalls of snow on the winding highway.

As the descent continues,

The temperature rises from freezing to balmy,

But the winds continue.

The clouds hang so low in the sky,

Or perhaps you are so high in elevation that the puffy,

Silver-bellied white tufts feel as reachable as the tumbleweeds that blow across the band of asphalt.

The tumbleweeds are the only indication of the surprise winds,

As the rock formations stand proud and unyielding in their wake.

The red rocks loom with such height and sturdiness around you that it's all you can do but run up to them and beg them to whisper the secrets of their endurance.

Faces form in impressions.

The red rocks become canvases that invite your imagination to play along.

And all the things that once seemed to matter,

All the repetitive,

Stressful thoughts that repeat as daily incantations,

Fade away in the presence of these towering formations that urge you to slow down.

Boarded up windows on abandoned dwellings are interspersed among roadside diners and simple ranch homes surrounded by metal fences.

Cattle graze along the edge of the highway,

Impervious to vehicles that must stay alert to their languid crossings.

The clouds disperse and the sun pours through the windows,

Showering your face with warmth as you approach the edge of Moab and park at a campsite rife with tents,

RVs,

And charming cabins.

It feels good to get out and stretch your legs as your supportive hiking sneakers crunch on the red gravel of the parking lot.

As morning eases into the afternoon,

The rising sun intensifies the perfume of the desert,

Bringing sweet and botanical notes that linger on the persistent,

Though gentle,

Breeze.

You step into the general store,

Feeling as though you've traveled to a time before electronics offered distraction.

No cellular signal may be found in parts of the canyon,

And without it,

People become more cordial and aware of their surroundings.

The cashier engages with curiosity.

A sharp maternal figure who asks where everyone has come from and how she may help.

The aisles are stocked with a basic assortment of dehydrated and freeze-dried fruits of all kinds,

Nuts and crackers,

Snack bags,

And easy-to-go options for hiking and exploration.

Opposite the cashier is the check-in desk,

Where a salty middle-aged man whose face has been turned to leather by the desert sun offers a toothy yet charming grin as you approach.

Somehow,

He mysteriously deduces who you are and greets you by name,

Extending a whittled wood keychain etched with a cabin number.

He hands you a welcome bag with provisions for a stay that promises the ideal balance of rustic and glamorous.

You exit the general store to follow a trail to the row of cabins,

A modest one or two-room dwellings with a kitchenette and water closet that seem as simple as the earliest of structures enjoyed by pioneers and explorers in the 19th century.

But modern amenities offer the promise of heated mattresses and floors for the coldest winter nights,

As well as luxurious sheets and towels.

You insert the key and the lock clicks open.

You enter,

Setting down the provisions on an agate table and your luggage on a hope chest.

Mystical,

Vocal paintings of the arches and canyons depict swirling stars and clouds in the nocturnal color palette of Van Gogh with a touch of modern whimsy.

The desert winds billow sheer curtains on the windows,

Catching your attention as you look at the view behind the cabin.

Amid the jagged formations of red rocks is an oasis of hot tubs and heated pools with waterfalls.

Local flora such as tall silvery lupine with its showy purple pea-like petals blossom inside a gate formed by low-to-the-ground cacti such as prickly pear.

It's an incredible time to be in the Moab as the last embrace of spring offers temperate days and the contrast of the white-capped La Salle mountains with the red valleys and peaks below show the cusp season in its full glory.

As you look out the windows,

You can sense the ever-changing times,

The comings and goings of souls who found comfort in the desert.

The rocks retain personal memories enduring longer than any beings who've come here.

100 million-year-old dinosaur tracks give evidence of their enduring presence carved by the Green and Colorado Rivers.

Many dinosaurs have been found in the region,

Including a Brontosaurus from the Jurassic period.

Unlike the eastern seaboard,

History is more readily encountered in the earth than in the architecture.

Encountering the evidence of beings that thrived millions of years before humans.

As the late afternoon unfolds,

You rejoin the group for a visit to the Arches National Park to experience golden hour.

In the short journey to its entrance,

Once more you are lost in the mesmerizing unveiling of one arch and cliff after the next.

You see formations in the lustrous red rocks reflecting the honeyed sunlight.

Each turn of the winding road reveals a new vista.

It's amazing how something made of the same elements can display such diversity in natural design.

In a looming formation ahead,

You see the profile of a young girl looking wistfully at the incoming white clouds.

Perhaps she is looking to her ancestors,

Seeking their guidance.

As the clouds move,

You see a young girl standing in front of the white clouds.

The clouds cast shadows on the red sand and paths that wind through the park.

You consider the idea of your loved ones as clouds,

Keeping a protective gaze and encouraging you as you explore.

The most iconic of the more than 2,

000 arches is the Delicate Arch,

A symbol of Utah's majesty,

Standing the highest of all the arches at 46 feet.

The light pours through its hollowed center.

Its magical presence has gone through many names,

From Cowboy's Chaps to Salt Wash Arch.

But in 1934,

The name Delicate Arch stuck as an article proclaimed it to be the most delicately chiseled arch in the entire area.

Seemingly the most photographed,

It stands as a silent sentinel against the backdrop of a lowering sun.

Your visit to this iconic landmark fills you with a sense of awe and reverence.

You trace its graceful curves with your eyes,

Imagining the countless years it has stood strong against the elements.

With your feet firmly planted on the earth,

The sun's position behind you elongates your shadow and you take in a deep breath.

Your hand reaches for the coarse surface of a nearby boulder as you connect with the energy of the region's enduring beauty and power.

The wind weaves through the red sandstone formations,

Carrying with it the scent of ancient juniper and desert sage.

Each gust is felt on every part of your being,

Yet the rocks seem untouched.

To them,

The wind goes unnoticed.

You pull up the hood of a sweater you bought at a local craft store.

A roadside stand along the way to the desert.

Its colors blend with the earth tones of the park.

Its soft fabric shields you from the wind.

As the sun lowers,

You continue to explore the arches,

Noticing the small cacti scattered among gravel and dirt.

An entire ecosystem exists in what appears to be nothing more than stone.

You appreciate your sense of balance and the strength of your leg muscles as you explore the rugged terrain.

Making your way around gnarled juniper trees and cute tiny lizards.

The dirt underneath stones as you pass.

The earth beneath your feet is rough and uneven,

Yet it holds a certain familiarity,

As if it has been waiting for you to visit and explore.

You think about how easy it is to forget the diverse beauty of this planet when in the confines of your home,

In the near predictability of your daily life.

But here in the Moab,

Anything can happen.

Anything seems possible.

You remember parts of yourself from long ago coming back to you,

As well as exploring new parts of yourself inspired by the landscape.

As you wander among the towering rock formations,

You marvel at the intricate shapes and patterns etched into the stone by centuries of wind,

Water,

And weather.

You continue to explore,

Letting the rocks reveal images.

From a young doe with innocent eyes carved into the stones by time,

To the countenance of a wise old soul with a long beard.

It becomes a playful game,

Perhaps one you once played,

Imagining shapes and faces in the clouds.

You are surprised by the ease with which your imagination sees these things,

Wondering if others who visit see the same.

High atop a towering spire,

You spot a face shaped by wind and erosion,

Its features softened by centuries of weathering.

With closed eyes and a serene expression,

It seems lost in dreams of a world long gone,

Untouched by the passage of time.

In another formation,

You see the horn of a unicorn bowing toward the desert sand,

Its body muscular and sleek,

And its lush tail trailing down the edge of the cliff.

Amidst a cluster of rock formations,

The natural contours of the landscape create the playful visage of a coyote.

With his ears pricked and tongue lolling,

He embodies the spirit of freedom and adventure in the desert's wild beauty.

As the sun disappears,

You encounter the quietest and perhaps most soothing and comforting formations in the park.

A narrow pathway between rising walls of smooth red sandstone leads you to the sand dune arch.

The world becomes quiet,

So quiet you only hear your breath.

Isolated from the wind gusts,

Your feet land on soft hills of red sand,

As powdery and light as the sands on the beaches of Aruba.

Sun filters through the narrow gaps between looming stone as the warm sand rises to your ankles.

Every step becomes ethereal,

Making you feel as if you stepped into another realm or onto another planet,

Wandering amongst the sandstone fins.

Protected by the rising walls of stone,

You come to a clearing and discover the sand dune arch.

Two sandstone pieces forged together to resemble two seals touching noses in a gentle kiss.

You stand beneath the arch,

Appreciating the solitude of the space.

As golden hour bathes the red sand in bands of light and shadows,

You sense the fleeting passage of time.

You aim to hold onto this moment.

Surrounded by the ancient red rocks and the endless expanse of the desert,

You feel a profound sense of connection to something greater than yourself.

This natural enclosure speaks to you most as you imagine sitting atop the powdery red sand around a fire,

As firelight and shadows dance on the rising sandstone fins that reveal just a piece of sky above.

As you hoist yourself atop a large boulder,

You lie back and watch the swatches of the sky with streaks of fiery orange,

Raspberry pink,

And marigold coming to life.

As the wind enters a narrow tunnel and the sand dances below in the clearing,

Brushing against the stone with delicate whispers.

Before darkness takes hold,

You slowly make your way out of the passage and,

Like a coin passing through the slot of a machine,

You come to the other side.

The tour van awaits as other travelers in their khaki,

Wide-brimmed hats and sensible shoes grow just as weary as you begin to feel.

The long day of travel has you longing for a leisurely night beneath the stars.

Once back at the camp,

Strings of Edison lights illuminate the desert oasis as the sky turns to indigo velvet and the first stars arrive,

Along with a rising sliver of a fingernail moon.

The air changes once more,

Cooler but now windless,

As you return to your cabin to enjoy a generous lantern-lit meal that sits waiting on your cabin porch.

You settle into a cushioned turquoise seat,

Feeling your body sink into its support as you enjoy a meal that showcases regional flavors.

The hoot of a canyon owl joins the yips of coyote pups to pierce the otherwise silent night.

Their songs echo through the desert.

Once satiated by your meal,

You enter the cabin to change into your swimwear and a robe.

You step outside in flip-flops,

Feeling the cool ground below and a delightful shiver makes you feel quite alive and even more grateful for the warm water that awaits.

A quick rinse at the luxurious outdoor shower is followed by a leisurely soak in one of a dozen kidney-shaped hot tubs around the property.

Waterfalls flow into the pool as you sink into the soothing hot water,

Letting it rise just above your collarbones.

The sill of the tub and a folded towel cradle your neck as you peer up at the stars and the jets massage every tired muscle in your body.

A part of you feels deep reverence for the people who came here before you.

No matter where or how they arrived in the Moab,

They all needed a sense of resilience and a persevering spirit to thrive in this remote location.

Gratitude for modern luxuries and amenities fills your heart.

Every era has its shortcomings,

But the abundance of comforts in this one urges your lips to let out an audible thank you.

The water is heated to perfection,

Steam rising in wispy tendrils as the jets continue to massage your shoulder blades and lower back.

A sigh escapes your lips as the sleep-inducing warmth envelops your body and the persistent pulses create softness in places of tension,

Setting you up for a night of uninterrupted deep sleep.

The night sky stretches above you like an endless tapestry dotted with countless stars that twinkle and shimmer in the darkness.

The constellations come alive,

Each one telling a story with the same unspoken,

Magical delivery as the desert canyons.

You trace the familiar patterns,

Picking out Orion's belt and the Big Dipper among the myriad points of light.

But beyond the well-known and studied formations,

The day has you attuned to seeing more.

Nature becomes an unending source of inspiration,

A place where your imagination is playful.

As you make out designs in the sky that remind you of distant memories that you hold dear.

Clouds appear once more,

Slowly making their way across the purple-black sky like silver gossamer,

Conjuring thoughts of your beloved ancestors,

Keeping watch.

You need not believe entirely or abandon your personal beliefs to still feel their essence with you in the sky.

A supportive presence that follows you on adventures near and far.

Erupting in spontaneous memories,

The travel activates and brings back to you.

You also think of the unknown souls who came before you,

The generations of wanderers who sought solace and connection in this remote corner of the world.

Their presence is palpable in the rustle of the wind through the juniper trees,

In the crackle of distant campfires,

In the very essence of the desert itself that keeps their secrets in sandstone walls.

With a contented sigh,

You lean back in the tub and let yourself drift.

The cares of the modern world melting away completely.

Bone-deep pleasure and relief linger in the idea that you have nothing left to do but relax and enjoy the night.

Eventually,

Reluctantly,

You emerge from the tub and make your way back to the cabin.

The cool air causes lingering water droplets to tingle on your skin.

You shower off once more,

And then welcome the dry warmth of the cabin as you enter.

You shed your robe and swimwear,

And slip into warm flannel pajamas.

The soft fabric brushing against your skin as you move,

Carrying the faint scent of home.

You go to the hearth and start a fire,

Leaving the windows cracked just enough to circulate the air and deliver the perfume of the cool desert night.

The hearth crackles with a comforting warmth as the fire takes hold and casts a soft glow on the lustrous copper walls of the log cabin.

You sink into the luxurious bedding to heated mattress.

More deeply relaxed than you have felt in some time.

The crisp sateen sheets are soft and cool against your face.

And the heavy cloud-like duvet wraps around you.

Skylights above reveal the stars overhead,

Their twinkling light filtering through the darkness to illuminate your dreams.

The desert is no stranger to dreams and wishes.

And yours are welcome to thrive.

With one final sigh,

You close your eyes and let yourself drift,

Crossing beneath the arch of sleep.

Finding peace.

Finding safety.

Finding comfort.

Finding sleep.

It's time to dream away.

Good night.

Reviews

This is definitely one of my favorites since I live in Utah and love the beauty of this state. When I walk in the morning, along the river, I am always in awe of the beauty of the red mountains surrounding our valley. I haven’t been to Moab, but now will make it a destination to visit. Thank you, Michelle, for another wonderful story.

Another unique bedtime story that put me to sleep quickly! I woke once at night to listen again. I have never been to the desert but listening to your details made me feel like I was there. Thank you kindly for sharing! 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗