The Bayou: Bedtime Story & Sleep Meditation

Drift asleep fast in this sleep story set in the bayou with summer swamp sounds of crickets, frogs, owls, and lapping water. Travel through the Louisiana bayou by motorboat at sunset. Beneath a fiery sky, you float towards your rustic bayou cabin. You enjoy a meal on the dock, left by your friendly elderly neighbors, and then rest in a hammock beneath the Thunder Moon and starry night sky. You retreat to your historic cottage and fall asleep. It's time to dream away.

Transcript

Rest easily and drift to sleep with tonight's sleep meditation story for adults.

You are listening to The Bayou.

In this journey we travel to the mystical,

Sleepy waterways of the Louisiana Bayou.

The swamplands are cast in the saturated hues of a summer sunset as you steer a motorboat through the swamplands beneath a lush canopy of Spanish moss.

As twilight sets in,

You arrive at the dock before your rustic cabin.

Airflies dance on the salty,

Humid air and you rest on a hammock beneath the stars.

The orchestra of Bayou life lulls you into a relaxed state.

You return to your charming cabin and drift into the deepest sleep.

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 friend and advocate.

I am here to remind you to use the superpowers of your imagination to soothe and relax rather than worry.

Since childhood,

You have had the creative power to dream of places far away and feel that you are really there.

Tonight you can do just that before you cross over from your waking life into your sleeping life.

If you have not been told today,

I am here to let you know that you deserve to take this time just for yourself.

Everything else can wait.

You deserve to celebrate making it through another day as you snuggle up in the safety of your bed and the sanctuary of your room.

You deserve every sweet bit of relaxation to come your way.

Take it all in right now.

As you personalize this mental vacation,

You are free to let go of my voice at any point if sleep calls to you.

You can always return and listen again.

Let your body inform you what it needs and answer that call.

Close your eyes if you have not already and sigh and let go of everything.

And inhale to the depths of your belly.

Your body expands towards the ceiling and you feel so light that you could float away towards the night sky.

Open your relaxed jaw into a big yawn.

It's time to tell your body that it is okay to stand down and prepare for sleep.

Sigh out the air through pursed lips until your belly sinks down.

With each breath in and out,

Your body undulates like salt water waves of a marsh.

You inhale and open your mouth in another satisfying yawn with no apologies.

Because this simply feels good and you go with that feeling.

Through pursed lips you blow out the air.

You visualize that your breath comes out in a stream of glittering gold dust that transports you to the Louisiana Bayou.

Your breath has the power to transport you to another state of being.

You follow this magical glimmering stream of air as it flows above the slow moving waters like a summer breeze.

You follow this breath weaving between small fishing boats that have been used by generations of Bayou natives.

The wooden planks of these boats have been weathered by the salty air and tropical storms.

And the faded white paint resembles softly tattered t-shirts.

The fishermen create shadowy figures on the rippling water cast in the tangerine glow of the late day sun.

As glossy as shiny satin,

The main waterways weave through wooded areas of cypress trees and deciduous trees dripping in Spanish moss.

The woodlands offer enchanting habitats where owls nest in trees and raccoons sleep in hollows until nightfall.

A deer or two may peek out from the forest's edge as if they are keen on enjoying the last rays of sunlight before nightfall.

You are seated on a small motorboat en route to your rustic cabin on the waterway.

You inhale the air perfumed by the fertile earth and musky salt water that marries the piney,

Slightly smoky aroma of the cypress trees.

The humidity makes the air thick and you feel as if you are floating through an invisible,

Warm cloud.

As the sun disappears beyond the horizon,

The breeze becomes cooler.

Although still warm and humid,

Frogs croak between cricket chirps in a fervent mating call.

You are soft linen pants and a shirt that billows in the breeze.

You guide your boat beneath the Spanish moss.

Soft and plush as mint green cashmere,

Feathery and romantic,

It brushes against your shoulders and scalp and tickles the tops of your ears.

It surrenders to the breeze and you turn off the motor on the boat so it may surrender to the tide and float towards your dock.

Through the veil of Spanish moss,

You see strings of colorful lanterns.

They create a rainbow of illumination around the rustic cabins that dapple the bayou.

The sky is like a melting display of frozen sorbet with streaks of blackberry,

Raspberry and peach that rise above the silhouette of the woodlands.

The colors reflect on honeyed water and you feel as though you are floating down a channel of melted oil pastels left in the Louisiana heat.

The boat bobs back and forth,

Softly rocking you into a relaxed state.

Other neighbors in the bayou are grilling their catches of the day and summer vegetables plucked from their gardens.

You smell the burning charcoal as small clouds of gray smoke rise in squiggly trails towards the saturated sky.

A heron flies overhead with a majestic and wide wingspan and with a grace that inspires you.

The heron is a symbol of tranquility and stillness.

And all life on the bayou moves languidly,

Slowed down to an adagio tempo by the summer heat,

The thick air and the inclination to connect with beauty.

Nature echoes from the cabins down the channel like a happy melody.

And while you are alone,

You feel part of the community.

People wave as you pass their outdoor dinners.

Josephine and Donald,

Now in their 80s,

Have lived in the cabin next to yours for over 60 years of their married life.

They sit on their front porch and rock in their antique chairs made of local cypress.

While they sip mint juleps,

Their standard sunset libation,

You float by their cottage and wave.

An eclectic community of southerners,

Many living in homes where their ancestors were born,

Are in tune with the richness of the bayou.

The Creole culture is felt everywhere in the region,

From the language to local dishes to the warm and vibrant loving energy and joie de vivre.

The southern drawl syrupy and kind is slow and gives words a lingering impact as if they come from the heart.

The sky is now a rich navy blue with a thin orange marmalade streak along the horizon,

Like the sun's last goodbye for the day.

A lit glass lantern hangs from your dock that gently creaks with the slowly flowing water.

You take in a deep breath of the night air.

The muscles of your body are relaxed and soften like wax resting in the Louisiana sun.

While the cold weather of the north,

Especially during harsh winters,

Causes one to clench every muscle,

The humid bayou air does just the opposite.

It's as if the weather instructs the human body to surrender and become as fluid as the water.

We're relinquishing all control with the grace of the tides that surrender to the lunar pull.

You surrender to the beauty of the bayou.

You cannot help but wonder if this is all but a dream.

The fireflies come out to dance along with the tall grasses that surround the perimeter of the metallic water.

The soft rustle of the palm trees and grasses soothe and quiet the mind.

Despite the plentiful roads that lead to the bayou,

You opt to fully enjoy a life that revolves around traveling by water.

It's a timeless experience.

You dock the motorboat and securely wrap the weathered rope that tethers your vehicle to the land.

You step onto the dock and feel it creak beneath your soft-soled shoes.

Come morning you will visit the dock and watch as the bayou comes to life as you enjoy your favorite breakfast.

But now you discover that Josephine has left a picnic basket for you with a note in her fanciful cursive that reads,

Honey pie,

I hope you enjoy this pie.

Always looking out for you.

Love Josephine.

From the dock you see them rocking in their chairs and call out with a thank you.

Josephine responds in her sweet yet powerful voice,

It's my pleasure honey.

Have a good night now.

You open the basket to reveal collard greens,

Dirty rice and gumbo.

It smells savory and of smoky spices and peppers.

You eat slowly,

Savoring each bite as it warms your belly and satiates you.

You finish it off with a mason jar of fresh lemonade.

Josephine tied a blue gingham ribbon around the jar in a perfect bow.

And it reminds you of how much care she puts into everything.

Whenever you think of her you are inspired to put as much care and love into the things you do.

Even the most mundane of moments are affected by the energy of love.

And you realize that you are a walking mosaic of all the people who have inspired you throughout your life.

The sparks of this loving energy travel over you with a luminescence of the fireflies and seemingly endless stars in the velvety indigo sky.

The fireflies travel over the water and create neon yellow dots that blink like Morse code.

And you imagine if you could translate their messages.

They would say,

Life is good on the bayou.

And it is good.

You carry the picnic basket with you to keep it safe from the nocturnal critters of the bayou who come out to play beneath the full moon.

Known as the thunder moon,

For the many thunderstorms to come in this humid summer month,

This full moon brings a time to release all that you no longer need and to attract all that you desire.

As Robin S.

Sharma once said,

What you focus on grows,

What you think about expands.

And what you dwell upon determines your destiny.

On this magical night beneath the thunder moon,

You are prepared to envision the life you desire and spell it out on the canvas of stars above.

You retreat to a hammock and sink into its center.

You rock back and forth and look through the palm fronds to focus on the rising moon.

The full moon peeks in the sky and shines over the bayou in a sparkling opal hue.

If there are a night to make wishes,

Tonight is the night.

You feel the netting of the hammock wrap around you in a hug that brings safety and comfort.

An owl hoots from a nearby tree as a raccoon trills from its hollow.

The summer songs of the bayou critters crescendo in a full performance so magical,

You are taken away from all your concerns.

Thunder sparklers erupt across the swamp as children run along the water's edge.

Their gleeful giggles cause you to smile,

Nostalgically remembering summer nights as a child.

The magic of fireflies and campfires and staying up late are thoughts that come to mind.

The magic of the night helps you forget everything.

You are lost in the moment like a brilliant reverie.

Your tired eyes focus on the celestial sky.

You relish how small you feel.

And all your cares beneath the majesty of the night sky feel small as well.

Perhaps you once did this beneath the stars as a small child.

Now you do it again as you set your sights on the silvery white full moon and the mystical halo that surrounds it.

And you make a wish.

From the depths of your soul,

You feel this wish rising up and out of your heart.

You feel the moonbeams land on your heart center and the tingling warmth that begins to emanate and spread throughout your body.

You take in a deep breath and then sigh.

Your body is so heavy.

You hear the spring doors of nearby cabins begin to close and the whispering voices of neighbors saying good night.

You listen to the lapping waters against the creaking dock and inhale the wondrous night air.

As the temperature drops,

The salty aroma is overcome by the smells of cedar and cypress,

Minty and piney.

The air always feels cleaner at night.

Your fingers are intertwined in the silky,

Soft laid rope of the hammock and you feel them massage the valleys between your fingers.

Your feet are propped above your heart and this relaxing position improves your blood flow at the end of this long day.

It feels as though your veins are now like the many intricate passages of the bayou that wiggle their way towards the gulf.

You feel the gentle flow,

The release and the softness in your feet.

Your eyes become quite heavy and before you fall asleep in the hammock,

You rise and look out at the beautiful ebony water one last time.

The waterfront cabins have all gone dark before your own.

You take the basket and walk on the grassy path past the swamp magnolia that perfumes the night air with a sweet yet fruity aroma,

Often thought to smell like champagne.

Its elegant white flowers contrast the rustic exterior of your 19th century cottage that drips with a sense of time and place.

Made of narrow cypress planks,

There is a porch that spans the front of the house.

The house is a survivor and its resilience and staying power through hurricanes and tropical storms gives you a sense of your own resilience.

You wear and honor your scars,

Seen and unseen,

That mark all you have overcome.

You are a resilient force.

The cabin is a safe refuge and you cannot cross the threshold without feeling its history and stories playing out within its walls.

Dark blue shutters surround each window and the tin roof makes for the most soothing soundtrack.

When tropical storms roll in,

You walk up the rustic steps,

Imagining as you often do,

The time in history when the cottage was built.

Home has an old soul that welcomes you like a loving mother from another time.

The stairs creak beneath your feet and you come to the screen door and open it.

The home remains cool by the summer breeze and oversized circular silver fans that have withstood the test of many hot Louisiana summers.

You place the picnic basket in the foyer and remove your shoes.

You make your way towards the stairs to the second floor.

You count each step as you rise,

Feeling more and more tired with each step.

1,

2,

3.

The creaks of the stairs and doors are softer and more kind beneath your feet than the steps that lead to the porch.

4,

5,

6,

7,

8.

You walk down the hallway towards the bathroom,

Led by the moonlight that pours through the windows.

Up on the cool tiled floor of the bathroom,

Towards a clawfoot tub from the 19th century,

You turn the cast iron faucet handles so the water is the perfect lukewarm temperature to soothe you from the hot,

Humid day.

A small cream-hued wooden antique table sits by the tub with a tray of essential oils,

A pack of old matches,

And homemade soaps set on it.

You take the lavender oil and peppermint oil and add a few drops to the water.

You set them down and then grab the match box to remove a match and strike it against the box.

You light candles arranged around the tub.

Some are on the floor and others are on the windowsill.

Clickering amber candlelight and the opal moon glow that pours through the windows that look out on the bayou illuminate the room.

You remove your clothes.

So tired you carelessly leave them in a pile on the floor.

You step into the bath water and slide into the deep tub.

The water continues to cascade out of the faucet tap and you watch it fill the rest of the tub.

The peppermint oil causes your entire body to tingle with a gentle,

Cool reprieve.

You splash your face with water,

Washing away the salty crust of dried sweat and swampy air.

You turn off the faucet and sink deeper into the bath.

Your body is now cool and clean in the healing,

Soothing water.

You close your eyes and inhale the peppermint and lavender fragrance.

It makes you sleepy.

You continue to relish the soothing sensation of the cool,

Minty water and the soporific effects of the lavender.

You are so ready for sleep as you use your big toe to flip open the drain and then rise out of the tub.

You wrap yourself in a fresh,

Plush towel and walk down the long,

Dark hallway to your bedroom.

The thunder moon is so bright that it beams through your bedroom when you make your way towards a cherry wood armoire and take out a pair of crisp,

Light-weight summer pajamas.

You change into them and your skin feels silky and smooth against the brushed cotton fabric.

You walk towards a four-poster bed covered with a thin quilt and cotton sheets.

A fan blows on the bed and the breeze that travels through the surrounding forest helps cool the room.

Your body still tingles from the peppermint oil as you draw back the bedding and climb into the plush queen bed.

Your head sinks into the pillows that form around your neck.

The pillowcases are cool and soft against your face.

You listen to the sounds of the crickets and the fan.

The white noise helps you to float towards the sleeping world of dreams that awaits you.

Every part of your body is now soft,

Comfortable,

And relaxed.

You think about your wish,

Once again feeling a warm glow in your heart center as this beautiful vision of it coming into fruition guides you towards sleep,

Letting go,

Surrendering.

Your tired eyes look to the white wooden planks of the walls and out the windows to see the mystical forest that thrives in the bayou.

You feel gratitude for all the experiences of this day.

The sense of community and love you feel in the bayou.

These kind feelings wash over you from head to toe.

Soothing,

Full of peace,

Full of joy.

And I am going to count you down to a night of healing,

Restorative sleep.

Notice how beautifully calm and content you are right now.

This is how you deserve to feel.

Hang on to this feeling throughout your waking life and return to it often.

You always have this ability to self-soothe.

It is yours to tame.

And you may let go of my voice as we come to the bridge that connects you to your sleeping life.

Ten,

Nine,

Eight,

Seven,

Six,

Five,

Four,

Three,

Two,

One.

Finding bliss.

Finding contentment.

Finding peace.

Finding sleep.

It's time to dream away.

Good night.

Reviews

Very soothing. I felll asleep quickly, something I not been able to do. Michelle’s Sanctuary is a wonderful place to be.

❤️

Another gem, Michelle, full of wonderful, sleep-inducing imagery. ♡ (I love that you did a voice for Josephine, BTW. You are a masterful storyteller!)

Love and blessings to you! 💖

Thank you again,Michelle 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻No idea about the content yet, and it is working🙏🏻😴🙏🏻😴🙏🏻😴🙏🏻