Drift into a deep imaginative sleep with this Autumn Bedtime Story for grownups.
This calm sleep story and guided visualization will help you exchange worries and anxiety for peace and serenity.
You are listening to The Enchanted Pumpkin Cottage.
Be by train to a charming Bavarian hamlet in the 19th century.
Autumn leaves pepper the rolling hills in pops of magenta,
Fiery orange,
Gold and chartreuse.
A fall festival brings the village to life and with a stroke of luck you win a night at a magical pumpkin farm.
You travel through the forest to this healing place by horse and buggy.
You enjoy a night of respite in a healing pumpkin cottage that meets your every need and desire.
It's time to dream away.
I would like to welcome you to Michelle's Sanctuary.
I am Michelle and as you listen you may think of my voice as the voice of an old friend.
A familiar voice that you may trust to be your guide as you transition towards deep relaxation and sleep.
Your thoughts may wander as they are known to do,
But I will help bring them back to this healing story that will offer you deep relaxation.
You may customize this experience in any way that you desire.
This is your special time and you have earned the freedom to do whatever it takes to find serenity and sleep.
Autumn is a lovely time to get cozy and hunker down for the night.
If you wish to drift to sleep at any point before the story ends,
That is okay.
You may always return to listen again in the future.
Some people greatly need some breath work to be more relaxed,
But feel free to skip to the story if that suits you more.
You are the best advocate for yourself,
So listen to what your body and mind most need.
Enjoy feeling safe and warm right now and turn your focus to your breath.
Let out a big sigh,
Sink heavily into your bed and surrender as you let everything go.
Inhale slowly,
Sipping in the air through pursed lips for 1,
2,
3.
You can open your mouth into a yawn and signal to your body that you are ready to slow down.
Exhale and sigh out this air if you like for 5,
4,
3,
2,
1.
Inhale for 1,
2,
3 and take another yawn if that feels nice.
The exhale begins and flows out of your body for 6,
5,
4,
3,
2,
1.
Your breath returns to a normal,
Relaxed rhythm.
You take note of the gentle shift within your body.
You feel a deeper sense of relaxation than moments ago.
In the sanctuary of your room and mind,
You tap into the deepest parts of your imagination.
Your imagination is rich and alive and will transport you wherever you wish to go.
You may reconnect with this pretend world because it's fun.
You deserve to have some fun,
To enjoy the lightness in your heart center that comes from whimsy.
You may have been told at some point to grow up,
But this implication comes from the outside world and external sources.
And right now we are going to delve into your interior world,
A special place that is kept just for your safekeeping and enjoyment.
In this place you may be anything you want to be and embrace your inner child as the story begins.
Imagine a steam train rolling along the winding tracks of the German countryside.
The train blows through piles of amber,
Scarlet,
And amethyst leaves.
The leaves take flight on the breeze and swirl in miniature cyclones.
A charcoal gray cloud rises out of the smokestack and floats towards the clear blue sky.
The late afternoon sun casts the fairy tale landscape in a golden hue,
As saturated in warm tones as the heart of a honeycomb.
You press your face against the cool glass window of the dining car.
Travel in this period is glamorous.
In the interior of the coach is opulent and refined.
You dress in clothing from another time that is perfectly tailored to your body.
The soft velvet and cotton fabrics fit like a glove.
Other passengers wear fitted dresses and suits with elegant hats atop their styled hair.
A silver tea tray sits on a hand-crafted cherry wood table in front of you.
You pick up a delicate tea cup with hand-painted flowers and bring it to your lips.
The silky liquid warms your throat and you continue to sip on the tea as the train chugs along through the Bavarian countryside.
Fall colors dapple the landscape like the gemstones and gold bands in a jewelry display.
The pencil towers of an ornate gray castle reach for the sun.
A mountain lake reflects clusters of red,
Orange,
And marigold leaves on trees that line the lakeshore and doubles the beauty of fall colors.
The train travels through a forested area that casts the train cars in purple shadows.
It re-emerges from the thick forest of colorful leaves and evergreens into golden beams of sunlight as you approach a village.
Half-timbered homes scatter across the land beyond the forest and conjure thoughts of Hansel and Gretel.
The train arrives in the village and pulls into the station.
The locomotive comes to a stop and you hear the sounds of laughter and accordions playing joyous music.
You rise and walk down the carpeted aisle and disembark the train into the crisp,
Clean air of this perfect fall day.
You smell sweet leaves,
Pine needles,
And mountain fresh air.
You step onto the platform and follow the other travelers through the depot.
You exit a door onto the main street.
Horse-drawn carriages wait for some of the travelers and cart them off to their countryside cottages.
Horseshoes tap against the glistening sun-kissed cobblestones and children run through the main street to the annual autumn festival.
Vibrant half-timbered homes with raspberry pink,
Mustard,
And sapphire blue facades line the cozy lanes of the village.
Dark brown beams criss-cross like the ribbons of corsets worn by local folk singers at the autumn festival.
This event is touted as the largest pumpkin festival in all of Bavaria.
Bails of hay are strung along the streets and used as seats.
You walk past a golden bale and like a small child,
You cannot resist taking a random straw of hay.
You bring the straw to your nose and inhale the sweet smell.
You weave it between your fingers simply because it feels nice.
The air is cool against your face and carries the fragrance of soft pretzels and local delicacies.
Women wear Lederhosen or leather breeches that were worn in the early 19th century by farm workers.
The fashion made a resurgence during your visit at the end of the century and is now worn at celebrations and festivals.
The women wear dirndls made of flowy shirts and skirts covered with colorful bodices and aprons.
Cleaned eyes and warm smiles may be found in every soul in attendance.
As you walk among the villagers,
You feel as if you are reuniting with longtime friends.
Everyone has arrived at this gathering with a singular intention.
To be jubilant and enjoy life,
You close your eyes and feel the warmth of the sun on your face.
You inhale the crisp air and take in this unique smell that will forever tie you to this experience.
You are present and feel fully alive and connected.
The melodic voices of German folk singers are full of passion.
You open your eyes and look to the center of the festival.
Proud farmers stand behind rows of their prized pumpkins as attendees congregate near the stage.
Hans Hoffmann is a local farmer known for having a magical touch and he stands in the center of the gathering.
The villagers all believe his farm is enchanted.
His winning pumpkin is perfectly round and shimmers in the golden light.
Each year at the festival,
Attendees have the chance to guess the weight of the pumpkin.
The winner is invited to spend the night on the mystical farm.
You feel a nudge in your gut that urges you to enter the contest.
You walk up to the stage and take a slip of paper and fountain pen.
The riddle's answer comes as easily as your next breath.
Out of the blue,
A number in kilos comes to you.
You scribble it on the paper with your name and then fold it in half.
You place the paper into a wicker basket and soon discover you are the last entry.
Hans smiles as if he intuits something as well and already knows that you are meant to spend this autumn night together.
His friendly eyes change colors.
In a moment they appear to be a stony gray,
Then a cornflower blue,
And then a sea green.
You are mesmerized by them.
He is an older man yet his energy is sprightly and youthful.
His leathery skin is tanned from hours in the sun.
He seems strong and dependable.
A local official pours over the answers and the attendees pay attention.
Everyone in the crowd would love to spend a night on the mysterious farm.
The official comes to announce the winner.
And just like you knew what to write on the paper,
You are overcome with the feeling that your name will be called.
You can hear his voice and accent announcing your name before he speaks.
It empowers you to experience your intuition.
Your instincts are sharper and clearer when you leave the familiar and escape into another time and place.
Like when you were a child,
Your intuition is your best guide for learning how to function in a new world.
The crowd begins to cheer and the music resumes when your name is announced and Hans comes to congratulate you.
The sun is a fiery glowing orb that lowers behind the silhouette of the buildings.
The festivities will carry on into the night.
But you are ready to slip away with the rising intrigue about this magical farm.
Hans nods towards the cobblestone street and you follow him to a modest horse and buggy.
He helps you into the back seat of the buggy.
You sit on a plush bench made of amethyst and emerald upholstery.
Hans walks towards the horse and lovingly strokes her chestnut mane.
He climbs aboard the buggy and guides the horse towards the farm.
You are rocked back and forth on the cobblestone street that leads to a winding dirt road into the forest.
The sky is ablaze in streaks of white gold,
Fuchsia,
Tangerine and lavender.
The tree tops are dark silhouettes against the colorful sky.
The cool damp air enhances the smells of rich sweet earth and wood smoke that squiggles like black ink trails through the sky.
And though you have not known each other long,
Hans reminds you of someone you've trusted in your life.
Perhaps a family member or character from a book.
A person you came across early on in your childhood.
Feel safe and relaxed in his company.
The woodland's path opens into a clearing that leads to Hans' magical farm.
The twilight sky is a shade of marine blue,
Peppered with brilliant silver stars.
You pass by the half-timbered cottage that Hans calls home.
A fluffy cream-colored cat follows the buggy as it winds down the dirt path.
Goats and cows congregate on a grassy hill in front of a barn.
The sapphire blue sky reflects on a pond past the hill.
The horse arrives at a pumpkin patch,
Where Hans tightens the reins and brings the buggy to a stop.
He steps down from the buggy and picks up the purring cat.
He holds her against his chest and she rubs her furry jaw against his calloused palms.
You carefully step down from the buggy onto the damp earth.
Hans explains things to you in German.
And while you may not understand the language,
You are guided by your intuition and perception.
His staccato delivery of words is soothing and trustworthy.
He gestures to the hundreds of pumpkins that grow among tangled green vines and leaves.
They glow in the pearly light of a waxing gibbous moon.
Hans encourages you to pick up a pumpkin from the patch.
Then he points to the crown of his head,
Then his eyes,
Then his heart.
You understand that you are meant to choose a pumpkin with what you trust to lead you.
Are you led by what you think?
Or by what you see?
Or by what you feel?
You realize this choice may inform the night ahead.
And you give yourself some time to look out over the patch.
The pumpkins begin to glow.
And words appear in German and English on each one.
Love,
Peace,
Adventure,
Relief,
Hope,
Healing,
Passion,
Confidence,
Success,
Joy.
These words are illuminated and surrounded by gold dust that dances on the night air like fireflies.
You wave your hand over the word love and feel your heart become warm.
You brush your fingers across the gold dust of hope.
And feel a sense of hope.
You touch the word success and have a sudden vision of yourself succeeding at a deeply desired goal.
Hans gestures that you may choose more than one pumpkin if you desire.
You are not sure what is going to happen.
But once again you are overcome by a deep sense of trust.
This whisper inside of you says,
Trust the process.
And so you pick through the pumpkins to choose what sensations and experiences you most desire on this night.
The sound of a loon carries across the farm from the pond in a mournful cry of longing.
It awakens the longing within you for the things you most desire.
This longing helps to inform you of what to choose from the pumpkin patch.
When you have gathered the pumpkins that relay what you most need,
Hans approaches you and raises his eyebrows to confirm that you are ready.
You are not sure what you must be ready for,
But the most agreeable and trusting part of you is awakened.
You smile and nod.
Yes,
You are ready to experience whatever comes your way.
The autumn winds whip through the farm and across the pumpkin patch.
A rainbow of fallen leaves perfectly assembles in long colorful bands and rides the breeze like a flag.
The leaves swirl around the pumpkin patch and you and Hans are safely inside the cyclone.
Sparkling gold light and silver moonbeams shower onto you and the pumpkins.
A pumpkin cottage appears in the center of the patch and glows from the inside.
The wind gust disappears as quickly as it came and the rainbow of leaves form a path to the cottage door.
Hans stoically smiles.
He has witnessed the spectacle throughout his entire life,
But you feel a sense of awe and wonder.
You feel the curiosity you once enjoyed as a small child.
You remember this feeling.
It has room to grow when you are in a safe place and can deeply trust yourself.
Hans says guttnacht and retreats with the horse and cat towards the barn.
The rainbow mosaic of leaves glows beneath your feet.
When you step on the path,
Your feet become warm and you feel free from the pull of gravity.
You levitate above the earth with each step and feel as light as a drifting leaf.
Rather than question what is happening,
You surrender to the feeling because you feel so good.
You walk up the steps that are made from braided pumpkin vines and enter the rustic pumpkin cottage.
The space is cozy and open,
With a wood stove that burns in the center of the room and creates a soft,
Warm glow.
What you notice immediately is how quiet it is within the thick walls of the pumpkin.
You are enclosed in a sanctuary,
Disconnected from any concerns of the outside world.
You delightfully exist in this healing space that brings peace and safety.
You cannot remember the last time you felt so relaxed.
You are so at peace,
You begin to wonder why you ever felt anxious or worried or stressed out.
This moment is full of grace.
The room smells of fall,
Of cinnamon and nutmeg and pumpkin,
Of burning wood and fresh air.
Dried autumn flowers sit in a crystal vase on a black walnut table.
An ivory candle and box of matches sit next to the vase.
The word believe is written in the wax and gold leaf.
You strike a wooden match against the table and light the candle.
Gold dust erupts in a tuft and disperses through the room.
The wick burns brightly.
Smells from the candle bring you back to comforting memories.
The aromas tie you to experiences and places that are highlights in your life.
Whatever you sought on this magical night now connects with you.
You close your eyes and enjoy these feelings.
They ride on the warm air that travels in rolling waves and cloaks you in peace.
You welcome a feeling of tiredness and you take the candle with you as you walk up the spiral stairs to the loft.
You feel more and more relaxed with each step.
Shadows dance on the walls from the candlelight.
You arrive at the loft and find a cotton sleep shirt draped over a plush bed.
You set the candle down on a bed stand and change into the sleep clothes.
The gown drapes around your body comfortably and feeds your yearning to snuggle in the bed and enjoy the tranquility you have found in this healing pumpkin cottage.
Whatever theme this home offers you,
Whatever intentions or feelings you have desired for the night,
They now come over you in a magical aura.
You relish this much deserved place and time for respite in the glowing orange orb of a cottage.
The more you feel gratitude,
The more you feel hopeful and connected with all the possibilities in your life.
You climb into the tall bed and tuck yourself under the velvety covers.
You lean over to blow out the candle and make a wish that your dreams will evoke these soothing feelings and reveal answers to the questions you still have.
You are warm and nestled beneath the weight of the bedding.
You close your tired eyes and feel your eyelids rest like sandbags.
You go deeper within.
You inhale and exhale.
The rich fragrance of the autumnal earth and the smell of the burning fire in the wood stove trigger a deeply primal connection to your life in this moment.
You feel as if a warm sphere,
Much like this warm pumpkin cottage,
Glows within your solar plexus.
The warmth spreads through your heart center and then throughout the rest of your body.
Leaves fall around the pumpkin cottage and your mind begins to drift with similar ease,
Letting go.
There is nothing else for you to do.
You have done all that you need to as you nestle down in the safety of the magical farm where dreams may come and fulfill all your desires on this special night.
The night unfolds by your whims and specifications,
The cozy pumpkin cottage is a promise of more manifestations to come.
It feels so good to surrender right now.
There is nothing left to resist or fight.
You are letting go and you may drift to the sweetest of sleep and the kindest of dreams.
You are free to imagine the best possible scenarios and live out the best possible dreams on this enchanted night and I am going to count you down.
You feel heavier and heavier and go deeper down with each count,
Drifting away,
Floating to sleep.
Ten.
Nine.
Eight.
Seven.
Six.
Five.
Four.
Three.
Two.
One.
Finding bliss.
Finding peace.
Finding joy.
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.
Good night.
Good night.
Good night.
Good night.
Good night.
Good night.
Good night.
Good night.
Good night.
Good night.
Good night.
Good night.
Good night.
Good night.
Good night.
