Drift into a healing,
Imaginative sleep with this fantasy bedtime story for grownups.
You're listening to The Forest of Twisted Trees.
In this mystical sleep story,
You travel through time and space to sacred woodlands where the trees twist like licorice sticks.
Invited by a healing outlier named Jacob,
You arrive on a misty autumn night.
Beneath the full moon,
You rediscover things about yourself.
Nature brings clarity to uncertainties.
Crystals dangle from a magical tree that you sit beneath and imagine the life you most wish to lead.
Jacob brings you to a sleeping sphere built high atop the trees in his oasis of treehouses.
You fall into a deep sleep.
It's time to dream away.
I would like to welcome you to Michelle's Sanctuary.
My name is Michelle and you may think of my voice as that of your friend and guide.
I am here to remind you of all the wonderful things you deserve in your life.
This practice will help you connect with your deepest self before you fall asleep.
At any point in the story,
You may surrender to sleep if that appeals to you.
Feel free to return to listen in the future.
If you wish to skip ahead and bypass the breath work meditation,
You may do that as well.
Now is your time to relax and unwind.
You know what you need right now more than anyone.
So enjoy the freedom you have to create this wonderful,
Soothing vacation before you drift to sleep.
Tomorrow you will awaken refreshed,
Revived,
And ready to experience a life that is fully yours.
Get as comfy as you can.
Sink into your bed and feel how it supports you.
Feel secure in the sanctuary of your room and your mind.
Your imagination is a powerful tool to help you self-soothe.
It can take you to places you have never been.
Your breath is your vehicle.
It is life.
Let out all the air in your lungs.
Feel your body collapse as you let go.
And then take in a slow,
Deep inhalation.
Your belly and chest rise.
Your collarbones come up as well.
You open your mouth and enjoy a yawn.
Signal to your body that you are tired.
You are ready to stand down.
And exhale through your mouth in a sigh.
You can yawn and sigh all you want right now.
Take in another conscious breath.
Imagine this cleansing air traveling through your body,
Nourishing you from head to toe.
Yawn again and then sigh it all out.
Let it go.
After this third breath,
Inhale through pursed lips as if you are sipping through a straw.
Your body fills with air.
It becomes light,
Carefree.
And then you exhale through pursed lips.
And your breath is blowing away any thoughts or ideas that no longer need your attention.
They may go off into the night and be collected some other time.
Right now is for pleasure and comfort.
So sink into their embrace as the sleep story begins.
The world can be a funny place to be born into.
Human life begins with a physical body that does its own thing from the very first cells.
It would seem that everything develops exactly as it should.
Being alive is a miracle.
Yet very soon into life,
The expectations of the times and society begin to shift ideas of what is normal and what is not.
Jacob Green was never afforded the luxury of feeling normal.
He was born with a body that was near double that of his peers.
His height and stature over others gave him a vantage point and perspective that no one quite understood.
Rather than feel bad or try to conform,
With the loving guidance of his artistic mother,
Jacob decided to celebrate his uniqueness and embrace the spirit of being a misfit.
He had no other voice to listen to but the whispers of his own.
Those whispers led him to escape the scrutiny of the villagers,
To forge his own path and live each day on his own terms.
He wondered why no one else had thought of living their life with such freedom and joy.
Jacob lived in the forest of twisted trees.
This mystical landscape offered him healing and wisdom.
No one questioned the tawny gray trunks that sprouted out of the damp soil like licorice twists.
No one dared to ask why the invisible winds were fickle and sometimes fierce.
No one demanded that the winds make themselves visible.
No one mocked the sun for rising and setting each day.
No one told the leaves to stop changing colors and falling.
No one chastised the trees for becoming barren at the end of each fall.
The forest of twisted trees was the perfect place for someone to go when they felt misunderstood.
Or in Jacob's case,
It was a refuge from a society that had preconceived ideas of how one should develop and grow.
That was never entirely in his control after all.
So why should he care?
Nature offered a place free of judgment.
A place for all living things to just be.
And in the forest,
Jacob thrived.
He stood confidently among the twisted trees that reached for golden sunlight by day and the stars by night.
He explored the unexpected with curiosity and enthusiasm.
And with artistic gifts inherited from his mother,
He designed an oasis of unique treehouses and sleeping spheres high atop the twisted trees.
Soon after Jacob had made the forest his home,
He began to have dreams of other souls throughout time and space who spent their nights longing to be free of judgment as well.
But in one particular dream,
Jacob became aware of you.
He awoke the following morning and drafted a handwritten letter with specific instructions.
Despite his large hands and thick fingers,
His mother had gifted him the most delicate penmanship.
He had a terse yet eloquent way with words.
When you received the letter,
You were quite surprised and perhaps even skeptical.
The parchment smelled of the woodlands and you inhaled the fibrous page.
You ran your fingers across your name and memorized his words.
He wrote,
Whenever you feel the world is too much,
Whenever you feel you are alone,
Whenever thoughts keep you up into the night,
Just imagine a forest of twisted trees and I will meet you there to remind you that you belong.
On this night,
You remove the letter from beneath your pillow and imagine how wonderful it would be to feel free and inspired.
Your head sinks into your pillow and you think about the twisted trees.
Beneath the darkness of your closed eyelids,
You can see the textured trunks and feel their grainy surface beneath your palms.
You imagine the clean crisp air of autumn as you inhale,
And suddenly you hear the whispering voice of Jacob.
Would you like to come away?
You hear your own voice answer without a moment's hesitation.
Yes,
Please,
Yes.
You drift and float through a dark indigo sky,
Cloaked in glittering gold light.
The light is warm and pulses softly against your tired body.
The farther that you float away from your bed,
The lighter and safer you feel.
You trust your decision and you trust every moment about to unfold.
A deep knowing in the core of your body gives you peace.
With the fluidity of a dream within a dream,
Of a memory within a memory,
You continue to travel through time and space until you float towards the earth.
You land on a grassy knoll beneath a full moon.
Dewdrops speckle emerald blades of grass like diamonds in the opal moonlight.
The hill ends at the perimeter of the forest of twisted trees.
A silvery lavender mist hovers over the forest floor,
Spilling out over the edge of the grass like the bottom of a lace curtain wafting on a breeze from open windows.
Jacob stands in the moonlight,
Close to the edge of the woodlands.
It feels so natural to meet,
As if being picked up from the airport by a loved one after a long journey.
His big eyes are like cerulean pools of water,
Full of hope and kindness.
He wears a wool cloak jacket in a deep shade of purple that has a timeless feel.
You walk across the grass,
And the autumn air caresses your skin like incoming waves of cool water.
You feel soothed,
Cleansed,
And free.
The joy of being someplace new and yet familiar causes your heart center to radiate warmth.
As you inhale and then exhale the evergreen scented air,
Your breath condenses in small white puffs.
Jacob moves with grace,
And his beautiful hands reach out to you with a gift neatly and tightly folded like a blanket.
You thank him,
So touched,
And like a stray cloud in a perfect sky,
A thought comes to you.
Do I deserve this?
In telepathically,
Jacob's kind and whispering words stop your thought.
Never question the gifts you deserve.
You smile and so does he,
As you unfold the article and find it is the coat of your dreams.
It is from whatever style,
Fabric,
And design that makes you happiest.
You put it on and feel instantly warmed from the damp night air.
The coat is a perfect fit,
And makes you feel loved and cherished and cared for.
You feel humbled with a confirmation that the world can be kind.
Jacob's voice is low and trustworthy as he says.
The forest will answer any questions you may have if you seek guidance,
But do not question the joy or love or good things you encounter tonight.
Just know that you are worthy of every one of them.
Promise me that.
You nod your head and promise.
This new friend has been so kind,
You find this to be a simple request.
You smile and think to yourself,
I deserve this.
Jacob steps into the woods,
And his cloak dances on the evening breeze.
The edge of the forest has an array of evergreen trees that perfume the air.
They are soon replaced with the legendary twisted trees.
You cannot resist placing your palms on the spiraling edges.
All the trees are uniquely formed.
Their tangled roots spill out over the earth's floor,
Gripping to something permanent.
Nourished by the earth and sun,
The gnarled branches curve towards the sky.
A tree does all it must to survive the storms of life.
It lets go of its leaves when the temperature changes,
To not be weighed down by snow or damaged by winter winds.
You imagine what it must feel like.
To be so in tune with your own needs for survival and resilience,
Is there anything more you may do in your life to meet these needs for yourself?
You wonder more as you go.
You follow the deep impressions made in the earth by Jacob's large ebony boots.
Fallen leaves and tiny twigs crunch beneath your feet as you admire the twisted trees.
Not one is the same.
The trees do not compare themselves to each other.
What a silly idea for a tree to do.
And it makes you question why ever would a human being compare themselves to one another as well?
You absorb the energy and freedom of these trees to grow as they desire.
To adapt to situations beyond their control,
And to thrive in any way to adapt to the seasons of life.
A pair of black squirrels run across the path and stop when they see Jacob.
You sense the mutual respect they share for each other.
So existing in this mystical forest,
Jacob brings you to a narrow river that weaves between the twisted trees like a sparkling midnight blue ribbon.
The most beautiful wooden boat you have ever seen gleams in the moonlight.
Jacob assists you into the boat and then sits behind you.
He seamlessly guides the boat southerly towards the heart of the forest.
You run your hands across the polished amber hued wood.
It feels cool,
Solid and smooth.
Jacob reveals he has made this boat after having many inspiring dreams of leading visitors on healing journeys through the woods.
You sink back into a plush satiny pillow as Jacob paddles downstream.
A mist hovers over the water,
Slithering like a silver tulle veil on the breeze.
You look through the twisty barren branches of the trees to take in the velvety sky.
The stars twinkle between the tiny branches and the full moon takes center stage.
Everything in this moment sparkles in the pearly moonlight.
The rocks that line the river bed.
The ripples on the water.
The night sky.
The shiny carpet of damp jewel-toned leaves that scatter across the earth.
The beauty creates a memory you will hold onto when you need to feel good.
Floating downstream,
Your body surrenders to the ebb and flow of the boat as you inhale the sweet autumn air.
Jacob guides the boat towards the rocky river bank and docks.
He rises first and exits the boat,
Backlit by the lustrous moon.
He extends his big palm and you hold on as he helps you out of the boat and onto land.
You realize the glistering light behind him is not only from the moon.
As he moves forward,
You see a twisted tree that was blocked from view.
This tree is completely unlike all the others,
A different type of crystal dangles from each branch,
Covering all spectrums of the rainbow.
Jacob ducks beneath the branches of the tree and you follow.
You are surrounded by hundreds of crystals that are pendulous in the breeze and reflect the moonlight.
They glow as brightly as holiday lights.
Jacob explains that for some unknown reason,
When this healing tree revealed itself from the earth,
These crystals sprouted like buds and grew like leaves.
Pieces of clear quartz hang like many icebergs.
He explains the stone is known as a master healer.
Vibrant purple quartz known as amethyst connects to the crown chakra and helps slow the mind for sleep and tranquility.
Jacob says many times he has been given answers in deep concentration from the amethyst crystals.
Peachy rose quartz helps heal the heart and foster love.
The cobalt blue lapis lazuli opens intuition and connects with the throat chakra so you may speak your truth with the world.
Carnelian floats on the breeze and these opaque fiery orange stones connect to your root chakra and ground you to the earth.
Hematite glistens in silvery black and is a protector that unmasks your inner strength.
Moonstone boasts an iridescent shade of ivory and inspires adaptability and being in tune with your flow.
Citrine looks like shades of lemon ice and brings joy and prosperity.
Aquamarine for serenity and tolerance for others.
Jacob reveals how the stone always reminds him to abandon judgment and to stay free from the judgment of others.
A wooden swing hangs beneath the canopy of the healing tree.
Jacob invites you to go over to the seat and open yourself to any feelings and visions that come up.
You hold onto the frayed robes and hoist yourself onto the seat.
Once you settle,
Jacob leaves to prepare your sleeping quarters for the night and leave you in peace.
As you begin to swing,
A cloud of glittering light like stardust forms behind you and mingles with the mist above the forest floor.
You feel as though you are inside a kaleidoscope as the glittering crystals shine on you.
Shades of purple,
Pink,
Blue and green precious stones twinkle in the moonlight.
Earth tones and rich oranges and yellows light up as well.
Close your eyes and inhale the fresh air.
You sigh as the swing goes forward and your feet ascend towards the sky.
You feel the sense of freedom that the forest of twisted trees is known to offer.
You open your eyes and swing higher and higher up.
You go back and forth.
You realize this is life.
This is the feeling you had at times,
Long before you tried to be anything but yourself.
This is what it feels like for a young child to run through a field of grass in summer for the first time,
To jump into a pile of crisp copper autumn leaves.
What it feels like to have the mist of the surf on your face the first time.
The warmth of morning sunlight that offers a new day.
The rainbow array of crystals that dangle from the twisted branches and twigs dance on the autumn winds in tandem with your motions back and forth.
Every part of your body is in alignment.
From head to toe,
You feel alive and joyous.
You imagine this is how you could feel more often if you simply listened to the deepest parts of yourself.
And these parts may only be heard when the rest of the world is dimmed to a quiet hush.
You can see yourself as an observer.
From the outside looking in,
You see the beauty and softness in your face and vitality in your body.
This night is a gift.
You look to the stars and make a wish.
You make as many wishes as it takes to fully see and feel the life you desire.
You find you are becoming a bit tired and slow down on the swing.
Your feet break on the dusty earth beneath the swing and you gently come to a stop.
Jacob arrives and says you may take your time,
But your room is now ready.
Carefully pull yourself out of the swing and follow him.
Your energy changed and you feel lighter than you have felt in a long time.
To a sensitive soul like Jacob,
Your aura shines like diamond dust.
He smiles softly when he sees how much you have been transformed.
Jacob leads you down a mulch path that runs along the river bank.
The smell of burning wood smoke blends with the clean mineral aroma of the river.
You see an amber glow in the distance.
As you walk farther,
More of amber orbs begin to appear.
You suddenly realize they are an intricate array of dwellings that rest above the trees.
Copper-hued wooden dwellings are in the shapes of spheres,
Connected by intricate bridges that swing overhead.
Jacob guides you to a wooden ramp that leads to a series of stairs.
The stairs wind around a tree in a spiral towards the sky and are built to accommodate people of all shapes and sizes.
You watch how naturally he ascends despite his stature.
He designed the stairs in a way that everyone may feel comfortable as they go higher and higher up towards his beautiful home.
And for those who wish not to walk or are unable,
There is a chair and pulley that Jacob uses to bring them to the top.
You come to a rope bridge that leads to one of the sleeping spheres in the sky.
You follow Jacob to the front door of the cozy dwelling.
A hand-carved sign in his delicate and memorable penmanship reads,
Hope,
And hangs from the front door.
Jacob says you are welcome to stay here as long as you like and return any time as well,
If only in your dreams.
He walks away to his sleeping sphere as you open the door and enter yours.
There is a wood stove in the back of the room that glows with marmalade flames.
A plush bed is in the center of the room.
It is covered with a soft colorful quilt that depicts the healing tree.
All the sparkling colors of the hanging crystals are depicted vibrantly on the quilt.
You remove your coat and hang it on a hook near the door.
You run your hands across the fabric,
Once again feeling warmed by the kindness of the gift and the appreciation that it is exactly the coat you always wanted.
There is a small washroom where you go and splash your face and drink a glass of water.
A pair of plush pajamas are folded on a side table.
You change into them and feel as though they are the best fitting and softest pajamas you have ever worn.
You return to the bed and peel back the quilt.
You climb atop the plush mattress and go under the crisp cool sheets.
You smell of fresh linen dried in the sun.
Your head sinks into the fluffy pillows that are stuffed with cedar shavings and cotton fluff.
The ceilings are very high and a large skylight window spreads across the top of the ceiling over the bed.
You look at the stars in velvety black sky.
For a moment you feel what it must be like to be a tree and reach for the stars.
And while they may never quite touch them,
The twisted trees continue to grow.
And given their windy branches,
It takes even longer for them to achieve height.
Yet they never stop trying.
This thought gives you hope.
Your eyelids become very heavy and you close them.
The sphere rocks ever so slightly atop the trees and you are gently rocked to sleep.
You feel safe,
Loved and cared for.
You feel open to the new possibilities that will come to you in time.
Did you keep listening to your inner voice?
This is your path.
This is your journey.
You decide on the road you choose to forge.
But for now you may let your subconscious mind work out all the details as you surrender to sleep.
You are free to cross the bridge that connects you from your waking life to your dreaming life.
I am going to count you down,
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.
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