Hello and welcome to Michelle's Sanctuary.
I'm Michelle,
Your guide on this dreamy escape that may be your precious mental holiday at bedtime.
Find comfort and relax with tonight's guided sleep story and meditation,
The Healing Lighthouse.
Release your day and drift into a deep,
Restful sleep drawn in by the hopeful illumination,
A sparkling beacon spanning across the sea.
In this journey,
You'll travel by rowboat to a secluded island where you'll arrive at the storied lighthouse.
You'll swim in the warm ocean as summer fades and you wash away your day in a fragrant shower and then climb the spiral staircase to your cozy bedroom at the top of the lighthouse tower.
This story will guide you to a place of peace,
Safety,
And rest,
Reconnecting you with your own inner light.
As you slip into sleep,
It's time to dream away.
This practice is meant to be simple,
And as you listen,
Imagine my voice is one of a truly supportive friend and ally.
My intention is to help you come down from the day and celebrate yourself as you cuddle up and allow yourself to settle in for your lighthouse retreat.
Fall asleep whenever you like,
Knowing you are held in a safe haven that has existed for centuries to bring light and comfort to the most weary.
Begin to tune yourself into the present moment as you snuggle up.
Allow your body to become heavy as you begin to relax,
Gently ease into your bed,
Shifting and shaking off any last remnants of your day.
And as you wiggle and come to stillness,
Think of my voice as a gentle guide,
Like an old friend,
A voice that simply represents your intention for the deepest relaxation.
Set aside any thoughts you have about today and any worries about tomorrow as you focus only on right now.
Drift closer to the dark stillness inside,
As this is your time,
Your opportunity for self-renewal and healing as you fall asleep.
Now turn your attention to your breath.
This is a function of the body that can be either voluntary or involuntary,
And you can use it to ease into a deeper state of relaxation.
Gently release all the air from your lungs until the deepest part of your belly collapses.
And now inhale for the count of three.
One.
Two.
Three.
And exhale for the count of three.
Three.
Two.
One.
And again inhale for the count of three.
And with this next breath,
Only if it feels right,
Exhale for double the time you took to inhale,
Counting down from six.
And enjoy another round of this conscious breathing pattern as the smell of the sea fills the air and the mist lands on your skin.
Try one more time,
Counting how long it takes as you inhale,
And this time exhale in a delicious sigh.
Counting is an easy way to focus on this moment as the numbers lead you to places of deep security and peace.
You're doing so well,
Taking this time for yourself to unwind.
You may now sense a lightness in your chest,
A feeling of ease as your breath resumes a natural,
Steady tempo.
And in this calm,
Dreamy state,
It's time for our lighthouse journey to begin.
Imagine you are seated inside a sturdy wooden rowboat that has been restored and reconditioned.
This rowboat is older than you and has many stories to tell.
The worn,
Smooth seat feels comfortable beneath you,
And with each gentle rise and fall of the waves,
The boat makes a soft,
Creaking sound.
Your hands rest on the wooden oars,
The familiar grain of the wood a comforting sensation.
As you dip the oars into the tranquil sapphire water,
You feel the gentle resistance,
A steady,
Rhythmic pull that engages the muscles in your back and shoulders.
With each pull,
You feel a quiet strength within you,
A deep sense of purpose as you glide over the sun-kissed surface of the water.
The cool,
Salty spray creates a veil of mist on your relaxed face.
It feels refreshing,
A new start and opening to all the sensory aspects of this unique and beautiful moment.
You hear the lapping of the water against the hull.
As the boat moves closer to the shore,
You hear a towering,
Striped lighthouse that has provided comfort for seafarers since 1852.
And now,
It is your home away from home.
Right now,
The sapphire waves glisten in the sunlight as if honey has been poured upon them,
Gently leading you to the shore.
All the colors around you are rich,
Warm,
And saturated.
You use the oar to guide yourself through the shallow water,
Inhaling deeply the fragrant,
Salty air of the warm ocean.
You can even hear the gentle crunch of pebbles under the hull of your boat.
As you reach the shore,
You step your bare feet into the water,
Welcoming the tingling sensation from the salt.
You have a sense that this could be your last chance to comfortably enjoy a late summer swim.
Before heading up to the lighthouse,
You safely dock your boat and dive into the lapping waves.
A wave of invigorating,
Cool water rushes over you as you dive in.
And you feel a wonderful surge of life in your fingers and toes,
Your arms and legs.
You push through the silky resistance of the tide,
Your movements strong and graceful as you swim around the small,
Cozy island.
Rolling onto your back,
You taste the clean brininess of the seawater on your lips.
As you float,
Tiny droplets of water cling to your eyelashes,
Catching the sun's last golden light and shimmering like diamonds.
You are buoyed by the gentle,
Rolling rhythm of the waves,
Feeling safe and held by the endless sea.
She inspires you to match her tempo,
Dissolving all your concerns and lingering thoughts.
As you rise and fall and rise and fall,
From this vantage point just below the lighthouse,
Floating carelessly on the waves,
The lighthouse creates an even deeper sense of appreciation with its majesty and steady presence.
Feeling strong and healthy,
You swim toward the shore as the sun disappears for the day.
The beacon of light from the lighthouse comes to life,
Turning on almost intuitively just as you reach the pebbled beach.
You feel the cool stones massaging your tired feet,
Releasing all tension.
Walking toward the lighthouse,
You come to the outdoor shower on your own little island.
Tucked behind weathered wooden boards,
You turn on the hot,
Steaming water and step under the wide showerfall.
Washing away the salt and the day you've left behind.
Boughs of fresh eucalyptus hang around the cedar walls,
Creating a clean,
Uplifting fragrance that helps you relax even further.
Your muscles melt like soft wax.
Your joints soften and find a little more space.
And a peaceful surrender makes you realize how wonderfully tired you truly are.
Outside the shower,
A plush clean towel and robe await you.
You bundle up against the cooler breezes that come with night and step your feet into a pair of soft slippers.
As you walk along the stone path to the entry of the lighthouse,
The twilight sky has rich bands of purple and fuchsia that slowly fade into deep sapphire blue.
As glittery stars and a crescent moon emerge,
You enter the first floor of your lighthouse,
Taking in the cozy furnishings of the living room.
You decide to climb to the top for one last look at the night sky.
And approach the spiral stairs that will guide you up.
And with each step,
You find yourself feeling more and more tired,
More ready to unwind and settle in for the night.
You continue up to the second floor,
Past the kitchen and dining area,
Counting the second set of steps.
1 2 3 4 5 6 With each step,
You feel more and more relaxed,
So happy to have this special,
Safe home.
You continue to the third floor,
Where your soft,
Plush brass bed with a patchwork quilt awaits you.
Still you continue,
At the last narrowing,
Winding staircase.
It leads you to a parapet,
Which you open to the tower,
Sitting below the beacon of light.
Shining out across the harbor and sea,
You look out into the glistening darkness.
You feel mesmerized by the stars above,
And the light shining on the dark waters below.
As you close your eyes,
You inhale the salty,
Cool night air as deeply as you can,
And then exhale.
And with your eyes closed,
You suddenly feel the beacon of light that is deep inside of you,
Finding the stillness that houses your inner spirit.
And you connect with yourself right now,
Envisioning how you too may go about your life as a beacon of light.
Feel the warmth in your heart as you open your eyes,
And watch the light continue to shine on.
Remember this gentle feeling whenever doubts or concerns arise in your waking life.
Whenever you need to remember how special and unique you are,
Your mind can drift to this memory of what it feels like to just shine.
To just let the light warm you from the inside out.
And how wonderful it is to inhabit this beacon of safety,
Thinking of how many lives throughout time relied on and celebrated the light shining from this lighthouse.
How you too can be a beacon of light and safety,
Emanating warmth and peace.
And feeling so tired,
You look up at the crescent moon and stars one last time,
Before beginning your descent down the stairs to your bed.
As you wind your way back down,
Sleepiness comes like the waves lapping against the island.
You step into the bedroom and take off your slippers and collapse into the bed.
You sink into the plush topper.
The room is dimly lit by antique lanterns hanging around the exposed brick walls.
The room is a cavern of comfort,
Simple and serene.
A patchwork quilt covers the bed in brilliant blue and green jewel tones that capture the essence of the sea.
You slowly rise before sleep takes hold and change out of the robe into cozy flannel pajamas.
On a nearby shelf,
An abundant selection of blankets awaits you.
Folded neatly,
There is a blanket for every mood,
For every weather event.
You take a moment to decide.
You might reach for a heavy,
Braided wool blanket for deep warmth.
It's dark green color,
A perfect match for a quiet mood.
Or perhaps a light linen throw.
A soft,
Breathable comfort in a gentle ivory shade.
There's a sky-blue weighted blanket,
But for the coziest feeling and the chilliest of nights,
There's a ridiculously oversized fuzzy blanket,
The kind you could get lost in.
A soft lavender color that feels as calming as it looks.
You are surrounded by softness as you select the perfect blanket for tonight.
Just behind the bed is an octagon window made of stained glass.
It's open just a crack,
Allowing the cool night air to drift in.
The briny fragrance of the Atlantic fills the room as you hear the rhythmic lapping of the waves outside.
Relaxing as you sense yourself going deeper and deeper down into a state of peace.
You cuddle beneath the quilt in your chosen blanket,
Feeling safe and snug.
Maybe there's a pet who shares this lighthouse with you.
Who comes up the stairs to join you for slumber.
Cuddling at your feet and warming them.
Or maybe there's a beloved stuffed toy.
Something that has significant meaning and always makes you feel reassured.
Your head sinks into the pillows,
Feeling heavy as you drift toward maritime dreams.
For often the salty air and whispers of the sea are enough to inspire the best dreams a person may have.
Your eyelids feel like shutters,
Closing for the night as you drift further and further away.
You feel the space between your muscles and joint.
The space between your vertebrae.
Between your fingers and toes.
And in these spaces,
Welcome a warm,
Healing light.
Like the light of the lighthouse.
A deep,
Resonating sense of home,
Stillness,
And safety starts at the core of your being and radiates through your limbs,
Out your toes and fingers,
To the crown of your head.
It feels like a warm,
Tingling pulse,
Bringing with it contentment and an ease of being.
Your mind is now drifting to an ethereal,
Dreamlike state.
Feel the gentle wind flow across the bed.
Right now you feel tranquility and peace.
The heaviness of your lids is winning over any desire to stay awake.
Drifting and drifting as the soporific sounds of the lapping waves bring a gentle,
Melodic peace.
With your eyes closed for the night,
Memories of joy come flooding to you.
You feel a warm,
Tingling sensation all over,
While your core feels so heavy,
So relaxed,
So in tune with a sacred harmony with the sea,
With the night,
With your sacred haven atop the lighthouse tower.
You focus as you breathe in and out.
How good it feels to have something existing just for you.
Nurturing and kind and so very much deserved.
Happy and warm,
Serene and grateful.
You succumb to the moment as the tiredness takes over and you may now rest for as long as you desire.
Breathing in and breathing out,
You are free to drift away from my voice to a dreamy world.
A shadow's dance from the dimly lit lanterns along the walls.
Beautiful and serene as you are floating deeper and deeper down.
Drifting away,
Closer to the delicate edges of sleep.
And if anyone were to witness this moment,
Or you were to rise above and peer into the scene from the outside,
You would see the soft,
Sleeping face of a person who is so very happy.
And relaxed.
So safe and snuggled into this beautiful place for repose and healing.
High atop this lighthouse tower,
You are connected to the sea and closer to the stars.
As if sleeping among them,
Watching over the waves below.
You let go right now,
Drifting down,
Down,
Down.
Letting your consciousness drift away with the last of the summer winds.
Into the night,
As you travel to healing dreams.
Finding relief.
Finding peace.
Finding comfort.
Finding sleep.
It's time to dream away.
Good night.
