Fall into a deep sleep with this calm sleep story that will take you to the lagoon.
Nestled within the wavy coastline of Curaçao,
The lagoon will offer you a moment for solitude and self-reflection.
As the sun sets and the island whispers to you all the answers to questions you have been seeking.
So get cozy in a safe place before we embark upon a journey to the lagoon.
I would like to welcome you to Michelle Sanctuary.
My name is Michelle and as you are listening,
Please think of my voice as that of a trusted guide who may usher you to a place for safety and dreaming as you float across the bridge that links your waking and sleeping lives.
While I guide you,
You may have the liberty to choose your own adventure and drift to sleep or let your mind wander off if that feels right.
You are free and safe to let your mind go to the places that resonate with you and conjure the utmost sensations of relaxation and peace of mind.
In this sanctuary,
You are free of judgement.
You are set free from the limitations created by worry and the unknown.
And you are valued.
You matter.
You deserve an escape.
And you may let your body feel so heavy.
It's like an anchor for a yacht that's been thrust out into a calm sea as it sinks slowly,
Floating through the salty water as it drifts down before landing upon the bottom of the ocean and creating a cloud of sand.
Feeling what it is like to drift down,
Down and landing upon your bed.
Your room is now like a capsule,
A protective wall offering a safe shelter that urges you to let go and dream away.
And you take in a deep inhale before you just sigh it all out and make as loud of a sound as you desire as your chest falls into total surrender.
Then breathe again and open your mouth wide as it turns into a yawn and signals to your body it is time to be as tired and relaxed as you like.
Now settle in and close your eyes.
Visualize your feet adorned in sandals,
Stepping on a sandy path that winds around twisting tree trunks that are roughly textured in shades of gray.
Hold your hand alongside the bark as it calls to you with its rough ridge design and you inhale the smell of salty air that travels on a gentle breeze that marries with a sweet intoxicating scent of ylang ylang.
You look to the sky as patches of cerulean blue are like a mosaic between the leaves of the ancient trees.
Adorned in soft flowing cotton fabric,
You continue on the path with a map in hand offered to you by your local host.
This lagoon,
Pristine and rarely visited,
Is off the beaten path but you are quite intrigued and ready for the adventure.
Before you even booked this trip,
There was an air of mystery calling to you.
An inner voice that very much insisted that you book this trip to Curaçao.
Since the 16th century,
The island was known for being a port city and it was subject to many influences of Spanish and later Dutch colonialists.
You are drawn to these iconic images found on postcards and reminiscent of rainbow sherbet and starburst chews.
The largest of the ABC islands,
Also including Bonaire and Aruba,
Curaçao is the most populous of the Dutch influence trio.
And while the history of the city of Willemstad welcomed you for a day or two,
You realized there was more splendor to be offered in the rural locations on the island.
Away from the tourists and industrial aspects of city life,
You found yourself at a recommended beach house where the sapphire waves crest and lick the alabaster siding of the three story guest house.
The host comes from a long lineage of Curaçao residents and bonded with you instantly,
Which inspired her to share the special lagoon.
And so now you find yourself with this weather worn map in your hands,
Guiding you past the twisted trees,
Down a hill that passes an abundance of cactus that grow throughout the desert landscape of the island.
You come upon an opening in the trees to find a beach comprised of coarse sand littered with coconuts beneath palm trees that rustle in the constant trade winds.
And these palms act like a curtain that unveils the brilliant crystal clear turquoise sea that expands almost endlessly to the horizon.
The lagoon was formed long ago by protective coral reefs,
Separating the still water from the stronger waves out at sea.
Further protection is offered by rock formations in shades of beige and taupe,
And you note the silhouettes of tall cactus plants that are cast against the cloudless sky.
The late afternoon sun hits your face in a blast of heat,
But you feel relieved by the soft winds that also blow the grains of sand against your feet.
You remove your sandals and a beach towel from your bag that you spread out on the enclosed beach and take a seat.
Feeling as the warm sand quickly warms your blanket,
You spread out your feet and dig your toes into the sand.
You close your eyes and tilt your head towards the sun,
Taking in the warmth and listening to the sound of the gently lapping waves and native birds.
And this is the kind of experience you know carries more value to you as it offers a scene you may revisit whenever you need to find this sense of calm and wonder and this deep faith that there is beauty in this world no matter how challenging and strife filled it may be at times.
And with the power of your sense memory and your imagination,
You can expand on this experience.
You open your eyes and watch the waves,
Noticing a sea turtle that comes to the shore,
Riding upon a wave without a care.
Surrendering to the incoming tide,
The sea turtle coasts in a way that you envy and it inspires you to remove your clothing and strip down to your bathing suit.
As you walk across the hot sand,
And ease your way into the refreshing water and swim gently above the coral reefs.
It takes but a moment or two to acclimate to the temperature,
But it feels good in contrast to the heat of the sun.
You look into the soulful eyes of the sea turtle,
Respecting her space as you begin to float on your back as well.
In tandem,
You both bob and float upon the waves and you go into this state of self-reflection.
Because wherever you go,
There you are.
And you connect in this moment with your face feeling the gentle salinity of the sea.
And your eyes look to the mirror in the sky to see the thread of you that has existed since your earliest of memories.
This consciousness has always been with you.
Always it was an indicator of the person who is uniquely you in the most trying and in the most enjoyable and blessed of times.
And you take this moment to honor yourself.
To love for yourself.
Knowing that all that has come before has been a lesson to learn and to grow from.
And in this moment,
So content with who you are,
There is no other way you could have come to the state of bliss and ease of being without all those moments of strife and challenges along the way.
The water now feels like a tapid bath and you bob and float in waves as delicate as lace when they roll upon the shore.
The sun is lowering towards the horizon and the cool white hot rays of light are softening into warmer shades of honey as you ride a wave to the shore and come out of the water.
You wrap the towel around your waist and watch as a lizard perches itself upon a rock in the sun.
An hour sets in and you find a fresh coconut that you pick up,
Dusting off the sand.
You bring it to the water and rinse it and then walk down the beach of this intimate cove to a rock that appears like a boulder that darkly contrasts the light blue waves.
You wade in shallow water and climb upon the rock,
Testing your balance and enjoying the strength and flexibility of your body as you pull yourself up and perch yourself upon the rock.
A pelican is soaring in the sky and though without grace it has ferocity as it dives into the water and has luck on the first strike,
Finding its dinner.
Seated on the rock,
You take the coconut and strike it against a sharp edge,
Piercing it.
You drink from the coconut,
With a hint of salt remaining on the shell.
You enjoy the warm sweet water as it coats your throat.
The sun begins to set and the water ahead of you looks like a pastel landscape upon a canvas.
It's as if you are in a piece of artwork,
As observer and also creator of the experience,
As so much of what you experience is left to your perception and your frame of mind.
And as long as you inhabit your body,
You have the free will and the power of your mind to control your perceptions and freedom of choice for what you allow to come into your life.
The glorious Caribbean Sea,
Like an azure tinted mirror,
Reflects the warm pastel strokes across the sky at sunset,
Like melting chalk during a rainstorm on a sidewalk in shades of melon and violet and magenta.
The sky is a glow and the silhouette of the rock formations of the lagoon are coming to life.
The beige surface is set aglow by the orb of the deep tangerine sun as it sets,
With carvings that look like that of a face from another time.
You see the profile of the nose and eyes and lips and hear a whisper come to you.
At first,
You think it is the voice of the island as the trade winds deliver this reassuring sound,
And then you realize it is more than one voice as these messages come to you.
These are the words of those who have loved you and lifted you up,
Reminding you now of all the moments that have defined you and made you feel safe,
Just as the lagoon makes you feel protected right now.
You hear the voice of a dear friend encouraging you in a whisper that travels on the breeze that tastes of salt,
And then the voice from your childhood that encouraged you to take your first steps.
The voice that put you to sleep and always came to you when you were hurt or when you were scared.
The voice travels to you right now,
And the sky above becomes dark,
Passing into the late stage of twilight as the stars begin to appear like freckles upon a velvety complexion of black.
The moon is full and high,
Reflecting on the water,
And the air is still warm and comfortable.
You stay perched on this rock,
Remembering summers as a child and barbecues beneath a starry sky as you are still wearing your swimsuit with a towel around your tiny body,
Just like right now.
The waves continue to crash against this rocky perch,
And you feel the solidity it offers and are imparted with the feeling of all it took for this rock to endure and to stand still in the most turbulent of times.
The whispers come to you,
The voices of friends cheering you on over the years at celebratory occasions,
The voice of your first true love coaxing you and letting you know how deeply you are loved.
And even with the relationships that may have changed or disappeared in time,
You carry the threads that are interwoven in the tapestry of the you that is you today.
And how you have embraced change is made obvious by right now.
You come to peace with all that has been in your life.
This peace comes from appreciating the lessons and the fact you are in this healing lagoon.
The sea turtles swim around the lagoon beneath the full moon,
You hear the voice,
Faint at first,
And then growing from a whisper to a melodic voice that conjures an awareness and aliveness in all parts of your body.
And then you realize it is your own inner voice.
It is telling you that you are amazing and so you pose a question.
Wherever you have wanted to know,
You are ready to receive the answer.
And so you inquire and wait.
And across the water it travels to you.
And it comes with this visual of light bouncing across the calm waters like a skipping stone until it arrives upon you and illuminates you in a full glow of light.
Whatever the answer is,
You are filled with this deep confidence and understanding that you are on the right path and exactly where you need to be.
You smile and look to the brilliant moon,
Reminded of the pull of the tides and how even far away,
Gravity keeps the moon and tides in a familiar dance.
You stand on your perch on the rock and step down into the lapping waves as you walk to the shore.
You gather your bag and clothing and sandals ready to return to your beachside guest house.
But before you do,
You turn back towards the sea.
You see the dark silhouettes of cactus that jut against the midnight blue sky and you look upon the glittery waves,
Now silvery black beneath the night sky and you smile.
You feel the misty water travel upon a breeze to your face and you look to the moon and say,
Thank you.
Thank you so much moon.
Thank you sea.
Thank you world.
Thank you life.
You inhale and spin your body around to continue beneath the light of the moon,
Up the sandy narrow path between the twisted trees.
You relish each breath of the magical night's air,
Fragrant with local flowers,
As you come upon a dirt road and turn left.
You walk by a row of cactus and come upon a gated property and rustic wooden door.
You lift the latch and when a push from your arm isn't enough to open the door against the trade winds,
You balance on one leg and use the other to push open the door.
And in this moment,
You appreciate your strength and balance.
The door squeaks and opens into a courtyard that houses an illuminated fountain that glimmers beneath the full moon as you walk towards the entry to your guest room.
The room is clean and smells of eucalyptus as the moon shines in with the only light.
The bed is in the center of the room and the trade winds come through the open doors of the balcony that overlooks the sea.
You remove your shoes and put down your bag and go to the washroom.
The shower is lined with bamboo and has a rainfall shower head that you turn on and watch as it is lit with LED lights that change colors.
In your damp swimsuit and clothing,
You step into the shower.
It feels quite luxurious as you stand beneath the flowing warm stream of water and wash your hair with peppermint shampoo.
Your scalp tingles as a sand and salt that coats your body in a thin layer is washed down the drain and you are clean and refreshed.
You turn off the water,
Step out of the shower,
And towel yourself off before wrapping the towel around your head and putting on a thick terry cloth robe that smells of fresh laundry.
Cinching the belt around your waist,
You walk through the bedroom to the balcony that juts out over the Caribbean Sea.
Beneath the moonlight and stars,
You take in a breath and feel so relaxed and at ease.
You feel complete and fulfilled.
And you take a seat on a netted hammock and then lie down,
Feeling as it hugs around you and you get snug as if you are in a cocoon.
The fronds of a palm tree that arc over the balcony are blowing in the breeze as the full moon beams between them as the shadows dance across your face.
You feel so safe and at ease,
Rocking back and forth,
Feeling cozy and secure,
Like a baby nestled within a sling.
You find your eyes looking out on the luminescent sea,
Allowing your eyes to close and you drift,
Drift away from my voice and towards the voice you were reminded of at the lagoon.
The voice you have always known,
Even before words could form.
The you that is you,
Your inner voice and guide.
And you feel ready to cross the bridge to your sleeping life,
Drifting to sleep beneath the stars,
Too tired to even get up.
You manage to peel yourself out of the hammock and sluggishly drag your feet across the cool marble floor until you sink into the bed,
Wrapping yourself with cotton sheets.
You inhale the night's air and then exhale as your head lands upon the pillow and you drift towards the dreams that await you.
Knowing the dreams to come will grant you with contentment and peace.
And I am going to count you down to a deep,
Healing night's sleep.
Ten.
Nine.
Eight.
Seven.
Six.
Five.
Four.
Three.
Two.
One.
Finding bliss.
Finding escape.
Finding respite.
Finding sleep.
It's time to dream away.
Good night.
