The Magical Music Cottage: Sleepy Bedtime Tale

Journey through an enchanted forest where music lives in everything and every being. Guided by Rose, the keeper of the magical music cottage, you arrive at a moonlit lake to release all concerns with song. Revel in the magic of fairies, sprites, and unicorns, as you find the perfect sanctuary in the charming cottage.

Embrace the soothing power of music as it transforms your mind and guides you into a perfect sleep. It's time to dream away.

Transcript

Relax as the music of the night brings the deepest sleep in the coziest setting imaginable.

A musical forest of enchantment awaits in this bedtime story for grown-ups.

Welcome to Michelle's Sanctuary,

Your space for finding stillness and inner harmony.

I am Michelle,

And as you listen,

Feel free to imagine my voice is that of a gentle,

Nurturing conductor,

Setting a soothing tempo for bedtime.

I am here to help you compose a soft,

Restful space,

Placing distance between the day's rhythm and the night's lullaby as it plays on.

Luxuriate in this sacred time as you celebrate the end of another day.

Tonight,

You are the composer of your own rest.

You may customize,

Pause,

Or change any note to better suit your current mood and preferred song for sleep.

Feel the freedom to drift to slumber as the sound of the world decrescendos into peace.

In recent weeks,

My 7-year-old niece and goddaughter has been tuning in and listening to this sanctuary.

One night before bed,

I was visiting her.

She played a song she was composing on the digital piano I gave her,

Before drifting off to the sounds of the sanctuary.

A few nights later,

She called me with a request that has inspired this week's musical theme and magical design.

As a musician myself,

I thought it was a wonderful idea for a theme we haven't yet visited.

You are listening to The Magical Music Cottage.

In tonight's sleep story,

Find yourself in a lakeside cottage in an enchanted forest,

A realm accessible only in that sweet space between wakefulness and slumber.

Musicality is found in everything and every being,

From the percussive whispers of fluttering butterfly wings,

To the soft,

Bell-like songs of fairies who coax melodies from the cottage's instruments.

Along the lakeshore,

The cottage glows from within,

As mermaid-scale designs shimmer softly on the walls,

Reflecting light from the constellations.

Rose,

The visionary and tender caretaker of this enchanting realm,

Welcomes you to the heart of the magic as you settle by the opal hearth.

You craft your own song,

Born from your story,

In an arrangement that heals you,

Transforming life's mundanity into a perfect melody.

As you retreat to the charming guest room,

The song helps you slide into the most restorative sleep.

It's time to dream away.

Before the story unfolds,

I invite you to take a few moments to settle and slow down your thoughts with a few deep breaths.

This mini-meditation will help repair your inner world,

For the magical realm to come.

Tune into the sounds around you,

Then let them gently fade.

Let out a big,

Generous sigh,

Making a sound that brings a song of release.

And sleepiness comes with this exhalation,

As you sink into the comforts of your body.

When you are ready,

Inhale.

Imagine the air filling your lungs is infused with a deep,

Soothing sense that everything is okay,

Like a perfect,

Harmonious chord.

Imagine this breath carries the fragrant notes of moonlit evening dew and feathery pines.

Feel light as you expand,

Fading into the delicate softness that comes with a promise of sleep.

And continue this rhythm twice more at your own pace,

Deepening each breath,

But never pushing.

Accept where you are right now as you inhale.

You may even yawn,

Taking full advantage of a time when you can be as sleepy and lazy and languid as you want.

Set the tempo with your breath,

Slow,

Lush,

And soothing,

As it cascades into a sigh.

Your breath falls back into a sleepy rhythm as I count you down from five,

Gently guiding you toward the ethereal,

Musical realm.

Five.

Feel your head and neck release all thought and effort.

Four.

Imagine your mind softening,

Thoughts releasing like music notes,

Floating against the backdrop of a night sky.

Four.

Your shoulders and arms become heavy and loose as they lower away from your ears.

Five.

A warm,

Soothing vibration,

Like the deep,

Comforting purr of a cat in the cottage,

Spreads through your chest.

Three.

Your torso and spine settle,

Each vertebrae soothed like a xylophone,

Four.

Receiving the gentle,

Massaging pat of a mallet,

Your body aligns from the crown of your head to the base of your tailbone.

Two.

Release the tension in your hips and thighs.

You are now closer to the lakeside mountain valley,

Where every sound is a soothing note.

One.

Your calves soften,

And all nerve fibers and muscles are unknotted and soft.

Feel a wave of deep,

Quiet musicality wash over you,

Bringing the sense that everything is truly,

Wonderfully okay.

In a state of perfect peace and harmony,

It's time for the story to begin.

Most humans in today's world have experienced,

At least once in a lifetime,

A song with a grip so powerful that its melody becomes an earworm playing throughout the night,

Still heard during an unexpected awakening before sunrise.

Its lyrics somehow make sense of all that seemed senseless,

And validate a promise that you are not alone in whatever you may be going through in this life.

It can be the simplest melody,

The barest lyrics,

The most unexpected voice that brings you the sense of hope and deeper meaning.

But in that song is a magic,

A magic that enhances life,

And brings together souls who have shared dreams and understandings.

The perfect song,

Sometimes,

Is all we need to accept that amongst all the things that happen,

The human spirit endures with resilience through music.

And it's this love of music that brings a special invitation to Rose's enchanted realm,

Arriving in a dreamy melody that begins to play in your mind when you close your eyes and drift toward the soft edges of sleep.

The melody is so familiar and yet,

At the same time,

New,

Reminding you of all the songs you have ever loved.

You follow the song,

Leading you towards a door that appears suddenly,

Made of ebony wood and in the shape of a fermata.

The top arches gently over a circular entry,

The perfect musical symbol that represents a pause of unspecified length,

A stop of the chaos of daily life as you enter beneath the glowing threshold and arrive in the enchanted forest.

The air immediately shifts,

Feeling cool and velvety against your skin,

And carrying an otherworldly aroma of honeysuckle and evening dew.

Every tree,

Every path glimmers with a soft,

Natural glow,

A deep luminescence that emanates from the wood.

Every smooth piece of bark is reflective.

The tree trunks feature vibrant,

Wavy-striped hues like rainbow eucalyptus trees,

Pulsing with the soft,

Deep colors of deep violet meeting turquoise,

Cerulean blue,

Ruby,

And icy pink.

As you step fully into this realm,

You are greeted by the soft,

Rhythmic motion of butterflies that arc around you in the formation of a crescent moon.

Their wings are dusted with what looks like glittering moon mica that captures the soothing blues of twilight.

Their wingbeats create a subtle,

Breathy percussion.

The soft,

Rustling sound of butterflies forms a beautiful,

Hushed background song.

Your feet land on the earth with buoyancy and lightness as you revel in the comfortable attire you wear that billows in the cool night air.

In merely a few steps,

You discover rose,

Standing tall amidst the trees.

She is majestic and serene,

Wearing a long gown of opal and black fabric that catches the ambient light.

The dress shimmers and dusts the glimmering earth below,

Resembling the stark beauty of the white and black keys of a grand piano.

She has a timeless elegance and no matter where she may appear in time or space,

Her presence would be received the same.

Rose begins to walk,

And with her first step,

A magical layer of sound stirs.

From the shadows of the glowing trees,

Fairies arrive,

Too small and light to make a sound with their feet.

But their tiny,

Exquisite voices create a low choir,

Joining in on the rhythmic nature of your walk.

Their soprano song is both clear and airy,

Gently balancing the sounds as it weaves a melody through the percussive rhythm of the butterflies.

To your left,

A sparkling turquoise stream serenely winds around the base of the luminous trees,

Adding another layer of sound.

The smooth liquid flow of water resonates like a constant,

Quiet synth drone.

Along its edge,

A trio of unicorns sip,

Their glittery pink tongues gently touching the water,

Their spiraling horns pure white and twisted like carved ivory reflect the forest's vibrant pulsing light,

Sending tiny rainbows dancing across the ethereal aquamarine ripples.

Rose simply glances toward the stream,

And a harp on the bank begins to play itself.

A single,

Simple,

Beautiful arpeggio of pure,

Gilded notes.

Petals from night-blooming flowers along the path suddenly unfurl,

Their velvety insides glowing,

Becoming natural speakers that amplify the melody,

Sending the sound perfectly through the air.

You feel a deep sense of calm settle in your bones,

A feeling that every single thing in this magical place is precisely where it should be.

That all is right and well,

And always has been.

Step by buoyant step reveals one beautiful surprise after the next.

In this fairytale realm,

You soon discover that harmony is more valued than anything else.

You follow the flowing piano pattern of Rose's gown,

Watching it undulate on the evening breeze,

Trusting her guidance through a clearing in the woods.

The opening in the trees brings you to the edge of a smooth expanse of a magical lake.

The surface is like polished glass,

A silky cobalt blue,

And still,

Doubling the entire luminous forest and the sky above.

This reflective lake offers a phenomenal acoustic chamber where sound reverberates and doubles and triples the beautiful echoing notes of the forest symphony.

Rose stands at the very edge,

As she does every night.

Her opal gown trails slightly on the damp moss and tiny blue wildflowers that carpet the shore.

She turns to you,

Her expression one of gentle invitation,

And explains that this is the place to find relief.

She turns back to the moon and begins to sing.

Her voice is the purest sound you have ever heard.

A melody that feels both ancient and utterly new.

It is a song of letting go,

Of release,

And of constant strength.

She sings into the vast open space,

And the magic of the realm is instantly focused.

Do not hold it in,

She whispers,

Her voice resonating softly over the water.

Here,

The air can be cleared,

Not by words,

But by sound.

She invites you to join,

And with a deep breath,

A brave inhale of the honeysuckle-scented air,

You open your mouth and offer your own voice.

To your own amazement,

Your voice sounds clearer,

Purer,

And stronger than you have ever heard it before.

The way you may have imagined it could sound at its best.

Effortlessly cutting through the night air,

It is a voice of truth and deep release.

A raw,

Perfect tone that instantly feels cleansing.

All self-consciousness fades,

And you experience the powerful release every soul may find when using their voice in this way.

Here,

In the beauty of the night.

As you sing together and improvise,

Playfully and with bits of laughter and conspiring smiles,

The trees lining the shore begin to react.

Their glowing,

Colorful trunks change hue and pulse to the rhythm of your shared sound,

Like gentle,

Natural strobe lights.

This doubled beauty is reflected perfectly on the lake's surface.

In a vibrant cascade of soothing hues,

A chorus arrives.

Drawn by the power of the wordless song,

Mystical animals gather amongst the tree line,

With familiar species as well.

A silver stag joins with antlers that chime like tiny bells.

An owl hoots,

And a wolf howls at the moon.

A family of forest sprites joins you on the moonlit shore,

As a few unicorns come near.

They stand as a silent,

Appreciative audience,

The swishing of their tails like the jazz brushstrokes on a snare drum.

As they briefly join the magical atmosphere of the night,

The moment is a powerful,

Collective breath.

A perfect,

Shared note.

The song ends when you wish it to,

Leaving the air sparkling with residue of the sound.

Rose smiles,

Her eyes reflecting the tiny diamond stars,

Freckling the sapphire night sky.

See,

She says,

Her voice returning to a soft guidance,

That is how you clear the air.

She then gestures toward a pathway that leads from the lake's edge toward the cottage.

This path contains perfectly shaped,

Glowing music notes.

A mix of whole notes,

Eighth notes,

And rests that light your way.

The magical music cottage comes fully into view.

Unlike any cottage you've seen before,

It's grand,

Yet simple.

With a unique,

Spherical room that resembles a full,

Soft moon.

Its pearly,

Lavender frame pulses with light at a slow,

Soothing tempo.

A visual heartbeat of the realm that is joined by the soporific perfume of fresh lavender that grows along the path.

But the most striking feature is its exterior walls,

Which are covered in tiles that resemble mermaid scales,

Shifting constantly in deep,

Soothing blues,

Greens,

And purples.

They shimmer and catch the light from the forest and the sky,

Drawing you in with their tranquil beauty.

As you approach,

You notice the comforting sight of a fluffy,

Black cat.

She glances up from a fuzzy,

White pillow perch on the window ledge,

Her deep purr subtly audible,

Acting as the cottage's anchor bass note.

The front door features a mosaic of mermaid-tail colored glass panes that form a cheek clef.

Rose turns the knob and opens the door,

But you follow her inside.

You instantly feel lighter than you have felt all day as you enter the main,

Dome-shaped room.

The walls shimmer with a reflection of the continuing scale pattern.

And overhead,

The glass ceiling offers an uninterrupted,

Stunning view of the celestial expanse.

Flowers and vines,

Their colors muted and soft,

Draped down from clear glass vases,

Hung from the ceiling and resting on floating shelves.

The air inside is warm,

Fragrant,

And deeply peaceful.

Rose extends her slender hand and the room comes alive.

She is the conductor of this cozy space.

One by one,

The instruments awaken.

The grand piano begins a low,

Rolling chord.

The upright bass hums,

Joining the low rhythm.

The cello,

Violin,

And viola,

Their bodies crafted from a dark,

Rich wood with an opalescent purple glow,

Begin to sound single,

Sustained notes,

Creating a rich,

Welcoming wash of sound.

In the center of the room,

An opal hearth glows,

Pure and inviting.

The honeyed flames within dance and shift,

Warming the air with soft heat and light,

And casting dancing shadows that match the tempo of the song.

Rose gracefully lowers her slender hand and all the instruments settle into silence.

The fairies drift in from hidden spaces,

Coming together in a silent,

Watchful choir.

Their tiny faces upturned,

Waiting happily for the next invitation to sing.

Their wings and flowing dresses,

Other sparkling pearly colors,

Pulse along with the music as well.

Rose gracefully moves to a purple paisley pillow top bench by the grand piano.

A white piano with a black silhouette of hand-painted roses that live up to her namesake.

She invites you to settle in,

And you sink into a velvet chair by the fire.

You are instantly caught up in the vision of the mesmerizing rhythmic flicker of the ever-changing rainbow hues of the flames that reflect on the hearth.

As you sit,

A simple,

Clear melody begins to come to you.

It is not a song you have heard,

But the raw,

Honest song of your heart.

The tune of all the emotions and thoughts that have built up over time that you now need to release.

You hum the melody ever so faintly,

And it catches Rose's keen attention as she begins to play along,

Her fingers moving like graceful shadows across the keys.

One by one,

Your favorite instruments join in,

Conducted by Rose's subtle nods and smiles of encouragement.

Perhaps the violin or an electric guitar takes the lead with a main theme,

While an acoustic offers a steady,

Rhythmic strum.

The song rises,

Filling the magical space with a sound that is wholly you.

And with the music,

The words that come to you are effortless,

Giving meaning and powerful release to everything that seemed so confusing before.

Rose glances your way,

Her eyes asking for permission to continue,

And you nod with a content expression on your face.

You close your eyes and listen as they perform the song in its entirety for you.

The moonlight breaks through the magical glass dome ceiling,

Creating a silver spotlight on the piano.

The air changes,

And when you open your eyes,

The fluffy black cat named Lullaby has joined you,

Settling immediately on your lap,

Leaning against your chest.

Her deep,

Powerful purr vibrates through your body,

Acting as a calming tempo that settles directly into your heart as your heart rate slows down.

The dreaminess of the moment will stay with you for a long time,

With imagery and sounds you may long to return to.

The aroma of honeysuckle mixes with a faint,

Comforting scent of warm piano wood.

The fresh lavender outside the windows and the burning logs.

The feeling is one of utter,

Secure inevitability.

Nothing could be more natural than this song,

This moment,

This release.

When the final chord fades,

The silence that fills the air is not empty but full.

It is the music held in the firmata,

The silent pause that brings with it soft,

Undeniable waves of sleepiness and a deep desire for rest.

Rose turns,

Her smile gentle.

Oh,

How she understands.

The song is yours now,

She whispers.

It will play whenever you need it.

Rose rises and ushers you along.

She guides you down a short,

Dimly lit hole.

The mermaid-scale walls here shift from deep sapphire to amethyst.

They're like guiding your path to the guest room.

The ceiling arcs at the top,

A soothing tunnel to the place where you may sleep tonight.

She offers its round door and a wave of cool,

Comforting air embraces you.

The room's windows offer a stunning,

Quiet view of the dark,

Magical lake.

The room centers around a beautiful four-poster bed,

Its tall pillars made of smooth,

Polished,

Moonstone-hued materials.

The moonlight filters through the windows,

Reflecting on the soft silk of pajamas waiting for you on the bed.

Rose pauses at the door and says goodnight,

Her voice already fading into the sleep-inducing hum of the magical forest and musical cottage.

You change into the luxurious pajamas,

Feeling the cool material against your skin as you settle into the soft comfort of the bed.

The room seems to understand what you need.

The light from the mermaid-scale wallpaper dims to a soft,

Even sapphire blue glow.

And as your head finds the pillows,

The room gently begins to play the sounds that you most enjoy.

Perhaps the sleepy babbles of the nearby stream,

Or the faint,

Persistent purr of the cat,

Or the songs of crickets and tree frogs and rustling leaves in the forest.

Lying beneath the glittering,

Hopeful expanse of the night sky,

Visible through the picture windows,

You surrender to the deep,

Harmonious peace.

You smile,

Knowing you can always come back.

One final thought takes hold before you slip into slumber.

Life is a song.

And with that,

You leave this realm for the dreams that await.

Finding harmony.

Finding hope.

Finding music.

Finding sleep.

It's time.

Reviews

Soothing and relaxing as always. Thank you, Michelle! 💙

Michelle, I absolutely loved 💕 this bedtime musical 🎶 theme of melodies. This was a journey with a magic melody 🎼 message to ‘not hold it in, sing & let it go!’ I put it on repeat, fell fast asleep an woke up to it this morning feeling at peace. Thank you kindly for this very special & unique musical lullaby experience. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

Oh Michelle, thank you🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻One word: ENCHANTING! And I am totally enchanted: music to my ears, all of it, magical and wonderful. LOVE it! 🙏🏻🧚‍♂️🦋🪽💙🩵💚💗🦄🙏🏻

I had to listen twice because I fell asleep the first time. This is one of my favorites because music has always been a highlight of my life from playing musical instruments to just sitting & listening. Thank you, Michelle, for another beautiful & calming sleep story.

Beautiful voice for a story that sent me to Dreamland. TY

Very soothing and sleep inducing. Thanks very much!