The Tea Fields: A Sleepy Journey

Drift to sleep with ease as you enter the tranquil, mountainous region of Celestia Green Fields where the heavens meet the earth. Cultivated rows of lush tea leaves rustle in the breeze, as you explore the sleepy valley via a tuk-tuk. A sunset tea tasting leads to a calming walk that returns you to a rustic stone cottage where you fall asleep by the fire as the aromas of tea and the sound of the night breeze usher you to sleep. It's time to dream away.

Transcript

Get cozy with tonight's sleep story for grown-ups as we take a serene journey to a remote valley.

You are listening to The Tea Fields,

Inspired by my mother who savored her daily tea.

She was the first to show me how a simple ritual can transform a day.

From the age of three,

I would stare at the gas flames,

Licking the base of a tea kettle,

Waiting for its whistle to blow.

My mom always joked that a watched pot never boils,

Yet magically it always would.

I'd sit with my mom as she savored her daily tea,

Enhanced with a splash of milk and two teaspoons of sugar.

For her,

A cup of tea was a sacred act of self-care in a chaotic life in which she gave so much of herself to everyone else,

There was often little left just for her.

A steeping teabag meant it was time to take a break.

Tea was her gift to others,

A salve for the hard days when she waited for me to open up and share whatever was on my mind.

It was the remedy for all ills,

Real and imagined,

The one thing that could be offered when there were no words.

I hope this story,

Like this ritual,

Allows you to take this time for self-renewal.

In tonight's bedtime tale,

The tea fields stretch out before you.

Oolong and white tea leaves are carefully tended to in meticulous emerald rose.

An endless carpet of lavender and chamomile billows in the breeze,

Their soft perfume lingering,

Yet transforming as day becomes night.

The mist gently rises over the hills as you walk toward a cozy cottage at the edge of the fields.

The perfect evening unfolds fireside as you peer out on the starlit tea fields,

And as sleepiness takes hold,

You sink into a soft,

Inviting bed in a cozy nook as the faint rustling of the tea plants ushers you into a realm of slumber.

It's time to dream away.

Welcome to Michelle's Sanctuary.

I'm Michelle,

Here to offer you a warm embrace of safety and a nurturing voice of comfort.

Think of me as your loving guide,

Creating a space for you to relax,

Unwind,

And be cradled in peace.

You've reached the end of another day,

And now it's time to create a boundary.

Prioritizing your need to come down from today and recharge.

Become a magnet for calm experiences.

As you snuggle in,

Wrap yourself in your favorite blanket,

And allow tonight's journey to unfold like the perfect cup of tea,

Steeping in tranquility.

Feel free to enhance any detail,

Changing anything you like as we proceed to suit your needs right now.

This is your story,

And you may drift to sleep whenever you feel ready.

Reassured in the sanctuary of your room and mind,

Let's start by taking a few mindful breaths to set the mood.

Imagine the serene scent of lavender and chamomile wafting through your room and transforming your mood.

The aromatic,

Crisp air beckons you to the tea fields with a preview of what's to come.

Exhale through your lips,

Perhaps with an audible sigh,

Releasing the day's tension and allowing lingering thoughts to dissipate like morning mist over the distant fields.

As you let go,

The peace of the remote,

Placid landscape welcomes you and whatever has been weighing on your mind is set free into the endless landscape.

Inhale slowly,

Drawing in the magical idea that nature can heal you as the tea blossoms soothe your body and mind.

Feel the warmth of each breath as though it were a comforting cup of tea shared with someone who fills you with a sense of safety and belonging.

Open your mouth and yawn softly or let out another peaceful sigh,

Knowing you're doing exactly what you need right now.

This moment is yours to savor.

Play with your breath for another round or two of inhaling,

Yawning,

And sighing.

Take your time and let the rhythm of your breath mirror the soft rustle of the tea plants swaying in the night breeze.

As you breathe in,

Picture the velvety emerald fields stretching out before you,

Bathed in the moonlight.

Feel the ground beneath you,

Firm yet gentle.

Sense the earth nourishing you as it does the tea fields.

Your body sinks deeper into your bed with this landscape in mind as you are rooted in the stillness of the night.

When you're ready,

Allow your breath to return to a slow,

Natural rhythm.

Tonight will unfold like the perfect tea ritual.

One soothing moment after the next,

It is time for the story to begin.

James Norwood Pratt expressed,

Tea is quiet and our thirst for tea is never far away from our craving for beauty.

There are places on this magical and diverse planet where the mountains pierce the endless cornflower blue sky where heaven meets earth.

The Celestia Greenfields is one of these remote and exotic storied landscapes.

This ancient tea-growing region is nestled high in the mountains,

A hidden paradise where the air is filled with a calming scent of morning mist on tea leaves.

The mountains serve as protectors,

Boundaries between the chaos of modern life with a terrain that gives no choice but to slow down.

The energy of this pristine valley permeates every tea leaf,

Remaining even as the leaves are dried and transported around the world,

Bringing the same message.

You deserve to slow down.

Tea's history is rich and mysterious,

Stretching back over 5,

000 years.

The legend of Emperor Shen Nong reveals the accidental discovery of tea,

Quite similar to the discovery of mozzarella when cheese curds happened to cascade off a shelf into a pot of boiling water in southern Italy.

Leaves from a wild tea tree drifted into his hot,

Bubbling water.

So many happy accidents from many millennia ago have evolved through time,

Enhancing the human experience.

Since the first sip of accidental tea,

The steeped beverage has become a symbol of reflection,

Connection,

And ritual,

Cherished worldwide for its calming effects.

It has traveled near and far,

From the bustling tea houses of Japan to quiet afternoon tea ceremonies in English palaces.

At the same time,

It has been a symbol of escaping the rule of a monarchy,

Filling a harbor with defiance and liberation.

Yet,

It has brought peace to countless souls,

Made the toughest conversations easier,

Filling the moments of silence with its steamy presence.

It has been an easy excuse to get together and catch up.

But have you ever wondered about the journey those tea leaves have made to arrive in your cupboards,

Contained in silk bags or loose in canisters?

Celestia Greenfields is a beloved magical place where the earth and sky seem to merge,

And tea has been grown in harmony with nature for generations.

The journey to this remote valley is not easy,

Nor without many modes of transportation,

But this makes arriving feel all the more wonderful.

Like falling into a soft bed at the end of a stressful day,

The tea fields greet you with a similar dreamy softness,

Approaching the gates of the tea estate.

Your feet land on the loose gravel road that sparkles in the late morning light.

As you stand and take in the quiet valley,

It feels like you've entered a different realm.

There are no cars,

No screens,

No hum of electric devices,

Just nature's soundtrack of birds singing their songs of praise.

And a gentle,

Susurrating breeze that carries an intoxicating smell that is both familiar and at the same time new and exotic.

In this timeless place,

Protected by mountains rising around you,

The tea fields stretch endlessly before you.

Rows of tea bushes gently swaying in the breeze.

The tiny fragrant leaves still glistening with morning dew.

The earth becomes concave,

Widening before you into an inverted dome.

Like a round,

Deep pool.

With a shallow layer of verdant tea shrubs and cultivated stripes of rich,

Brown earth.

The families here have tended these fields for generations,

Each one passing down the knowledge and rituals of tea cultivation.

With eyes closed,

Their calloused,

Sun-bronzed hands know the tender leaves of healthy oolong,

The right humidity of the earth as it sifts through their fingers.

For so long as their memories hold the feeling of the earth,

The earth holds the memories of their touch even longer.

For centuries,

They have understood the delicate balance of sun and soil,

The way the mountain mist nourishes the plants,

And the perfect moment to harvest each leaf.

There is a reverence in the way they work.

Slow,

Deliberate,

And intentional.

You hear the sputtering of a tuk-tuk as it comes up behind you,

Driven by Navi,

A young man who spent his childhood.

Dreaming of a sophisticated life beyond the mountain peaks,

Somewhere far away in a cosmopolitan city.

By 19,

He found himself in a smog-filled city,

With access to the education he pined for,

Barely sleeping as he dared to catch up.

This lasted for many years,

As he traveled the world working on a cruise ship.

But it wasn't long before he realized.

Nothing could compare to the quiet beauty of the celestia green fields,

Beneath a blanket of stars,

Staring at the vast,

Deep blue ocean.

On the other side of the world,

He envisioned the rolling green hills.

The mere mention of tea service caused him to long for the comforting smell of the tea leaves,

In the cool mist that hung over the valley in the morning,

And the daily pleasure of watching the sun rise and set over the mountains he called home.

And so he returned,

Discovering all the education he acquired abroad could not quite replicate the innate wisdom he gleaned from the land,

Just as his ancestors once had.

With a warm smile,

He helps you with your bag,

And invites you to hop aboard his old denim blue painted tuk-tuk,

Its paint chipped and worn,

But decorated with vibrant hand-painted celestial designs.

An antique moon pendant dangles on a blue suede strap from the rearview mirror,

Hovering over the sunlit dashboard.

An omen for Navi,

He received it as a gift from a shop owner in Amsterdam,

Where he wandered the cold and rainy streets while the ship was in the port.

The owner had visited Celestial Green as a child,

And they had met in their youth.

She could sense his desire to return home,

And spoke lovingly of the crescent moon rising over the valley,

And how it was the first time she ever remembered really seeing the moon.

She gifted him the silver lunar pendant,

A good luck charm.

You sit in the front passenger seat of the tuk-tuk,

As it sputters and navigates the narrow pathways between the tea plants.

The air swooshes through the open-air automobile to feel the cool breeze on your face,

Carrying with it the scent of tea leaves mixed with the soothing notes of lavender and chamomile,

Which grow in shaded groves nearby.

The evening air is fresh and clean,

Far removed from the polluted city and bustling ports Navi briefly knew.

The afternoon world around you is quiet,

So quiet that you can hear the distant call of a bird.

This peaceful soundtrack is only interrupted by the squeaking brakes and funny pops and puffs of the tuk-tuk.

Navi's vehicle has a personality all to itself.

The deeper you travel into the valley,

The more you feel the weight of the world slipping away.

Replaced by the calming energy of the deepest parts of the valley,

Navi has a gleeful,

Childlike way of driving around the tea fields and slows and reaches out his fingers to lightly brush them against the leaves,

Inviting you to do the same.

You smile,

Feeling the soft breeze caressing your skin.

The sun pouring onto your face,

And the tea leaves gently weaving between your fingers as you descend down the winding path into the belly of these fields.

You can taste the tea on your lips,

Carried on a thin veil of mist that slips between the rows like a benevolent spirit urging them to grow.

As you near the heart of the Emerald Rose,

You notice small cottages scattered among the tea fields,

Each one belonging to a family that has lived here for centuries.

These cottages are modest but warm.

Their stone walls covered in vines,

With smoke curling from the chimneys.

The tea rituals here are sacred,

Passed down from mother to daughter,

Father to son.

Rituals that involve not just drinking tea,

But preparing it with intention and care.

The water is removed from a wood-burning stove before it begins to boil,

And the tea leaves,

Freshly picked from the fields,

Are placed in hand-painted ceramic pots.

As the tea steeps,

The scent fills the room,

A fragrant reminder to slow down,

To breathe deeply,

And to be present in the moment.

Navi's tuk-tuk slows as you approach a rustic farmhouse table that hosts afternoon tastings for visitors.

He parks the vehicle and gestures to a stone cottage,

Just beyond a patch of chamomile flowers,

Basking in the gilded light.

An orange-gold aura creates a halo around the delicate white flowers and stone dwelling.

As the mist captures and reflects the light,

He tells you that this cottage,

Like many others here,

Is a sanctuary for travelers seeking peace.

It is the quietest,

One of the most calming places you've ever visited.

The kind one might discover in a fairy tale.

You gather your bag and follow a stone path to the cottage,

Noticing how nearly a dozen similar paths lead to other cottages tucked at the edge of the fields.

You step inside the modest dwelling that features exposed wooden beams and an open concept layout.

A small bathroom in the corner stands opposite a simple kitchen with a stone hearth between them.

A bed adorned with a jewel-toned quilt with varying patches that depict a celestial night sky is tucked in a cozy nook,

Surrounded by billowing cotton curtains that may be drawn closed for privacy.

A rocking chair with handmade cushions sits near the largest window in the room that peers out onto the fields and mountains.

Next to it is a chaise lounge.

You place your bag down on the lounge and go to the bathroom sink to wash away all the travel from your face,

Tasting the fresh mountain water on your lips.

You remove a favorite knitted sweater from your bag,

Sensing the shift in temperature about to come as afternoon fades into night.

And return outside for the tea tasting.

Navi has already begun his afternoon tea ritual.

As the late day sun pours over the valley,

You sit at the table to discover a small feast.

A hearty meal prepared by Navi's wife,

Isabel,

Who joins you with their two-year-old daughter,

Balancing her on her hips as a white fluffy dog named Sol runs around,

Weaving around the table legs with a big burst of energy.

Isabel describes how she met Navi during his travels and years of letter writing led to something more.

One day Isabel traveled around the world to visit the valley,

Ultimately falling as in love with the land as she was with Navi.

As you savor each bite of the hearty meal before you,

A delicate sigh escapes your lips and you admire the fields,

Watching the mist disappear around you.

Navi brings over three kettles,

Each steeping with its own unique offering.

A large cast iron pot holds the oolong tea,

Rich and aromatic.

Next to it,

A slender hand-carved wooden teapot holds a delicate white tea infused with dried strawberries.

It's scent both floral and fruity.

A small porcelain kettle cradles chamomile.

It's soothing liquid gold,

Ready to calm your spirit.

As steam rises from each pot,

The diverse aromas of the teas mingle with the fresh mountain air.

Navi pours each tea into small,

Matte ebony cups without a handle.

This enables you to wrap your fingers fully around the hand-painted gold and pink swirls and petals.

The steam rises up your nose,

Causing you to breathe deeper and connect with all your senses.

Navi implores you to try the teas in order of increasing intensity,

From mild to wild,

Starting with the chamomile that you try on its own.

And then with a touch of honey that drips down a spiral wooden dipper.

It brings out the natural honey notes of the steeped flowers even more.

As the silky warm liquid soothes your throat,

You move on to the white tea.

It's more floral,

With a strawberry addition bringing out the vibrance of spring and summer.

With more tannins than the chamomile,

It feels a bit weightier,

But goes down smoothly,

Filling your mind with strawberry memories you haven't thought of in some time.

Navi offers the tea Celestia Greenfields is most known for,

The oolong.

You sip slowly,

Sensing this tea is more robust and the hue of hazelnut.

And as the oolong tea coats your palate with its smoky depth,

You savor it,

Realizing how often you may ignore the subtleties of all you consume throughout the day.

But now you slow down,

Taking your time feeling the silkiness,

The tannins softly grip your saliva.

As Navi explains,

Oolong's tannic potency is between that of black and green tea.

There's a pleasant sensation of velvet on your tongue,

Pleasant and attention-consuming.

Isabel smiles,

Sipping the oolong with you and Navi as their toddler reaches toward the honey stick.

You feel an instant connection with all of them,

A camaraderie brought by this ritual that is sacred and yet known for simplicity.

Honeyed light pours over the weathered wood grains of the table as the sun descends toward the mountain peaks.

Navi asks what tea you most prefer and then prepares a full cup you may carry with you.

He then clears the table.

Isabel rises,

Saying it's time for the little one to take a bath.

Navi wishes you a good evening,

Inviting you to explore the fields and meet them for breakfast in the morning before he disappears into his family's cottage.

Alone now,

With a warm cup in your hands,

You take his advice and wander through the fields.

As evening falls,

The sky transforms,

Bathing the valley in its gilded light.

The cornflower blue of day fades,

Gradually dissolving into shades of oolong amber,

Golden and warm,

As the air becomes brisker,

Contrasting the warmth of the light.

Gentle strokes of peach and rose swirl like freshly spun sugar on wispy and dreamy incoming clouds.

The saturated light makes the world more beautiful.

Your own skin glows as the light spreads across the landscape.

A sparkling caramel hue reflects off the tea leaves,

Becoming prismatic in lingering dew.

You sip as you meander the skinny path that winds through the tea fields.

Some destinations hold more weight and meaning,

Taking more planning and effort to get there,

And they elevate your appreciation and sense of pride for the independence that brought you to this remote,

Exotic place.

Your feet sink ever so slightly into the damp earth.

The world is quiet,

So quiet that even your own thoughts seem to slow,

Becoming reflective.

Yet,

At the same time,

You discover new parts of yourself.

The fields seem to breathe,

Unfolding before you like sea-green waves,

Undulating and mesmerizing in the mountain breeze.

You feel a bone-deep sense of respect for the landscape,

The stories woven into the fabric of celestia greenfields.

Your mind wanders to Navi's ancestors,

The generations before that rose each day to truly understand this place where heaven and earth merge.

These fields were loved by many hands,

Never rushed,

Always intuitive and gentle.

Each day in the valley was a moving meditation,

With steady and rhythmic actions,

And a keen sense of what the weather and soil were revealing.

As you sip the tea and continue onward,

Each step grounds and balances you in the silence of the tea fields.

Long purple shadows stretch across the fields like velvet drapes as the sun lowers,

Seconds away from eclipsing the mountain peak.

The light shifts from amber to the delicate pinks and golds of dried chamomile flowers steeping in hot water.

You pause atop a small knoll,

Finishing your tea and saying a silent thank you for the day as the sun disappears.

The valley is bathed in the soft light of early twilight,

And the nocturnal sounds of native bugs begin to warm up with a low buzz.

The sky is now a soft gradient of colors,

Rich caramel near the horizon and blending into strawberry blush,

And finally fading into the deep lavender of evening.

When the first stars begin to twinkle faintly overhead,

You make your way back to the cottage.

You revel in the sense of solitude you have,

The freedom to let the evening unfold however you like,

Without demands or compromise.

You enter the cottage,

And its modest charm and warm ambience become even more inviting than before.

You walk to the hearth and ignite the kindling already arranged,

Watching sparks shoot toward the soot-covered walls.

You bask in the firelight,

Noticing the black and white photos on the mantle showcasing the fields throughout the last century.

Your attention turns to the kitchen that is full of character,

With shelves lined with glass jars of tea leaves and dried herbs collected from the valley.

Black labels describe the contents,

Written in chalk,

Featuring appealing flavor combinations you hope to enjoy when the sun rises over the mountains.

You stretch your arms overhead and step into the small bathroom to enjoy a long,

Hot shower.

As steam clouds the room,

Dancing against the stone walls,

The scent of oolong tea lingers in the air.

The soap handmade and infused with tiny bits of tea leaves lathers gently against your skin,

Its rich fragrant aroma soothing and grounding.

Your muscles surrender to this moment.

After a long day of travel and new discoveries,

A sleepiness takes hold.

You step out of the shower,

Toweling off and wrapping yourself in a thick,

Heavy robe as you nestle your feet into cushioned slippers.

The fire has settled into a low,

Steady glow and you add a fresh log.

You saddle into the deep,

Green,

Velvet chaise lounge by the window that frames a dreamy view of the fields.

Quiet and still,

The crescent moon illuminates the deep,

Green rose.

The sky is clear,

The stars bright and countless,

A canvas for wishes to be made.

Your eyelids start to betray you,

No fight is left to keep them open.

And so you walk to the bed and go under the heavy quill.

The fire continues to crackle and the faint sounds of the wind through the valley,

Stirring the tea leaves enter the cottage like a somnolent whisper.

You welcome the gift of sleep,

The gift of resonating tiredness that courses through you,

Heavy and pleasantly relentless.

Slumber comes with complete ease as you drift along,

Enjoying its sweet and natural pull to a dreamscape as tranquil as a celestial green field.

Finding solace,

Finding balance,

Finding comfort,

Finding sleep.

It's time to dream away.

Good night.

Reviews

I love the reference to your mother, it is so sweet and personal, evoking loving memories of my own mother. I have listened to this many times and it is so soothing, I have yet to hear the end. It is my new favorite. 🕉

I felt like I was in this peaceful, calming place & drinking teas. What a beautiful place & I love teas. Talking about your mother gave me memories of drinking tea with my grandmother, who had a beautiful tea set, & now my daughter has it. Thank you, Michelle.

It was wonderful. I loved the reference to your mother and I fell asleep quickly. Thank you!

So soothing and peaceful only heard about 5 mins before fell asleep thank you once again x

Such a lovely story so soon after the last story. But no less a beautiful, heartwarming story to be proud of telling.

So lovely Michelle! I love how you talked about your mother and her love of tea. I only heard the first few minutes and I will listen again. ❤️

I saw this when I got up this morning & thought how lovely! You dedicated this to the memory of you & your Mom’s tea rituals! Made me think of my Grandmother and her China tea cups! I inherited them and have tea with my granddaughters. Theirs is rosehip as they are 3 & 6. It has been a while since we had a tea party! Of course I fell asleep even though it is morning! Going to make breakfast and pull out the teacups for the girls. They will be so excited! They arrive very early each morning for me to babysit so they nap before breakfast. Thank you kindly for this new bedtime story! 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗☕️