Winter Dreams: A Bedtime Story And Sleep Meditation

In a cozy velvet chair by the fire, you open holiday cards sent from loved ones and dreamily enter four winter scenes depicted on each card. In this fantasy, you make a snow angel in a snowy forest with a frolicking pup, ride on an oversized snowflake through a sapphire sky, build the perfect snowman with those you hold dear, and cuddle by the fire with a basket of kittens. Accompanied by the sounds of winter winds and a crackling fire. It's time to dream away.

Transcript

Dreamy,

Healing sleep awaits in tonight's bedtime story and guided sleep meditation,

The winter scenes.

In this visualization,

You sit cosily by the fire as you open holiday cards from loved ones.

You reflect on the kind messages before you are transported inside the wintry landscapes on each card.

So find a place where you may cuddle up,

Tend to yourself,

And safely drift into a night of sleep and snow-filled adventures.

It's time to dream away.

I would like to welcome you to Michelle's Sanctuary.

I am Michelle and as you listen,

Know that I am here to do my best to remind you of the unlimited powers you have to self-soothe and travel with the wings of your imagination.

This power has been with you all the time.

When you hear my voice,

You may think of me as this tender reminder and as a dear friend who is here for your nightly adventures and sweet mental escapes.

You have earned this time and deserve to spoil yourself every single night at bedtime.

As I help you cross over the bridge between your waking and sleeping life,

You may surrender to feelings of being safe,

Being nurtured,

And being free to welcome all thoughts that make you feel good right now.

Sink into the comforts of your bed and take in a deep breath that turns into a guilt-free yawn.

And sigh out all that air before you take in another big breath.

Your body is so full of oxygen that you could float across the night sky like a hot air balloon.

And then you exhale and sink heavily and deeply into your bed.

You note how your body is already more relaxed than when we first began.

Imagine that your room is like a snow globe.

You are protected in this sanctuary from all distractions and outside noise as you go deep within yourself.

And with a safe sensation,

You visualize that you are seated by the biggest fireplace you have ever seen.

It is old-fashioned and designed to your own preference.

A stack of logs are piled high and the flames burn brightly in shades of amber and tangerine and gold.

You watch sparks fly towards the chimney,

Dancing on the air and contrasting the ebony soot that coats the walls of the fireplace.

You are seated in a plush oversized velvet chair and you sink into it.

A crocheted blanket made in your favorite colors hugs around you.

It was specifically gifted to you by someone who loves you deeply.

Your feet are elevated on a footrest and adorned in the coziest of slippers.

Your body feels warm and you appreciate the protection the shelter offers from the snowstorm.

The room is rustic and warm.

Perhaps it is a room from your past.

Or perhaps it is an imagined space or a room you now have access to.

This place is one that you often think of when you are having a long day and yearn to relax.

You hear the faintest sound of howling winter winds as you reach for an oversized mug of your favorite warm beverage that rests on a nearby side table.

There is also a plate of holiday cookies on this table,

Festive and colorful.

You take one of the cookies and feel the chewy soft texture melt on your mouth in a sweet feeling of bliss.

Your warm beverage washes it down and you feel the soothing liquid cascade down your throat and warm you from the inside out.

You place the mug back on the table and grab a stack of holiday cards and a letter opener.

You feel the cool engraved pewter handle of the opener as you take a green envelope on the top of the stack and turn it over to open it.

You slice through the paper to reveal the card.

It is from someone you know to be an animal lover and the card reflects this.

Like a watercolor painting,

The front of the card depicts a fluffy dog running through a snowy forest with a large red bow around her neck.

You take in the message of the card,

It wishes you joy and safety.

And reading the handwritten words from this friend cloaks you in warmth like the blanket wrapped snugly around your body.

You run your finger tip along the outline of the happy dog on the shiny smooth card.

The fire in the room suddenly makes a large hoof sound and a sense of magic fills the air.

You feel your body vibrating and a sensation of being drawn into the card and you just go with it.

This feeling of surrender reminds you of floating on warm ocean waves of an incoming tide.

You feel enchanted as you find yourself being pulled into the card.

Everything becomes white,

A glittering opalescent palette of snow white,

Before you find you are standing in the middle of an evergreen forest.

The air is cold and refreshing and fragrant of balsam fur and pine.

You are dressed in a plush winter's coat that fits your body perfectly.

A soft scarf is draped around your neck and your hands are outfitted in buttery soft gloves.

You hear the sounds of a dog panting and paws pounding against the earth and crunching in the blanket of pristine white snow.

And as you turn towards the sound,

You are met by the dog in the holiday card.

With her mouth open in a smile,

She collects the flying snowflakes with her raspberry pink tongue.

The snow accumulates on her furry coat and melts on her shiny black nose.

You see clouds of white that float from your mouth and hers as your warm breaths condense on the air.

The dog comes running full speed and as she pounces on you,

You playfully land on the snow.

This conjures memories of being a child and doing things just because they feel good.

Sometimes you are curious about what will happen.

And once in the snow,

You move your arms and legs to form snow angels,

All the while looking at the unique snowflakes that fall between the triangular dark green tops of the trees and the evergreen branches coated in an icing of snow.

You listen to the snow softly crunching around you.

The dog leaps over you and scurries in between your legs and then around the perimeter of your body.

You begin to laugh.

The spontaneous eruption of joy creates a melody that echoes through the silent forest.

And the more you laugh,

The more encouraged the dog becomes and she races circles around you.

You rise and begin to play along.

You pause for a moment when you find the perfect paw prints in the sparkling snow.

Once upon a time,

These impressions were pure magic to you.

And once again you are drawn in to the intricate design and beauty.

You can't stop smiling.

You reach down and grab a handful of snow,

Cupping it and pressing it together to form the perfect snowball.

The dog runs towards you and you direct her attention to the snowball before launching it in the air.

She leaps to catch it and when her teeth grasp it,

It returns to a powdery cloud of snow and you laugh.

It feels good to laugh like this.

So deeply that you can feel the joy stir in the depths of your belly.

You go along with this experience and moment and total surrender to good feelings.

And suddenly you are brought back to the cozy chair,

Warm and dry and nestled by the fire.

You place the card and green envelope on the side table.

And then you take a royal blue envelope and slice it open.

The inside of the envelope is layered with silver foil and you remove the card to see an oversized depiction of a snowflake in metallic silver.

The snowflake's intricate and unique design is etched onto sapphire blue cardstock.

Inside you read a message from the one person in this life who has celebrated your uniqueness.

From any point in the timeline of your life,

This loved one appeared and reminded you that it is okay to be you.

To be different.

This beloved person has always seen you for who you really are.

You return to the front of the card and trace your finger around the raised silver outline of the snowflake.

Just like before,

The flames of the fireplace double in size and you hear a poof sound before you are transported within the card.

You feel a floating sensation and you are wafting through a sapphire blue sky.

You feel as if you are in the depths of the sea,

But for being surrounded by the clean crisp night air of winter.

And as you keep floating,

You land on the snowflake depicted in the card.

You are small in comparison and the snowflake is traveling delicately on the air and you are now traveling along with it.

Your hand grasps around one of the ice crystals that forms a bridge between the intricate lace-like design.

The snowflake has six points that are carved like diamonds,

Reflecting back the dark blue sky.

You playfully walk across the thick icy lines and feel like you are skating on a frozen lake.

Your arms are extended out as if you are flying.

The snowflake falls towards the earth gracefully and slowly and you feel the breeze support you.

You glide to the edge of the snowflake and take a seat.

You dangle your legs over its crystal edge and you continue to travel on this massive snowflake.

It is like a pearly white raft floating through the night's blue-black sky.

It slowly spins in a circular motion and reflects the light of a full moon like prismatic spokes of a bicycle.

You hear the gentle winds and look at the other unique snowflakes that join you.

Their patterns are hypnotic and intricate in translucent white and silvery white hues.

Some of the patterns have pointed edges that are leaf-like,

While others form silhouettes like the needle branches of spruce trees.

Another snowflake has a center that is shaped like a magnolia flower,

Surrounded by leaves of holly.

Within the unique designs,

You see inspirations by nature and ponder that each snowflake is but a memento of the beauty on earth.

When mother nature's flourish,

Snowflakes are the sculptures that reenact scenes in their microscopic formations.

These snowflakes remind you of the sun and the stars,

Of leaves and evergreens,

Of feathers and of fish scales.

You continue to enjoy this floating sensation,

Getting closer and closer to the blanket of snow and the mountainous landscape below.

The purple-black silhouettes of mountains jut against the velvety sapphire sky and are lit by the moon.

Moonbeams reflect back off the twinkling blanket of snow.

The cascades down the rocky formations like icing dripping off a gingerbread house.

The snowflake is drifting down,

Down,

Down,

Surfing across the winter's breeze.

And as it lands,

It becomes one with the snow and you are brought back to the cozy living room where you look to the snowflake card and place it on the table.

You remove another envelope from the stack.

This one is vibrant red and you open it,

Pulling out a customized holiday photo card.

Posed in the photo are your dearest loved ones and they surround a snowman that is decked out in a wool scarf with a carrot nose and stone eyes and a smile made of red holly berries.

This time the fire dims in the fireplace and you feel the magnetic pull of the card as you once again find yourself tingling all over.

You suddenly land on a snowbank,

Standing tall above your loved ones in the center of a quaint village.

The late day sun is golden with shimmery metallic rays that shine at a sharp angle that only occurs this time of year.

You look around to the homes adorned with holiday lights and various festive decorations.

You hear the peals of laughter from children playing in the freshly falling snow.

The snow is perfect for packing into balls.

You hop off the snowbank and join your loved ones.

There is a wooden crate full of attire and accessories for the snowman and after investigating it you make a big snowball in your hands.

You set it on the untouched snow and begin to roll a large white ball for the base.

A dear friend comes over to help and you keep rolling until the ball is so heavy it takes the both of you to position it properly.

Other members of your party make the snowman's belly and head and they roll the grand balls across the snowy lawn.

The snowman is assembled and at its full stature is taller than you.

The children of the village are mesmerized by this snowman and gather sticks to serve as arms.

You take a jar of holly berries from the crate and begin to form the smile.

You create lips that open in a big happy grin.

You insert a carrot as the nose and stones as the eyes.

And one of your loved ones adds a scarf and fancy hat.

This may be the most fantastic snowman you have ever seen.

The sun begins to set beyond the horizon.

Now a magenta tangerine orb that casts the snowy landscape and perfect snowman in liquid honey.

You take in a deep breath and smell the freshly fallen snow with its clean metallic perfume and the fragrance of wood smoke that comes from the chimneys of all the surrounding cottages of the village.

You meet the eyes of your loved ones as you all bask in the golden hour.

You notice the gleam in one another's eyes.

The cold chill in the air sparks an aliveness and reddens all of your cheeks and noses.

You hug yourself against the refreshing air.

And as the sun sets for the day,

You feel yourself returning to the comforts of the velvet chair in the living room.

The photo card rests on your lap and you pick it up and add it to the opened pile on the table.

You move to the final unopened card in a shimmery gold envelope.

You slice neatly through the top and pull out the card to reveal a scene much like the one that you now enjoy.

There is a fireplace with a mantle from which a bough of pine is carefully draped.

And you see the cards you just opened are hung on a string of lights that also hangs from the wooden mantle.

These cards are clipped on with snowy white clothespins.

And as the fire burns brightly,

There is a basket of six kittens sleeping piled atop one another.

You feel the warmth of the fire as your fingers grace the image.

And you suddenly begin to melt into the scene on this card.

Again feeling the familiar tingling sensation.

And you are transported on the floor by the kittens.

You sit on a plush hand-loomed holiday rug.

It's as soft as a pillow beneath you.

You hear the crackling of the fire and the soft purr of the sleeping kittens.

One of them sighs in a soft melody that is so sweet you smile and sigh yourself.

You cannot resist petting them.

And as you do,

They wake up one by one.

They are tiny puffballs in shades of white and grey and orange and brown.

They greet you with their soft meows.

There is a bay window in the room that nearly runs the height of the neighboring walls.

You watch large snowflakes pelt against the glass panes.

The clean white snow appears brighter against the navy blue of the twilight sky.

The kittens form a cluster as they approach you curiously and sniff you.

You reach out your hand to pet them.

And they tumble and roll on the rug.

Their fur is plush and downy.

And yet also delicate to the touch.

A white kitten rolls over and while lying on her back she swats at your hand with her soft pink paw pads.

A grey kitten pounces on a tabby kitten.

And their bodies form a furry ball.

And they roll by you.

You lie down on the rug and nestle the back of your head in your hands with your fingers intertwined.

The kittens climb you as if climbing a grassy knoll.

And you feel their warm bodies as they pounce and paw at you.

You are calmed by the percussive sound of their purring.

It blends with the crackle of the dry wood that splinters off in the flames and the pop of sparks that fly towards the chimney.

Each kitten finds a nook.

One rests on your chest and curls up in a ball.

Another finds a crevice in your arm.

The grey kitten softly nestles against your neck.

It tickles but is comfortable at the same time.

The tabby kitten warms your feet.

And though she's smaller than both of your feet,

Her presence and body warmth are immediately noticed.

With all the kittens now cozily cuddled against you,

You take in a deep breath and sigh.

You feel as their young bodies relax as well and their breathing become shallow.

You turn your head towards the window to see the snow beginning to fall as the darkness of winter's early nights sets in.

You turn towards the fire and see all the holiday cards now strung across the mantle.

But there is an additional photo that hangs in the middle.

It is a view nestled with kittens by a cozy fire.

Like a dream within a dream,

Your experience has been captured and reimagined.

And you have this feeling of safety and warmth that you enjoy so deeply,

Protected from the winter's storm,

Relishing the sensation of being warm and dry and content.

You feel the love from all the senders of these messages and holiday cards.

Your love weaves its way in and out of the timeline of your life.

It reminds you of parts of yourself and memories you hold dear.

And it is the gateway to joyous occasions that have yet to be explored.

But you may begin to explore as you float across the bridge between your waking and sleeping life,

Allowing yourself to surrender to this feeling of tranquility and deep relaxation.

And I am going to count you down to a dreamy,

Restorative night of sleep.

Ten.

Nine.

Eight.

Seven.

Six.

Five.

Four.

Three.

Two.

One.

Finding peace.

Finding respite.

Finding sleep.

It's time to dream away.

It's time to wake up.

It's time to wake up.

It's time to wake up.

It's time to wake up.

It's time to wake up.

It's time to wake up.

It's time to wake up.

It's time to wake up.

It's time to wake up.

It's time to wake up.

It's time to wake up.

It's time to wake up.

It's time to wake up.

It's time to wake up.

It's time to wake up.

It's time to wake up.

It's time to wake up.

It's time to wake up.

It's time to wake up.

Reviews

Bravo 👏 🙌👌. Thank you so much for another amazing story.

Another one of my favorites, although I was asleep before the end. I really felt like I was there. Thank you.

Really enjoyed the story

Love this one. Makes me feel like I'm thousands of miles from home and takes away my worries for the day.....
Every time!