Latest / Abide Meditation App / 😴 Wave Sounds and Sleepy Story 🌊 A Peaceful Sleepy Story_ Dreamy Yucatán Day 🌊
Transcript
- 0:01Speaker 1: Welcome to Get Sleepy, where we listen, we relax, and
- 0:09Speaker 1: we get sleepy. My name's Thomas, and I'm your host.
- 0:16Speaker 1: Thanks so much for being here. Tonight, Arif will guide
- 0:22Speaker 1: us on another wonderful adventure in a story that was
- 0:27Speaker 1: written by Jillian. you'll travel to the Yucatan Peninsula in
- 0:33Speaker 1: the southeast of Mexico. On your journey, you'll learn about
- 0:39Speaker 1: the local food and culture and go for a relaxing
- 0:44Speaker 1: swim in a beautiful natural pool. I just want to
- 0:51Speaker 1: mention also that we're releasing a special bonus episode tomorrow
- 0:55Speaker 1: for everyone to enjoy. It's called A Nap in a
- 1:00Speaker 1: Peaceful Garden, and as the title suggests, it's specifically designed
- 1:06Speaker 1: to accompany a short daytime nap. This is something a
- 1:11Speaker 1: number of our listeners have requested, so if you'd like
- 1:15Speaker 1: to give it a try, it'll be up on the
- 1:17Speaker 1: Get Sleepy feed tomorrow. Now then, it's time to transition
- 1:28Speaker 1: away from the day and enjoy the opportunity to be still,
- 1:36Speaker 1: settled and relaxed. So, make sure you're as comfortable as
- 1:46Speaker 1: can be. If you need to adjust your body's position
- 1:53Speaker 1: or pull your cover up, a little tighter around your
- 1:56Speaker 1: neck and shoulders now is the perfect time to do
- 2:02Speaker 1: so make sure you optimize your comfort however you need
- 2:11Speaker 1: to once you're settled in turn your attention to the
- 2:21Speaker 1: rise and fall of your breath The ever present motion
- 2:29Speaker 1: of your body. As the air moves in. And out.
- 2:41Speaker 1: This soothing motion. Can help guide you. Into relaxation. And rest.
- 2:53Speaker 1: So just watch the air flow. Really noticing the way
- 2:58Speaker 1: it moves within your body. And see if you can
- 3:05Speaker 1: just slightly lengthen the inhale and exhale to send a
- 3:13Speaker 1: signal to your nervous system that now is the time
- 3:19Speaker 1: to slow down and relax. With each calming exhale, feel
- 3:32Speaker 1: the tension of the day melting away. Any frustrations or
- 3:42Speaker 1: challenging moments that are still playing on your mind can
- 3:48Speaker 1: just drift and disperse into thin air with the release
- 3:56Speaker 1: of the breath. We all have difficulty letting go and
- 4:06Speaker 1: switching off at times. But you deserve a good night's rest.
- 4:15Speaker 1: So continue following the wave-like motion of your breath as
- 4:21Speaker 1: you listen along to our story tonight. We're off on
- 4:30Speaker 1: a dreamy, enchanting journey deep in the heart of the
- 4:37Speaker 1: magical Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. It's a place of tranquil
- 4:47Speaker 1: waters and lush rainforests. And this is where our story begins.
- 5:23Speaker 2: The Yucatan is a wild and ancient place, like a
- 5:28Speaker 2: living world from another time. Right now, you are heading
- 5:36Speaker 2: into the heart of it. Although you're based in Merida,
- 5:42Speaker 2: the cosmopolitan capital, you're going to explore the surrounding countryside
- 5:52Speaker 2: Once you are south of the city, there are no
- 5:55Speaker 2: longer any billboards or tall buildings, and there are only
- 6:01Speaker 2: a few other cars on the highway. It is a
- 6:07Speaker 2: bright morning, and the blue sky is unblemished by clouds.
- 6:15Speaker 2: There might be a rain shower later, if Chuck wills it.
- 6:22Speaker 2: Chak is the mighty rain god of the ancient Maya people.
- 6:29Speaker 2: Rain is very important here. It makes the crops grow
- 6:34Speaker 2: like corn and citrus. Rainwater seeps into the earth through
- 6:42Speaker 2: the porous limestone to create the deep, pure swimming holes
- 6:48Speaker 2: called cenotes. They were considered sacred by the ancient Maya. Today,
- 6:59Speaker 2: you'll visit one of these cool, natural pools. You had
- 7:05Speaker 2: to set off early this morning, for this adventure is
- 7:10Speaker 2: a long one, taking you deep into the countryside. So,
- 7:18Speaker 2: after driving for a while, you decide to stop for
- 7:23Speaker 2: a break. Located on the elegant outskirts of the modern
- 7:30Speaker 2: city is a gorgeous hacienda, which has been restored. A
- 7:39Speaker 2: hundred years ago, these buildings were houses for affluent families.
- 7:47Speaker 2: The land may have been farm, or other agriculture was
- 7:52Speaker 2: processed on the grounds. The hacienda would have housed an
- 7:59Speaker 2: entire small community, a human ecosystem, where generations lived and
- 8:08Speaker 2: worked side by side. There were quarters for the landowners
- 8:16Speaker 2: and outbuildings for those who labored for them Most of
- 8:23Speaker 2: these properties have now been converted into hotels or restaurants,
- 8:30Speaker 2: or even spas. This hacienda is the ideal respite from
- 8:38Speaker 2: the heat and a perfect stop for breakfast. The graceful
- 8:45Speaker 2: driveway is long and gently winding, The tires of the
- 8:51Speaker 2: car crunch over the white gravel, which is crushed limestone.
- 9:00Speaker 2: When powdered, this material is used to paint houses. The
- 9:09Speaker 2: hue of the two-story concrete building is just like burnt sugar.
- 9:16Speaker 2: Its warm, rust-colored red making you think of the rich earth.
- 9:24Speaker 2: The colors are hyper-saturated. There's something almost divine about them.
- 9:34Speaker 2: The Royal Palm trees stand like centuries on either side
- 9:39Speaker 2: of the arched entryway. They are formidable and welcoming all
- 9:47Speaker 2: at once. The playful breeze causes the fronds to rustle.
- 9:55Speaker 2: They are like hundreds upon hundreds of cooling things. fans
- 10:00Speaker 2: above you. The second sound you notice after the rustling
- 10:08Speaker 2: of the elegant palms is the birds. There is an
- 10:16Speaker 2: exuberance to their noise. It's as if the birds fervently
- 10:22Speaker 2: wish to communicate something important, or perhaps convey their joy
- 10:28Speaker 2: at being here. You cannot yet identify these birds by
- 10:36Speaker 2: sight or song, but in your pocket guidebook, you have
- 10:42Speaker 2: read their names. Mangrove Video tropical mockingbird, gray-throated chat, Yucatan nightjar,
- 10:58Speaker 2: and Caribbean dove. You hope to know each of these
- 11:04Speaker 2: species before your exploration is over, and you know there
- 11:10Speaker 2: are parrots, flamingos, and egrets somewhere in the wild. The
- 11:18Speaker 2: Gulf of Mexico is only an hour away, and everything
- 11:24Speaker 2: seems possible. Who knows what you might discover here? Beyond
- 11:34Speaker 2: the slightly decaying facade of the building, the gardens beckon.
- 11:42Speaker 2: You walk toward them through the covered walkway, It's incredible
- 11:49Speaker 2: how tranquil it is in the hidden cloisters of the hotel.
- 11:57Speaker 2: You pass through into a world within a world. It
- 12:03Speaker 2: feels hidden, secret, and safe. And you are suddenly reminded
- 12:12Speaker 2: of old stories you once heard involving Vale's and Oasis.
- 12:22Speaker 2: Though you're in a different part of the globe, the
- 12:26Speaker 2: romance of all your favorite stories comes back to you.
- 12:34Speaker 2: It's as if various times and places converge on this site.
- 12:42Speaker 2: The wild rainforest is just beyond the garden walls, but
- 12:48Speaker 2: inside all is neat and tidy. The grass is very
- 12:56Speaker 2: much contained and the landscaping is restrained with each plant
- 13:04Speaker 2: thoughtfully curated, but the flowers could never be described as commonplace.
- 13:16Speaker 2: you find yourself admiring the birds of paradise with their
- 13:22Speaker 2: vibrant orange petals. After exploring the garden, you find a
- 13:30Speaker 2: seat under an arch at a small round table. There's
- 13:38Speaker 2: a starched linen cloth and delicate silk. Blue and cream-colored
- 13:45Speaker 2: talaveta pottery. Every detail is exquisite. You notice a pretty
- 13:55Speaker 2: cup and saucer, a creamer, and a sugar bowl. These
- 14:03Speaker 2: must be painted by hand, you imagine, by a local
- 14:08Speaker 2: artisan with deep roots in this region. At the center
- 14:15Speaker 2: of the table is a large plate with slices of
- 14:20Speaker 2: fresh tropical fruit, as well as the green and yellow melon,
- 14:28Speaker 2: which is very sweet. There are slices of papaya, mango,
- 14:34Speaker 2: sour oranges, and dragon fruit. The waiter is dressed in
- 14:42Speaker 2: a traditional white guayabera shirt. He pours coffee from a
- 14:48Speaker 2: silver pot with a dramatic flourish. It feels like you
- 14:55Speaker 2: are in a ballet, quietly choreographed. Everything is beautiful and effortless.
- 15:08Speaker 2: You sip the strong coffee slowly. It has a lush
- 15:15Speaker 2: and almost floral taste of jasmine and bergamot. It's grown
- 15:22Speaker 2: in the state of Chiapas half a day away. As
- 15:28Speaker 2: you continue to take slow sips, you are carried away
- 15:34Speaker 2: on a stream of free-associating thoughts. or daydreaming. Closing your eyes,
- 15:44Speaker 2: you imagine the journey that the coffee took before arriving
- 15:50Speaker 2: here in your cup. Before, it was an invigorating liquid.
- 15:59Speaker 2: It was smooth grounds. You can almost smell the beans
- 16:07Speaker 2: being roasted emitting a toasted fragrance. Then you picture the
- 16:16Speaker 2: misty slopes of mountainous highlands in a region much chillier
- 16:22Speaker 2: than this one, where the beans were harvested. The coffee
- 16:30Speaker 2: beans really look like fruit, like wild cranberries on the branch.
- 16:40Speaker 2: It is wonderful to think of all the different shapes
- 16:44Speaker 2: something can be. Opening your eyes, you take another look
- 16:52Speaker 2: at the steaming coffee. With a splash of milk and
- 16:59Speaker 2: a teaspoon of sugar, it is the perfect cup to
- 17:05Speaker 2: complement the splendid surroundings. Looking beyond the patio, you notice
- 17:14Speaker 2: the stone plunge pool. The water is sea glass green
- 17:21Speaker 2: and so inviting. Seeing the pool reminds you that later,
- 17:30Speaker 2: you'll enjoy a swim in the blue waters of the cenote.
- 17:38Speaker 2: You feel a shiver of anticipation at the thought of
- 17:43Speaker 2: all the delights the day will bring. Then your breakfast arrives,
- 17:52Speaker 2: fit for a king or queen. It consists of four
- 18:00Speaker 2: slices of toast with butter and jam, and a stack
- 18:06Speaker 2: of warm tortillas wrapped in cloth. There's also an expertly
- 18:14Speaker 2: sliced avocado, juicy tomato and cooling cilantro, two farm fresh
- 18:23Speaker 2: eggs cooked gently, a basket of pastries, a small dish
- 18:31Speaker 2: of black beans, and a smaller dish of bright habanero
- 18:36Speaker 2: chilies for heat and garnish. You do not hurry, as
- 18:44Speaker 2: there is nowhere else you have to be right now.
- 18:50Speaker 2: Here in this garden, eating can be a special experience.
- 18:57Speaker 2: Slow and mindful, You begin tasting each component individually. Then
- 19:09Speaker 2: you mix flavors creatively and intuitively, resulting in delicious combinations
- 19:18Speaker 2: you never could have imagined. This is food that bursts
- 19:26Speaker 2: and melts in your mouth. It demands to be savored
- 19:31Speaker 2: with your eyes closed. After paying the bill, you walk
- 19:39Speaker 2: back through the garden, strolling along the stone paths between
- 19:45Speaker 2: flowers in every shade of pink. Some are pale and shy,
- 19:54Speaker 2: others vibrant and brazen. The road is beckoning, so you
- 20:02Speaker 2: head back to the car and the folded map and
- 20:07Speaker 2: onto the modern two lane highway you have a destination
- 20:15Speaker 2: in mind a cenote you read about in a book
- 20:22Speaker 2: but you've never visited it before so you hope you
- 20:27Speaker 2: can find it based on your memory of the description
- 20:34Speaker 2: it was not on the tourist trail in fact From
- 20:40Speaker 2: what you recall, it was off the well-worn traveler path.
- 20:48Speaker 2: You wonder for a moment if it's real, or if
- 20:53Speaker 2: you only dreamed up such a paradise. But you know
- 20:59Speaker 2: the place names that surround the swimming hole, and you
- 21:05Speaker 2: recall descriptions of speed bumps and dusty village squares. In
- 21:14Speaker 2: the nearby towns dogs give chase and small children wave.
- 21:23Speaker 2: Old women whose white clothing is colorfully embroidered squat over
- 21:30Speaker 2: low griddles and cook upon the fire. These outdoor hearths
- 21:38Speaker 2: are like an extension of their homes. Eventually, when you
- 21:46Speaker 2: find the town you're looking for, you discover that nothing
- 21:51Speaker 2: about it has changed. It is exactly as it was
- 21:56Speaker 2: described in the book. There are the chickens and the
- 22:04Speaker 2: same concrete shops. These little convenience stores have refrigerated soda
- 22:13Speaker 2: and shelves of packaged snacks, salty and sweet. There's the
- 22:22Speaker 2: same tortilleria and the same panaderia where the locals buy
- 22:28Speaker 2: bread and sweet rolls, or those mini ham and cheese
- 22:33Speaker 2: pastries with little sugar sprinkled on top. They're a delicious treat.
- 22:45Speaker 2: You see men, young and old, keeping busy out in
- 22:51Speaker 2: the yard. They're standing around a small engine. Nearby, there's
- 23:00Speaker 2: a whitewashed stone building with a thatched roof. Inside the
- 23:08Speaker 2: cool walls, the entire front room seems to be filled
- 23:13Speaker 2: with a loom. It's a square, wooden structure crisscrossed with string,
- 23:23Speaker 2: a machine both simple and complex. These weavings may become
- 23:31Speaker 2: hammocks that are sold to tourists. or they'll be turned
- 23:37Speaker 2: into textiles for families. They're made with a technique passed
- 23:45Speaker 2: down through generations of women. There is a woman sitting
- 23:51Speaker 2: by the window now, immersed in her work at the loom.
- 23:59Speaker 2: You hold up a hand and greet her. Good afternoon,
- 24:04Speaker 2: she replies. waving to you. As you watch her work,
- 24:12Speaker 2: you recall something you read about traditional weaving. For maybe 3,000 years,
- 24:22Speaker 2: Maya women have been using a backstrap loom to make garments.
- 24:30Speaker 2: Some are simple, while others are beautifully ornamental The white
- 24:39Speaker 2: shirts and dresses are ideal in the tropical heat and
- 24:46Speaker 2: the colors of their thread incorporate all the natural beauty
- 24:51Speaker 2: of the region. The bright hues of embroidery are both
- 24:58Speaker 2: decorative and symbolic. Some patterns tell a story, or reveal
- 25:08Speaker 2: a truth about the lineage of the maker. The delicate
- 25:15Speaker 2: flowers and repeated geometry make each article of clothing a
- 25:22Speaker 2: work of art. You find yourself in awe of the
- 25:28Speaker 2: craftsmanship of these women, the textile makers and weavers whose
- 25:35Speaker 2: dreams Hope and desires are sewn into each garment. Here,
- 25:45Speaker 2: more than anywhere else you have been, the quality and
- 25:50Speaker 2: intention of the clothing fills you with admiration. Fiber has
- 25:57Speaker 2: a rich history here in the Yucatan. During the 19th century,
- 26:06Speaker 2: Fortunes were made from the Eneken plant, a member of
- 26:11Speaker 2: the agave family. It's a low-growing plant with long, rather
- 26:19Speaker 2: spiky leaves. Some agave plants are used for food or medicine.
- 26:28Speaker 2: This one has long fibers that can be extracted. and
- 26:33Speaker 2: made into incredibly high quality rope. And it is this
- 26:41Speaker 2: very plant that is responsible for the route you are
- 26:46Speaker 2: on today. In order to reach the cenote, you will
- 26:53Speaker 2: ride through the rainforest in a horse-pulled cart, and you'll
- 27:00Speaker 2: travel on tracks that were once used to transport the
- 27:05Speaker 2: Eneken plant. You find yourself reflecting on the importance of
- 27:13Speaker 2: this plant. It made its way around the world, over oceans,
- 27:22Speaker 2: and in the process built great fortunes and grand haciendas.
- 27:30Speaker 2: And now you're standing here, about to ride along the
- 27:36Speaker 2: old path. Thinking about this connection with the past is
- 27:43Speaker 2: like traveling back in time. It's a sort of magic,
- 27:49Speaker 2: you think. Moments later, you find yourself buying a ticket
- 27:57Speaker 2: for the ride. and climbing onto a rustic seat and
- 28:03Speaker 2: a little wooden cart, which is painted pale blue. The
- 28:10Speaker 2: driver says a word in the local language and the
- 28:15Speaker 2: horse sets out slowly and steadily. The movement creates a
- 28:26Speaker 2: lovely breeze, you are on your way to the cenote
- 28:33Speaker 2: riding deeper into the green. It is just about noon
- 28:41Speaker 2: and the sun is high in the sky. The heat
- 28:47Speaker 2: is almost shimmering all around. It is wonderful to be
- 28:55Speaker 2: alive in this place. with all these other very alive things,
- 29:02Speaker 2: the plants, trees, and birds. Nothing interferes with the organic
- 29:11Speaker 2: pulsing life. There are no phones here because there is
- 29:19Speaker 2: no cellular service. There are no shops, advertisements, Or billboards.
- 29:30Speaker 2: And there is no noise from the radio or television.
- 29:36Speaker 2: You could be in another century. But you could not
- 29:43Speaker 2: be in any other location. You are here in the
- 29:50Speaker 2: land of the Maya. This is the deep, beating heart
- 29:57Speaker 2: of southeastern Mexico. closer to Cuba than the capital. And
- 30:05Speaker 2: this is where civilization first flourished long ago. You remember
- 30:13Speaker 2: reading that the Maya were astronomical experts who aligned sacred
- 30:19Speaker 2: structures with solar events. They devised a complex calendar and
- 30:27Speaker 2: counting system and they wrote their history and creation story
- 30:34Speaker 2: on paper made of bark. An important religious text, the
- 30:42Speaker 2: Popol Vuh, can be translated as a book of the
- 30:46Speaker 2: community or book of the mat. This is because in
- 30:55Speaker 2: ancient times, the king sat on a woven mat likely
- 31:00Speaker 2: made of enneken. As you travel onward, you wonder if
- 31:09Speaker 2: there are treasures hidden here beneath the reddish topsoil. On
- 31:17Speaker 2: the way, you listen to the clop-clop of the horses'
- 31:22Speaker 2: hooves and to the buzzing of the bees. They create
- 31:30Speaker 2: the acidic honey for which the Yucatan is famous. Breathing
- 31:38Speaker 2: in deeply, you notice that the air is ripe with
- 31:43Speaker 2: the nectar of the ceiba. This tree, sacred to the Maya,
- 31:51Speaker 2: was believed to connect heaven and the human realm. After
- 31:58Speaker 2: a while, you become aware that the ride is slowing
- 32:03Speaker 2: to a stop. The driver indicates that you should dismount.
- 32:11Speaker 2: He brings the horse to some water so it can
- 32:15Speaker 2: drink and pulls the cart off the track. You follow
- 32:23Speaker 2: the path toward the mouth of a cave. There is
- 32:29Speaker 2: an encouraging light and the sound of laughter echoing against
- 32:35Speaker 2: the walls of the hollow. You take careful steps out
- 32:42Speaker 2: of the sun and into the cool of the earth.
- 32:48Speaker 2: The slope is gentle. The stairs easy. Your eyes adjust.
- 32:57Speaker 2: to the shadows, and then you see it. There is
- 33:06Speaker 2: the wonder you have been wanting to visit for so long.
- 33:13Speaker 2: It's a large pool of water, blue and pure, and
- 33:19Speaker 2: it's clearer and more concentrated than anything else you've ever seen.
- 33:28Speaker 2: The color is soothing and electric at the same time.
- 33:35Speaker 2: It's as if the pool is lit from within. A
- 33:40Speaker 2: shaft of natural light pours in through an opening in
- 33:44Speaker 2: the ceiling, letting in rays that dance on the surface
- 33:50Speaker 2: of the water. Green leaves hang down from above. like
- 33:57Speaker 2: in a garden of paradise. It feels like a holy place,
- 34:05Speaker 2: and you understand why the ancient Maya carried out rituals here.
- 34:14Speaker 2: This sunken place is like a reflection of the sky.
- 34:21Speaker 2: You can imagine feeling compelled to worship here, among the elements.
- 34:29Speaker 2: It is a beauty so divine and perfect. You fasten
- 34:36Speaker 2: your shoes and then, without further delay, you descend into
- 34:43Speaker 2: the sweet, healing water. It's cool and refreshing against your skin.
- 34:54Speaker 2: You dive under and swim with your arms extended, moving gracefully, naturally,
- 35:04Speaker 2: as if you were made for this. Around you are
- 35:10Speaker 2: children jumping into their mother's arms, and friends daring each
- 35:17Speaker 2: other to dive from ledges. Some are climbing, others racing,
- 35:26Speaker 2: and a few are floating slowly, looking up in amazement
- 35:34Speaker 2: toward the stalactites and vines. You too swim and float
- 35:42Speaker 2: and dive, and turn in a clockwise motion, moving like
- 35:49Speaker 2: an otter. As you swim, You wonder if there's something
- 35:56Speaker 2: in the water or the air that creates this dreamy atmosphere.
- 36:04Speaker 2: Is there an explanation for the magic here? But perhaps
- 36:13Speaker 2: it doesn't matter. You feel free and joyful, grounded and
- 36:19Speaker 2: light all at once. And that is enough for now.
- 36:27Speaker 2: An hour has passed, you suppose, or two or three.
- 36:36Speaker 2: It feels like it is time to move on, to
- 36:40Speaker 2: let others have their turn in the primordial waters. Maybe
- 36:48Speaker 2: you should start making your way back to the hotel
- 36:51Speaker 2: that is home for now You're looking forward to returning
- 36:58Speaker 2: to the beautiful white city of Merida. There, you will
- 37:05Speaker 2: go back to your airy room. It has a king-size
- 37:12Speaker 2: canopy bed with a thick mattress, a lazy ceiling fan,
- 37:19Speaker 2: and billowing curtains. Lying in bed under a white cotton blanket,
- 37:28Speaker 2: you'll drift into a deep sleep. It will be good
- 37:34Speaker 2: to rest later. Besides, you have never slept better than
- 37:41Speaker 2: you do in that hotel room. You emerge from the
- 37:47Speaker 2: healing underground lake smiling, Every part of your body rested
- 37:56Speaker 2: and refreshed. The sun once again feels delightful on the
- 38:03Speaker 2: crown of your head, your shoulders, and your feet. You
- 38:12Speaker 2: let the slight wind and solar warmth dry you. And then,
- 38:21Speaker 2: After putting your shoes back on, you climb into the
- 38:27Speaker 2: cart that will take you back to the town. When
- 38:34Speaker 2: you get there, maybe you'll buy a cold drink and
- 38:41Speaker 2: an ice cream bar covered in chocolate. You close your
- 38:49Speaker 2: eyes And allow the rhythmic motion of the cart to
- 38:56Speaker 2: lull you into a sort of dreaming state. It has
- 39:03Speaker 2: been one of the most peaceful days you can remember.
- 39:09Speaker 2: And you don't want to forget it. Though you are
- 39:13Speaker 2: not clinging to it either. You have a feeling. Deep
- 39:20Speaker 2: in your mind or heart. That you will be able
- 39:25Speaker 2: to come back here as often as you'd like. To
- 39:31Speaker 2: remain in this dream or vacation forever. You exhale very slowly.
- 39:45Speaker 2: All is well. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
- 45:24Speaker 1: Thank you.
- 46:11Speaker 2: Thank you.
- 47:43Speaker 1: I'm sorry.
- 48:33Speaker 2: Thank you. Thank you.
- 52:10Speaker 1: So, Thank you.
- 55:26Speaker 2: Thank you. Thank you.
- 57:01Speaker 1: Thank you.
- 1:00:00Speaker 2: Thank you.