Hello,
I'm Jackie.
Thank you for joining me for this special bedtime meditation.
Let's start by getting you comfortable in your bed.
Breathe gently,
But deeply in and out.
Feeling your body getting softer with each breath.
In.
.
.
Do you sometimes find the dark a bit scary?
Maybe you dread that moment when the light goes out.
Or do you wake up in the middle of the night and suddenly feel afraid?
Do you know why it happens?
Well,
In the daytime,
When it's light,
You can see everything around you.
Even if you don't like everything you say,
It's all there.
Easy to spot,
Easy to understand.
You can also see the people who love you and care for you.
And that helps you feel safe.
When it's dark,
Nothing around you has really changed.
But because you can't see it,
Your mind can start to play little tricks.
It might whisper,
You're all alone.
Or make you think a sound you hear is something really scary.
When really,
It's just mum or dad tripping over a toy you left on the landing.
And sometimes,
As you lie in the darkness,
Your mind likes to remind you of little things you've been worrying about.
It's so annoying when it does that,
Isn't it?
My mind does that to me too.
But here's a secret.
The dark isn't really scary.
In fact,
It's full of quiet,
Gentle friends who watch over you.
And want to help you feel safe.
Trouble is,
Because it's dark,
You can't see them.
But don't worry,
They're right there,
Waiting to show themselves.
All you have to do is ask.
So,
Let's take another deep breath in.
And out.
And let's ask together.
Are you ready to meet your night-time friends?
Then let's begin our journey.
Imagine you're standing beside a tall,
Ancient tree.
Its roots twist and curl deep into the earth.
And its branches reach high up into the night sky.
This is a wise old tree.
And it knows you've come for a special journey tonight.
It's going to help you.
Between two of its great roots,
You notice an opening.
A tunnel leading down into the earth.
Take a calm breath.
And step inside.
It's dark,
But not scary.
The tunnel feels cosy and safe.
Like a secret burrow just for you.
As your eyes adjust,
You see a faint light up ahead.
It's the glow of a little lantern.
And holding that lantern is Mole.
As you reach him,
Mole nuzzles up against you in greeting.
You feel his soft,
Velvety fur brush against your hand.
He smells of fresh soil and leaves.
Mole understands the dark.
It's his home.
He can't see very well,
Even above the ground.
And finds his way around by touch and smell.
But he's brought the lantern along to help you see the way ahead.
Follow me,
Says Mole kindly.
You walk beside him,
The lantern swinging as he leads the way out of the tunnel and along a path.
Soon he veers off into some bushes.
And you follow,
Pushing past twigs and leaves.
Just then,
Grandmother Moon slips out from behind a cloud.
Her silvery light pours down,
Gently lighting the path ahead.
You feel her soft gaze watching over you.
In the distance,
You notice a glow.
As you get closer,
You see it's coming from the mouth of a cave.
You enter the cave.
Its walls shimmer with hundreds of tiny lights.
Glowworms,
Shining like little stars.
Mole calls softly to them.
Glowworms,
I've brought a friend who needs one of your magic blankets.
The glowworms dim their lights,
Whispering to each other in tiny voices.
Then,
All at once,
They glow brighter than ever.
Fine,
Glistening strands of silk begin to drift down through the air,
Like threads of moonlight.
They begin to pile up on the ground as the glowworms spin more and more of their silken threads.
Near the cave entrance sits a large rock with a white stone resting on top.
Mole picks up the stone and hands it to you.
Tap the rock four times,
He says.
That's how we call the weavers.
Are you ready?
Tap.
For a moment,
There's silence.
Then you hear tiny feet scurrying.
A little troop of mice appear.
They begin to gather the glowing silk and weave it together with nimble paws.
Mole watches closely,
Smiling as the blanket they're weaving becomes more and more beautiful.
When it's finished,
The mice carry it carefully to the cave entrance and lay it on the ground in the moonlight.
The blanket sparkles with silvery light.
Now,
Mole says to you,
Tell Grandmother Moon what you feel afraid of in the dark.
Whisper it in your imagination.
You can do that right now.
Bravely whisper your fears to Grandmother Moon.
Little fireflies appear,
Fluttering all around you.
They catch your whispered words and carry them up,
Up,
Up to Grandmother Moon.
When the fireflies reach her,
She breathes her soft,
Silvery breath over them.
Your fears transform into a hundred sparkling moonbeams that rain down gently onto the blanket below.
It glistens brighter than ever,
Glowing with calm,
Loving energy.
Mole nods to the mice,
Who carefully fold the blanket,
Tie it with a ribbon of silver silk and place it in your hands.
This blanket has been made especially for you,
Says Mole.
It will keep you safe in the dark.
Hold it close to your heart,
Feeling its warmth,
Its softness,
Its love.
It's time to return now.
You thank the glowworms,
The mice,
The fireflies and Grandmother Moon.
Mole leads you back along the path,
Through the leafy bushes and through the tunnel again.
The lantern's light flickers softly as you walk.
Soon you're back beside the tall tree,
The night air calm.
You thank Mole for guiding you.
He smiles,
Gives a little nod and disappears into the earth.
Now you're back in your bed.
Take a slow breath in and out.
Unwrap your beautiful,
Soft,
Silvery blanket and place it around your shoulders.
Feel it hugging you,
Warm,
Loving,
Protecting.
Grandmother Moon is shining up above,
Watching over you as you drift into peaceful sleep.
Breathe in and out.
Let your body become soft and still.
Sleep well,
Little one.
You are loved.
You are safe.
