The Gnomes Of Reverie Island: Bedtime Tale

So just take a moment to allow your eyes to close and allow yourself to begin to relax.

And as you begin to comfortably fall asleep.

I don't know whether you'll fall asleep faster to the sound of my voice or whether it'll be to the spaces between my words.

And as you comfortably drift asleep,

I'm just going to tell this bedtime story in the background.

And in this bedtime story,

You find yourself sailing the seven seas.

You wake up every day.

You head out on the deck of the boat.

Breathe in that fresh salty sea air.

As that boat glides up and down over those waves,

So gently,

So calmly.

Occasionally splashing slightly in the water.

Some days just seeing ocean for miles in all directions.

Perhaps barely being able to tell the difference between the sea and the sky.

Other days,

Seeing whales breaching and splashing down.

Some days,

It's misty and you can barely see where the boat is going.

And when it's misty,

So the sound seems more subdued and calmer and quieter.

Like it isn't just the waves of the ocean wrapped in that blanket of mist,

But the waves of sound.

Being softened on their journey to your ears.

And while you travel through the seven seas,

You stop at unusual places.

The first to chart these locations,

Making new discoveries.

And you enjoy this journey that's been going on for many years.

Just the excitement of seeking out new civilizations.

Going where no one's gone before.

And one day,

As you're ambling around the deck of the ship in your finest fuzzy slippers,

You look out through a telescope at a slight lump on the horizon.

And gradually watch as an island rolls into view.

And the captain directs that ship towards the land.

And you stretch out those maps on the table,

Weights holding them down.

And using rulers,

And writing in pen,

And using other devices,

You explore that map and you begin to mark on the map this new location you're heading towards.

And you can see where it is in relation to other locations that are already discovered,

And that you have newly discovered.

And it takes a couple of days for the ship to reach that land.

And it moors a little way off from the land.

And you descend into the water in a sailing boat.

And you descend into the water in a small rowboat,

Dropped off the side of the ship.

Splashing,

Bobbing on that water.

As you row towards that island,

Hearing the sound of the waves rolling up onto the shore.

That sound getting louder as you get closer and closer.

And letting the waves help carry the boat up into the sand.

The sound of the keel of the boat sliding,

Scraping through the sand,

And wedging into the shore.

And then scrambling out of the boat,

Feet sinking into the sand,

As you disembark onto the beach under that warm sun.

The sounds of unfamiliar birds in the trees.

Curious,

Colourful flowers,

Stretching around the base of those trees.

Bees that look like giant,

Fluffy bumblebees.

Seemingly barely able to lift themselves up from the flowers they've landed on.

Finding it almost humorous,

The sight of the flowers bending and straining under the weight of the bees when they land.

And large,

Colourful butterflies flapping their way around those flowers.

Their wings almost shimmering in the sunlight,

Leaving behind a kaleidoscope of colour.

And you take a backpack out of the front of that rowboat.

And out of that backpack,

You take a cloak.

And with a flourish,

You swing that cloak around you onto your shoulders,

Attaching it around your neck.

You pick up the backpack.

You slide that on underneath the cloak.

And you set off into the heart of the island.

And as you walk up the beach,

And then walk into the vegetation,

You leave behind the sound of the ocean,

The scent of the salty water,

And the ship just bobbing there,

Slightly out to sea.

And as you walk deeper into the countryside,

Into the trees here on this island,

The sounds change.

The unfamiliar bird sounds,

The scampering sounds of small animals.

And you're unsure of the size of this island.

But you push on,

And you have a journal to record your findings.

And through the heat of the midday sun,

You're sheltered among the trees.

The light dancing through those trees.

As a breeze wisps around in the canopy.

And you hear a faint,

Distant,

Musical sound.

Like chanting or singing in an unfamiliar language.

And you decide to go and investigate.

As you cut through this woodland in the direction of that sound.

Slowly,

Quietly,

Carefully.

As the sun continues creeping across the sky.

And then in a slight clearing.

You notice light flickering.

And can smell that scent of a bonfire.

And you walk to the edge of the clearing.

You crouch down just among the trees on the edge of the clearing.

And you see small little people dancing around that fire.

And other small people sitting around eating and drinking.

And some drinking a bubbling concoction,

Being warmed over a fire.

And then seemingly dancing with a slightly different quality to their movements.

As if there was something spiritual or magical about the experience for those people.

Like they're accessing something deeper than just those who stood up and danced.

They were doing more than getting lost in the music.

And some of those small people had wooden sticks and drums.

And were beating out complex rhythms.

Complementing each other's beats.

And those who drank that special liquid had a robotic quality to their dancing.

There was an economy of movement.

They didn't seem distracted by anything around them.

They just seemed to be going with the flow.

And you head quietly out of sight in the wood line.

Just observing.

As the sun continued passing towards the horizon.

And began its journey to bed.

And as the sun settled down to bed.

And the blanket of color changing from that daytime blue.

To reds and oranges and purples.

And then an inky blue darkness.

And then black was pulled up over the night sky.

With the dusty sight of the milky way stretched overhead.

And then you notice something shoot across the sky.

And fizz across the sky.

You think it's a shooting star.

But moments later you hear a bang.

And then see another and another and another.

And hear some more banging.

And see they're setting off fireworks.

As if this is some kind of celebration.

And you continue.

Remaining hidden,

Just observing.

Making sure not to interfere.

With these small people.

And after many hours.

The fire under the liquid begins to burn down.

The bonfire starts to collapse in on itself.

And then starts to burn down to embers.

These people begin to settle down around that fire.

Engaged in quiet,

Almost contemplative conversation.

Just gently engaging with each other.

And you feel your eyes getting heavier and heavier.

And you watch as these people head to bed in tents.

And the fire is just the faintest glow.

And once the last of these people goes to bed.

You sneak out,

Quietly and carefully.

Making just the gentlest of rustles.

As your feet and legs push through the tall grass.

And you walk over to that pot over the fire.

And with curiosity,

You take a ladle of that liquid,

Now cooling.

You pour that into a bottle.

You then take a little look around.

Getting some different angles on this location.

Before sneaking back into the trees.

And sneaking your way back in the pitch black.

With just the sound of the night time creatures.

For comfort and company.

Finding your way back to the other side of this island.

Back to that beach.

And at the top of the beach,

You set up your own camp.

You light a small fire.

You open your journal and record what you've learned and discovered.

Before folding that up and placing that to one side.

And you take that drink.

And you decide to warm that drink over your fire.

As it seems like it's supposed to be drunk warm.

And when it starts bubbling gently.

The faintest wisp of steam rising from the drink.

You remove it from the heat.

You let it cool just a little bit.

Before taking a sip of that drink.

And a bit like breathing.

You feel that drink tingling up behind your eyes.

Down your nostrils.

Out of your ears.

Down your throat.

And this drink has the sweetest scent.

And the most curious taste.

And you tuck yourself back into your tent.

You slide on your fuzzy slippers.

You drink some more of that drink.

You feel that spreading down your arms.

Down through your body,

Filling your head.

All the way down your legs to the tips of your toes.

Seeming to soften every part of you.

Relaxing your muscles.

And in your mind.

You feel yourself relaxing deeper and deeper.

But after a few moments.

Your body begins to want to move and dance.

You start to hear rhythms in your mind.

Finding rhythms and patterns in the sounds around you.

Like the rhythm of the waves rolling onto the shore.

The rhythm of the movement of the tent as the wind whips around it.

The pulsing rhythm of the rustling canopy of trees.

And you feel almost compelled to move with the rhythm.

And find yourself heading out of the tent.

And dancing around that fire.

Seemingly dancing to the rhythm of the flickering flame.

And feeling like the dancing is happening automatically.

Like it's being driven by the rhythms.

And yet your mind is becoming increasingly calm and relaxed.

And your body,

Despite wanting to move.

Feels like all those muscles are deeply calm and relaxed.

Like all the movement is happening automatically and effortlessly.

Without any tension or effort on your part.

And following dancing to the rhythms.

You feel the body seem to almost say to itself.

It's time now to sleep.

And you instantly want to rest.

And so you head back to the tent.

You drink a little more of that drink.

Finishing the last of the drink off.

And you don't know if you actually rest back to sleep.

Or if you just imagined resting back to sleep.

But you suddenly feel the feeling.

Of falling gently backwards.

As if falling onto a cushion of clouds.

Resting your head on those clouds.

Feeling weightless.

As if nature itself is holding you up.

That kind of weightlessness you get when lying on your back.

Floating on the surface of the water in the ocean.

Where your whole body just bobs gently up and down.

Where it feels like there's no effort on your part to do anything at all.

And while your body is resting on that cushion of clouds.

It feels like your mind drops deeper and deeper.

As if to say your body is supported and rested so calmly.

So comfortably there.

That the mind can go deeper.

Into the most profound experience.

Easily and effortlessly.

And you find yourself hearing the sound of horse and cart.

Looking around you.

Seeing old cobbled streets.

And then you see something slightly unusual.

A frog driving along the cobbled streets.

In a matchbox being pulled.

By two snails.

And as it drives along that cobbled street.

In that small matchbox.

You stop.

And inquire as to who this frog is.

And they say they're Felicity Frog from out of the fog from the depths of France.

They rescued these snails from some whales on their journey over to England.

And they say that on arrival in England.

They started travelling to London.

They'd heard that the streets are paved with gold.

That's what they were told.

But all they found on arrival in London.

Was a kitten who was smitten.

With a boar wearing a mitten.

Carrying a glass of Jack Daniel's whiskey.

And they took a taste of that whiskey.

And ever since that day.

They've just found themselves.

Sitting outside.

A specific pub.

On the cobbled streets.

Drinking a Long Island iced tea.

With a popsicle.

To stir it.

And so this frog explains.

They were told there's one that may be able.

To help them.

To find a path.

That's greater than what they've found here in London.

They've been told that deep in the streets of London.

Is a magical potato cellar.

And that you'll know when you find them.

And so they've been travelling the streets of London.

Up and down the cobbles.

In search of the streets of shops.

And markets.

Where they'll find the one who sells potatoes.

And you have a sense of walking past.

Making a mental note.

That you'll record this in your journal.

You feel in an unusual state.

Halfway between waking and sleeping.

This feels almost like being in a dream.

And yet you don't feel asleep.

But because it feels like being in a dream.

You know you're not awake.

And you walk these cobbled streets.

You pass a stool.

Which seems to be selling stale bread.

You pass another stool.

With a wolf with a red cape on.

Selling hot springs.

Warmed in a frying pan.

And then placed in an oven.

To keep them warm.

You continue exploring.

And you start to hear a voice.

And at first the voice is soft.

And you try and figure out where it's coming from.

You head down different streets.

And despite all the sounds of horse and cart.

Of sellers lining the streets.

The sounds of nature wrapped around you.

You can still hear that voice.

Almost as if the voice.

Although very faint.

Is seeking out your mind.

And you try and find that voice.

Weaving your way.

Through different streets.

And as you weave through the different streets.

So the voice gradually gets louder.

And louder.

And you end up walking down a very dark alley.

There's something deeply calming about this alleyway.

As if there's a hint of magic down here.

And there's a gently glowing door at the end of the alleyway.

And you walk slowly.

Towards that door.

You click the door open.

Walk through the door.

And it feels like you've just walked into a planetarium.

You can see stars surrounding you.

As if projected in all directions.

But you can't see a projector.

You have this sense that it feels like you're inside.

Looking at this view,

Not outside.

But you can't see anything other than stars.

So it's just a feeling you have.

That in here.

The sound quality of your footsteps.

The feeling of the floor.

Something about the air.

And the atmosphere.

Makes you feel like this is inside a room.

Even though it looks like it goes on almost infinitely.

As if you could be out in space.

And in the center of this room.

Is a small chest.

And you open that small wooden chest.

And inside the wooden chest.

Is a small wooden puzzle.

And you gradually move the bits of wood around on the top of the puzzle.

And notice that as you're moving them around.

They start to form a pattern.

An image developing.

On the top of that puzzle.

And as you move the last piece into place.

The puzzle clicks.

You open up that puzzle.

And a beam of light stretches up into the air.

A purple sparkling beam of light.

And out of that beam of light.

A voice can be heard.

Telling you that.

This is your mind.

Interpreting the experience.

Of connecting.

With the deeper layers of reality.

From drinking that drink.

That you have to try and.

See things.

In a way that you understand.

And so this takes things.

Which you're familiar with.

But combines them in a way that's meaningful.

That may seem illogical.

On a conscious level.

But makes perfect sense.

When you understand.

It's all symbolic of a deeper.

Connection to reality.

And while the voice is talking.

So the light pulses in time.

With each and every syllable that's spoken.

In an almost hypnotic way.

And you listen deeply.

To that voice.

Knowing you're understanding it.

On a level.

Way beyond consciousness.

Understanding it almost like.

This magical reverie.

Resting in the tent.

It's like a pre-bedtime story.

You're creating for yourself.

As that drink works.

On expanding your mind.

Connecting you on a fundamental level.

With reality.

Right down to the waves underpinning.

All of reality.

And unknown to you.

This voice talks to you.

Sharing advice and knowledge.

Guiding you through this experience.

And says that.

This voice is going to embed itself.

Deep in your mind.

Where it'll talk to you in the back of your mind.

Guiding you.

On the path.

To the person you want to become.

To the future you want to have.

That brings.

The best for you and others around you.

Through it's deep understanding.

Of the nature of reality.

The connection of all things.

And you may hear it.

As your voice.

As the voice of someone else.

As the whispers of the wind.

That hint of a word you think you hear.

In a slight breeze.

The hint of a word you think you hear.

When you wonder whether you've just misheard.

Lyrics of a song.

That voice.

That brings peace and calm to your mind.

The voice that seems to almost.

Give you a hug when needed.

Reassurance when needed.

Encouragement when needed.

And it says.

You can always keep that in mind.

That it's there.

To support you.

You don't have to do anything at all.

It'll just be there supporting you.

In the background whenever you need it.

Sometimes you may think it's a bore.

But it'll be there.

Even when you.

Turn your attention away from it.

A little bit like Jiminy Cricket.

And that light.

Intensifies.

And the stars overhead intensify.

And your attention.

Intensifies.

Before you feel like you're starting.

To fall asleep.

And the light begins.

To fade and the stars begin to dim.

And you feel the experience.

Almost folding itself up.

Like folding up an old map.

The entire.

World around you.

Folding up.

Into that wooden puzzle box.

Until you experience yourself.

Sat cross-legged.

On an unknown ground.

That you cannot feel beneath you.

As if sitting in the air.

With just darkness all around.

And yet somehow.

You can look at yourself and see yourself.

And you can see that.

Puzzle box before you.

But in all directions.

It's just black and silence.

And you sit.

In that silence.

For a little while.

Exploring the silence,

Curious.

Whether this silence.

Is going to lead to sleep.

Maybe this is the transition from the experience.

Into falling asleep in this tent.

Or maybe.

You'll wake up from this experience.

Before settling down to sleep.

And so you just wait in anticipation.

Patient.

For what happens next.

And then out of the darkness.

You see a yellow.

Almost golden brick.

Seemingly being painted before you.

Followed by another yellow.

Almost golden brick.

And then another and another.

Until there's about eight bricks wide.

And then you see a row of bricks painted in front of that.

And in front of that and in front of that.

And in front of that and in front of that.

Those painted bricks.

Stretching off.

As far as you can see.

Making a point on the horizon.

Way off in the distance in the darkness.

And you see those bricks.

Gradually taking on a matte finish.

As if the paint is slowly drying.

You can even smell.

The scent of that paint.

As it dries.

And you feel compelled to stand up.

And begin to walk slowly along that yellow brick road.

And you follow that yellow brick road.

In a straight line.

As you turn and look back.

You see where you are sat.

You see yourself getting further and further away from that point.

And you turn back again.

And walk further and further.

Feeling like you're following this road.

Almost for an eternity.

Like the further you walk the more road appears.

And the more road that appears the further you seem to walk.

And the more you walk the deeper you go and the more relaxed.

You find yourself becoming and the more compelled.

You feel about what you're going to discover.

And eventually in the distance.

At the end of this yellow brick road.

You see what looks like a flagpole with a flag.

Waving very gently in a non-existent breeze.

And you walk towards that flag.

And as you arrive at the flag.

You see at the end of this yellow brick road.

Right in front of you with the flag beside it.

Is a full length mirror.

With an ornate golden frame.

And as you approach.

You see yourself in the mirror.

And you see yourself there in the mirror.

Looking back at you here.

With you here looking at you there looking at you here.

And you can hear here as you look at the you there.

The sound of your voice.

Coming from their mouth.

And the you there is wearing the same cape as the you here.

Only there's something.

Seemingly more magical about their cape.

And you gaze deeply.

Into their eyes there.

As they gaze deeply into your soul.

And out of your periphery.

You can see your mouth moving.

In the reflection.

As you hear them talking to you.

While hearing that voice come from you.

From them together.

I am the wizard.

At the end of the yellow brick road.

I am you.

And you are me.

And we are one.

And you have won.

And what's won for me is now for you.

Just like what's now for you is won for me.

So we've both won now.

Just like we've both now won.

And you can look at me and listen to you.

While listening to me talking.

And as you listen to me talking to you.

You can hear you talking to me.

And while you listen to me talking to you and you know you're talking to me.

You can hear me talking as I talk to you.

And you're only going as deep into the experience.

As you can take yourself now while hearing your voice.

And as you hear your voice guiding you deeper.

And deeper into this experience.

You're connecting on a profound level with your inner self.

With the truth.

Of reality and your inner possibilities.

And you know what it is you need to know.

You just don't know you know it yet.

And you found that puzzle.

Just like you discovered me here.

And I found the puzzle.

Just like I discovered you there.

And the more you look into my eyes.

The deeper and more relaxed you can go.

And as you look into my eyes.

Everything around can begin to fade.

Because none of that is important.

To pay attention to here and now.

In fact at the end of every day.

When you're done with it.

Tense can be taken down.

Fires can burn down to embers.

The water can lap on the shore.

And you can hear my voice in your mind.

And you'll understand.

The power of a warm comfortable drink.

To bring peace to your mind.

To bring peace and calm.

And clarity to your mind and body.

The power of a warm drink.

To bring peace and calm and clarity to your mind and body.

Almost like turning up your senses.

To what you need to focus on.

While turning down the dials.

To those things which are unhelpful.

Like I'm there in your mind.

Because I am you and you are me.

And we are one together.

And I am there in your mind.

Helping you.

Supporting you.

Resting a hand on your shoulder.

Standing beside you when you need me to guide you.

And you're going to fall asleep in a moment.

And the drink is going to wear off.

But you can have this experience any time.

You drink a hot drink.

Only the experience can be slightly different each time.

While you go deeper into the experience.

In your own unique way.

And perhaps in a moment.

Just before sleep.

You'll read and your eyes will follow the page.

And you'll fall asleep.

But they won't close until they reach the bottom.

And are looking all the way down.

And with that,

You in the mirror.

Begins to fade.

The mirror begins to fade.

The flag waves its last breath.

Those bricks behind you.

One by one.

Begin to fade.

Until there's just you.

And then you begin to fade.

And hear the sounds of being in that tent.

And you wake in the tent briefly.

In a very calm and yet.

Almost psychically frantic way.

You write down as much as you can remember.

Before it fades now from your mind.

You write down as much as you can remember.

Before it fades now from your mind.

And you record it all,

Everything in that journal.

In as much detail as you can.

So that it's all just in that journal there.

For whenever you want to know it.

For when you review it.

At the end of your trip.

And it has been some trip.

And so you.

Write that down in your journal.

You rest back under a soft reading lamp.

On the most comfortable sleeping bag.

You read some of your journal entries.

Finding it seems to leave your mind as fast as you're reading.

And so as soon as you've read to the end of the page.

And your eyes reach the bottom.

The lids reach the bottom of your eyes.

And they close.

And with that you drift deeply asleep.

And you sleep so deeply,

So soundly.

So profoundly.

Getting long stretches of deep recuperative sleep.

Dancing your way through pleasant dreams.

Updating your neurology.

Before waking in the morning.

To morning bird sounds unfamiliar to you.

That are unique to this island.

Heading out into the daytime sun.

From that tent.

Building a sandcastle on the beach.

To represent.

Your inner experience is here.

Placing a makeshift flag in the top of the sandcastle.

And with a bit of effort.

Pushing that boat back out into the water.

Rowing back.

To that sailing boat.

Being hoisted back up.

Onto the boat.

Sharing your findings.

As the boat raises anchor.

And the journey through the seven seas continues.

With you deeply curious what else you'll discover.

And as the moon.

Tickles the surface of the ocean.

And silvery light.

Dances across the tops of the waves.

You find it almost hypnotic.

While resting in a hammock.

Gently swaying in that boat.

Gazing out to sea towards the moon.

Your eyes getting heavier with each sway.

As you sink deeper and deeper.

Aware you've got so much more journey.

To look forward to in the future.

As you drift now and float.

Deeply and peacefully.

Relaxed asleep into slumberland.