Fire Island Nights: A Magical Sleep Story

Tonight's guided sleep meditation and bedtime story will help you fall into a deep and relaxing sleep.

There is an island along the eastern seaboard of the US that is judgement free,

Where everyone is accepted to come and be all expressions of themselves.

There is harmony and an imaginative spirit that flows like a band of light energy through the winding boardwalks that weave between dream homes and lush fields of bamboo,

Sea oats and feather reed grass.

So find a place to get cozy,

Cuddle up and luxuriate in this story at the end of the day,

Where you may safely fall asleep and cross over the pathway between your waking and sleeping life.

It's time to dream away.

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

My name is Michelle and as you are listening,

Know that I am here for you.

You may think of my voice as that of a dear friend and at any time you may let go of my voice and drift to sleep if that feels best.

I offer you the ease of opening up the transformative powers of your mind to take yourself to wherever it is you desire to go.

So you may float across a whimsical dreamscape and exchange any haunting thoughts of anxiety or worry for feelings of bliss and contentment.

You deserve this right to happiness and to joy and deep relaxation.

Take in a deep breath,

Letting your belly rise and fill it with healing oxygen before you sigh it all out,

Your breath becoming like the sound of ocean waves crashing down.

Then taking in a deep breath and sighing it out like the soft sound of the sea crashing down,

Down,

Down.

And you may visualize you are atop a roof deck on the most magical island along the eastern seaboard of the United States.

The dog days of summer have arrived as you rest in a hammock swaying to and fro and looking out upon the narrow barrier island.

You can see the ocean to the south and the bay to the north as your home is nestled in the heart of the island.

Stars are prohibited and this lends a silence and safety and remote feeling that you welcome.

The sky above is a shade of cornflower blue as you look out on the long stretches of wooden planks that comprise the boardwalks.

These boardwalks are the channels elevated high above the sandy earth that weave through homes that have oversized windows that give portraits of the luxurious lives of the dwellers on the island.

From the roof you watch the incoming travelers with their luggage rolling down the wooden planks.

The sound is like a gentle rhythm section played upon the soothing sound of the ocean crashing upon the shore.

And you are taken in to a deeper sense of relaxation.

And the only way to arrive to this island is by ferry,

Making it all the more exclusive and remote.

The sun is beginning to set over the bay and a day of sunshine and swimming in the ocean has left you with a thin layer of sand and salt that coats your body.

You are adorned in a swimsuit that has dried since you rode upon the cresting waves,

Going with the flow of the tide for hours beneath the afternoon sun.

A cool breeze blows off the Atlantic as bamboo sways in a gentle shush.

Your body melts into the netting of the hammock and you find yourself more and more relaxed as the sun travels towards the horizon.

Like a ball of lava,

This tangerine globe illuminates the sky.

The island is coming to life and you have 360 degree views that allow you to see dozens of homes where couples and groups of friends are grilling food on their decks and playing music.

It's like a portal through a different era where dinner parties with multi-courses and candlelit dinner tables were normal occurrences.

You have a prime vantage point to witness the theatrics all around you with the softest sounds of laughter and joyous interactions that are carried upon the sea's breeze.

Wisps of clouds are like freshly spun cotton candy that float atop a canvas of magenta,

Purple and bright orange brush strokes in the sky.

The sky reminds you of sweet confections like rainbow sherbet and oversized lollipops with pastel swirls.

You are surrounded by a feeling of love,

Community and beauty.

And even while in solitude,

You are plugged into the magical sensation of belonging.

Because those who come to this island can flaunt whatever flair they have.

When passengers leave the ferry,

It's as if they are invited to showcase the boldest and quirkiest parts of their personalities.

But every expression stems from love.

And whatever passions or desires people may come with,

They are supported and nurtured by the energy of the island.

Feeling as the sun dips further and further down,

You enjoy the nip in the air.

Even on the hottest of days,

The disappearance of the sun brings a chill to the air off the ocean that is welcome after the scorching heat of the sand that meets the daylight hours.

That is welcome after experiencing the scorching heat of the sand.

In the prime daylight hours,

The sky begins to darken as if a marine blue stage curtain has been pulled across the rainbow pastels of sunset,

Upon which the stars begin to appear The saffron-yellow moon is full and high above the ocean.

As the homes surrounding you are aglow with colorful lights and artwork,

The creativity of each individual to come to this island is expressed in each home's design.

But consistently in all the homes,

There are floor-to-ceiling windows that allow you to look directly through the buildings and see the ocean through the southerly homes and the bay through the northerly ones.

The interiors are modern and tasteful,

But always with a flare lent by pops of cherry red furniture and lamps in shades of sapphire and emerald green and banana yellow.

Goosebumps form upon your skin as the temperature has dropped noticeably.

You rise from the hammock and feel the weather-worn wooden planks of the deck beneath your bare feet as you walk to the rooftop jacuzzi.

You climb the steps with care,

Dipping in your toe to the bubbling water.

Slowly you enter,

Feeling a mixture of pleasure and hesitation as the water is hotter than you expected.

It feels like a free-flowing heated blanket that gives comfort from the night air.

As you get cozy in the nook of the jacuzzi,

The jets are on full power and find the pressure points in your neck and shoulders and spine,

Your lower back and the backs of your legs.

A mist forms above the hot water that feels cool upon your face as the breeze off the ocean meets your skin.

The droplets form upon your lips and eyebrows and you relish the sensation as you inhale the aroma of the salty air.

Tiny bubbles form upon the surface of the water as the jets continue to blast and you float along the surface and look to the stars.

You see the Big Dipper and Little Dipper and on this rare night there is a comet that outshines them all in a fiery blaze.

And as you look into the magical homes,

You observe people laughing and enjoying one another.

In one home,

A couple is seated at an elegant table watching a vintage television show that brings you warm memories.

The island is like a time capsule that has accumulated layer upon layer of memories and experiences,

Its history palpable and intoxicating.

You sense the excitement of the first ships to come upon this natural oasis,

Occupied by woodlands and overrun with deer.

You imagine how simple this island was centuries ago and how it beckoned to those who sought refuge among the bluffs.

The rolling hills of sand are visible in the darkness as tall blades of dune grass are illuminated by the light of the moon.

And in the 20th century,

This island was a haven for those seeking respite from cities and suburbs,

Hoping to reconnect with a timeless feeling that comes on an island without motor vehicles.

You rest your head against the edge of the jacuzzi,

Feeling a release of tension in your body as you close your eyes for but a moment and let go.

You focus on the sensations of the hot water that covers your body and contrasts the cool night's air that blows upon your face.

You take in a deep breath as you begin to feel overheated and are ready to exit the bubbling water.

You carefully rise,

Feeling the gentle wind that brings goosebumps to your person and look around to see the festive enjoyment of the island's inhabitants in neighboring homes and atop roofs.

You step out of the tub and wrap yourself in a terry cloth robe that smells of fresh laundry.

Slipping your feet into a pair of flip-flops,

You feel a desire to go for a night's walk.

You walk across the roof deck to a spiral wooden staircase that juts out over tall bamboo and you descend down,

Down,

Down.

Coming to the main level of the home,

You pass by a sapphire blue swimming pool that glows in the darkness.

A waterfall pours into the pool and is lit by a changing array of colors from purple to pink to green.

The walls surrounding the deck are made of balanice,

Hand-carved wooden panels with intricate lace-like designs.

It feels like you are at a spa in Bali.

You make your way towards the wooden door that opens onto the boardwalk and follow the wooden planks that are illuminated by footlamps.

One step at a time,

You walk along as the bamboo shifts back and forth.

You listen as the wood planks creek beneath you and you walk towards the entryway to the beach.

The boardwalk curves over a sand dune and brings you to a set of stairs that lead you to the beach.

You remove your flip-flops and place them on the deck.

It feels freeing to be in a robe and not concerned with how you look or what you are wearing as you descend the stairs and the rope billows in the sea breeze.

You feel as if you are floating down towards the soft sand as your feet land upon the cool grains and you walk towards the crashing waves.

Your body is still warm from your time spent relishing in the hot tub,

A perfect sensation to help you acclimate to the air that gets cooler the closer you get to the ocean.

You approach the incoming waves as the dry sand becomes wet and feel your toes sink into it.

The cool sand fills the crevices between each toe and you wiggle your feet just because it feels nice.

You are the only person on the beach walking in the shallow water and you step upon the soft eggshell colored foam that gleams in the moonlight.

The island is a refuge that makes you feel safe in the stillness,

Free to walk through the dark of night without worry or fear.

You spread open your arms as if you could embrace the starry sky and your heart beams towards the light of the moon.

You feel the warmth and energy in your heart as the light of the moon shines upon you.

You feel the indescribable connection to all that is bigger than you.

You are part of this infinite space with problems that are small in comparison and may be absorbed by the sky and the moon as you heal on this magical island where it is impossible to get in your own way.

Because without shame and without judgement,

You can be you right now.

You continue to walk along the beach that has the slickness and iridescence of oil splayed in the sun.

You notice the beachfront homes with windows that reach from floor to ceiling and allow you to peer in and watch people settle down for the night or engage in intimate conversations in their classy beachfront living rooms.

You watch the interactions and again feel a sense of community and also this feeling of what it would be like to be invisible.

As if you could float like an apparition,

Hovering above the sapphire waves made metallic in the light of the moon.

As if you could transport yourself anywhere,

Like the powers you unlock every night when you fall asleep.

In moments of stillness like this,

Where you are content in the present moment and truly in tune with the now,

You cannot help but wonder,

Is it all just but a dream?

And if so,

What a beautiful dream it is beneath the Milky Way as the Atlantic Ocean continues to surrender to the direction from the moon.

And you bend down and run your fingers through the water one last time before returning to the comforts of home.

You feel tired and sun-kissed,

With your skin still radiating warmth from hours spent basking in the summer's sun.

You walk back towards the boardwalk as a white crab scampers across the reflective wet sand before you.

You feel again the transition as you walk from the damp,

Packed sand to the soft,

Dry sand that blows ever so gently against your skin.

You come to the stairs,

Counting each step as you ascend to the boardwalk and grab your flip-flops.

The dune grass grows tall along the edges of the wooden planks of the walkway.

The boardwalk is like a wave,

Rising and descending,

With a sandy foundation below.

You feel like you are wafting back towards your home.

You arrive at the front gate and feel its smooth wooden handle as you open it and enter.

You walk towards a hose and turn it on,

Spraying with the perfect amount of pressure to clean the sand from your feet and legs.

You turn it off,

Looking one last time to the night's sky and the perfect portrait of a summer's evening on Fire Island.

You walk down the outside deck that overlooks the homes that have now gone dark for the night.

You tiptoe and are silent because it feels so intimate to be so close to the homes of other sleeping people.

You come to a sliding glass door that from the deck leads to your bedroom and open it.

You set down your flip-flops on the floor and close the screen so the sounds of summer may still waft through your bedroom.

Bare white curtains blow in the breeze and you step upon the lacquered,

Stone-tiled floor that is cool and smooth beneath your bare feet.

A ceiling fan spins at a medium speed and cools the room,

Bringing a soothing sound that reminds you of the sound of the breeze rustling through the swaying bamboo.

The peaked ceiling rises high above a four-poster bed made of painted antique white beams.

A soft pajama set in your favorite color and fabric is neatly folded at the end of the bed and you change into it.

You hang the robe on one of the wooden beams and peel back the soft white blanket and sheets.

The bed frame stands high above the floor and you climb up onto the plush comforts of the foam mattress.

The cotton sheets are cool against your skin and you nestle beneath them,

Letting your head sink into the pillows that are in your preferred density.

From the bed you view the glittering sea and the yellow moon through the bay windows that face the south.

Skylights overhead reveal the blue-black velvety sky and stars that glitter like rhinestones.

You feel safe within the four posters of the bed,

As if you are in a den for the night.

You take in a deep breath and can smell the salty air and clean linen comforting you as you exhale.

Feeling at peace,

Feeling at home.

And you may feel free to let go of my voice and drift over the bridge that guides you into a warm embrace where sleep awaits.

Where the sweetest of dreams and tranquility is awaiting you,

Beckoning to you right now.

And I am going to count you down to a night of bliss-filled sleep.

Where you may explore without judgement,

Without the restrictions of being in a human body.

And where you may be reminded that this is all but a spiritual journey crafted into a human experience.

Ten nine eight seven six five four three two one.

Feeling peace,

Finding respite,

Finding love,

Finding healing,

Finding sleep.

It's time to dream away.

Good night.