The Fog: A Guided Story For Sleep

Good evening and the warmest of welcomes to Michelle's Sanctuary.

You are listening to The Fog,

A guided sleep meditation and hypnotic story that will take you on a mystical voyage to the safe confines of a cabin enveloped by the gentle embrace of a silvery nighttime fog.

When listening,

You may think of my voice as that of a dear friend and close ally who understands how much you need and deserve this moment of respite and relaxation.

Where you have succeeded through another day,

Living out a story first hand that only you may know and understand from the inside out.

And because of this,

Only you really know what you most need right now.

Because all hypnosis is truly self hypnosis,

You are in charge of where you may go and how deep you may go.

Just as you are in charge of the story of your life that you create each day,

So find a place to get cozy and bed down safely for the night.

Thinking that listening to this recording will induce sleep,

You may be present to right now,

Letting your eyelids fall quite heavily upon your eyes.

And just take note of your breath,

Sighing out any remaining tension,

Making a sound if it feels good,

Expanding your breath into a great big yawn if you would like.

Yes,

In the sacred confines of your bed,

You are now able to yawn without judgement and let your body know it is ok to express how tired you are feeling.

Taking a deep breath in and then letting it out.

And again,

You may let your breath act like a gentle breeze that comes and goes,

Flowing so effortlessly as you inhale deeply,

Noticing how much you may fill yourself with this refreshing breath before letting it out,

Sinking further down,

Down,

Down into your bed.

And on the backs of your closed eyelids,

You may use the darkness as if it is a movie screen where your mind may visualize imagery.

Reconnecting with the limitless potential of your own imagination,

The most amazing tool you have to unlock your own gateway to deep healing and rest.

Gently guiding thoughts back when your mind tends to wander,

As minds often do.

Feeling on the backs of your lids that you are inside a car,

Driving through the winding,

Gleaming,

Opalescent black road that weaves among a forest of redwood trees.

Your window is slightly open and you feel the cool misty air landing upon your face.

Driving quite carefully,

You find a soft mist is wafting just above the rich green grasses that border the shoulder of the road,

Slowly dancing with grace as it hugs around the wheels of your car.

You feel as if you are driving in a trance-like state,

In tune with your surroundings and aware of all you must do,

But also feeling the many miles behind you.

Allowing the zen-like feeling that comes from the meditative nature of driving throughout a changing landscape on your way home.

The mist is beginning to form droplets on your windshield and in this relaxed state,

You may play out any last impressions of your day.

You turn on the wipers.

And any lingering thoughts you may have appear upon the windshield like translucent holograms.

Thoughts you no longer need,

You are able to visualize and watch how each stroke of the windshield wiper is able to wipe them all away.

Bringing you back to this present moment,

Driving through the cool late day air in this rural landscape.

Not far from your home in this coastal town,

The fog is beginning to thicken,

Carrying with it a briny scent and taste that meets your lips as it gently blows in from the open window.

The misty haze begins to thicken into a cloud of silver fog wrapping around your car.

You come upon the long,

Windy,

Stone driveway that leads to your cabin and decide to park along the shoulder of the road.

Finding it may be easier to walk than drive in these changing conditions.

And you know it will feel good to stretch your legs and enjoy the movement of your body before you retire in the cozy confines of your cabin for the night.

Feeling safe and enlivened by this sensation and mystique of the incoming fog,

You are so familiar with a path to your home that you could continue with your eyes closed if you wanted to.

You step outside your vehicle,

Feeling the cool,

Minuscule droplets that brush against your face and hands.

Comfortably dressed in an oversized plush sweater and your favorite jeans,

You give yourself a gentle hug as you close the car door and allow your shoes to crunch against the loose,

Glistening,

Cloud-gray stones of the driveway.

Taking it one step at a time,

Inhaling and exhaling as you walk among the redwoods that stand around you,

Having proudly endured for hundreds and hundreds of years before you,

As tall and rigidly as they stand right now,

You know how easily their branches may give when the wind picks up.

Allowing you to understand how it takes strength and flexibility to experience such longevity and thrive like these ancient trees.

A fawn crosses your path and is followed by her mother,

Whose long lashes blink upon her doe eyes and she meets your gaze in a moment of trust.

Being connected as she knows you as well as you know this forest and landscape.

How lucky you feel to share your own life with the life that surrounds you.

Being as rooted to the earth below your feet as the deep roots set by the sequoia trees that surround you,

It feels good to belong,

To have the security and feeling of solidity in an ever-changing world.

Seeing as darkness sets in and the fog embracing each tree with floating tendrils that ride the gentle breeze and continue to flow,

You inhale and exhale and now smell the fragrance of wood burning as you look up and see the darker plumes of onyx chimney smoke interwoven with the elephant gray fog.

You recognize the silhouette of your cabin home with a porch light cutting through the fog with its golden ray of hope.

The fog is otherwise so thick you scarcely see beyond a step or two.

It feels comforting as if a baby swaddled in a blanket.

So too do you feel this enclosure by the fog and it allows you to go deeper within a welcome feeling of solitude where you may connect to your deeper self.

Knowing that you are home,

That you are in a safe place to explore this mystique and enjoy the show that nature may put on.

How wonderful it is to know that like the weather conditions around you,

Nothing may stay the same forever.

So even if you are struggling or feeling challenges,

They pass just the same in time.

You close your eyes for a moment to enjoy this stillness,

Focusing on the sound of the babbling brook that wraps around your property,

The sound soothing and purifying,

Just as the cool misty air that you inhale with great relief for each breath.

And you smell the earthiness of the forest floor,

Now damp and rich,

Opening your eyes,

Noticing how even with the fog,

The brilliantly hued wildflowers offer pots of lilac and cornflower and fuchsia in the otherwise muted tones of the forest at dusk.

Having just a few more moments of this mystical display by Mother Nature,

You feel your body growing quite tired.

It is the kind of tiredness one feels after a productive day and a journey well traveled.

You come upon the solid wooden steps that lead to your cabin's entry,

Looking at the droplets that have formed like tiny glass globes,

Reflecting all that is around,

Counting each step as you ascend,

One,

Two,

Three,

Four,

Five,

Home at last.

This cabin is of your own design,

Taking in all the aesthetic beauty that you enjoy and had tailored perfectly to create this dream home.

And there are windows that run from ceiling to floor in the main room,

Which may tint entirely black when you seek privacy and refuge,

But may also look upon the natural scenery that surrounds you,

Approaching the door you run your hand upon is artfully designed stained glass window that creates an image that means something to you.

Perhaps it is a symbol or a landscape or perhaps a flower or ocean wave,

Whatever it is,

This image is formed by your favorite hues in multi-colored glass and always gives you a feeling of being inspired and welcome home.

Opening the door,

You enter the foyer of your cabin that feels both cozy and lofty at the same time.

It is just the kind of space that you feel most comfortable in.

You remove your shoes and socks and leave them on the doormat.

The room is dimly lit by the burning fire in the fireplace as golden orange flames lick the soot-stained stone wall of its interior.

The fire's glow saturates further the red hues of the cedar walls and lend to the luxurious smell of your cabin in the woods.

Peering out the windows,

You see the thick fog has now surrounded your home,

Rising higher from the forest floor and making you feel so very tired and relaxed,

Almost as if you could float along as well in a relaxed haze.

You are so ready to find a place to fall asleep for the night.

You walk to the spiral staircase that leads to your bedroom and begin to climb each step,

Counting as you go and finding yourself deeper and deeper into a state of relaxation with each step.

One,

Two,

Three.

Feeling more and more tired and heavy,

Continuing onward.

Step four,

Five,

Six,

Seven.

What a relief to be at the end of this long and winding journey,

So close to the respite you have earned.

Continuing up the final few steps,

Eight,

Nine,

Ten.

As you arrive at the landing,

Your feet touch upon the cool maple wood flooring that leads down the dark hallway to your bedroom,

Feeling gratitude and relief to be home,

To be safe,

To be in a place that is ideal for a great night's rest.

You approach your sanctuary and bedroom,

Feeling the freedom that comes in a safe place,

The freedom to just surrender and let go.

Your bedclothes are laid out upon the bed and you begin to remove your sweater and jeans,

Feeling a wave of relaxation as you change into your freshly laundered pajamas.

You cannot help but inhale the fresh,

Intoxicating smell of clean linen.

And notice how this fragrance always makes you feel so cared for.

You let gravity win over as you fall into the plush softness of your king-sized bed.

Upon this bed is a hand-stitched quilt that was gifted to you by someone who you love very much.

In any time you find yourself cuddled beneath its warm embrace,

The memory of this gift feels as though you are being held in the arms of your loved one,

The kind of unconditional love and nurturing that we all deserve,

That you know you deserve.

Your head sinks into a mountain of soft,

Plush pillows and your heavy eyelids close almost immediately.

As you lie down,

The softness of the bed intensifies the feeling of heaviness in your body.

Even like your small seaside town,

With each light going off in each dwelling come nightfall.

So too is each muscle and part of your body just shutting down for the night,

Letting go as you go deeper and deeper down.

Feeling of the layers of embrace,

How the fog embraces the trees,

The trees surrounding your cabin in an embrace,

How your cabin and quiet bedroom sanctuary are now offering a barrier of protection for you,

Like a gentle cocoon for the night.

And in this safe lodging,

You may have the most magical of dreams,

Because nights like tonight are full of possibilities,

The fog whispering around you,

Inspiring loving thoughts,

And a clean,

Purifying air that you inhale and exhale.

Your feet,

So heavy and warm,

Relax into the soft bed,

And your legs and hips,

Falling limp and very heavy into the bed,

And your back and arms,

Sinking deeper and relaxed,

Cozy and warm.

Your neck and head are now tingling in the relaxation and happiness you feel being in your dreamy cabin,

Inhaling the fragrant cedar of your cabin walls,

And exhaling any concerns of the day.

Feeling the positivity that will bring you good dreams,

Dreams that will better align you in this life,

With a journey without struggle,

And the foresight to stay in alignment with your true self.

You find yourself drifting in and out of consciousness,

The happy in between,

And gateway guiding you from an accomplished day to a healing escape,

Towards sleep.

Feeling whatever sleep you receive will be of the utmost restorative quality and allow you to wake up refreshed and eager to start a new day.

Drifting,

Breathing out tension,

Breathing in gratitude,

Listening to the natural sounds of the gentle flowing water of the silvery stream outside,

Noticing how your mind has slowed and you are letting this time exist just for you,

In your very special place,

Deeper and deeper,

Deeper than you may remember going as your body is more and more relaxed,

Enjoying this experience,

This wonderful calm feeling of peace and stillness,

Peace and stillness,

The fog giving you the perfect excuse for this lovely night of hibernation.

Drifting deeper and deeper into your own thoughts before sleep,

Like a lucid dream,

To the sacred place where only you may go,

Because within you is the secret you hold,

A special place where no one else needs to know your thoughts or desires,

Because this moment here is just for you,

Free of judgement,

A moment of bliss and serenity,

A moment to feel at ease and at peace with your true self.

In thinking of the construct of this beautiful cabin that you designed just for you,

You may feel proud of your ability to visualize and to see the things that you want to have in your life manifest,

Where you may fall into a deep sleep with sweet dreams that heal you and unlock the answers you may have been looking for in your waking life.

And as you drift,

Drift into the discovery of the deepest parts of yourself,

I am going to begin to count.

And with each count,

You will find yourself falling deeper and deeper into a relaxing and intoxicating sleep.

And now ten,

Drifting down,

Nine,

Falling deeper,

Eight,

So at ease,

Seven,

Calm and relaxed,

Six,

Your eyelids and body are so very,

Very heavy,

Five,

Easy and tranquil,

Four,

Very much at peace,

Three,

Going down,

Down,

Down,

Two,

Safe and warm and well,

One,

Finding bliss,

Finding peace,

Finding sleep,

In the gentle protection of the encircling fog,

Where you know this nourishing sleep awaits with kind dreams and peace of mind,

Falling deep,

Deeper and deeper down,

Letting go of my voice as you dream away.

Good night.