Breathe a mindful story.
Hi,
My name's Mimi.
This story takes readers on a journey through the emotions.
Designed as an interactive experience,
Breathe in to weave storytelling,
Emotional awareness,
And practical meditation exercises.
When you hear the sound of the bell,
You'll be taken out of the chapter and into a simple,
Easy meditation that you can take part in.
Or just continue to listen and the story will continue on again.
Thank you for listening to this story.
The beginning.
In the very beginning,
The world was an empty,
Silent place.
A spinning sphere in a sea of darkness.
Not even the slightest of breezes existed to disturb the unruffled sands of its surface.
But within this deafening silence,
Dreamers were brewing thoughts that were now spilling out into the atmosphere.
These dreamers were not aware that they were envisioning what they were to become and the lives they were going to live.
Their dreams were full of depth and emotion that echoed out into the universe.
Mother Earth sensed these vibrations with delight and with the help of the sun energized the dreams to manifest into the beginnings of the world we now inhabit.
The first creature to awaken was a caterpillar.
When he opened his eyes,
The sun and Mother Earth asked the caterpillar to wake all the other dreamers from their slumber.
The caterpillar knew this would be an almost impossible task in the body he currently had.
But nevertheless,
Taking in a deep breath and exhaling slowly,
He set out on his travels.
The caterpillar struggled as he pulled his long,
Plump body along the ground,
Making the sand underneath him shift and drift.
The caterpillar travelled the globe,
Fulfilling his mission faithfully.
Once he had woken all his fellow dreamers,
He rested,
Exhausted but happy he had completed his work for Mother Earth.
Closing his eyes,
He fell into a well-deserved sleep.
When he stirred the next morning,
He was no longer as he once was.
For he now had giant colourful wings that allowed him to float through the air.
The new butterfly fluttered his wings with excitement,
Hardly daring to believe the transformation.
Delighted,
He flew high and wide,
Showing off his wings to the world.
The butterfly that was once a caterpillar asked Mother Earth,
Why did I not get my wings sooner,
For I could have travelled faster and with more elegance and grace?
Your struggles have created the beginnings of the first mountains and rivers.
You would not have been able to do this if you had had your wings,
Mother Earth responded.
A millennium has passed since the caterpillar moved the first sands,
And over this time the Earth evolved greatly from the place the dreamers had originally imagined.
Mother Earth watched the awakened creatures' activity with sadness,
As emotions such as love and compassion were overtaken by selfishness and distrust,
Leaving only a few pure-hearted creatures to remember and spread the knowledge of Mother Earth's intended creation.
Chapter 1,
Security The sun was starting to set and Brieve could hear her mother calling to come in before nightfall.
Brieve loved this time of day when everyone in her tribe sat around and listened to the elder tribe members tell stories around the fire.
She liked to nuzzle into her mother's arm and stare into the flickering flames.
Tonight it was her father's turn to tell a story.
The caterpillar created the rivers and mountains just like the one we live in,
So Mother Earth rewarded him with beautiful wings.
With his first flutter he created air for us to breathe,
And with his next flutter he created clouds.
The rain which fell from these clouds filled the rivers and seas that surround our beautiful home.
But why did Mother Earth not give the caterpillar wings sooner?
Blurted out Brieve.
Brieve?
Her mother looked down at her disappointed at her interruption.
Let me explain,
Brieve's father assured her patiently.
The caterpillar would not have achieved so much if he had.
She interrupted again before he could finish.
So Mother Earth likes to make it hard for us.
That's enough stories for the evening.
Brieve's father signalled to his daughter that it was time for bed.
Brieve lay in her bed looking up at the great red crystal on the cave wall,
As she always did,
And reflected on the tale of the caterpillar.
The crystal was symbolic of the sun,
Whom the tribe worshipped.
Her eyes began to feel heavy and she soon fell into a deep sleep.
Brieve was woken by faint whispers and movements.
As she opened her eyes,
She was surprised to see all the tribe members huddled nearby.
Brieve wiggled her way through the crowd and when she reached the far side could not believe her eyes.
The crystal was nowhere to be seen.
Brieve froze,
Unsure what to say or do.
She looked around at the other tribe members for guidance.
Her father moved towards the front of the crowd and silence fell.
We all know how important the crystal is to our tribe and way of life.
It has been in this cave since the beginning of our creation and it has never left its place.
If legend is true,
We have only seven days till the mountain returns to red sand.
We shall begin to search for it at first light.
Everyone went back to bed,
Though their minds were heavy.
Brieve lay in her mother's arms,
Unable to sleep as worries rushed through her mind.
Where has the crystal gone and who would have taken it from us,
She thought.
Her mother held Brieve as she restlessly fidgeted.
I know this must be scary for you,
But everything will be okay,
She said,
Trying to calm the young one.
Remember why we gave you your name,
She tilted her head waiting for Brieve to respond.
Because breathing is so powerful,
It calms the mind and helps us navigate through life,
The girl replied with a faint smile.
Yes,
Yes Brieve,
It's our life force,
Her mother smiled back.
Now close your eyes and repeat these words after me.
Chapter one,
Exercise.
Close your eyes and repeat these words after me.
I am love.
I am secure.
I am strong.
I am happy.
I am courageous.
I have love.
I have strength.
I have happiness.
I have alliance heart.
I will succeed.
As she spoke,
Brieve looked up at the space in the cave where the crystal once was.
A great surge of hope came over her.
At that moment,
She knew exactly what she had to do.
She had to find the crystal to save her tribe and home.
Very early the next morning,
Brieve got up before anyone else to climb down the mountain and search for the crystal.
Looking over the edge,
She felt a deep fear of setting out on her own.
So she looked up to the sky and asked the sun,
Please give me strength and guide me home safely with the crystal.
But before Brieve finished speaking,
A great gust of wind rose up out of nowhere,
Sweeping her off her feet.
