Hi, it's Michael, and welcome to settling into sleep, your quiet refuge to slip out of the day's noise and drift into nourishing rest.

I'm grateful that you pressed play today. My hope is that we can help you step away from the noise of the world

and gently find your way to sleep.

Over the next few minutes, I'll guide you with story, stillness, and gentle breath

towards the soft edge of dreams.

So, wherever you are, get comfortable, let your shoulders drop and take a nice,

deep, slow breath in, and breathe out, and let it all settle, easing you towards sleep.

I'm your host, Michael Gallion, and this is Settling into Sleep.

Close your eyes now and let your breathing slow to match the gentle rhythm of the story.

Feel your body melting deeper into your bed with each breath as we begin our

peaceful journey together. You find yourself standing at the edge of a quiet riverbank

on the most perfect summer evening.

The sun hangs low in the sky,

painting everything in a warm, golden light that seems to make the very air shimmer with tranquility.

Before you rests a small, comfortable raft,

just the right size for one person

with soft cushions that seem to call to you.

The water is crystal clear and moves so slowly it barely seems to move it all.

You can see smooth river stones on the bottom, worn perfectly round by countless years of gentle current.

Take a deep breath of the warm, sweet air,

filled with the scent of honey suckle and wild roses that bloom along the banks.

Step onto the raft now. Feel how perfectly stable it is, how it seems

...