A Gift to inspire and help you fall asleep...
.
A Book of whimsical, empowering and inspirational Meditative Bedtime Stories for yourself and your loved ones
Now on Amazon
A Book of whimsical, empowering and inspirational Meditative Bedtime Stories for yourself and your loved ones
Now on Amazon
These "Claire" Bedtime Stories have over 300,000 listens on the Meditation App Insight Timer
"Claire" faces challenges that are universal: loss, separation and illness. She embarks on a journey to transform her relationship with these challenges through
creative mindfulness, connection with mentors and nature, spiritual inspiration and hope.
With rich imagery, inspiring quotes and poetry, these journeys of peaceful transformation
gently help you relax into sleep.
creative mindfulness, connection with mentors and nature, spiritual inspiration and hope.
With rich imagery, inspiring quotes and poetry, these journeys of peaceful transformation
gently help you relax into sleep.
Why Meditative Bedtime Stories?
Here is an excerpt from the book introduction.....
Our unique stories are written in the context of the unfolding of our lives. The difficult parts of these stories may become the main theme, playing out in our waking state, or submerged and stuck in our cells as body memories. Eventually, the stuck energy may manifest as illness and disease. Like the Rumi poem so beautifully states, the power of the mind can eat away the heart. It is normal for our brain to default into these memories because it is simply wrestling to find a better outcome; instinctually returning to the looping thoughts to keep us aware of the danger signals. Unfortunately this can lead to hyperarousal, keeping us tense and vigilant. We become stuck in the past, mired in the quicksand of the mind’s obsessive thoughts.
So if our minds can’t transform this pathway of constriction and sabotage what is the answer? It is the power of our right brain’s creative imagination that unlocks the prison of our mind. Just as our right brain holds onto traumatic memories through sensory awareness, it also can create new images, feelings, sounds and smells that reframe and rewrite the stories. This process becomes an antidote to the old patterns that hold us back from healing.
Hearing a soothing voice sharing a meaningful story is a universal experience that works magic for most of us. Listening to stories and telling stories connects us, accesses our deepest emotions and helps us tap into the wisdom of the ages.
The storyteller gives the listener an opportunity to connect with their imagination as they travel in time and space. The listener can use the story as a vantage point for seeing their life from a new perspective.
Stories teach by nurturing imagination, accessing new resources and inspiring us to create solutions and new outcomes for our own lives. Stories were a primary form of teaching by spiritual leaders through ages. Parables shared by Jesus and Buddha are an example of how stories conveyed their message. The Confucian proverb states:
“Teach me and I will forget. Show me and I remember. But involve me and I will understand.”
A good healing story involves our head and our heart, bypassing resistance and accessing the part of the brain where deep change occurs. This is why Milton Erickson, the father of hypnosis regularly used metaphor and story in his practice with clients.
I remember my dad, a minister and dynamic speaker, telling me once that as the years went by, he learned that it was the stories he told within his sermons that people remembered. So when he developed Alzheimers Disease, and was still in the early phase of it’s progression, he would accept invitations to speak, knowing if he simply told stories; powerful stories from the Bible, from the Classics, from his own experiences, that he could trust that what he shared was meaningful and connecting,
Healing stories can change our brain chemistry, by triggering the empathic response, which in turn, increases our levels of the hormone oxytocin. Oxytocin reinforces a sense of connection and safety, builds compassion and calm and eventually brings the listener into a state of deep relaxation which then promotes the ability to fall sleep.
Here are the Meditative Bedtime Stories:
Bedtime Journey Sleep Story-This Sleep Meditation is a soothing whimsical journey into a full body relaxation and then into an exploration of a lovely healing place: “The Enchanted Castle” and “The Secret Garden”. The beautifully detailed description of these two places is adapted from two classic children’s works by Edith Nesbit and Frances Hodgson Burnett.
Waking Up to a New Day -Join "Claire" in this bedtime story for adults as she moves through an awakened experience that includes fond travel memories, connecting with images that calm and inspire and settling into a soothing journey of returning back to hope and settling into a nurturing rest. Includes beautiful quotes by Amy Lowell and Rumi.
Claire and the Sage Woman- Claire and the Sage Woman is a story about mentorship, transformation and synchronicity. A 14- year old girl in Chicago and an older native American woman meet on a bus one day and their lives are forever changed because of this relationship.This is a long story but I believe that even if you don’t stay awake, your unconscious will receive it’s inspiration and you will be gently lulled into a peaceful sleep. Quotes by Carl Jung and John Buxton.
Claire and the Sisters of Assisi-This bedtime story for adults is the next installment after the earlier tale of Claire and the SageWoman. In this story, 17 year old Claire embarks on a hero's journey that eventually helps her transform feelings of loneliness and her struggle to understand the meaning of life and death. This transformation unfolds when she meets a Swedish nun in Minnesota who introduces her to the life of St. Clare of Assisi. Quotes by Claire of Assisi and Father Richard Rohr.
Claire’s Magical Summer Day- In this bedtime story Claire awakens from a dream about flying and is inspired to carry over the magic of this dream into her waking life. We follow Claire through a delicious summer day where she intentionally brings mindfulness into her experiences of nature and embodiment. Some of her journey includes an early morning swim, an immersion into the sounds of a summer shower, sunset at the river and so much more.
Through present awareness, she is able to navigate through the thoughts and memories of loss and grief and reconnect with the joy of nature and her own ability to "co-create" her life by tuning into the "receptive mode" one moment at a time. The story ends with an excerpt from a poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar.
Claire’s Autumn Day After the Hurricane- This bedtime story follows Claire as she experiences both the beauty and letting go that the season of Autumn symbolizes... while also coming to terms with the reality of a hurricane that transforms her town. She taps into the practice of mindfulness, reminiscing and embodiment to reconnect with inner wisdom. This recording ends with a poem called "The Autumn Tree" that highlights the power of resilience as we age and the importance of deepening our spiritual roots.
As with all of these bedtime stories, the intention is to soothe you into a deep and restful sleep.
Claire's Winter Day and the Good Shepherdess. We journey with Claire as she reflects on the memories of winter and a Christmas Eve with 82 year old Hanna, the sheep farmer. As Claire reminisces, it becomes evident that the them for setting her New Year's Intention, centers on deepening her connection with the wise beings who have "gone before". Quotes from the Bible, Rumi, Albert Camus and an inspiring poem about ancestors by Gloria Burgess.
Claire’s Grandmother Love- In this bedtime story, we will be exploring the depth of love between a grandmother and granddaughter, that fosters the compassionate and creative spirit. Claire spends a weekend away at her grandmother's house, away from the rigidity of everyday responsibilities, where she can be immersed into a magical, loving journey that includes, toys, tea parties, dolls, nature, songs, laughter and more.
A wonderful mentor once advised me to remember to be a loving engaged grandmother to myself. This choice to be fully present with ourselves, nurturing connection and creativity is the best healing gift we can offer to the places within us that feel vulnerable, abandoned and lost. It is this journey of integrating the inner child and the inner wise one that brings deep healing .
Claire’s Spring Inspiration - In this final installment of Claire Bedtime Stories for each season, we celebrate spring and the process of rebirth. Claire explores the power of nature (especially flowers), music and creativity with reflections on Georgia O'Keeffe and Tchaikovsky's "Waltz of the Flowers". She also reflects on the reality of climate change, quoting from "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson; referencing the importance of nurturing our environment. Additional quotes come from Anais Nin, and Song of Solomon.
The book ends not with a story but with 21 Blessings of the Divine Feminine- I wanted to include this meditation as the final piece in this story book because it captures the inspiration that guides Claire through her challenges. This meditation takes you into a visceral connection with the many blessings of the Divine Feminine. It is a gentle reminder that this nurturing presence is always available and when we embody this compassionate presence, we are free to heal, to grow, & to share this light with the world. The Divine Feminine presence helped me navigate the dark waters of illness and loss. With this awareness and connection, I learned even more about the importance of self care and how divine compassionate presence was the key to my own healing. May this practice remind you of the power of this presence within you.
Bedtime Journey Sleep Story-This Sleep Meditation is a soothing whimsical journey into a full body relaxation and then into an exploration of a lovely healing place: “The Enchanted Castle” and “The Secret Garden”. The beautifully detailed description of these two places is adapted from two classic children’s works by Edith Nesbit and Frances Hodgson Burnett.
Waking Up to a New Day -Join "Claire" in this bedtime story for adults as she moves through an awakened experience that includes fond travel memories, connecting with images that calm and inspire and settling into a soothing journey of returning back to hope and settling into a nurturing rest. Includes beautiful quotes by Amy Lowell and Rumi.
Claire and the Sage Woman- Claire and the Sage Woman is a story about mentorship, transformation and synchronicity. A 14- year old girl in Chicago and an older native American woman meet on a bus one day and their lives are forever changed because of this relationship.This is a long story but I believe that even if you don’t stay awake, your unconscious will receive it’s inspiration and you will be gently lulled into a peaceful sleep. Quotes by Carl Jung and John Buxton.
Claire and the Sisters of Assisi-This bedtime story for adults is the next installment after the earlier tale of Claire and the SageWoman. In this story, 17 year old Claire embarks on a hero's journey that eventually helps her transform feelings of loneliness and her struggle to understand the meaning of life and death. This transformation unfolds when she meets a Swedish nun in Minnesota who introduces her to the life of St. Clare of Assisi. Quotes by Claire of Assisi and Father Richard Rohr.
Claire’s Magical Summer Day- In this bedtime story Claire awakens from a dream about flying and is inspired to carry over the magic of this dream into her waking life. We follow Claire through a delicious summer day where she intentionally brings mindfulness into her experiences of nature and embodiment. Some of her journey includes an early morning swim, an immersion into the sounds of a summer shower, sunset at the river and so much more.
Through present awareness, she is able to navigate through the thoughts and memories of loss and grief and reconnect with the joy of nature and her own ability to "co-create" her life by tuning into the "receptive mode" one moment at a time. The story ends with an excerpt from a poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar.
Claire’s Autumn Day After the Hurricane- This bedtime story follows Claire as she experiences both the beauty and letting go that the season of Autumn symbolizes... while also coming to terms with the reality of a hurricane that transforms her town. She taps into the practice of mindfulness, reminiscing and embodiment to reconnect with inner wisdom. This recording ends with a poem called "The Autumn Tree" that highlights the power of resilience as we age and the importance of deepening our spiritual roots.
As with all of these bedtime stories, the intention is to soothe you into a deep and restful sleep.
Claire's Winter Day and the Good Shepherdess. We journey with Claire as she reflects on the memories of winter and a Christmas Eve with 82 year old Hanna, the sheep farmer. As Claire reminisces, it becomes evident that the them for setting her New Year's Intention, centers on deepening her connection with the wise beings who have "gone before". Quotes from the Bible, Rumi, Albert Camus and an inspiring poem about ancestors by Gloria Burgess.
Claire’s Grandmother Love- In this bedtime story, we will be exploring the depth of love between a grandmother and granddaughter, that fosters the compassionate and creative spirit. Claire spends a weekend away at her grandmother's house, away from the rigidity of everyday responsibilities, where she can be immersed into a magical, loving journey that includes, toys, tea parties, dolls, nature, songs, laughter and more.
A wonderful mentor once advised me to remember to be a loving engaged grandmother to myself. This choice to be fully present with ourselves, nurturing connection and creativity is the best healing gift we can offer to the places within us that feel vulnerable, abandoned and lost. It is this journey of integrating the inner child and the inner wise one that brings deep healing .
Claire’s Spring Inspiration - In this final installment of Claire Bedtime Stories for each season, we celebrate spring and the process of rebirth. Claire explores the power of nature (especially flowers), music and creativity with reflections on Georgia O'Keeffe and Tchaikovsky's "Waltz of the Flowers". She also reflects on the reality of climate change, quoting from "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson; referencing the importance of nurturing our environment. Additional quotes come from Anais Nin, and Song of Solomon.
The book ends not with a story but with 21 Blessings of the Divine Feminine- I wanted to include this meditation as the final piece in this story book because it captures the inspiration that guides Claire through her challenges. This meditation takes you into a visceral connection with the many blessings of the Divine Feminine. It is a gentle reminder that this nurturing presence is always available and when we embody this compassionate presence, we are free to heal, to grow, & to share this light with the world. The Divine Feminine presence helped me navigate the dark waters of illness and loss. With this awareness and connection, I learned even more about the importance of self care and how divine compassionate presence was the key to my own healing. May this practice remind you of the power of this presence within you.
Now on Amazon...
The book also includes access to audios for all of the Bedtime Stories.
This is an 8X10 book filled with beautiful inspiring images. Each story is 8-10 pages long.
The book also includes access to audios for all of the Bedtime Stories.
This is an 8X10 book filled with beautiful inspiring images. Each story is 8-10 pages long.
Hello!
I’m Glenda Cedarleaf and I help people relax, tap into their creative and spiritual resources and fall asleep feeling safe and comforted. I do this by writing and recording guided imagery meditations and bedtime stories….
I am a Heart-Centered® Hypnotherapist and offer sessions virtually worldwide.
My recordings are found on the Meditation Apps Insight Timer, Guided Mind and Breathe.
They are also on my App: www.GlendaCedarleaf.Bandcamp.com
and my site www.HavenOfRelaxation.com
I am an author, of three books:
"A Guide to Writing and Recording Guided Imagery Meditations: 70 Healing Scripts included"
"Meditative Bedtime Stories: Follow Claire as she creatively transforms her life".
"Who Are You Santa Lucia? An Inspiring Picture Book for All Ages"
I look forward to helping you reconnect with your inner peace.
I’m Glenda Cedarleaf and I help people relax, tap into their creative and spiritual resources and fall asleep feeling safe and comforted. I do this by writing and recording guided imagery meditations and bedtime stories….
I am a Heart-Centered® Hypnotherapist and offer sessions virtually worldwide.
My recordings are found on the Meditation Apps Insight Timer, Guided Mind and Breathe.
They are also on my App: www.GlendaCedarleaf.Bandcamp.com
and my site www.HavenOfRelaxation.com
I am an author, of three books:
"A Guide to Writing and Recording Guided Imagery Meditations: 70 Healing Scripts included"
"Meditative Bedtime Stories: Follow Claire as she creatively transforms her life".
"Who Are You Santa Lucia? An Inspiring Picture Book for All Ages"
I look forward to helping you reconnect with your inner peace.