Meditations and Bedtime Stories

with

Glenda Cedarleaf MSW Clinical Hypnotherapist,

Author, and SoulCollage® Facilitator

Celebrating Mother's Day...

Mothering Ourselves with Restful Sleep

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"You have to find a mother inside yourself.”

 ~ Sue Monk Kidd, The Secret Life of Bees

The most transformative process that emerges from my work with clients is about accessing the somatic experience of safety—of feeling loved, protected, and understood; seen through the eyes of a compassionate, nurturing presence. From that place of deep attentiveness, we begin to heal and recreate our lives.

This is the essence of mothering ourselves. One of the most fundamental ways we do this is by making our health and well being a priority. So in order to be a loving mother to ourselves we must attend to the quality of our sleep.

At the heart of it, sleep asks us to surrender, to trust that it’s safe to let go. But for many of us, life experiences may have taught us—consciously or unconsciously—that we must remain alert. Even when our circumstances become calmer, that old sense of vigilance can linger, quietly interfering with our ability to drift into peaceful sleep.

In his book "Healing Night" clinical psychologist Rubin R. Naiman explores the profoundly spiritual nature of sleep and dreaming. He emphasizes the importance of removing the blocks that prevent us from restorative dreaming so we can once again experience the medicine of natural healing rest.

Wayne Dyer's perspective: We wonder why we wake up anxious when we fall asleep marinating in our anxious thoughts. What you do the last minutes before you fall asleep impacts the quality of your sleep as well as the nature of your mind state when you awaken.

Many people have shared with me that when they finally give themselves permission to listen to a calming sleep meditation or story, they are surprised by how quickly their looping thoughts begin to quiet and they can easily drift off.

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One beautiful morning 28 years ago I was meditating outside. I became mesmerized by the rhythm of the crickets. Soon I felt my heartbeat synch with their lullaby. From this sense of oneness with nature, I experienced an epiphany about my own inner mother and this poem emerged...

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Mama’s Here

Breathe in—Ma-

Pause-the space between the breath.

Ma’s-Exhale-

Here.

The cry of a baby, a child, my baby, my child- I gather him in my arms

He finds solace in the warmth of my presence.

The crying stops, no longer fearful

Mama’s here, the phrase is a mother’s lullaby to a child who is needing comfort.

Mama’s here Mama’s here

You’re safe, loved, rest in this love.

Years go by and now the mother finds solace in the Divine Mother,

As the sun comes streaming onto her face and body-

Mama’s here

The crickets and birds are rhythmically singing a lullaby

Mama’s here in the beauty of Mother Earth.

Mama’s here-no need to search any longer-

The lost child has found herself within herself

Mama’s here.

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My own struggles with sleep inspired me to begin writing and recording meditations and stories—first as a way to help myself, and ultimately

to support others in finding deeper, more restorative rest.

I hope these offerings encourage you to stay connected to the healing power of nurturing yourself and to continue prioritizing the essential practice of restful sleep. _________________________________________________

Here is my Sleep Playlist featuring 25 sleep tracks

These sleep meditations feature:

1. gentle music

2. nature sounds

3. guided journeys to peaceful places

4. body relaxation practices

5. healing affirmations

6.inspiring poetry

p.s. If you know someone struggling with insomnia,

please feel free to share this resource.

Featured Audios

Breathing and Letting Go with the Ocean

Waves Sleep Version

Eleven years ago I experienced a devastating loss which took years to recover from. During the autumn of that same year I attended a SoulCollage® retreat at the Outer banks of North Carolina.

The first evening after my arrival I sat on the beach and let my tears melt me into the endless rhythm of the ocean waves. My meditation practice as well as my loved ones and therapist were a real anchor during this time of grief.

This meditation script was inspired by this time with the ocean. Just like the poem I shared earlier, it was inspired by a deep attunement with nature—an ever-present balm for healing. I am frequently reminded that when I allow myself to truly feel its resonance, my nervous system begins to settle, I feel comforted. I return "home" to myself and my inner mother.

This newly created sleep version of Ebb and Flow includes lovely poetry about the sea from American poet Cale Young Rice 1872-1943. After the guiding ends, there is an 8 hour expanse of waves to help you fall asleep and stay asleep.

If you love the ocean, I think this one will be especially soothing for you!

Return to Sleep Once More

Dreaming with the Rain, Floating on a Cloud

Healing Dream