Winter Solstice

(water pelting) (bells chiming) Along the edge of Snowvale, an old apple orchard sleeps under the white calm of snow. The trees stand in neat rows. Their branches laced with frost that glints in the moonlight, like fine crystal thread. Here and there, a few bare limbs are dressed in red ribbons and tiny golden bells. When the wind stirs, the ribbons rustle softly and the bells answer, creating a gentle melody within the sleeping orchard. (water pelting) (bells chiming) Before we explore, let's take a moment for a brief wind down exercise. Tonight's wind down is a visualization. So when you're ready, let's begin. (water pelting) (bells chiming) So no matter what's been going on today, whether it's been a busy day or a calm one, this is an opportunity to put everything down to let go of any inner chatter and find a place of rest in both the body and the mind. So first, get yourself comfortable in bed. Just taking a moment to pause and be still. And when you're ready, taking a big deep breath, breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth. (water pelting) (bells chiming) And as you breathe out, allowing the body to sink down into your bed. Feeling the weight of the body, allowing thoughts to come and go. Now imagining a steady flow of warm sunlight flowing down through the body, dissolving any tension, any discomfort as it begins to fill the body. Starting with the toes, moving up through the feet and the legs being filled with sunlight. (water pelting) (bells chiming) The qualities of warmth, space, and ease as it continues to travel up through the body. Up past the waist, through the back and the stomach. (water pelting) (bells chiming) It is as though it washes away any discomfort. (water pelting) (bells chiming) It continues up through the chest and the upper back into the shoulders and down the arms, all the way down to the hands and fingers. (water pelting) (bells chiming) A sense of relief in the body and stillness in the mind as it continues to travel up through the neck and the throat into the head and face all the way to the very top of the body until there's nothing other than that sense of stillness remaining. And now just gently bringing the attention back to the body. (water pelting) (bells chiming) Just off the main square, a small courtyard nestles between two old stone buildings, their weathered surfaces cooled by the pale winter air. A circle of children has gathered beneath the arched eaves, the moonlight catching the brass buttons of their coats and the tips of their boots. Each child holds an instrument made entirely of paper, rolled trumpets painted in gold, tiny cylinders wound with twine and little box drums topped with smooth parchment. With an encouraging nod from the eldest among them, the children lift their creations. The crowd stays still, watching the silent instruments come to life. A breath, a tap, a small flick...