Hey, guys, it's Tunt. Is there anything better than getting into a bed with amazing luxury filled sheets? Perhaps you don't quite know how that feels and that's because you haven't tried Brooklyn and yet. Brooklyn was started by a lovely couple, Rich and Vicky, who tried to find beautiful home essentials that didn't cost an arm and a leg. And when they simply couldn't, they found it. Brooklyn as the first direct to consumer betting company right now. Rich and Vicky are very kindly offering all that sleeplessness, 10 percent off when you go to Brooklyn and dotcom and use promo codes, sleep at checkout.

Brooklyn has over fifty thousand five star reviews and counting, and they're so confident in their product that all of their batting comes with a lifetime warranty. So don't wait. Do something nice for yourself and add some affordable luxury to your bed time. Go to Brooklyn and Dotcom and use our promo code sleep to get 10 percent off your first order and free shipping that B are OK, Ally and E and dot com and then to promo codes. Sleep for 10 percent of your first order plus free shipping.

Welcome to get sleepy. The podcast where we listen, we were like. Welcome to Get Sleepy, the podcast where we listen, we relax and we get sleep. I'm your host, Thomas. Thank you so, so much for tuning in. As we head into the heart of the winter holidays over the next few weeks, we have a lineup of celebratory seasonal stories for all to enjoy. Of course, there are a number of holidays that fall around this time of year, all of which are unique and special in their own right.

And we know that some of you may celebrate one or more of these holidays, while others may celebrate none of them. And that's one of the things we love most about all of you, that you come from all over the world. You have different stories, beliefs and views of the world. And regardless, we all tune in here each night because we want the same simple thing, a good night's rest. And I think we can celebrate and appreciate that we are all here on this collective journey.

That ultimately we all share so many common values and of course, together we've made it through another year and one that has no doubt been particularly challenging. That moral of gratitude is at the core of each of our seasonal tales, so as you listen and hopefully start to drift off, I think you will begin to recognize that these holidays, like all of us, are far more similar than they are different. And tonight, I'll be reading a sleepy retelling of an old Jewish folk tale about a quest for an apple with rather unique powers.

But before that, I just want to mention a couple of things, firstly, that if you're still looking for gift ideas for Christmas, then I wanted to make sure that, you know, each get sleepy premium subscription can be used on up to four different devices. So that means you can share it with friends or loved ones who need a good night's rest, too. And surely there's no better gift than good sleep. And something that goes hand in hand with good sleep is mindfulness and meditation.

Of course, learning how to effectively practice such techniques can be the trickiest part, and that's why you need to download Headspace. Headspace is the number one app for mindfulness and meditation, and there's so much variety and flexibility from short sessions for any situation to progressive courses that you can return to and build on each day. The app is loved around the world with 600000 five star reviews and over 60 million downloads, having used it for the past several months myself.

It also has the very prestigious get sleepy approval. I tried to take at least 10 to 15 minutes out each day to just be present and practice some mindfulness. And Headspace has really helped me to focus and relax. You deserve to feel happier, and headspace is meditation made simple go to headspace, dot com slash, get sleepy, that's headspace dotcom slash, get sleepy for a free one month trial with access to Headspaces full library of meditations for every situation.

This is the best deal offered right now. So go to Headspace Dotcom slash, get sleepy today. For now, one of the best ways to practice some mindfulness is to focus on the breath. And it really is quite simple to. Just watch and notice the way your body moves with the breath. Feel the air as it flows in effortlessly through your nose. And then eases back out through your nose or mouth. Your chest and your stomach rise and fall and your lungs do that clever work to disperse and carry the oxygen through your whole body.

And with each exhalation of breath, you can relax further and further. Drifting closer to that beautiful night sleep that you deserve. So as you settle in and begin to drift off. Let's turn to our story for this evening. It begins a long, long ago. On a thin strip of land between the Mediterranean and Black Seas. Here lies the thriving city of Istanbul at the edge of the city, along the shoreline of crystal clear waters, there is a magnificent palace.

And this is where our story begins. Once there was a sultan who lived with his daughter in a grand palace in Istanbul. Standing tall against a backdrop of olive trees with a bustling market on all sides, the white palace was the gem of the town. It's beautiful marble columns and high arches were a sight to behold. The Sultana, the sultan's daughter, was a happy young woman and had everything she needed. During the day, she'd explore the palace grounds or visit the vast library.

In the evening, she would relax in the Turkish steam bath. One of the Sultana's favorite parts of living in the palace was the grand feast. Each night, the royal family dined on spicy lentil soup, stuffed grape leaves, grilled kofta and mouthwatering kebabs. However, none of the food nor finery of the palace could match what the Sultana found in the Royal Gardens. Judas trees with deep pink flowers lined the garden pathway, their petals scattered along the earthen ground.

Grassy patches were filled with red tulips springing toward the blue sky. Bright, purple, yellow and pink flowers added to the sweet fragrance that wafted through the air. The GAO spent many hot afternoons taking shade under the canopy of the wonderfully scented trees she passed the time watching the setting sun glistening off the brightly colored flowers at dusk. The garden was full of delight and splendor, yet there was one thing the Sultana wished for that couldn't be found in any garden in Turkey.

She wanted an apple from the tree of life. The Sultana had been curious about the tree since she was a little girl. She'd heard about it in stories told as she was drifting off to sleep. But it wasn't until she was older that she began to consider what might happen if she had the good fortune of tasting the fruit from such a tree. She began her search for the apple. She visited all the gardens in the Ottoman Empire, yet she never found the mythical tree.

The sultan could see his daughter wanted this fruit badly, and because he loved her dearly, he wished to give her everything she desired. Surely someone in the empire must know where to find the tree of life, he thought, and so the sultan called all of the wise people in the kingdom to his palace.

Sages came to Istanbul from the Aegean coast and the Black Sea, they traveled from far and wide to share their knowledge. Yet none of them knew how to find the holy fruit. Just when the sultan was ready to give up, a small old man walked through the palace gates. His face was wrinkled with age and he wore ordinary clothes at first glance, the sultan dismissed him. But the palace guards saw something different in the man, and they told the Sultan he might have important information to share.

He considered their words for a moment and invited the stranger to speak. The old man told the sultan he was sure the tree of life was real, while he didn't know how to travel there himself. He knew it could be found in the mythical Garden of Eden. It is told that there are two trees in the garden. The man said. The Tree of Knowledge and the Tree of Life, it is forbidden to eat an apple from the tree of knowledge, he warned, but whoever eats an apple from the tree of life will live long and healthy years upon this earth.

The sultan was intrigued by this tale. Do you know who can tell me how to find this place? He asked the stranger. The man told him that those who knew the most about the Garden of Eden. Were the rabbis of Istanbul. Perhaps the sultan should ask them how to find a piece of the fruit. He thanked the man and then wasting no time. He called three of the best known rabbis in the city and asked them to join him.

The rabbis arrived to the very next day, they walked through the grounds and gardens, taking in the splendor of the palace. At first, they were confused about why the sultan had caught them, but were honored by the invitation nonetheless. After they had seen all there was to see, the sultan invited the rabbis to sit down for a meal. It truly was a feast to behold. That was freshly sliced cucumber, tomato and white cheese, grilled meats, charred eggplant and the sweetest fruits in all of turkey.

The rabbis were not accustomed to dining with royals and relished every bite of the sumptuous food. The meat was wonderfully spiced and the smoky eggplant perfectly complemented the fresh fruit. When the meal was finished, the sultan told them about his daughter's wish. I will give you anything you ask if you can bring me an apple from the tree of life, he said. The rabbis considered his request. When they left the palace later that night, they gathered to talk amongst themselves.

None of them knew how to get to the Garden of Eden, but after the hospitality, they were shown they wanted to find a way. Surely someone in their community would know more about the tree of life. The next day, each of the rabbis gathered their congregations together in the Great Synagogue. They told the people about the Sultana's wish and asked if anyone might know where to find the garden, but as much as the people wanted to help, no one knew how to get there.

Now, it just so happened that one of the rabbis had a daughter named Leah. She listened very closely as her father told her this tale. As she heard about this Sultana's quest, layer felt that she understood her desire, after all, wouldn't an apple from the Tree of life be beautiful to behold? But like the rest of the people in her father's congregation, Leah didn't know how to find the special tree. When they got home that evening, her father looked downtrodden.

But Leya did her best to encourage him. Miracles have happened before, she said to the rabbi. Let's not give up hope just yet. Isn't there anyone in the world who has this knowledge? Yes, her father said the 36 righteous ones would have the answer, they would know how to find the apple. But it doesn't help us now, he said, as no one knows where to find them. Downcast, the rabbi prepared for sleep, he was sure that their quest was over.

But Arcelia went up to bed that evening, she remembered something she'd had long ago. When she was a girl, she had been told the story of an old man who lived alone in the woods at the edge of town. It was rumored that he was one of the 36. Unable to wait until morning, Labor jumped out of bed and rushed to tell her father. When the rabbi thought about it for a moment, he, too, remember hearing that story many years ago.

Could it be true? They wanted. They had to find out, so Laila and her father left for the forest straight away. They walked together in the gentle moonlight, the busy streets of Istanbul were quiet beneath the stars. They travelled past the shops and homes and passed the inn with the crackling fireplace until they reached the edge of the woods. It was beautiful to walk through the dark forest at night while stars shone between the leaves and the plants and flowers glowed in light of the moon all around them, cicadas hummed a nocturnal tune.

Leah and her father weren't sure where the man lived or if they would find him at all, and so they moved slowly through the woods, feeling the forest floor beneath their feet. They searched every stand of trees. Until finally, they found a small wooden hut. Together, they approached and not softly on the door. Slowly, a creek topin. They're just beyond the threshold, stood an old man, his face was lined with Ange and his gray beard hung down to his knees.

Surrounding his face laisser the most enchanting, glowing white to light. Welcome, the man said, inviting them inside. Leah and her father sat at a wooden table while the man heated a kettle of water over the fire. Once the water boiled, the old man poured them sage tea, its taste was bitter sweet, the steam that wafted up from the ceramic monks carried the aroma of a pine forest. As the liquid warmed them, the rabbi explained why they had come.

He told the old man about the Sultana and her wish and their quest to find how to get to the tree of life. The old man listened closely and then looked thoughtfully at Leah and her father when the story was done, after a pause, he spoke. Yes, he said, I know how to find the Garden of Eden, but only very special people are allowed to make the journey that. I thought her father, who was a highly respected rabbi, would surely be allowed to visit the garden.

Silently, the old man walked over to his tall mahogany bookshelf, which was overflowing with books. He chose an ancient tome and carried it back to the table. He opened the book and then pressed between its pages, last saw a perfectly preserved Greenleaf. To her, relief gave off the most wonderful scent she had ever encountered. The man told her this leaf had been pressed between the pages of this book for many centuries and that it had been plucked from a tree in the Garden of Eden.

As outlandish as it sounded like, I believe to believe must be magical because it looked as if it had just been harvested that very day. Then the old man spoke directly to Leya. Place they sleep under your pillow tonight, he said. Then when you fall asleep, you will dream of the glorious garden. The girl and her father were both surprised. Why me, like I asked, her father was a holy and learned man. Shouldn't he be the one to take the journey to the garden?

But the old man explained that Leya was the one destined to go. She nodded and took this small leaf and her fingertips. Father and daughter thanked the old man and paid him good night as they left the cabin. Outside, it took a moment for their eyes to adjust to the darkness. Looking up at the moon, they could see it was already midnight. They were both very tired from the journey they'd made and intrigued by the leaf layer held in her hand.

Why don't we stop at the end of the night instead of going all the way back home, the rabbi suggested, I have a feeling the closer we are to the righteous man, the stronger the power of the leaf will be. Labor agreed, and soon they came upon the end with its fires still blazing. Inside, wood beamed ceilings and a thatched roof gave the building a cozy feeling along with the heat from the fireplace.

The innkeeper offered them a warm glass of mulled wine while she prepared their rooms, the wine smelled fruity and spicy with hints of cinnamon grapes and apples. The aroma comforted layer and the rabbi who sipped their drinks slowly. The monks warmed their hands and the liquid spread heat through their bodies. The two took a moment to relax, each reflecting on their visit with the sage and the incredible gift he had given them. The spicy scent floated around the room, mingling with the comforting crackle of the fire.

After such a journey, labor could feel her muscles loosening and her eyes beginning to close. When they finished the wine, they were both rather sleepy. The innkeeper showed them to their rooms and later placed the leaf under her pillow, even though the leaf was very old and have been dried in the book. It looked as if it had just been picked that morning. It was bright green and smelled fresh. The Senate may delay even drowsier. When she laid down, she immediately fell into a deep sleep.

Soon, she had drifted into dreams. Leya found herself in the most beautiful garden in the world, it was even more breathtaking than the famed gardens of the Empire, which the sultan's daughter loved so much. The place was filled with the wonder scent of relief, but it was even stronger and more pleasant here in her dream. Leo wandered through the garden, admiring the trees and plants that seemed to come in every shape, size and color. There was every kind of fruit tree and many layered didn't even recognize.

She saw stout big trees with vibrant green leaves and purple fruits coming into blossom. Have picked one of the right things and brought it to her lips. It was the sweetest and most delicious fruit she had ever tasted. There were two pomegranate trees. The bright pink and red bobes standing out amongst the green leaves, silvery olive trees grew thick around the garden and seemed to be dripping with golden oil, making Leah's mouth water. Orange persimmon fruits grew on long arched branches when Leya walked beneath them.

It made her feel like she was moving through a field of aromatic parasols. She picked one of the bright orange fruits and bit into the soft flesh. The taste was rejuvenating and left Leah feeling full of energy and curiosity. But the fruit trees weren't the only reasons for the intoxicating scent of the garden. Lining the Affy pathways were every kind of flower imaginable. Pink roses looked like cotton candy, orange hibiscus flowers with silky petals and beautiful purple crocuses made it seem like she was strolling through a watercolor painting.

Lay-off felt wave after wave of calm rushing over her as she listened to the twittering of hundreds of birds and the rippling of a distant river. She wasn't sure what time it was. Neither the sun or the moon shone in the sky. But a white light glowed around the entire garden. And reminded her of the old man. As she explored, she found the air was the perfect temperature. Not too hot and not too cold, like she was going for a walk on a late spring day.

Leya allowed herself to enjoy every step she took along the way. She walked deeper into the garden, trusting that belief would guide her to the tree of life. Two cypress trees with rough green leaves created a winding pathway to the heart of the garden. Layoffs follow the path, inhaling the sweet scent and enjoying the feeling of a light breeze on her skin. When she reached the end of the path, she found herself facing two trees. Together, they stood taller than everything else in the garden.

They were surrounded by a white glow brighter than that of the sky. These must be the trees of knowledge and life, she realized. The only problem was they looked identical and each had to read, do you see apples hanging from their branches? She knew it was forbidden to take an apple from the tree of knowledge. How was she to tell which was the tree of life? Last sat down on a patch of grass between pink lily flowers and gazed at the trees.

Her breath moved slowly in and out of her body, and the sweet air from the garden nourished her. The longer she gazed at the wondrous trees, the more she thought she could just make out a figure resting on top of one of them, what could it be? She wondered. She paid more closely at it and later realized it was the figure of an angel. That must be the tree of life, she realized. Without further hesitation, she walked up to the tree and plucked an apple from its branches.

As soon as she pulled down the fruit, Layo woke up. No longer in the garden, she found herself snuggled beneath the net blankets of her bed at the end. Just then, Leya felt something beside her. She turned on her side to see the bright red apple resting under her pillow when the leaf had been. It was the apple from the tree of life. Somehow she had brought it back from her dream. She looked toward her window and saw the pink light of dawn beginning to shine through the panes of glass.

She hurried out of bed and rushed into her father's room to show him the shining apple and to tell him of her dream. The rabbi was surprised and delighted, it truly was a miracle. When they arrived back in the city later that day, they went straight to the sultan to share their news. They found him sitting with his daughter in his throne room. They have presented them with the apple from the tree of life. She held the shining fruit out to the Sultana, who took it with Wanda.

The girl was so happy that she gave like a hug and invited her and the rabbi to stay for dinner. The sultan called for a feast fit to celebrate layer's journey. They ate salty broth with rice, grilled peppers, roasted potatoes and barbecued lamb that fell right off the bone. For dessert, the sultan's daughter took a bite of the apple. The fruit spread warmth through her body, leaving her feeling healthier and more vivacious than ever before. The Sultana was so delighted with her gift that she invited Leya and her father to live with them in the palace until the end of their days, they happily agreed.

Over the years, Leah and the sultan's daughter became close friends. And every night before bed, the Sultana would back a liar to tell of her journey to the sacred garden. Layon never grew tired of telling the story, and the sultan's daughter never grew tired of hearing it. While the girls couldn't return to the mystical garden, they did spend many evenings walking around the beautiful gardens of Istanbul, admiring the soft petals and warm colors of the flowers. And watching the sun set its rays shining between the leaves of the trees.

Sometimes the girls would bring pillows and blankets out to the palace garden and fall asleep beneath the stars. Surrounded by the sweet scent of flowers, the rustling of the breeze and the hooting of Al. As Labor drifted off to sleep one night in the glow of the moonlight, she had a comforting thought. While nothing would ever match the beautiful scents and the wonderful scenery of the Garden of Eden, this was very close.