Moonrise Bakery

(no audio) In the middle of this rainy night, while dots of stars are still visible, and most everyone in the town is asleep, a small group of bakers arrive at their workplace, the town's only bread and pastry shop. The family-owned bakery, located on a corner in the center of town, has been feeding these townspeople for generations. During the mid-morning rush, it's not uncommon for the line to spill onto the sidewalk, with customers eagerly eyeing the pastry case, hoping that the bakery doesn't sell out of chocolate croissants or loaves of challah before they make it to the front of the line. In anticipation of their busy mornings, the bakers work steadily throughout the night, alongside their wood-burning oven. As they work, clouds of flour dust the air, aromas of chocolate and rising dough waft throughout the kitchen, and batter-filled bowls stack up in the sink to soak. Now, as the bakers continue the morning's preparation, let's deepen our sense of relaxation with a brief wind-down exercise. (no audio) Tonight's wind-down is a visualization. So, when you're ready, let's begin. (no audio) 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. 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. (no audio) The qualities of warmth, space, and ease as it continues to travel up through the body. (no audio) Up past the waist, through the back, and the stomach. It's as though it washes away any discomfort. 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. 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. (no audio) No matter the time of year, the bakery has a sugar cookie made to celebrate something. If it's spring equinox, you are sure to find sparkly flowers in the cookie case. Back to school season ushers in oversized cookie pencils. Some...