Welcome, friend. Today, I want to acknowledge something many of us are experiencing right now - that deep winter restlessness that can make sleep feel like a distant dream. As the nights grow longer and the world feels a bit more quiet, our minds can sometimes become surprisingly loud.

Let's take a moment to create a gentle sanctuary of rest, right here and now. Find a comfortable position - whether you're lying down or sitting softly. Close your eyes and take a deep breath, inviting a sense of calm into your body. [PAUSE]

Imagine your breath as a gentle wave, rolling in and out. Not forcing anything, just allowing each inhale to bring a soft warmth, and each exhale to release any tension you've been carrying. [PAUSE]

Today, we'll practice a technique I call the "Moonlight Meditation" - perfect for these darker winter evenings. Visualize a soft, silvery moonlight slowly spreading through your body. With each breath, this moonlight moves through your muscles, your joints, your racing thoughts. [PAUSE]

Start at the top of your head. Feel the cool, calm light washing away mental chatter. Let it drift down through your forehead, your cheeks, your jaw - releasing any clench or grip. [PAUSE]

As the moonlight continues its journey, it touches your shoulders, melting away the day's accumulated stress. Down through your arms, your chest, your belly - each area becoming softer, more relaxed. [PAUSE]

Your legs begin to feel heavy, supported. The moonlight pools around your feet, creating a sense of being deeply rooted, completely safe. [PAUSE]

Take three more deep breaths, allowing this gentle light to fill any remaining spaces of tension. [PAUSE]

As you prepare to continue your day or night, remember: rest is not a luxury, but a necessary renewal. Carry this sense of calm with you, like a quiet moon following you gently through your evening.

Breathe. Release. Rest.