Star Tours #3: Pegasus

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2:04Welcome to Get Sleepy. Where we listen, we relax and we get Sleepy. I'm your host, Thomas. Thanks so much for tuning in. Tonight's story is another tour of the stars where we'll learn all about the constellation of the winged horse Pegasus. Our journey begins in Greece in the city of Athens. From there we'll be going on a relaxing trip to the stars aboard the interstellar. This wonderful series is written by Kayla and narrated by me. So my friends, let's begin to settle down and give ourselves the time to transition away

3:04from our busy day into the calm stillness of the night. I hope you're feeling relaxed and peaceful already. But if you're still making your way to that point, there's no need to feel rushed. In fact, whatever it is you're feeling right now, I'd like you to just tell yourself to let it be. If you're worried about something, if you've got thoughts swirling around in your mind, or if you sense your emotions are a little heightened, try to accept it and just let it be.

4:07The more we engage in battles with challenging feelings, emotions or anxieties, the more they tend to overwhelm us. Particularly in this moment to write here, when your intention is to settle down and get some rest, it can be quite disruptive to try and forcibly push away your thoughts. So, take a deep breath with me now, inhaling slowly and fully, and gradually easing the air back out. With our exhale, feel a greater sense of peace and reassurance washing over you.

5:11Whatever's on your mind, let it be. Now, it's time to get some rest. So you can simply listen to the sound of my voice and follow along for as much time as you like. We're about to set off on another sleepy adventure into space. This is where our story begins.

6:12Tonight's tour commences at the National Observatory of Athens. A city where the ancient and modern are always into mingling. It makes the perfect base for the Star Tours Space Station in this region of the wild. The Observatory, built in 1842, is surrounded by squat trees and dry shrubs. They're rooted in dusty earth, shining under the moonlight. From your position on the hill of the nymphs, on the outskirts of Athens, you can see the white buildings of the city spread out in the valley before you.

7:14The city surrounded by hills, Athens has retained its greece and charm for millennia. Stone Homes Stopped to the Hell. They're mostly the residences of scientists and researchers working at the space station, but some belong to families who have lived in this part of Greece for centuries. The Hill of the Nymphs has a long history. First, it was where ancient greece came to worship the nymphs. Fairy-like creatures, common in Greek mythology, who ruled over natural phenomena like forests, rivers and meadows.

8:16In the 19th century, the Hill became home to the Observatory, a place where the ancient practice of studying the stars and the natural wild could continue. Now, this hill has been turned into the base of Greece's space station, and it's from here that Star Tours launches its Greek Tours. From where you're standing, you can see the acropolis lit up in the night. The white columns of the pathalon glow against the dark sky. Built more than 2,000 years ago, this structure still holds intrigue for modern scholars and visitors.

9:21The Greek myths you'll be exploring tonight are even older. These stories were passed from generation to generation, and eventually written down, and translated for people all over the world. Entering the Observatory, you're struck by how refreshingly cool it is inside the thick stone walls. You reach out and touch the stone, appreciating the history held in these walls. Walking to the center of the Observatory, you notice that the domed ceiling is open, giving you a clear view of the night sky sprinkled with stars.

10:24You haven't even boarded the ship yet, but already the place fills you with otherworldly wonder and fascination. The night sky is full of stories, you think. Above you is a metal ramp circling the Observatory. Your guide appears from behind a door and addresses your group from the ramp. She introduces herself as Magarita. She's lived in Athens her whole life and has always been interested in the stories of the stars. Now she's delighted to be taking you on a journey through space.

11:27Like so much in Athens, Magarita fills starters, connects the old with the new, ancient Greek tales of the sky and the latest science of space travel. She tells you the ship is just about ready to board and asks that you line up in front of her. There's an excited murmur in the crowd as everyone forms an orderly cue. You stand behind a group of grey-haired women who tell you they've been taking trips into the stars for a decade. The friends all live in different places, so every year they choose a different location for a trip into space.

12:36There's a low rumbling noise and a small hiss as the door in the Observatory unlaunches. A faint bluish-green light shines from the doorway into the room, temporarily dimming the light of the stars. As you board to the ship, Magarita helps you and the other passengers to find your pots. When you enter yours, you're delighted to find it looks so cozy. There's a soft bed and a pile of pillows ranging from firm to soft for you to choose from. There's also a control on the nightstand which lets you adjust the firmness of the mattress.

13:44You can alter the angle too, choosing to either sit, recline or lie down fully in the bed. While you get your bed set up to your liking, Magarita lets you know that there is a cafe on board. To find it, follow the aisle between the pots and go through the next door. There, you'll be able to order fragrant herbal teas and light snacks for your nighttime adventure. Once you found the perfect furnace for your bed and arranged your pillows just right, you wander to the cafe to pick up a tea and some popcorn.

14:44The walls of the ship are decorated with various constellations based on Greek myths. The dots of the stars have been connected so you can see the characters they were based on. You walk by the constellations of Andromeda and Sagittarius before entering the cafe. While there's complete quiet in your pot, the cafe is filled with the chattering of passengers and the sounds of steam and boiling water as the attendant prepares beverages for the guests. Behind the counter, there is a giant photo of the Pegasus constellation.

15:45The artist has drawn lines to connect to the dots so you can see how it looks just like a winged horse. You're intrigued to learn more about this character and what his position in the night sky meant to the ancient Greeks. You order a kamamati and popcorn and chat with a man in line behind you who's excited to be going on his first Star Tours journey. He tells you he's been fascinated by Greek myths since he was a child and has been waiting for the opportunity to go on a tour of the stars. Just as the cafe attendant pours your warm popcorn

16:45into a paper bag, Margarita asks all guests to return to their pots for takeoff. With a kamamati and snack bag in hand, you retreat to your pot and settle into bed. You can still see Athens below. The ship hovers just off the edge of the space station, giving you a bird's eye view of the city. The engine starts to rumble gently as the ship takes off. The craft hovers higher into the sky and you watch the glowing acropolis disappear into the darkness below. The ship cruises smoothly, moving higher and higher until all you can see are the stars.

18:01Margarita speaks over the intercom, letting you know that the captain is finding the best position to view the Pegasus constellation. Pegasus is one of the biggest groups of stars in the night sky. It was catalogued in the second century CE by Tolomey, an astronomer who lived in Alexandria. As you get deeper into space, the stars seem bigger, like glowing orbs rather than just small dots in the sky. You gaze at their shimmering shapes, filled with wonder. As you think of all the bits of the universe,

19:01you've had the pleasure to explore so far. As the ship comes to a stop, you notice the stars of the Pegasus constellation right in front of you. There are no lines here to help you see the shape, but your imagination fills in the gaps and you visualize the winged horse soaring through the night sky. The ship hovers in outer space. It rocks gently back and forth, making you feel relaxed and secure under your blankets. Tonight says Margarita, we'll be exploring the tale of Pegasus and Marlerafon.

20:04Our voice is smooth as it comes over the speaker. As she talks, a white light on the window of the ship connects the stars, so you can clearly see the shape of the winged horse, the way Tolomey did hundreds of years ago. Pegasus was the child of Poseidon, the god of the sea, and Medusa, the Gorgon. Gorgons may be known for telling people to stone, but they were also used as protection. Many Gorgon faces appear on amulets and buildings from ancient Greece to protect their wereres and inhabitants. Pegasus was said to have the ability to create water wherever he stomped his

21:15hoof. Perhaps a power inherited from his father. Several rivers and springs in Greece are named after the horse, and he was a beloved mythological character in much of the Greek world. One such spring was located on the hill of the muses in Athens, close to where we began this tour. The hill was home to the muses, the goddesses of the arts, among other things. It was said that anyone who drank from the spring was gifted with inspiration and creativity.

22:16Margulita continues with the story. One day, wandering the hills outside of Athens, Pegasus met the hero Valerafon. They became good friends, wandering the hills and fields together and cooling off in fresh rivers, or at the seaside. The friends spoke of traveling all over the world together, and after weeks of talking about it, Valerafon gifted Pegasus a golden bridle. They were ready to explore. They visited the temples of the gods, Poseidon, Athena and Zeus,

23:19grand marble buildings that had been built in homage all over the country. Pegasus's wings made it easy to cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time. They could go off on a big adventure and still be home in time to share meals and honeyd meat with their friends. An enchanting evening was spent with polyitis, the seer, and Pegasus always enjoyed visiting his brother, Cresa, so they could swap adventure stories. They landed in markets when they ate freshly caught fish and scept on herbal teas.

24:21And they wandered through the agar-a, watching potters mow beautiful vases and jars, and blacksmiths shaped hot metal, inspired by the god Huffistas. With Pegasus's wings, the entire ancient world was theirs to discover and explore. They watched men dress as satters, horses and bees in the great comedic place of aristophonies. And they listened to the lyrical sounds of the lyre echoing around high-volted music halls. Soaring through the skies, they watched sailors navigate smooth blue seas,

25:23trading wares in every port. And underneath the sea, they saw Poseidon ride his chariot, pulled by hippocampai, creatures that were half-horse and half-fish. As your guide continues the story, shapes and colours dance on the window of the spaceship, bringing ancient Greece to life in the night sky. Floating in space, you feel en masse in the ancient world as the images of that time animate around you. You can almost smell the sense of herbs and flowers, the salty sea and the dusty earth.

26:30One day, Margareta continues. Pegasus and Balaraphon decided they wanted to go on their greatest adventure yet to Mount Olympus, the home of the gods in ancient Greece. It was rare for mortals to visit such a place, but neither of the friends was quite mortal. Pegasus, being the child of a god under Gorgon, was already a mortal. Balaraphon, being the son of Poseidon, was a demi-god. The two friends packed plenty of food and water for the long journey. Even with Pegasus' wings, it would still take several days to get to the peak of the mountain.

27:40When the friends were ready, Balaraphon climbed on Pegasus' back. The horse flapped his wings, propelling them both into the sky. Flying higher and higher, they watched the temples, markets and houses grew smaller below. As they made their way to Mount Olympus. Flying away from Athens and into the mountains, they inhaled the fresh air, enjoying the reprieve from the hot streets of the city centre. The wind brushed Pegasus' mane and streamed through Balaraphon's hair.

28:41As they went higher, all sounds of the bushing city disappeared and were replaced by the wind whistling through mountain passes. The Anamoi, gods of the wind, were always strong up here. Pegasus and Balaraphon stopped for the night, landing on a flat rock. They laid out a blanket and unpacked some of the snacks they'd brought. Nuts, salty cheese and dried figs, along with some crusty bread. Balaraphon made up a bowl for Pegasus to eat from. And together they enjoyed the feast, looking out at the mountains all around them.

29:46At night, they laid back on the blanket and fell asleep under the stars. When they awoke the next morning, a strong wind blew around them. Pegasus sat on his haunches and noticed a face in the wind. Good day, Boreus, said Pegasus. The god of the north wind greeted the friends. Zeus has seen your mission, the wind whispered. He has sent me to guide you the rest of the way to Olympus. Balaraphon climbed on Pegasus's back.

30:48The horse spread his wings and with a gust, Boreus lifted him off the rock, high into the sky. The god of the north wind guided Pegasus above the clouds. And together the friends soared to the highest peak of the highest mountain. With the wind's help, they'd reach the home of the gods by evening. As the sun started getting lower on the horizon, they spotted the first sign of Mount Olympus, a glint of gold in the distance. At first, Pegasus couldn't tell if it was part of the acropolis of Olympus or just the sun.

31:58But as they flew closer, Balaraphon pointed out to the roofs of the palaces of the gods. The palace of Zeus made of shining golden silver, rose above all others. Boreus led them to a grassy patch of land in front of the golden gates of Olympus. Even through the gates, Pegasus and Balaraphon were amazed by the hordes and homes, twinkling under the rosy light of the setting sun. The wind got whistled out to the gates, and they slayed open, revealing the splendor of Olympus in full view. Pegasus and Balaraphon slowly walked down the path before them.

33:11The houses of the gods were all made of fine gold and silver. Nymphs sprang from house to house, surrounded him white light, while the colorful sky made to the buildings and grassy fields glow. Standing tall above the houses of the gods was the grand palace of Zeus. Boreus led them through the courtyard, which was filled with fruit trees and flowers of red, pink, yellow, purple and blue, and then on into the hall of the palace. Pegasus and Balaraphon admired the throne room, where each of the twelve major gods

34:16had a chair to sit on for counts or meetings. Boreus wound through the rooms of the palace, until they found Zeus in the dining hall. He was sharing nectar and ambrosia with Athena, the goddess of Athens. The gods welcomed the visitors and offered them a seat at the table. They put a bowl of nectar in front of Pegasus, who already belonged to the immortal realm, but they gave Balaraphon a choice. If you eat the food of the gods, Athena explained, you'll never be able to return to the world of more tours and enjoy all of the things my lovely Athens has to offer.

35:23Balaraphon looked at the beautiful walls of the palace and thought of all the wonders on Olympus. But then he looked at his friend Pegasus and remembered the joy they had exploring the wild below. So he declined to the food. Pegasus and Balaraphon spent the next few days exploring the mountain of the gods. They met Hera and Aphrodite, as well as her feasts and demeter, who all welcomed them to their homes, and praised Balaraphon for his decision to return to the world of the more tours. On their third evening, Poseidon returned to Olympus from his home in the sea,

36:33and invited the two friends to spend the night with him on the mountain. The three talked long into the night, for it had been years since Pegasus and Balaraphon had seen their father. They shared tales of their adventures on land, and Poseidon totem stories of the world beneath the sea of nymphs and niats and hippocampi, and all manner of wondrous things the friends would never have imagined. They slept soundly that night in their father's home, remembering they were not only good friends, but half-brothers as well.

37:35And out through the window, they could see their stars twinkling closer than normal. The next morning, Balaraphon announced that it was time for him to return to the world of more tours. They'd run out of the food they'd packed for their journey, and he was ready to go back to his true home. Poseidon offered to bring Balaraphon back to Athens himself, but Pegasus was welcome to stay on Olympus for as long as he liked. Pegasus had fond memories of his adventures in the world below, but now he was ready to spend more time with his immortal family on the mountain of the gods.

38:48He said a warm goodbye to Balaraphon, and the friends promised they would meet again someday soon. Poseidon took Balaraphon back to Athens, where he explored the Agra, learned philosophy, and went on great adventures that would be remembered for many years to come. Meanwhile, Pegasus got to know the gods of Olympus and struck up a special friendship with Zeus. Much like he had with Balaraphon in the mortal realm, Pegasus explored the world of immortals with Zeus. They traveled to ancient cities, observing the mortals living below,

39:55and they met to methodological creatures from all over the world. Pegasus helped Zeus carry his lightning bolts, making it easier for them to travel together. Zeus loved having the wingtours by his side, but he knew that Pegasus sometimes missed his old friend, Balaraphon. And they knew that while Balaraphon was having his own great adventures in the mortal world, he too missed his wingtours. One day, when Zeus was naming the stars in the sky, he saw a cluster that looked almost like a wingtours,

40:56so he decided to name it Pegasus. Now, anytime Balaraphon looked up at the night sky, it saw his friend shining down on him. And Pegasus knew that he would always be watching over his old friend. One of the most interesting things about the Pegasus constellation, says Margarita, is that it's known for being a window into far away galaxies through its cluster of stars. Perhaps a nod to the wingtours is thirst for adventure. Pegasus and Balaraphon were remembered in the Greek world through stories,

42:00plays and works of art. And the horse's spot in the night sky ensures they'll be remembered for millennia to come. As Margarita finishes the story, the lights on the windows of the ship fade away, leaving you once again with a clear view of the night sky. It feels marvelous to be surrounded both by darkness and shining stars at the same time. Taking another sip of your kamamauti, you snuggle deeper under the blankets. An announcement on the ship tells you that you'll soon be beginning the descent back to Earth.

43:09But the captain will be taking the slow route, so you won't arrive until morning. Plenty of time for a long night's rest. Margarita thanks you for joining her on this journey, and tells you she'll be on board all night, available for any questions. She's also delighted to have breakfast with you in the morning, to further discuss the story. So, you can let any curiosities float into the back of your mind until then, knowing all of your questions can be answered in the morning. As you gaze out at the stars, you find your eyes getting heavier and your breath becoming slower.

44:26You allow your eyes to close as you let the hovering ship gently rock you into a deep nostra twenty thirty-third of your worry, Unit 351.