The astronomer adjusted the weathered lens of an old brass telescope, a family heirloom that once belonged to their grandfather. Each evening, neighbours might spot the telescope on the balcony, casting a mysterious glow over the street. The astronomer was kind but their gaze held a subtle tension and longing. Every night, the universe was their solace, filling a void they could barely name.

But tonight, something felt different. The night started quietly, the stars steady in their familiar stillness, interrupted only by the rare shooting star. But then, out of the familiar constellation, a star flickered, bright green. The astronomer blinked, certain it was a trick of the eye, but the green star remained, shimmering with an intensity that made the astronomer’s heart race. Then, in a blaze of light, meteors burst across the sky, weaving together in strange patterns. Colours—electric blues, fiery reds, vivid purples—flashed across the cosmos.

The astronomer’s pulse quickened as an idea took root: The universe is alive and changing. It was a thought both thrilling and terrifying, a reminder that they, too, were part of this shifting cosmos. Closing the telescope for the night, the astronomer drifted homeward, the colours of the stars still dancing in their mind, stirring something deep within.

That night, as the astronomer slipped into sleep, they found themselves in an ancient green forest, shrouded in mist and rich with the earthy scent of damp soil. As they walked, they noticed that, if they looked closely, subtle changes were happening all around them: leaves letting go from their branches, branches swaying gently as if responding to a silent rhythm, and the wind weaving through, stirring the air with unseen patterns. The forest felt vividly alive in a way the astronomer had never sensed before, its silence layered, full of whispers and mysteries that grew deeper the further they wandered.

In the heart of this mysterious grove, a single red velvety leaf caught the astronomer’s gaze as it slowly detached and floated down. Entranced, they watched it twirl and drift until it came to rest beside a small snail with exceptionally large, curious eyes.

The snail’s name was Sam. Sam spent each day quietly munching on leaves, content yet always feeling something elusive, a longing that stirred deep inside. Today, however, Sam encountered a rare wonder: the red velvety leaf. In the lore of the forest, this leaf was legendary—a mystical gift that appeared only to those needing a reminder of their capacity to grow. Its power was such that one didn’t even need to eat it; simply seeing the leaf was enough to impart wisdom, a profound realization, or a hidden truth. It was said to bridge a being’s soul to the universe itself, awakening a deeper understanding of life’s mysteries.

As Sam gazed at the leaf, a strange sensation began to stir—a tightening in their body, as if an invisible force was gently pushing from within. Their shell, normally comfortable, felt suddenly cramped, pressing against their back, struggling to contain something new. Sam had known, on some level, that they were getting bigger—like seasons passing or leaves falling. But in that moment, with the red velvety leaf’s image still vibrant in their mind, they understood this growth on a deeper, more fundamental level, as though each cell in their body was reshaping itself into something new. The discovery was both exhilarating and unsettling, a first, clear glimpse of an entirely transformed self.

Awash with newfound awareness, Sam made their way to a shop nestled under the arching roots of an ancient tree, where they fitted themselves with a larger shell. For the first time, Sam looked in the mirror and truly saw their transformation. As they took in their larger, stronger form, a startling realisation dawned: just as their body had grown, perhaps they could change as well.

The quiet ache they’d carried for so long, that familiar loneliness, didn’t have to stay buried and unchanging within them. They understood now that, just as they could shed a shell that no longer fit, they could let go of old habits and fears that kept them isolated. They didn’t have to carry this feeling alone—they could seek help, reach out, and invite others into their world. The possibility of growth, of stepping beyond their solitude, ignited in Sam’s heart like a star slowly kindling in the vastness of the night sky.

In the depths of the forest, Sam wandered aimlessly, still wrestling with the weight of their newfound realization. Just as they were about to turn down a familiar path, they stumbled upon something unexpected—an old, moss-covered log where a quiet, unassuming blue snail sat, surrounded by soft, glowing blades of grass. The snail, with eyes that seemed to hold the wisdom of ages, was a cognitive hypnotherapist. It was a chance meeting, as random as the falling of a single leaf, but Sam felt drawn to it, compelled to speak.

The cognitive hypnotherapist listened patiently as Sam poured out their thoughts, finally giving voice to long-buried feelings. The gaze of the hypnotherapist was kind but penetrating, offering a comforting silence that made Sam feel truly heard. After a moment, they spoke softly, “I think it is very normal for us to have these long-buried feelings. We have grown up with them most of our lives, so they become normal for us and we start to believe that they will never become unburied. But I think when we realise that we are always changing, there is always an opportunity for any part of us to change. Actually, it is impossible to not change. We can be curious about the first difference in your capabilities or beliefs that means that you know that you are moving in the right direction. At the end of the week or month looking back you might also be surprised by how you have changed into the new you. These realisations might come when you expect them or when you least expect them, and they will allow you to continue knowing that you are walking on the right path. Remember, you already have all the strength you need to get to where you want to go!”

Sam felt lighter, as though they had started to shed a lifetime’s worth of old fears. We may never know exactly how Sam’s life unfolded after this night, but something in Sam’s world had changed.

Back in the forest, the astronomer felt as though they were waking up from a dream. The trees, the whispers, and Sam’s story seemed to echo in their chest. A breeze stirred the forest around them, and the astronomer felt that they, too, were standing on the edge of a threshold.

The astronomer’s eyes opened slowly, taking in the familiar bedroom. Yet, something was different. The once subtle tension in their expression had softened. The change wasn’t too obvious, but when observed closely enough, it could be noticed. The green star, the forest, the snail—they were symbols, each pointing toward the same truth: the universe’s changes mirror the changes within us.

In the days, weeks, and months that followed, the astronomer began to notice subtle shifts in both their actions and their mindset. The changes were quiet, almost imperceptible, but undeniably present. What those changes were exactly remains a mystery, yet perhaps it’s for us to imagine—after all, growth is a deeply personal journey.

Each year, the astronomer celebrated the anniversary of that pivotal night, marking it as a symbol of the change and potential that lies within every day. Some even speculate that this anniversary eventually became known as New Year’s Day, a time to honour the continuous cycle of transformation and possibility.

About the writer

Lucas Bouvier is a Quest Cognitive Hypnotherapist, NLP practitioner and storyteller. He aims to show his clients and listeners that change is always possible, regardless of how difficult it is to see it that way.

Lucas has experience in helping people who are suffering from anxiety, low self-confidence, phobias, depression, low self-esteem, sports nerves and much more. To book a free 20-minute consultation with Lucas, call him on 07884369560 or contact him through his website – LucasBouvier.com.

Lucas started hypnotherapeutic storytelling aimed at helping children (and anyone) get over their worries. This works by including hypnotherapeutic language/suggestions to prime the listeners to see the positive changes in their lives. Have a listen to them on SleepingSaundra.com!

Feel free to follow him on Instagram @SleepingSaundra.

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