Relaxing Nature Sounds

Picture yourself sitting in a garden in autumn. A stream splashes over stones. A monk strikes a crystal bowl with a mallet. Close your eyes and listen. Reflect on the week behind you. Reflect on the day ahead of you. Focus on the humming sound of nature. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

A Journey Begins Album: https://relaxingnaturesounds.bandcamp.com/album/a-journey-begins

This is the first track of our first album. You can listen to the whole thing over on Bandcamp. Each track is a new fifteen-minute soundscape for reflection and meditation. Special thanks to Lady Zen for providing the voice.

Picture yourself pushing aside a banana leaf and stepping onto the sand. The waves lap against your bare feet. The water collects in tiny tide pools. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the sea pull away your anxiety. Focus on the soothing sound of nature. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this podcast

I like the idea of a secret cove – a beach that only you know about. Maybe you go there in your mind. Or maybe it really exists and is down a hidden trail. Or maybe it’s a place you went when you were a child and now years later you visit it in your daydream.  

Experience our soundscape album, A Journey Begins: https://relaxingnaturesounds.bandcamp.com/album/a-journey-begins

Picture yourself sitting at the window. The rain pitter patters outside. Water droplets run down the glass. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the rain pull away your anxiety. Focus on the soothing sound of nature. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this podcast

I’m down in San Cristobal, Mexico this month. I’ve rented a place on the outskirts of town in the middle of the woods. It’s great for writing. Yesterday it started to storm around 5:00 PM and it continued to rain on through the night. There’s a little woodstove in the kitchen. I got it going good. I sat back, listened to the rain, and did a little daydreaming.

Check Us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/relaxing_nature_sounds_podcast/

Picture yourself floating on blue water, surrounded mangroves. A lite rain sprinkles. The water laps against the shore. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the Yucatan pull away your anxiety. Focus on the chorus of insects. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

A few years ago I was on Caye Caulker. We had been drinking beer in the afternoon and somehow we thought it would be a good idea to explore the mangroves. So, we borrowed a kayak, and rowed along the blue water. We stopped at a sandy inlet. There we finished off our beers while baking in the sun. After about fifteen minutes it began to ran.  

I hope by listening to this soundscape you find happiness and calmness.

Tell us what you think: https://www.instagram.com/relaxing_nature_sounds_podcast/

Picture yourself lying near a thundering waterfall. The water cascades over the edge. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the falls pull away your anxiety. Focus on the sound of the water. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape

The one hour version has always been one of my favorites. It's really good for calming me down and putting me to sleep. Recently, I've had a couple of requests to turn the one hour into an eight hour version. So, I figured why not.

I hope by listening to it you find happiness and calmness.

Tell us what you think:

https://www.instagram.com/relaxing_nature_sounds_podcast/

Picture yourself sitting in a chair so comfortable you can hardly keep your eyes open. The wind whistles outside. The fire on the hearth crackles. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the fire pull away your anxiety. Focus on the soothing sound of nature. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

I made this for Maks. He found me on Insta and said my calming campfire had been nice after a tough week. So, here’s a new fire one. I hope it’s one  brings everyone happiness and calmness in the new year.

Tell us what you think:

https://www.instagram.com/relaxing_nature_sounds_podcast/

Picture yourself standing on a rocky coastline. The sea crashes against the wet stones. The sun sits on the horizon. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the sea pull away your anxiety. Focus on the soothing sound of nature. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

Since these soundscapes are usually without language there are people all over the world listening to them. People from El Salvador to Estonia are tuning-in at the same time. It amazes me that a series of soundscapes I created to help me fall asleep has now been downloaded over three million times. I hope this new seaside one brings you happiness and calmness.

Tell us what you think: https://www.instagram.com/relaxing_nature_sounds_podcast/

Picture yourself diving under the sea. The blue water envelopes you like a blanket. In the distance the loneliest whale in the ocean calls out to you. Close your eyes and listen. Reflect on the week behind you. Reflect on the day ahead of you.  Focus on the soothing sounds under the sea. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

I’ve been a fan of Lady Zen’s music for a number of years. A couple of weeks ago she asked if I’d like to create a soundscape with her. I happened to be making this whale one and played it for her. “I like how it feel like the water is covering you like a blanket,” she said.

This is the first of many guided reflections we are going to create together over the next few months. Be on the lookout for guided reflections for each of the four elements.

Cover Image By Džoko Stach

Tell us what you think: https://www.instagram.com/relaxing_nature_sounds_podcast/

Picture yourself diving under the sea. The blue water envelopes you like a blanket. In the distance the loneliest whale in the ocean calls out to you. Relax and close your eyes. Let the song of the whale pull away your anxiety.  Focus on the soothing sounds under the sea. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

I’ve always loved aquariums. When you stand near the big tanks you feel like you’re under the sea. A few months ago I heard kids could have camp like sleepovers in the aquarium near where I used to live. I wish they had that when I was growing up. Anyways, this is what I think it sounds like if you have a sleepover with a whale.

I hope by listening you find happiness and calmness.

Cover Image By Džoko Stach

Picture yourself strolling through a garden in autumn. You happen upon a stream splashing over stones. A red leaf falls from a tree, slipping into the water. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the stream pull away your anxiety. Focus on the soothing sound of nature. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

A screensaver came up on my PC showing a rounded red bridge over a stream. It looked so foreign and far away. I thought, “I want to be there today.” So, I created a soundscape that sounded like what I saw.

I hope by listening to the bamboo fountain soundscape you find happiness and calmness.

We have an all new Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/relaxing_nature_sounds_podcast/

Picture yourself sitting in a garden in autumn. A stream splashes over stones. A red leaf falls from a tree, slipping into the water.  A monk strikes a crystal bowl with a mallet. Close your eyes and listen. Reflect on the week behind you. Reflect on the day ahead of you. Focus on the humming sound of nature. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

 “Crystal Bowl Rhythm” By geerose: https://freesound.org/people/geerose/sounds/264290/

We have an all new Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/relaxing_nature_sounds_podcast/

Picture yourself lying next to a campfire. Crickets chirp as night falls. The fire crackles and pops. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the campfire pull away your anxiety. Focus on the soothing sound of nature. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

I suppose my favorite memory of a campfire is when we celebrated Guy Fawkes Night by building a large bonfire. We were in western England near the welsh border. And we were having a bit of a fancy dress party with finger food and cider. Me and the other boys were asked to shoot off a box of fireworks. By that point in the evening we were all a bit tipsy. But somehow we managed to give the kids a good show. When we were done I grabbed the empty box. For some reason I was sure there were no more projectiles in it. I threw the box on the fire. As I marched away fireworks started shooting out of the bonfire. We all ran and dove on to the ground.

This Crackling Campfire Soundscape is a lot more soothing than that night. I hope by listening to it you find happiness and calmness.

Picture yourself standing on a rocky cliff. The lighthouse’s search light stares out at the sea. A light rain drizzles. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the waves pull away your anxiety. Focus on the ocean. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape

On the back wall, above my bed, are two porthole windows. The light from the street shines through them. I often lie in bed looking at them. They remind me of a lighthouse. A beacon in the fog searching for me. A light trying to bringing me safety home.

If you enjoy our soundscapes, you might like our radio dramas at https://deepdrag.com/

Picture yourself sitting on top of a forested mountain. The sun peaks through the trees. A rooster crows. Morning is here. Let the birds pull away your anxiety. Focus on the soothing sound of nature. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape

This morning I woke up when the light was barely coming through my window. I listened to the quiet. I thought, ‘how can I capture that?’ Right around then a rooster from down the hill started crowing. And then a donkey began braying. I slid out of bed and went down stairs.

Photo by Mahesh Dias

Picture yourself standing in the rain. The water droplets run down your face. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the rain pull away your anxiety. Focus on the sound, sometimes louder, sometimes softer. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this podcast:

It’s rainy season again. The daily deluge cools everything off here in San Miguel. Around this time of year I’m always reminded of my first few months in town. We went to a taco cart and ordered up some gringas de pastor. The rain started. Our backs began to get soaked. Soon our shoes were filled with rain water. But it didn’t matter. As long as we stayed under the awning our tacos couldn’t get wet.

I hope by listening to it you find happiness and calmness.

Facebook Page (leave your ideas, thoughts, and comments

here):

https://www.facebook.com/Relaxing-Nature-Sounds-106801641817461

Picture yourself hiking through an ice tunnel. The icicles slowly melt and drip off the glacier walls. A small stream trickles through the tunnel. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the melting ice pull away your anxiety. Focus on the sound of the water. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

I was driving up to Andorra one spring. (Who would have thought there was a country between France and Spain?) The road weaved along the side of a snowy mountain. Icicles were melting and forming a sheet of ice that made it look like I was driving through an ice tunnel. It was one of the most beautiful scenes I’d seen. This soundscape is based on that morning.

If you like my soundscapes, you may enjoy our scripted audio-dramas. Go to deepdrag.com and listen to Flies in the Jar.

Relaxing Nature Sounds has been hard at work creating a new fictional audio-drama, Flies In The Jar.

Listen to the complete series for free on your favorite podcast app, or by using the link tree URL below.

https://flies-in-the-jar.captivate.fm/listen

Synopsis: A serial pyromaniac fuels fear in a small southern Californian town. A singer-songwriter steals a song that shoots her into stardom. Twenty years later two friends reunite to tell the story and face the past.

Flies in the Jar includes themes and dialogue that are not suitable for children.

Picture yourself lying on the beach as ocean waves crash. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the sea pull away your anxiety. Focus on the sound of the ocean. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape.

Lately, I've been living in the studio on the front of the house while they do construction on the roof of my bedroom. I've found myself waking up several times in the night. I thought trying out eight hour versions of soundscapes that work for me might help. We'll see. I'll tell you next week.

If you like my soundscapes, you may enjoy the audio drama I write, Flies in the Jar. You can listen on any podcast platform or on our website at http://deepdrag.com/

Picture yourself sitting on a mountain overlooking the Temples of Bagan. It’s early morning and the cicada’s song begins softly. But as the bells call out their song becomes stifling like the humid air. Close your eyes and listen. Reflect on the week behind you. Reflect on the day ahead of you. Focus on the humming sound of nature. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape

Lately, I’ve been waking up to the cicada hum. It’s often so loud I wonder if it’s real or a noise in my head. Because of how it seemed to take over my brain I became interested in making it into a soundscape. I plan on using this to sit and reflect. Maybe you’ll do the same.

Listen on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRJ3LtepYL5zBObYdCsaQhA

“Small Sound Bowls Oscillation” by RomajiBuffalo

Picture yourself sitting on the bank of a river near a stone bridge. Spring has just melted the snow and the water moves quickly over the rocks and stones. A cricket chirps. A bird sings. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the stream pull away your anxiety. Focus on the sound of the water. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

I’m not against water soundscapes, but they have to have a strong current. I’ve made water trickling soundscapes in the past and every time I play them I end up needing to use the bathroom. So, let’s see how this one works out. They’re continuing to do construction on my roof this week and I hope this will drown out the hammer noise.

If you enjoy our soundscapes, you may enjoy our audio dram, Flies in the Jar. Listen for free at http://deepdrag.com/

Picture yourself sitting in a field of lavender. A light wind blows perfuming the air. Crickets chirp their song while birds swoop down through the flowers. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the lavender blowing in the wind pull away your anxiety. Focus on the soothing sound of nature. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

This week they started construction on the roof of my house. All days from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM there are hammers and crow bars tearing the shingles and beams away. It echoes down through the whole building. It's difficult not to be anxious. So, I made this field of lavender to listen to while they work. We'll see if it can drown them out when they come back next week.

If you enjoy our soundscapes, you may enjoy our audio dram, Flies in the Jar. Listen for free at http://deepdrag.com/

Picture yourself sitting in tall grass. Coqui frogs call to each other creating a soothing song. Gentle waves lap against the shore in the distance. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the coqui frogs pull away your anxiety. Focus on the soothing sound of nature. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

This coqui soundscape is for all the folks from Puerto Rico and Hawaii who are living on the main land, and need a little touch of home to sleep or relax. I’ve been putting the coqui songs on as well. At three AM it quickly makes me forget about possibly losing my job. And I stop going over the meeting I’ll be having next week. I hope it does the same for you.

Listen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRJ3LtepYL5zBObYdCsaQhA

Love Us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RelaxingNatureSoundsPodcast

Picture yourself sitting in tall grass. Coqui frogs call to each other creating a soothing song. Gentle waves lap against the shore in the distance. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the coqui frogs pull away your anxiety. Focus on the soothing sound of nature. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

This coqui soundscape is for all the folks from Puerto Rico and Hawaii who are living on the main land, and need a little touch of home to sleep or relax. I’ve been putting the coqui songs on as well. At three AM it quickly makes me forget about possibly losing my job. And I stop going over the meeting I’ll be having next week. I hope it does the same for you.

Listen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRJ3LtepYL5zBObYdCsaQhA

Love Us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RelaxingNatureSoundsPodcast

Picture yourself lying on a beach. Snow flurries whip across the sea and over the sand. The ocean crashes in the distance. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the wind pull away your anxiety. Focus on the soothing sound of nature. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

This week I was reading an article about how before the industrial revolution humans used to have two sleep periods during the night. They would go to bed around 9:00 PM and then wake up between midnight and one. They would get up and for a few hours, and then go back to bed for their second sleep between two and six in the morning. The idea made me feel a bit better. Maybe waking up at three AM isn’t so odd. The article can be found here: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220107-the-lost-medieval-habit-of-biphasic-sleep

Listen on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRJ3LtepYL5zBObYdCsaQhA

Picture yourself sitting on the bank of an oasis. A date palm rustles in the breeze. It hasn’t rained in years, but today thunder cracks in the distance. Quickly a storm sweeps in over the oasis.  Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the rolling thunder pull away your anxiety. Focus on the sound of the water. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

This week I was reading an article about how before the industrial revolution humans used to have two sleep periods during the night. They would go to bed around 9:00 PM and then wake up between midnight and one. They would get up and for a few hours, and then go back to bed for their second sleep between two and six in the morning. The idea made me feel a bit better. Maybe waking up at three AM isn’t so odd.  The article can be found here: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220107-the-lost-medieval-habit-of-biphasic-sleep

Listen on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRJ3LtepYL5zBObYdCsaQhA

Picture yourself sitting in the rainforest basin. In the distance a waterfall cascades into a pool. Birds sing. Cicadas hum.  Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the forest pull away your anxiety. Focus on the soothing sound of nature. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

A picture of Springbrook came up as my desktop background. I was like I want to be there today. So, I watched a couple videos of the waterfall on YouTube, but all the videos had cheesey music playing. So, I sat back, closed my eyes, and tried to picture what it might sound like in an Australian rainforest. This is what I came up with.

I hope by listening to it you find happiness and calmness.

Listen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRJ3LtepYL5zBObYdCsaQhA

Picture yourself lying in a bamboo hut. Outside the forest is misty. Rain falls through the trees and slides down the leaves. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the gentle rain pull away your anxiety.

Focus on the soothing sound of nature. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this podcast:

To start 2022 I wanted to make something simple and calming. This week we will begin recording some guided meditations and I think this gentle rain will ended up being the background for one of those. This rain soundscapes should work for sleep. I guess I’ll find out when I try it out later this week.

Facebook Page (leave your ideas, thoughts, and comments here):

https://www.facebook.com/Relaxing-Nature-Sounds-106801641817461

Photo by Adam Cohn: https://www.flickr.com/photos/adamcohn/30414199992/

Picture yourself sitting in a bamboo hut. Outside the forest is misty. Rain falls through the trees and slides down the leaves. Cicadas call to you in an overbearing hum.  Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the gentle rain pull away your anxiety. Focus on the soothing sound of nature. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this podcast:

This one is similar to the Varanasi soundscape, which I’m still unsure if I like or not. When I listen to it I find myself constantly reevaluating. Right when I find the hum of the cicadas overbearing it changes for me and becomes soothing.  

Facebook Page (leave your ideas, thoughts, and comments here):

https://www.facebook.com/Relaxing-Nature-Sounds-106801641817461

Photo by Adam Cohn: https://www.flickr.com/photos/adamcohn/30414199992/

Picture yourself sitting on a haystack. Crickets sing in the wind. In the distance fireworks explode. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the first night of the year pull away your anxiety. Focus on the soothing sound of nature. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this podcast:

I live in a small town in Mexico. When the pandemic started they shut down the main squares and all the parades and fireworks for the year were pretty much canceled. At first I enjoyed the silence. I mean there is a celebration with fireworks almost every weekend here. But as the silent nights went from a few weeks to months, I began to miss the fireworks. If you live in a Latin country like me, this soundscape is for you. Maybe it will help you sleep or maybe it will bring back the feelings you had when you listened to the night before the pandemic.

If this soundscape gets a lot of listens, I will make more Mexican oriented soundscapes like noche en el jardín.

Facebook Page (leave your ideas, thoughts, and comments

here): https://www.facebook.com/Relaxing-Nature-Sounds-106801641817461

Picture yourself lying on the rocks. Ocean waves crash below. A cold wind blows. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the sea pull away your anxiety. Focus on the soothing sound of nature. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this podcast:

I had started sleeping better. Maybe it was being home for the holidays. Who knows? But then this last week I’ve found myself up at 3:00 AM again. So last night, I tested out the Crashing Waves at Pulpit Rock with birds. (When I make these soundscapes I edit them with headphones on so I never know if they will work on a speaker or through a phone until I actually test them out.) I have to say the version with birds wasn’t working for me.

Here is a new version for sleep without birds, but with a harsher, more constant wind.

Facebook Page (leave your ideas, thoughts, and comments here): https://www.facebook.com/Relaxing-Nature-Sounds-106801641817461

Some Audio Recorded by Straget https://freesound.org/people/straget/sounds/437204/

Picture yourself hiking across the rocks. Ocean waves crash below. A cold wind blows. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the sea pull away your anxiety. Focus on the soothing sound of nature. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Facebook Page (leave your ideas, thoughts, and comments here):

https://www.facebook.com/Relaxing-Nature-Sounds-106801641817461

Some Audio Recorded by Straget https://freesound.org/people/straget/sounds/437204/

Picture yourself sitting in a botanical garden. A bamboo fountain pours water into a stone basin. Music finds it's way through the foliage. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the fountain pull away your anxiety. Focus on the soothing sound of nature. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape

This is the first time I've tried mixing in music. I was digging through sound files when I happened upon something called "Lotus Music" by nemaavla. You can hear the original file here: https://freesound.org/people/nemaavla/sounds/507957/ Well, as I was listening I started thinking this might be nice mixed with the bamboo fountain I'm working on. So here we are with our first guided relaxation/ meditation soundscape with music.

If you want more soundscapes like this (with music), go over to our Facebook page and leave a comment or message.  https://www.facebook.com/Relaxing-Nature-Sounds-106801641817461

Picture yourself strolling through a botanical garden. You happen upon a bamboo fountain splashing water into a stone basin. Your fingers touch the meniscus. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the fountain pull away your anxiety. Focus on the soothing sound of nature. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

When I was young my father used to take me to Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. There’s a Japanese garden in the park. I remember climbing over this round bridge and thinking that was one of the coolest things in the world. I’m sure you could probably hear the sounds of the city in the distance. But this is how I recall that park sounding.

I hope by listening to the bamboo fountain soundscape you find happiness and calmness.

Facebook Page (leave your ideas, thoughts, and comments

here): https://www.facebook.com/Relaxing-Nature-Sounds-106801641817461

Picture yourself sitting in a back garden in the English countryside. Birds swoop through the trees and down through the flowers. A light wind blows moving wind chimes every so often. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the countryside pull away your anxiety. Focus on the soothing sound of nature. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

My friend Josh has a back garden in Brighton. The last few times I’ve talked to him, he’s always been trying to get some precious few hours of sun in that garden.  It’s almost like at any moment a rain cloud might happen by and spoil his back garden time. So, this one’s for Josh. When it gets cold outside he can put this on, turn up the electric heater, and pretend it’s summer in his garden.

I hope by listening to it you find happiness and calmness.

Facebook Page (leave your ideas, thoughts, and comments

here): https://www.facebook.com/Relaxing-Nature-Sounds-106801641817461

Picture yourself standing in a pool of water. You step forward and wet your hair under the cascading waterfall. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the waterfall pull away your anxiety. Focus on the soothing sound of nature. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

My cat, Diego, is a little assassin. He uses my shower as his kill room. Many a morning I’ve woken up to a scene of blood and feathers on the tile floor. Usually it’s a bird. Sometimes a mouse. But this morning when I pulled back the shower current I found a snake. I could feel my heart racing even though it was obviously dead. Even after nudging it with a broom to make sure, I still felt anxious. And so I skipped on the shower and started making these new soundscapes. My intention was to create a soundscape that made you feel like you were in the center of a waterfall and the water was rushing over you.

I hope by listening to it you find happiness and calmness.

Picture yourself standing in a pool of water. You step forward and wet your hair under the cascading waterfall. Birds sing in the distance. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the waterfall pull away your anxiety. Focus on the soothing sound of nature. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

My cat, Diego, is a little assassin. He uses my shower as his kill room. Many a morning I’ve woken up to a scene of blood and feathers on the tile floor. Usually it’s a bird. Sometimes a mouse. But this morning when I pulled back the shower current I found a snake. I could feel my heart racing even though it was obviously dead. Even after nudging it with a broom to make sure, I still felt anxious. And so I skipped on the shower and started making these new soundscapes. My intention was to create a soundscape that made you feel like you were in the center of a waterfall and the water was rushing over you.

I hope by listening to it you find happiness and calmness.

Picture yourself standing on the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi.  The river laps against the boats. A fire burns. Relax and close your eyes. Let the hum pull away your anxiety. Focus on the hum. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

I never made it up north to Varanasi. For some reason I thought traveling around India would be a breeze. But as soon as I landed in Mumbai things started to sink in. The vastness of where I was became apparent. I quickly changed my plans from circling the country on trains to staying down south for the duration of my trip. So, I may not have seen the River Ganges, but based on my trip to India this is what I image it sounds like.

I hope by listening to this soundscape you find happiness and calmness.

Photo by Kreactiva:

Picture yourself lying in a canoe drifting through the wetlands. Spring peepers sing in the distance. The water laps against the shore. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the wetlands pull away your anxiety. Focus on the chorus of frogs. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

My friend’s daughter went frog hunting in the backyard. She’s around five, has a tiny bow and arrow. Her dad and I sat on the back stoop sipping whisky while watching the mosquito light. After a while his daughter ran up to us with a frog impaled on an arrow. “He stopped singing,” she said. “Make him sing.”

I hope by listening to this soundscape you find happiness and calmness.

Picture yourself lying in a canoe drifting through the wetlands. Spring peepers sing in the distance. The water laps against the shore. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the wetlands pull away your anxiety. Focus on the chorus of frogs. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

My friend’s daughter went frog hunting in the backyard. She’s around five, has a tiny bow and arrow. Her dad and I sat on the back stoop sipping whisky while watching the mosquito light. After a while his daughter ran up to us with a frog impaled on an arrow. “He stopped singing,” she said. “Make him

sing.”

I hope by listening to this soundscape you find happiness and calmness.

Picture yourself lying on a beach chair. The waves gently sweep across the sand. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the waves pull away your anxiety. Focus on the sound of the night ocean. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

A lot of times when I’m creating a soundscape for sleep I tend to mix in a sound similar to white noise. The constant nature of a waterfall can be pleasing to go to sleep to. This soundscape goes in the opposite direction. I strip out all the wind and seagulls to just have the ever changing sound of calm ocean waves.

I hope by listening to it you find happiness and calmness.

Picture yourself lying under the rainforest canopy. Coqui frogs call to each other creating a soothing song.  A waterfall cascades in the distance. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the forest pull away your anxiety. Focus on the sound of the coqui frogs. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

I was up at 3:00 AM last week. So, I decided to try out the previous coqui frogs soundscape I had made. To my surprise it actually worked and I think I fell asleep in about fifteen minutes. So, I went about making some new ones: a lively rainforest soundscape for the day and a quieter one for sleep. I hope all the folks from Hawaii and Puerto Rico enjoy these. And maybe a couple of people like me will find them enjoyable as well.

I hope by listening to it you find happiness and calmness.

Photo by Thomas Shahan “El Yunque National Forest, Puerto

Rico” https://www.flickr.com/photos/49580580@N02/23014558519

Photo License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/

Picture yourself sitting under the rainforest canopy. Coqui frogs call to each other creating a soothing song.  A waterfall cascades in the distance. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the forest pull away your anxiety. Focus on the sound of the coqui frogs. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

I was up at 3:00 AM last week. So, I decided to try out the previous coqui frogs soundscape I had made. To my surprise it actually worked and I think I fell asleep in about fifteen minutes. So, I went about making some new ones: a lively rainforest soundscape for the day and a quieter one for sleep. I hope all the folks from Hawaii and Puerto Rico enjoy these. And maybe a couple of people like me will find them enjoyable as well.

I hope by listening to it you find happiness and calmness.

Photo by Thomas Shahan “El Yunque National Forest, Puerto

Rico” https://www.flickr.com/photos/49580580@N02/23014558519

Photo License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/

Picture yourself wading in the sea. The waves crash over rocks and fill the tide pools. Water trickles down the cave walls. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the sea pull away your anxiety. Focus on the sound of the water. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

When I was a kid my father and I would go to Point Lobos every summer. There was a cave like this there. I remember the mountains went all the way to the sea, and you had to hike down. The hills were covered in thick brush that made them appear red from afar. Almost every year my dad would drive me back to my mom's and within days my hands and face would be covered in poison oak.

I hope by listening to it you find happiness and calmness.

Picture by slworking2 https://www.flickr.com/photos/slworking/49524568222

Creative Commons: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/

Picture yourself wading in the sea. The waves crash over rocks and fill the tide pools. Water trickles down the cave walls. A bird calls. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the sea pull away your anxiety. Focus on the sound of the water. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

When I was a kid my father and I would go to Point Lobos every summer. There was a cave like this there. I remember the mountains went all the way to the sea, and you had to hike down. The hills were covered in thick brush that made them appear red from afar. Almost every year my dad would drive me back to my mom's and within days my hands and face would be covered in poison oak.

I hope by listening to it you find happiness and calmness.

Picture by slworking2 https://www.flickr.com/photos/slworking/49524568222

Creative Commons: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/

Picture yourself lying near a thundering waterfall. The water cascades over the edge. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the falls pull away your anxiety. Focus on the sound of the water. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

Me and a friend were driving up to Toronto. He had a splif on him. I recall not wanting to drive across the border into Canada with drugs in the car. So, we stopped at Niagara Falls and he sparked it up. After about thirty minutes we got back in the car and continued driving. When we started getting close to Toronto I remember him saying, “When do you want to take the acid?”

I hope by listening to it you find happiness and calmness.

Photo By Petr Kratochvil

Picture yourself lying in a meadow next to a babbling brook.  The water makes its way over smooth rocks and stones. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the stream pull away your anxiety. Focus on the sound of the water. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

I’ve been waking up even more than usual this past week. My anxiety dreams have gotten worse. I wanted to somehow drown out the sound. (I may try doing an underwater one next.) I wanted to feel as if I was in the middle of the stream and the water was pulling away my sleeplessness.

I hope by listening to it you find happiness and calmness.

Picture yourself sitting in a meadow next to a babbling brook.  The water makes its way over smooth rocks and stones. A bird calls. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the stream pull away your anxiety. Focus on the sound of the water. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

I’ve been waking up even more than usual this past week. My anxiety dreams have gotten worse. I wanted to somehow drown out the sound of me thinking. (I may try doing an underwater one next.) I wanted to feel as if I was in the middle of the stream and the water was pulling away my sleeplessness.

I hope by listening to it you find happiness and calmness.

Picture yourself lying in the snow. The ocean crashes in the distance. Ice bobs on the water. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the artic pull away your anxiety. Focus on the sound of the water and ice. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

I once traveled to the North Sea. Even though it was the middle of summer a cold wind blew down and across the water. My friends undressed down to their skivvies and the dove into the sea. I lay down on my beach towel while wearing a heavy parka and beanie.  My friends ran out of the water shivering. This soundscape may be a bit north of where I was, but I think it invokes the happiness I had that day.

I hope by listening to it you find happiness and calmness.

Picture yourself lying in the snow. The ocean crashes in the distance. Ice bobs on the water. Penguins slide across the ice into the sea. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the artic pull away your anxiety. Focus on the sound of the water and ice. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

I once traveled to the North Sea. Even though it was the middle of summer a cold wind blew down and across the water. My friends undressed down to their skivvies and the dove into the sea. I lay down on my beach towel while wearing a heavy parka and beanie.  My friends ran out of the water shivering. This soundscape may be a bit north of where I was, but I think it invokes the happiness I had that day.

I hope by listening to it you find happiness and calmness.

Picture yourself lying in bed and gazing out the open window. The rain comes down gently. In the distance coqui frogs sing in the eucalyptus forest. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the rain pull away your anxiety. Focus on the sound of the water. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

Truthfully, these frogs don’t help me sleep. But I know folks from Hawaii and Puerto Rico love the coqui frogs. So, I’m putting them up for those people who find the frog song a reminder of home. I hope by listening to it you find happiness and calmness.

Original

Big Island Recording by tombenedict: https://freesound.org/people/tombenedict/sounds/397998/

Picture yourself lying in a field next a rushing river.  The sky reflects in the water. A bird calls. The frogs answer. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the river pull away your anxiety. Focus on the sound of the water. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

I haven’t been sleeping this week. I find myself up at 2:00 AM flipping through Netflix. The other night I finally did fall asleep and I had a dream. I was asking my father for money and he took out a chart showing how much money he had given me over the years. I woke up in a sweat and went downstairs to heat up some soup. So, I made this river soundscape to see if it would help.

I hope by listening to it you find happiness and calmness.

Picture yourself sitting on a boulder next a rushing river.  The sky reflects in the water. A bird calls. The frogs answer. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the river pull away your anxiety. Focus on the sound of the water. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

I haven’t been sleeping this week. I find myself up at 2:00 AM flipping through Netflix. The other night I finally did fall asleep and I had a dream. I was asking my father for money and he took out a chart showing how much money he had given me over the years. I woke up in a sweat and went downstairs to heat up some soup. So, I made this river soundscape to see if it would help.

I hope by listening to it you find happiness and calmness.

Picture yourself lying on a deck overlooking a dense forest. The clouds darken.  The birds fly down to shelter. Rain falls from the sky. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the rain storm pull away your anxiety. Focus on the sound of the tropical rain. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

The rain storm sounds have become my favorite over the last month. Maybe because it’s rainy season here in Mexico. Still, there’s only so many times you can listen to the same storm. So here are two new ones. One has tropical birds and a more gentle rain. The one for sleep has no birds and the rain comes down much more constant.

I hope by listening to it you find happiness and calmness.

Picture yourself standing on a deck overlooking a dense forest.  The clouds darken.  The birds fly down to shelter. Rain falls from the sky. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the rain storm pull away your anxiety. Focus on the sound of the tropical rain. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

The rain storm sounds have become my favorite over the last month. Maybe because it’s rainy season here in Mexico. Still, there’s only so many times you can listen to the same storm. So here are two new ones. One has tropical birds and a more gentle rain. The one for sleep has no birds and the rain comes down much more constant.

I hope by listening to it you find happiness and calmness.

Picture yourself lying on the seaside. The fire warms your face. The ocean waves crash in the distance. The fire crackles and pops. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the campfire pull away your anxiety. Focus on the soothing sound of nature. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

This version has no birds and more constant waves for better sleep.

Why I made this soundscape:

We used to go down to Asilomar Beach when I was a teenager. In the evening we’d get a bonfire going. Someone would usually have a six pack of beer that we somehow shared between eight people. I don’t think you can do any of that any more. It’s against the law to build a bonfire these days and I doubt the police let teenagers split a sixer. I recall being excited one of those evenings. A girl I liked was coming. She’d told me she was taking anthropology over at the junior college. I had lied and told her I was doing the same. So, there may have been beer and bonfires, but it was more like a study date. It never worked out with the girl, but I did end up taking a semester of anthropology.

This Flickering Fire by Ocean Seaside Soundscape is a replica of that place. I hope by listening to it you find the happiness and calmness I felt there.

Picture yourself standing on the seaside. The fire warms your hands. The ocean waves crash in the distance. Birds chirp. The fire crackles and pops. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the campfire pull away your anxiety. Focus on the soothing sound of nature. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

We used to go down to Asilomar Beach when I was a teenager. In the evening we’d get a bonfire going. Someone would usually have a six pack of beer that we somehow shared between eight people. I don’t think you can do any of that any more. It’s against the law to build a bonfire these days and I doubt the police let teenagers split a sixer. I recall being excited one of those evenings. A girl I 'liked' was coming. She’d told me she was taking anthropology over at the junior college. I had lied and told her I was doing the same. So, there may have been beer and bonfires, but it was more like a study date. It never worked out with the girl, but I did end up taking a semester of anthropology.

This Flickering Fire by Ocean Seaside Soundscape is a replica of that place. I hope by listening to it you find the happiness and calmness I felt there.

Picture yourself lying on a stone covered in thick moss. A cascading waterfall streams down into a green pool. The mist of the water caresses your face. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the waterfall pull away your anxiety. Focus on the soothing sound of nature. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

We used to go camping every other summer. We’d make the trek out to Yosemite and hike up to the falls. I was around eight years old. I remember one morning I got up early and while my dad rummaged around with the camping stove I played with a big, red ball. About thirty feet away I could see this man sitting in the lotus position facing the falls in the distance. I continued bouncing my ball. After about ten minutes the man got up, stalked up to my father, and said, “You mind shutting up your kid. Can’t you see I’m trying to meditate?”

This Waterfall Soundscape is a lot more soothing than that guy was. I hope by listening to it you find happiness and calmness.

Picture yourself marching through the thick foliage. You push aside a banana leaf to find a cascading waterfall streaming down into a green pool. Birds chirp. Insects sing. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the waterfall pull away your anxiety. Focus on the soothing sound of nature. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

We used to go camping every other summer. We’d make the trek out to Yosemite and hike up to the falls. I was around eight years old. I remember one morning I got up early and while my dad rummaged around with the camping stove I played with a big, red ball. About thirty feet away I could see this man sitting in the lotus position facing the falls in the distance. I continued bouncing my ball. After about ten minutes the man got up, stalked up to my father, and said, “You mind shutting up your kid. Can’t you see I’m trying to meditate?”

This Waterfall & Bird Song Soundscape is a lot more soothing than that guy was. I hope by listening to it you find happiness and calmness.

Picture yourself lying next to a campfire. Crickets chirp as night falls. The fire crackles and pops. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the campfire pull away your anxiety. Focus on the soothing sound of nature. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

I suppose my favorite memory of a campfire is when we celebrated Guy Fawkes Night by building a large bonfire. We were in western England near the welsh border. And we were having a bit of a fancy dress party with finger food and cider. Me and the other boys were asked to shoot off a box of fireworks. By that point in the evening we were all a bit tipsy. But somehow we managed to give the kids a good show. When we were done I grabbed the empty box. For some reason I was sure there were no more projectiles in it. I threw the box on the fire. As I marched away fireworks started shooting out of the bonfire. We all ran and dove on to the ground.

This Crackling Campfire Soundscape is a lot more soothing than that night. I hope by listening to it you find happiness and calmness.

Picture yourself sitting next to a campfire. Crickets chirp as night falls. The fire crackles and pops. You shove a marshmallow and chocolate between two gram crackers. An owl hoots. A coyote howls. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the campfire pull away your anxiety. Focus on the soothing sound of nature. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

I suppose my favorite memory of a campfire is when we celebrated Guy Fawkes Night by building a large bonfire. We were in western England near the welsh border. And we were having a bit of a fancy dress party with finger food and cider. Me and the other boys were asked to shoot off a box of fireworks. By that point in the evening we were all a bit tipsy. But somehow we managed to give the kids a good show. When we were done I grabbed the empty box. For some reason I was sure there were no more projectiles in it. I threw the box on the fire. As I marched away fireworks started shooting out of the bonfire. We all ran and dove on to the ground.

This Crackling Campfire Soundscape is a lot more soothing than that night. I hope by listening to it you find happiness and calmness.

Picture yourself hiking through the jungle. A light rain drips down from the rainforest canopy. Suddenly, the sound of thunder cracks across the valley. The rain changes to a downpour, water collecting around your boots. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the rolling thunder pull away your anxiety. Focus on the sound of the tropical rain. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

A couple years ago I was dating this girl. We both lived in Mexico at the time. In the middle of July she had to go up to Texas to clear out a storage unit and was gone for two weeks. July in Mexico is rainy season. Every other day it pours down from about 5 -7 in the evening. It’s a great time to get stuck in a bar. While she was gone I wanted to send her something to remind her of home. So, I went out into the forest and recorded a thunder storm.

This Tropical Rain & Rolling Thunder Soundscape is a replica of that sound love letter. I hope by listening to it you find happiness and calmness.

Picture yourself hiking through the jungle. A light rain drips down from the rainforest canopy. Suddenly, the sound of thunder cracks across the valley. The rain changes to a downpour, water collecting around your boots. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the rolling thunder pull away your anxiety. Focus on the sound of the tropical rain. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

A couple years ago I was dating this girl. We both lived in Mexico at the time. In the middle of July she had to go up to Texas to clear out a storage unit and was gone for two weeks. July in Mexico is rainy season. Every other day it pours down from about 5:00 to 7:00. It’s a great time to get stuck in a bar. While she was gone I wanted to send her something to remind her of home. So, I went out into the forest and recorded a thunder storm.

This Tropical Rain & Rolling Thunder Soundscape is a replica of that sound love letter. I hope by listening to it you find happiness.

and calmness.

Picture yourself lying on the beach as ocean waves crash and fill tide pools. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the sea pull away your anxiety. Focus on the sound of the ocean. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

This version has no birds or sea lions for better sleep.

Why I made this soundscape:

I started waking up at 4:00 AM this last year. It wouldn’t happen every night. Usually only a few times a week.  But the longer we were in quarantine the more I wondered if I would have a job. It wasn’t just that. I’d recently discovered I was middle-aged and the first signs of grey had begun appearing in my beard. I needed something to help me calm my mind, something to help me stop waking up in the middle of the night. A few years ago we had gone to visit my family in Monterey Bay. I remember going to this beach that was hidden away. Some of it was rocky and some was sand. The ocean would come in and fill up the tide pools. I remember sitting there thinking this is the most wonderful place. There’s no place I’d rather be.

This Ocean Waves Soundscape is a replica of that place. I hope by listening to it you find the happiness and calmness I felt there.

Picture yourself sitting on the beach as ocean waves crash and fill tide pools. Relax and close your eyes. Let the sounds of the sea pull away your anxiety. In the distance a seagull squawks, a sea lion barks, and a fog horn blows. You focus on the sound of the ocean. Your heart rate slows. Everything is calm and serene.

Why I made this soundscape:

I started waking up at 4:00 AM this last year. It wouldn’t happen every night. Usually only a few times a week.  But the longer we were in quarantine the more I wondered if I would have a job. It wasn’t just that. I’d recently discovered I was middle-aged and the first signs of grey had begun appearing in my beard. I needed something to help me calm my mind, something to help me stop waking up in the middle of the night.

A few years ago we had gone to visit my family in Monterey Bay. I remember going to this beach that was hidden away. Some of it was rocky and some was sand. The ocean would come in and fill up the tide pools. I remember sitting there thinking this is the most wonderful place. There’s no place I’d rather be.

This Ocean Waves Soundscape is a replica of that place. I hope by listening to it you find the happiness and calmness I felt there.

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