June Rituals and Recommendations
Books, beverages, and retreat ideas for under the Strawberry Moon
In our new book, Rebel Wisdom, June is the month of expansion.
“June’s Strawberry Moon rises hot and full, pulling us into the peak of the year, and ourselves. It marks the summer solstice, the longest day, the most light, the most you.” —Rebel Wisdom: Creative Writing and Rituals for Women at Midlife
So for our new Rituals and Recommendations column, we’re sharing things that bring more light, color, taste, pleasure into the month.
Paintings large enough to stand inside.
A moonlit collection of photographs.
A place to soak in the desert.
A summer beer from women brewers.
Plus, for a wild lark: a retreat in Southern France.
To see: Helen Frankenthaler in Chelsea
If you are in New York before July 2, go see Helen Frankenthaler: The Moment and the Distance at Gagosian (522 West 21st Street, New York, NY).
The exhibition brings together more than twenty of Frankenthaler’s largest paintings, made between 1960 and 1992. There is also a beautiful catalogue coming out, Helen Frankenthaler: The Moment and the Distance.
To look into: Marianne Bernstein’s Dark Side of the Moon
Marianne Bernstein’s new photography collection, Dark Side of the Moon has captivated us with its moody astronomical images, slippery self portraits, and medical scans. The inner and outer world fuse, then feather outward, inviting the imagination to see these photos in conversation with each other and with us, as viewers.
Kelsey Halliday Johnson writes in her essay about this project: “The dark side of the moon always turns toward what we cannot reach, a perennial companion orbiting half in secrecy.” Pick up a copy, and dream your way into these images by writing about them. When and how do your inner and outer world orbit each other?
To soak: Ojo Santa Fe
This June, Aimée just hosted a community-engaged writing retreat at Ojo Santa Fe, with a small circle of writers, educators, artists, and community practitioners.
We gathered for writing, conversation, and ritual, including a walk around the medicine wheel. Ojo offers mineral springs, high desert landscapes, cottonwoods, quiet paths, and space to nurture writing, creativity, and community. Bookmark it for when you need a deep soak and some creative time away.
To sip: women-brewed beer in Amsterdam
If you find yourself in The Netherlands, look for our favorite fermented find of the summer: Bloesen Blond, from Gebrouwen Door Vrouwen (literally, “Brewed by Women”). Tenaya is still thinking about this cold pour, brewed by two Dutch sisters.
Their 6.2% blond is brewed with elderflowers. Crisp and gently floral, it manages to be wildly refreshing and flavorful without tasting like a bath bomb. Picture skinny-dipping in a pond with a constellation of elderflowers floating on the surface.
To explore: Haven in France Immersion Retreat (JULY 1-7, 2026)
Mutual friend Cécile Gallet of the relocation service Haven in France is hosting an intimate July immersion week in Southwest France for Americans who are seriously considering a move to France. The week combines small-group sessions, daily private one-to-one guidance from Cécile Gallet, founder of Haven in France, plus expert sessions with a bilingual French notaire and a CPA specializing in French and American tax matters. Participants leave with a personalized 6 to 12-month roadmap to help them prepare their move with greater clarity, confidence and realism.
Accommodation is included in a peaceful countryside house with a swimming pool, walks in nature, and private chef moments designed to bring the French art de vivre to life. This is not a tourist retreat, but a high-touch, practical and cultural experience for people who are dreaming of France and want grounded expert guidance before making major decisions.
A midsummer question
In our June chapter, we write:
“After years of measuring your worth by productivity, it’s time to remember: pleasure is fuel.”
So this month, we’re asking:
What is giving you more pleasure, color, or light right now?
Tell us what you’d add to June’s Rituals and Recommendations.