letters to the mood board for june
setting intentions for june
🌈your june mood board🌈
It’s June!! The first month of summer — though it’s still spring for a couple weeks… even though… is it really? It’s been in the 90s most days this week, so maybe we can call it summer.
To recap, here was our May bucket list:
What things did you check off your bucket list? Did you do everything? (I certainly didn’t!) Did you do anything?
In May, I went to the botanical gardens with my film camera, I went to the farmer’s market, I sent someone a postcard, I bought myself a couple of bouquets from Trader Joe’s, and I deep-cleaned my office. I am still every much wanting to have a picnic, thrift a new dress, and drink my lavender lemonade, so as a heads-up… those will be repeating this month!
My May was busy! Looking back at my month, I am astonished on how quickly it flew by. I survived my dreaded first Mother’s Day post my mom’s passing (and even had a few spiritual and emotional “aha” moments about it). I got to meet Amy Tan at the Santa Fe Literary Festival, as well as hear from authors such as Miranda July, Gabrielle Zevin, and Terry Tempest Williams. I was led in an in-person meditation by Roshi Joan Halifax. I attended a birthday celebration, two graduation ceremonies, read too many books (in preparation for the festival), hosted in-laws, and celebrated Beltane at my UU church.
Isn’t that what the spring and summer months are for, though? As much as I love the deep stillness and sacred solitude of winter, and the regenerative death and comfort of autumn, spring and summer are the times when our souls are meant to jump alive. It’s the time when we gather with people, stay out late, savoring desserts on patios or listening to live music at the park. It’s for driving with the windows open, the hot air hitting our tender skin quick enough that it cools us down. It’s for hosting dinners in the backyard and lazy conversations in the middle of the day.
I’ve never particularly liked summer — the heat makes me feel feral and stretched thin. I don’t have the stamina to soldier through like others around me. I need a break, goddamn it. Can’t you see I’m just a girl in desperate need of a fan?!
Sorry for the outburst up there, I have since moved to the shade and am feeling much better.
Anyway.
This year, I am excited for summer. Ever since I put an intentional effort to live with the seasons, I have found that it gets easier and easier to appreciate every turn of the Wheel of the Year. I no longer cling to the seasons I like the most or try to run from the ones I don’t (I’m looking at you, summer).
Last year was the first year that I started making seasonal bucket lists. Here is my bucket list for last summer (and my Pinterest board if you’re curious):
Having a seasonal bucket list and mood board is sooo helpful for the existential dread of it all.
without further ado, here’s your june inspiration!
🌈the vision:
🌈the list:
Go! To! The! Library!!!! Get a library card if you don’t have one. Even if you never use it, just opening a library account is a huge help to libraries. And, if you like audiobooks and/or have a Kindle, then the Libby app will be a great help to you and your budget!
Do one art project. It doesn’t have to be fancy or aesthetic. Color in a coloring book, doodle in a notebook, make something from air dry clay, get a craft kit, paint with your fingers, play with pipe cleaners — anything! You don’t have to be “a good artist” to play with art and have fun. Even more fun: invite a friend to do art with you at a park or by a river.
Have your glass of lemonade, or maybe order or make a special cocktail or mocktail.
Go to your favorite local coffee shop (or try a new one!) (not Starbucks), and try out a drink on their seasonal specialty menu. These drinks are never my favorites, but they are tasty and fun, and get me in the spirit of the season. Plus, it’s fun to see how my favorite baristas are embracing their creativity!
Find outdoor music. This shouldn’t be hard; most cities should have some sort of music in the park series during the summer.
Go on a lovely picnic, solo, or with someone else. It can be as simple as grabbing a sandwich from the grocery store and a bottle of water and sitting on an old towel, or it can be as elaborate as packing a picnic basket with wine glasses and a cheese board. Bring a book, cards, art, your dog, or just yourself and relax.
Go thrifting for one specific item. I want to find a summer dress that can be my staple of my summer outfits.
If you celebrate (or are just a great ally), find a pride event to go to! You can watch the parade, or go to one of the many events your city probably (hopefully) has this month. This is an important time to show either pride in your community, or show your support for the LGBTQ+ community around you. Attend drag events, too, if possible, to show your support — and they’re really fun and their artistry is unmatched.
Have chocolate-covered strawberries. Yum.
Go to a museum. Just one! A free one at that! An acceptable alternative is to find a book reading by a local or visiting author and attend, even if you haven’t read their work.
Play a board game with a loved one. You can bring it to your picnic, the coffee shop for your specialty drink, or to live music!
Do something to celebrate the summer solstice — don’t worry, I’ll share some ideas soon!
comment your bucket list <3
it’s still spring for three more weeks!
