Curated and considered June recommendations
Hello you
I’m halfway through my month long solo trip now and am writing to you from a tiny airbnb in Tokyo, Japan. It’s a city I felt unsure about visiting or how long I should stay for fear of overwhelm, but it’s captured my heart. Soft, nostalgic and surprisingly quiet I can’t wait to wake up each morning and head out to explore.
If Bali took me deep into healing and my heart chakra (more on this soon), then Japan is taking me deep into my creativity, the place I long for most - where I enjoy the process, savour each moment and let the flow state come. The attention to detail here is truly impressive and I’m learning so much I can’t wait to bring into my work, but for now I wanted to share what’s been adding value in June.
Beth Kempton’s Wabi Sabi is a slow intentional living classic I revisited ahead of my time in Japan. It’s so beautifully written and has an abundance of wisdom on crafting a perfectly imperfect simple life using Japanese wisdom.
The Elegance Of The Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery is a beautiful novel set in a Parisian apartment building told through the eyes of a genius child. It’s about art, loneliness and the small hidden beauties of life. I listened to it slowly. It reminded me that elegance lives in thoughtfulness and that connection blooms in the most unexpected places. It’s a great summer read (or listen) option.
Camille Styles’ The Summer Glow Up: How To Channel Your Future Self Now leans into subtle shifts, tending to your rituals, embodying softness and leading with calm intuitive confidence. It’s a beautiful reminder that our future selves are already within us, just waiting to be cultivated and brought to life.
The Confidence To Rest by Lauren Van Den Berg is a reminder that slowing down is falling behind. This essay is exactly what we need to collectively rise in a new culture where rest is a natural exhale and we redefine what progress means - especially on days that call for stillness.
Your Growth May Challenge Others And That’s Ok by Morgan Harper Nichols is a gentle poetic truth telling. This one is for anyone who’s growing in new ways and noticing the ripple effects. It’s a reminder that your healing doesn’t have to make sense to everyone.
My latest letter on Simple Slow Living In Married Life vs Single Life is the much requested follow up to the post I wrote about what I stopped doing to simplify and slow down my life.
This Goddess Energy playlist has been a beautiful listen for slow mornings in Bali and walks on the beach. I love how immersive the song choices are. Listen when you need to rise a little taller, walk a little slower and remember who you are. It’s full of strength, divine feminine vocals and rhythmic grounding.
Coffee Break French is a new favourite podcast I’ve been enjoying to help with my language learning. I love how clear and simple it is as well as the short digestible format.
I’ve been feeling very focused on nurturing my business in new directions lately and found myself returning to my favourite creative business podcast - Your Simple And Spacious Business by Jen Carrington. Every time I listen, I release an elongated out breath that feels so calming and reassuring. Jen speaks about business with such clarity and calm, like a friend who truly gets what path your on.
Linjer is a brand I’ve been working with a lot recently and I can’t recommend their pieces enough. You can see my latest additions and how I style them in this vlog. There’s a special discount code for you too.
Hunza G is my go to swimwear brand and the black swimsuit I invested in four years ago now is still the only one I feel I need. I love their chic colour choices and how each style is one size as well as stretchy for flattering comfort.
Grand Maison Paris is a film I watched on the plane and loved. One for lovers of slow burn drama and French kitchens. It’s about mastery, obsession and what it costs to chase excellence, in Paris as an outsider no less. Thought provoking and visually rich.
Babygirl is another plane watch I enjoyed, though I feel I’m a little late to the party as I know it was trending a while ago now. It’s tender, moody and cinematically powerful. An in depth exploration of female sexuality, power and conflict. Who better than Nicole Kidman as our guide.
And Just Like That is back for a third season and I binge watched all the episodes in Bali. It only gets better.
My latest vlogs on Bali travels are live over on YouTube.
Time in Bali depended my love of yoga in a way I never expected. I was attending classes most days with Alchemy which I’d highly recommend but for at home sessions I’ve been loving this flow with Adrienne on Youtube
Breathwork is something I tried for the first time last year and I attended another class in Bali which was equally valuable. It’s amazing how alive laying on your back and breathing to instructions can make you feel. My session was with Jun Jared who you can find here but I’ve also subscribed to Breathe With Sandy for a variety of at home options.
Long solo wanders have been my go to medicine. I was recently asked if I ever worry about getting lost in a place I don’t know and my answer was - never, I love getting lost on purpose as a practice in surrender as long as I feel safe. No destination, no agenda; just me, quiet backstreets (or jungle paths) and my thoughts. This is where I come back to myself one step at a time. Bali and Japan have both felt incredibly safe as a solo female traveller.
Sun Bum sunscreen is what I’ve been using and loving for solo beach days. The spy 50 protection and formula are both robust as well as gentle and the spray feature means I don’t have to ask anyone to apply it to my back for me.
I picked up a fresh bottle of Aesop’s geranium leaf expedient hand gel in Tokyo this week. It smells deliciously floral and is a firm staple in my bag, especially when I’m navigating a city.
Oribe gold lust shampoo and conditioner were my travel size hair treats of choice for this trip. I’m not sure I’d spend on the full size versions regularly but I’ve been enjoying the luxury on the go.
A thought to leave you with…
This is the midpoint of the year; a moment to pause, to check in and ask
Am I still aligned with what I set out to call in?
What’s shifted for me? What’s continuing to call me forwards?
My word of the year is still flow - not always easy for me to embody but one that’s got me questioning how it would feel to live like a wave.
How is your word of the year going? If you want to join our solstice journaling session and you’re a paid subscriber you can watch the replay here. Thank you to everyone who took part. It was the most beautiful hour of intuitive expression, celebration and homecoming.
Speak soon, lots of love
Jessica xxx
Thank you again loved reading your recommendations 😍