July 2025 Ritual: The Unbinding

Theme: Release, Reclaim, Rewire
Intention: Let go of old wine “rules” (and life constraints), and invite in radical permission to enjoy what you actually like.

Esme: "There are forces—both subtle and shouted—that tell you how you should live, love, eat, drink, and feel. July is not the month to obey them. July is for heat and desire, for sticky hands and barefoot dancing. For throwing off the too-tight expectations that never really fit you anyway. This month, we unbind."

The Ritual: The Unbinding

You Will Need:

• A bottle of red wine meant to be served chilled (like a juicy Frappato, Gamay, or Carbonic Sangiovese)

• A ribbon, string, or scrap of fabric

• A bowl of ice water or a body of cold water (yes, a kiddie pool or bathtub counts)

• A journal or piece of paper and a pen

• Candle or incense (optional)

Step 1: Set the Scene
Choose a time when the sun is high or just setting—heat still hanging in the air. Light a candle or incense if you’d like. Chill your red wine (go ahead, break the rule). Pour yourself a glass.

Step 2: The Bindings
Hold the ribbon or string in your hands. Reflect on the internal rules or external pressures that have been holding you back. Not just in wine, but in pleasure. In freedom. In self-expression.

Write down a few of them. Esme suggests prompts like:

• "I’ve been told I’m too much when I..."

• "I thought I wasn’t allowed to..."

• "I always follow the rule that..."

Step 3: The Break
Take your ribbon and tie one loose knot for each rule you wrote down. Then, dunk the whole thing into your bowl of ice water (or throw it into the cold water source if you're feeling bold).

Say aloud or silently:

“I dissolve these bindings. I choose joy, heat, and liberation instead.”

Let the ribbon soak while you sip your chilled red. Let it feel a little rebellious.

Step 4: The Reclaiming
Write 1-3 statements of rebellion and reclamation. Esme suggests mantras like:

• “I drink what I love. No permission needed.”

• “My joy is sacred. My pleasure is power.”

• “Rules are suggestions, not commandments.”

Hang one where you’ll see it this month.

Step 5: The Chill
Take a moment to cool down—whether that’s plunging your hands into the ice water, stepping into a lake, or taking a chilled sip. Let it symbolize the sensation of choosing what feels good, not what’s prescribed.

Close the Ritual
Remove the ribbon and untie the knots one by one. Burn it (safely) or bury it if you wish. Or just throw it away with a smile. You’re unbound now.