STRAWBERRY MOON

Rituals, Reflection, Remedies & Recipes inspired by the Magic of Bees

The gravitation pull of the Strawberry Moon encourages us to pause, reflect and reconnect with the natural world. Explore its meaning, create your own full moon ritual and discover the sweet connection between the moon, honeybees and their sweet nectar.

This post was originally written during a very particular moment in time. In June 2020, the world was experiencing profound uncertainty and unrest, forcing us to sit and reflect. The original words came from that moment - a call to listen, learn, look closely at ourselves and consider the part we each play in creating change.

“The month of June is sure to bring us all some clarity and guidance. With all the unrest we are seeing at the moment and the struggles the BAME communities are facing, we are at a potential turning point in many people's lives. As the moon reaches its full phase, the world is beginning to truly wake up. Let's use the energy and amalgamation of emotions to set real intentions and figure out who WE want to be. WE need to take control and steer our lives with purpose. WE need to enrich the world with the positive power of thoughts, actions and impact. The events WE are going through are not random. There are different levels of perceptions right now so learn and absorb. Listen with intent. Take a hard look at yourself and see the ways that history, your upbringing and your society have influenced and formed you. Stay vigilant and stoic. Just like Mama Moon, the only thing that is constant is change and WE must go through these powerful phases. Grow, be part of that change.” - Moni, June 2020

As I update this blog, it's June 2025. 5 years later, those reflections still feel relevant.

The world continues to move through powerful cycles of change, just as the moon moves through hers. There are moments of growth, illumination, release and renewal. But there has also been waves of collective grief, suffering, loss and sadness. 

What is the Strawberry Moon?

The Strawberry Moon is the name traditionally given to the full moon that falls in June.

Despite its delicious name, the moon does not necessarily appear strawberry pink or red. The name is associated with the seasonal ripening of strawberries and the arrival of the summer harvest.

Strawberry Moon is connected to the abundance of early summer.
Gardens begin to swell with life. Wildflowers are alive with colour. Bees move from bloom to bloom, gathering nectar and pollen. The natural world feels busy, generous and full of possibility.

Reap the seeds you have sown

The Strawberry Moon arrives at a time of ripening.
Seeds of action and change planted earlier in the year have begun their transformation. 

The original version of this post was written at a time when many of us were forced to look at the world around us - and at ourselves. Those words remain part of this story.

“Love is nothing without action. Trust is nothing without proof. And sorry is nothing without change.”

Reflection is important, but reflection without action can easily become another way of standing still.

A Strawberry Moon ritual :  Reflection and Renewal

A full moon ritual does not need to be complicated or mystical to be meaningful. Sometimes a ritual is simply the act of creating space to pay attention.

To sit quietly.
To journal honestly.
To notice what is flourishing in your life and what needs attention.

You do not need anything elaborate to mark the full moon. The most meaningful rituals are often the simplest.

Find somewhere you can be undisturbed, whether that is in your garden, beside an open window or in a quiet corner of your home.

Light a beeswax candle, sit with a cup of herbal tea, sweetened with honey.
Reflect. Retreat. Release. Repeat.

Make your own dipped beeswax candles infused with botanical plant magic and layered with intention. Or learn about Bee rituals inspired by the hive.

A Strawberry Moon Remedy: Fermenting Fruit with Honey 

As a beekeeper, I can't think about summer abundance without thinking about the bees. Honey is, in many ways, a record of a landscape. And beeswax stored memory of the land the bees forage from. Explore our British honey collection and discover the different flavours created by bees, blossoms and the landscape.

Honey has long been associated with sweetness, abundance and the gifts of the hive. The Strawberry Moon is a beautiful time to work with the abundance of early summer — strawberries ripening in the garden, flowers opening in the hedgerows, and bees moving from blossom to blossom, gathering the sweetness of the season.

Preparing your honey-fermented fruit

This simple honey fermentation is a way of capturing some of that abundance while harnessing the power of the moon. A ritual of sweetness, patience and transformation.

There is something magical about placing fresh summer fruit into a jar, covering it with golden honey and then simply waiting. Over the following days, the fruit softens, the honey loosens and the flavours deepen as natural fermentation begins.

Strawberries are particularly beautiful for the Strawberry Moon, but ripe raspberries, cherries, apricots, peaches, plums, pears or other seasonal fruits can all be used.

Honey needs additional moisture in order to ferment. Summer fruit naturally contains plenty of water, making it a wonderful partner for honey.

Simply fill a clean jar approximately two-thirds full with fruit, then cover the fruit completely with honey.

A runny honey is easiest to use because it flows naturally around the fruit. If you only have set honey, gently loosen it with a little warm water or a small amount of fruit juice.

For fruits with less moisture, such as cranberries, you can add one or two teaspoons of freshly squeezed orange juice or apple juice to help provide the additional liquid needed for fermentation.

There is no need to become too precise. Remedies are designed to utilise what is available in your immediate vicinity. Softer fruits such as strawberries and ripe summer stone fruits will generally ferment more quickly. Firmer fruits such as rhubarb may take longer. Smaller fruits and pieces will also soften more quickly than larger, whole pieces.

Over approximately one to two weeks, fermentation will begin to transform the fruit and honey. Check the jar regularly and follow safe fermentation practices; if you see mould or anything looks or smells unpleasant or unusual, discard it.

Let the moon remind you to be patient

The beauty of fermentation is that you cannot force it. Spoon the fermented fruit over yoghurt, porridge, ice cream or a summer dessert, or simply enjoy a little on its 

Without bees, so much of our summer abundance would look very different.

And without the patient work of the hive, there would be no honey to begin this ritual with.

The Strawberry Moon is a celebration of sweetness.

A Strawberry Moon Recipe: Floral Vinegars

Alternatively, if you prefer something more savoury to capture the magic of the season, check out my Elderflower Vinegar recipe to honour the energy of the Strawberry Moon.

Elderflower vinegar

Gather a few bunches of elderflowers full of pollen. Best collected on a sunny morning.
Inspect and remove any buggies.
Remove stems and place flowers in a sterilised jar.
Add a sprig of rosemary (or any herb), a few peppercorns,
1 tbsp of sugar, and 1/2 tsp of salt.
Fill the jar with red wine vinegar (or any light vinegar) and avoid malty vinegars.
Seal and shake the jar, then leave it in a cool, dark place for 3 weeks.
Once ready, strain your vinegar and enjoy it in salad dressings, roasted veggies, or my favourite: drizzled over lightly sugared strawberries and raspberries. 🍓✨

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Learn from the hive

Bees have been a source of fascination, folklore and inspiration for centuries.

They teach us about cooperation, resilience, communication and our relationship with the natural world. Working with bees has also taught me the importance of observation.

If you would like to explore this connection further, our Magic of Bees Rituals Workshop explores the folklore, history and enduring relationship between humans and bees through intentional crafts and rituals.

Explore our collection of British honey, handcrafted beeswax candles and bee-inspired rituals and workshops, and find your own ways to slow down, reconnect and create a little more magic in everyday life.

Moni Dajee — Apiarist, artist and alchemist. Exploring the magic of bees, plants and Mama Earth