Pride Month & Kintsugi : A Wellness Reflection

Building Resilience through Kintsugi

#wabisabiwednesdays

In the journey of healing and self-discovery, Pride Month and the art of Kintsugi share a deep, symbolic bond.

The month of June is globally celebrated and has been coined as “Pride Month”, a month of acceptance and celebration of all LGBTQ+ individuals around the world. You might be curious as to why the month of June is specifically chosen to celebrate this community. This goes back to the Stonewall Riots. On the 28th of June 1969, a Police raid occured at the Stonewall Inn, a well known gay club located in Greenwich Village, New York City. This sparked six full days of protests and galvanized the gay rights movement.

Stonewall Inn Gay Riots 1969

Just like how a broken vase could seem like it is at the end of its life, mending it using the method of Kintsugi gives it a second life, a life of acceptance and living, with its own journey written on its surface. The method of Kintsugi typically uses gold, a colour that draws significant attention to the object, which is ultimately what pride month is all about.

Every individual is on their own journey and is a product of where they come from. Sometimes the environment where one grows up can be harsh, and lead to some cracks. They may require more patience, and even a “Second Adolescence”, to get to a stage of self-acceptance. But just like the beautiful products of kintsugi, this can only result in a stronger version of oneself.

Kintsugi, the art of mending broken ceramics, is about giving items dear to us a second life. It breaks the constructs that one associates with the typical journey of life. Let us embrace all that we have been through and collectively look forward and give light to what we are most proud of 🏳️‍🌈!

Kintsugi, the Japanese practice of repairing broken pottery with gold, teaches that cracks are not flaws to be hidden—but stories to be honored. The object becomes more beautiful not in spite of its breaks, but because of them. This philosophy nurtures a deep sense of self-worth and resilience.

Pride Month is a celebration of LGBTQ+ identities, histories, and the long path toward visibility and acceptance. It is also a time to honor the struggles—the cracks, so to speak—that individuals and communities have endured. Coming out, facing rejection, healing from trauma, and learning to love oneself are not just personal milestones—they are acts of courage.

Together, Pride and Kintsugi remind us:

• You are whole, even when you feel broken.

• Your journey is valid, and your scars are sacred.

• Your truth is not something to cover up—it’s something to gild with gold.

Wellness is not about being unbroken; it’s about embracing all the parts of ourselves—especially the ones that have weathered the most. Just as Kintsugi transforms a broken bowl into a radiant symbol of survival, Pride transforms pain into power, and silence into celebration.

This June, let your golden seams show. 🌈

Partially written by Riya Iyer