Every year on June 19th, Americans celebrate Juneteenth, the day freedom finally reached Galveston, Texas, in 1865. More than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, the news arrived. What began as a Texas tradition has grown into a national holiday and an invitation for all Americans to reflect on freedom, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of a more just society.

As a Fort Worth-based wellness brand, Juneteenth holds special meaning for us. Not only was Juneteenth born in Texas, but Fort Worth is also home to Opal Lee, affectionately known as the "Grandmother of Juneteenth." Through decades of advocacy, education, and community organizing, Ms. Lee helped ensure that Juneteenth received the national recognition it deserved. Her work is a reminder that meaningful change often begins with ordinary people who choose to take extraordinary action.

A personal reflection on identity

As the founder of Ensō Apothecary, Juneteenth also invites me to reflect on my own journey of identity and belonging.

Like many Americans, I spent much of my life accepting the stories I was told about my ancestry. Over the years, I began researching my family history more deeply,  and what I discovered challenged many of my assumptions and inspired me to ask new questions about lineage, heritage, and identity.

My maternal genealogy traces to this land as early as the 1200s, and my paternal lineage can be documented here by the 1500s. Those discoveries encouraged me to explore my roots beyond modern labels and to think more deeply about what it means to belong to a place, a people, and a history.

Every family has a story worth remembering.

The meaning behind the Juneteenth flag

One of the most recognized symbols of Juneteenth is the Juneteenth flag, created by activist Ben Haith in 1997. Its colors were intentionally chosen to reflect that Juneteenth is an American story, and each element carries its own meaning. Learn more about the flag's history and symbolism here.

This year, we created our own Ensō-inspired tribute to the Juneteenth flag using the woven texture of our Red and Blue Ensō Sapō™. The image serves as a reminder that freedom, healing, and community are woven together over time,  just as individual threads create a strong and beautiful fabric, generations of people, stories, and experiences come together to shape who we are.

The tradition of red

Many Juneteenth celebrations feature red foods and beverages,  red velvet cake, watermelon, red soda. The color red has long symbolized resilience, sacrifice, strength, and joy. In our interpretation, the Red Ensō Sapō honors these traditions while also representing the Root Chakra, the energy center associated with grounding, stability, belonging, and identity.

The Root Chakra reminds us to stay connected to our foundations and to honor the people and places that shaped us. Our Blue Ensō Sapō represents the Third Eye Chakra, associated with intuition, awareness, and insight. While the Root Chakra grounds us in who we are, the Third Eye encourages us to seek understanding, ask questions, and remain open to learning.

Juneteenth, genealogy, and the power of knowing

For many Black Americans, Juneteenth is more than a historical holiday, it is an opportunity to reconnect with family history. Across the country, descendants of American Freedmen are researching census records, land records, military records, oral histories, and family documents to better understand their roots.

Genealogy is a powerful tool for healing and self-discovery. It reminds us that history is not something distant or abstract. It lives within our families, our communities, and the stories passed from one generation to the next. Whether you identify as Foundational Black American, African American, American Freedman, Indigenous American, or simply as an American seeking to learn more about your heritage, Juneteenth offers an opportunity to reflect on the people and experiences that helped shape our nation.

Freedom as a wellness practice

At Ensō, we believe self-care is more than skincare. Self-care is creating space to reflect. Self-care is preserving family stories. Self-care is honoring those who came before us, and caring for our bodies, our minds, and our communities.

Juneteenth reminds us that freedom is not simply a historical event. It is a living practice that requires remembrance, education, compassion, and courage.

As we celebrate this Juneteenth, here are a few ways to honor the day in whatever way feels meaningful to you:

• Learn a new piece of history
• Call an elder
• Document a family story
• Support Opal Lee's ongoing work through Opal's Walk for Freedom
• Take a mindful walk
• Create a moment of reflection
• Make time to care for yourself

Because healing, like freedom, is a journey.