The September Joy Challenge for those who are over the nonsense of it all.
⚠️ Fair Warning: If you don't like swearing, there's going to be some swearing. Just heads up. ⚠️
Hey Beautiful Human,
I've been thinking about this Challenge for a hot minute, and I kept thinking "is it too much?" Which is literally THE WHOLE POINT of what we're doing in September, a “F*ck it, Why not, We Need It” Joy Challenge.
Y'all, the nihilism is STRONG lately. The world is getting caught in the crossfire when we think "does it really matter?" And I keep coming back to this: How do I want to feel when I'm 80 and look back at how I showed up during this time? How do I want to feel when I sleep at night?
We're letting go of the things that make us human in sacrifice of the bigger things happening. But it actually sacrifices our energetic battery, our vitality, and our community because we're tired and exhausted and burned out.
But joy? Joy is that refreshment. It's that refueling, and it’s the first thing we scrap when we don’t want to take up too much space.
Here's the thing...
We keep thinking "Oh, but what will they think?"
But I realize when I at least say that, those same people disagree with me politically about SO many things. If their fundamental beliefs about how the world should work are drastically different than mine, should I be taking their opinions of my actions to heart? They might be kind people I love, but are their values in line with what I know in my bones? (Maybe you’ve been navigating this too).
I've gotten emails telling me I'm bringing people to hell, that my soul is damned, that I should close my business immediately. This was my biggest fear for the longest time to receive those words, and when I did…
You know what happened? I didn't die. My mentor asked me: "Did it change your mind about the work you're meant to do?"
Absolutely not. For every 1 email I got telling me I was wrong, I had 15 women grateful for the work I did.
When I burned out after taking care of everyone else and neglecting myself, you know how much capacity I had to help the world? Less than 0, the bitterness and rage was real and I felt hollow.
I thought mutual suffering would bond me with others, instead it carved me out and left me empty and unable to help in the ways I wanted to. Joy and soul tending and alignment brought me back to life, and brought me back into living alongside people again, to be with others on equal footing.
When I have conversations with people going through rough patches, they mention how joy encourages them, how they did something good for themselves and felt better, and that they appreciate the reminders. People enjoy comedy, or sunsets, and ren faires for the same reason, it refreshes us. Our joy isn’t shameful, it can be shame-lessening, and it actually makes more space for the spectrum of feeling, IF we allow it.
But it’s a practice, and in a world telling you you are too much, and not enough simultaneously, and an internet ready to pile on at a second’s notice, it can lead to second-guessing, and buttoning up, when really, the world needs us yodeling our soul songs in all the ways possible.
This is not shrinking times, this is light it up times.
Burn it down. And bring what your soul is actually here to bring.
The Permission Slip You've Been Waiting For
The people who wear red lipstick are the people who put red lipstick on their face. They then become a person who wears red lipstick.
The same goes for joy. You can be a person of joy by doing things that bring you joy, and then you are a person of joy.
It's choosing it, not feeling it. The feeling comes when you step into it.
Are you willing to choose? Are you willing to practice joy? Unhinged delight? Speaking your heart, and trusting your nudge?
Let me be ultra clear about who this September challenge is for: it’s for the ones who see the magic in this world, the ones who are exasperated with this world AND still want to frolic in the forest with friends. It’s for those who want justice and peace in this world, and who might be a little neurospicy.
It’s for the ones who want to howl at the moon and also raise money for kids in Palestine.
It’s for people who crave both fire and delight, activism and joy, rage and wonder.
If that doesn’t resonate, that’s okay—there are plenty of other spaces you may love…but I’d bet if you are reading this, then a part of you is curious, is longing for this… here’s your permission slip, your dare…come join us. Let your wild out for once. Breathe in deep for once. Laugh loudly for once.
Because if you’re looking for a circle of vibrant, feisty humans who will cheer you on while you step into your spark, this is where you want to be.
If you’re like, yep I need this like french toast at 2 am on my period. Sign me the f*ck up immediately, then you are in luck!
There are four tiers you can choose to participate. The Free version will have our group zooms, worksheets, Outfit of the Day, Glimmer posts, journal prompts and more!
If you're feeling called to deeper support with group accountability or personal coaching, you can choose the $33, $111, or $333 tier! 80% of the proceeds go to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund . (Payment plans are available upon request).
Meet your guide
Hi, I’m Aj, the Joy Weaver
An Intuitive Soul Coach, henna artist, and glitter enthusiast who believes joy isn't selfish - it's essential fuel for showing up in this wild world. I'm also a hot chocolate connoisseur, military spouse in Mississippi with two pups and way too many houseplants, and the author of Red Thread: Weaving an Embodied Life of Joy.
I created this challenge because I've been watching too many of us drop our joy like it's a luxury we can't afford. But here's the thing - when we deny ourselves the things that make us feel alive, we're actually sacrificing our capacity to show up for what matters most.
This isn't about toxic positivity or pretending everything's fine. This is about remembering that taking care of yourself, doing things that light you up, and choosing joy are acts of resistance. It's about asking "Fuck it, why not?" when that voice in your head says you're too old, too young, too much, or not enough.
Over the last 15 years of leading Red Tents, retreats, and workshops internationally, I've seen what happens when people give themselves permission to step into their full selves. The ripple effects are extraordinary.
So this September, we're doing the soul work together. We're identifying what stories are holding us back from joy, reconnecting with what we actually like (because so many people don't even know!), and rewriting the scripts that keep us small.
Whether you're someone who needs tangible tools (because "just breathe" makes you want to scream "HOW though?!") or you're ready to dive deep into the messy, beautiful work of choosing yourself - this challenge has space for you.
We're going full onion, my friends, because we’ve got layers. And I couldn't be more excited.
Ready to remember what makes life worth living?
Hands at your back, let’s sing our soul songs,
Aj
I’m a hot and ready fiesty joy potato. I’m in!
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🚧 What Are Your Barriers to Joy?
What stories are holding you back?
"I can't have it because..." - let's unpack that
Who did these beliefs come from? Do you want to keep them?
✨ What Do You Actually Like?
So many people don't know (and that's okay!)
Getting in tune with your life force
🎭 Soul Work & Story Rewriting
What is your soul trying to tell you?
The stories we tell ourselves about being "too old," "too young," "too much"
Freedom is available. You can rewrite the script.
🔥 Life Force & Vitality
Soul care basics, and actually doing them.
When do you come alive?
What makes you feel like YOU?
And so much more. Why joy is revolutionary, why our joy is needed in this absurd world now more than ever, and why taking yourself too seriously is draining you more than you think.
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Remember the gay clubbers in the 90s during the AIDS crisis? "We bury our friends during the day, we do our work, we dance at night so we have energy to keep going."
The dancing, the joy - it's vital to our vitality.
When I take time for joy, when someone calls with a problem, I have capacity to hold space. When I don't? It's like "Girl, I don't know, good luck, good night."
Joy gives us capacity to show up for what matters. And you’ve been putting on the list that everyone else matters but you…so it’s time to flip that script. We’re done just falling, we will be flying, or falling with style in Buzz Lightyear vibes.
Either way, you know there’s more. Let’s explore it.
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FREE (Everything You Need)
All Zoom calls & recordings in Embodied In Joy
Worksheets and guides
Community support
Email reminders for all the things
$33 - GROUP CHAT ACCOUNTABILITY
WhatsApp Chat group
Daily check-ins and support
$111 - PERSONAL COACHING
Everything above PLUS
Two one-on-one Zoom calls with me
Deep dive into YOUR specific joy barriers
$333 - FULL SUPPORT (Only 4 Spots)
Everything above PLUS
WhatsApp support with me 5 days a week for the entire month
This is your chance to get a deal that doesn't normally exist
80% of all proceeds will go to Palestine Children’s Relief Fund
Want to know more?
You know you want to. And you don’t have to be loud about it.
You don’t have to tell anyone (but you can) but this is a chance, in community to rewrite the scripts, dig in, put on our sparkle vests, and be like..ya’ll, we need more cowbell, more justice, more snacks, and more dancing, and by George, we’re gonna get it.
Let’s make some magic, my friend. Choose what level feels nourishing, and you can upgrade to a different tier later if you desire!
Ready to Say "F*ck It, Why Not?"
We are going full out in September, and I'm SO excited. It is okay to admit you want to be happy. You want joy. You want connection.
We live in a world where it feels almost “wrong” to lean into joy — like how dare we laugh, dance, or rest while everything is so heavy. But here’s the truth: joy isn’t frivolous. It’s fuel.
When you feel alive, resourced, and connected to wonder, you actually expand your capacity to show up — for yourself, for your people, for the world.
And if that's true, then what's our game plan for it? Not sure? (The answer is the F*ck it, Why Not, We Need It Joy Challenge, where we will literally MAKE your game plan for it).
P.S. - There will be prizes for people who participate and invite friends. Because why not make it even MORE fun?
PPS. Bring your maracas, red lipstick, and sparkles, (or whatever makes you happy to wear and shake) it’s gonna be fun!
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