Joy isn’t frivolous. Pleasure isn’t selfish. Play isn’t something you earn after the work is done.

As Black women, we’ve been conditioned to equate worth with productivity, often at the expense of ease and delight. Reclaiming pleasure, passion, and playfulness is a revolutionary act — a practice of saying: I deserve to feel good in my body and my life, not as a reward, but as my birthright.

This Salon explores how to integrate joy into daily life as fuel for sustainable thriving, not as an escape. We’ll discuss the divine feminine archetypes, examine pleasure as both restoration and resistance, and practice giving ourselves permission to play without guilt. Summer invites us to bask, and this evening gives you permission to actually do it.

Date: Thursday, July 16, 2026

Location: Private venue in the DC metro area (exact address provided upon registration)

5:30 PM — Social Hour
Arrive into the warmth of the summer evening. Settle in with refreshments and ease into conversation.

6:30 PM — Opening & Grounding
Begin with a brief practice to drop into presence and pleasure in your body.

7:00 PM — Facilitated Conversation
Explore intentional pleasure and playful living. Discuss how to reclaim joy when we’ve been taught to prioritize seriousness and productivity, which divine feminine archetypes help us access pleasure, and how to shift the narrative from indulgence to self-care. Reflect on how passion, not just discipline, can drive ambition.

8:15 PM — Integration & Closing
Reflective practice and personal commitments to integrating pleasure into daily life.

8:30 PM — Departure

• 3-hour intimate gathering with up to 25 women

• Light refreshments and beverages

• Guided embodiment practice

• Facilitated conversation led by Esther Boykin, LMFT

• Frameworks for integrating joy as a daily practice

• Connection with women who refuse to postpone their pleasure

• You’re ready to stop treating joy like a luxury you have to earn

• You want to explore pleasure and play without guilt or performance

• You’re curious about how the divine feminine archetypes relate to passion and joy

• You seek permission to prioritize what feels good, not just what’s productive

• You want community with women who understand that play is practice, not indulgence

Space is limited to ensure an experience that is both personal and communal.

Registration opens Spring 2026. Join the waitlist to be notified when seats become available.

Cancellation & Refund Policy
Salon tickets are non-refundable. If you’re unable to attend, you may request a credit toward a future Salon by emailing us at least 7 days in advance.