Jesters (JA)

Jesters (JA)

12 steps

1. We admitted we were powerless over laughter, masks, and performance — that our lives had become unmanageable beneath the painted smile.

2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to genuine joy beyond performance.

3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of this Higher Power, trusting truth behind the mask.

4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of the roles we’ve played and the truths we’ve hidden.

5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our hidden pains behind the comedy.

6. Were entirely ready to have our Higher Power remove all the defenses we used to cope.

7. Humbly asked to be freed from the need to perform for acceptance.

8. Made a list of all persons we have amused, deflected, or hurt with our humor, and became willing to make amends to them all.

9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

10. Continued to take personal inventory and, when we slipped behind the mask again, promptly admitted it.

11. Sought through prayer and meditation to deepen conscious contact with our Higher Power, seeking the courage to live authentically.

12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other jesters, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

Brief Breakdown of Each Step

• Steps 1-3: We accept our condition, surrender control, and trust something greater.

• Steps 4-5: We courageously face our hidden pains and reveal them honestly.

• Steps 6-7: We become ready to release our coping mechanisms and let healing occur.

• Steps 8-9: We make amends for ways humor has wounded others or ourselves.

Steps 10-12: We live daily in truth, help others, and stay vigilant of slipping back into performance roles.

13th Step Safeguard

“We protect each other from exploitation of vulnerability. Attraction is not justification. Romance, manipulation, or unhealthy dependencies have no place here. We heal, not seduce.”

12 Traditions

1. Our common welfare comes first; genuine healing depends on honesty beyond the performance.

2. For our group purpose, there is but one ultimate authority — a Power greater than our masks.

3. The only requirement for membership is a desire to live beyond the mask.

4. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or Jesters Anonymous as a whole.

5. Each group has but one primary purpose — to carry its message to the jester still hiding.

6. Jesters Anonymous ought never endorse, finance, or lend the name to any outside enterprise, lest issues of ego divert us from truth.

7. Every group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions that come with strings attached.

8. Jesters Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional but may engage in service work.

9. Jesters Anonymous ought never be organized but may create service boards directly accountable to those they serve.

10. Jesters Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; the J.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy.

11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; anonymity is our spiritual foundation.

12. Anonymity reminds us to place principles above personalities, behind every joke stands a soul.

12 Promises

1. We will know joy not dependent on audience approval.

2. We will accept who we are without needing the mask.

3. Fear of vulnerability will lose its grip on us.

4. We will learn to speak truth without hiding behind humor.

5. We will develop genuine connections with others.

6. Shame will no longer drive our performances.

7. We will recognize the difference between healthy humor and harmful deflection.

8. Inner peace will replace the constant need for applause.

9. We will trust our Higher Power with our real emotions.

10. Self-worth will no longer be tied to laughter we produce.

11. We will find balance between playfulness and honesty.

12. We will freely give to others what was given to us: freedom behind the painted face.

Slogans

• “Behind every joke is a truth.”

• “It’s okay to cry when the show is over.”

• “No mask today.”

• “Laughter isn't always healing — but truth always is.”

• “We are not our performance.”

• “Speak the truth that needs no punchline.”

Acronyms

MASK

• Manipulating

• Attention

• Soothing

• Keeping distance

LAUGH

• Letting

• All

• Unguarded

• Genuine

Healing

creation of