The Return Querido Diario: I began teaching my unique Extreme Visual Journaling workshops that combine journal writing with art making in a book of self reflection and expression in 1997 based on a process I developed in 1991. This soon led to facilitating in depth retreats around the United States and in 2004 I happily discovered Sam Leonard and Hacienda Mosaico, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Here is where I blossomed, not just as an instructor, but as an artist of inner vision. Here is where I have led my favorite retreats and met the most remarkable of visionary women. Here is where, as an instructor, I find my own sanctuary and replenish my creative well. It has been 4 years since I taught at Hacienda Mosaico.

In the meantime, I developed Destiny Voyages and traveled with visual journaling groups to Greece, Key West, and Egypt. But my heart has been calling me back to a paradise in Mexico... Hacienda Mosaico: my womb of care and creativity welcomes me back. I hope you will join me in this work of self discovery, transformation, and healing through art and words, because when the soul needs retreat, and she knows where her soul home is, then it is time to go...

Welcome Distant Travelers & Seekers:
In this five day self discovery retreat learn the internationally recognized creative process of Extreme Visual Journalism, designed by Juliana Coles, that will enable you to explore your inner world of dreams and visions and give voice to a personal mythology. Create with others to motivate your ideas and learn the art of self expression in a supportive community. No prior art, sketching or writing experience necessary to participate in a retreat filled with guided Extreme Visual Journaling assignments that combine journal writing with art making in the safe container of a blank book or journal. Enjoy creating, reflecting & relaxing while being gently held in the magical, inspirational and soul enriching surroundings of Hacienda Mosaico: the ultimate place for a meeting with the Self. This is no maiden voyage: this is the return. Our voices will be loudest here and there will be strength in our creations.
We activate this unique retreat with an exciting introduction to the Visual Journaling process by creating a "Reconstructed Journal." This reconstructed found book will document this incredible adventure in Mexico as a souvenir of the journey that will become the foundation for our process and a lifelong companion. This wonderful book initiates us with a mixed media warm up session designed to explore the rich interior of the self unencumbered by harsh critical voices from within. Once we are confident in using these tools for expression, freed from our limited beliefs of what an artist is, we will gently turn inward in our Visual Journals through guided assignments that combine journal writing expressions with art making explorations. What better way to introduce yourself to your own personal mythology and discover how fun, easy and enriching the journey to the interior can be? Expand your creativity through process as opposed to product making. No prior art or writing experience necessary.

Creating the Reconstructed Journal (for all levels from beginner to advanced - you will love creating this book form and will be addicted to working in it! Reconstruction will begin in the morning of our first day with the symbolic removal of the pages or guts of a found book. We rebuild her from the garbage of our lost selves to create a unique artist book, not merely altered, but fully reconstructed. This aspect of the workshop is a real experience in letting go- in creating from nothing- and learning to trust our instinctual side that has been hidden. This is where we give up perfection and our need to control the outcome by allowing art to arrive, as opposed to contriving it or muscling it to be well-behaved or "nice" for some invented audience. Utilizing this process, we begin to rebuild our self, our life and a personal history through art and words.

Deepening the Experience
We begin this retreat with a book making project designed to initiate the journey. Once we have reconstructed our book, we are prepared and ready to deepen our experience. Each day of this incredible retreat takes us deeper into our true longings with Extreme Visual Journaling assignments that provide lifelong tools for self dialogue. This work will help us discover what is no longer necessary, or what has become a hindrance to our lives. We will delve into the shadow world to become familiar with the many voices within. Some will be put to rest, while others will assist us in creating our personal mythology from our vast internal archive of images and stories that up until now, has remained hidden.

Your presence is required. If you hear the call, say yes, a thousand times, yes.

"Come, whoever you are! Wanderer, worshipper, lover of leaving Come.
This is not a caravan of despair. It doesn‘t matter if you’ve broken your vow a thousand times,
still Come, and yet again Come" - Rumi

Space is limited. Do not hesitate...
You are necessary to this return voyage.

I look forward to making this life changing discovery with you,
any questions or concerns please email Juliana Coles at

Visit Juliana Coles Website
www.meandpete.com

$1825.00 Double Occupancy Rate Includes: One month prior to event, all participants will receive a Packing Instructions booklet for this Retreat. It will include a suggested supplies list, some specific items you will need to make this journey, an inspiration list of book possibilities for your Journal (such as size, paper, etc.), as well as a few assignments (if you have time) to prepare you for the ultimate journey. I highly recommend reading Phil Cousineau’s "The Art of Pilgrimage," or Clarissa Pinkola Estes’ "Women Who Run with the Wolves," for assistance to begin this journey with intention.

• The "Packing Instructions" Booklet prior to arrival which details everything you need to know about preparing for this journey in a cool collectible zine!
• Welcome Reception Fiesta and Cocktail party, poolside, with traditional Mexican refreshments! Enjoy!
• 6 nights lodging in quaint casitas & lovely rooms, most of them with hand tiled bathrooms, each one decorated in an artistic Mexican style! Cozy!
• 5 full workshop days with personalized, attentive, highly attuned and trained guidance from Juliana Coles, internationally recognized Extreme Joruanlist.
• This is a life changing experience where you will gain endless techniques for extreme visual journaling that includes a handbook (created by me! It’s a treasure in and of itself!) of the entire workshop, at least 50 pages, that will provide my philosophy, resource and reference materials, supply lists, definitions, and written lesson plans for every assignment we do. (These workbooks sell for $50.00 - $75.00 on my etsy store www.julianacoles.etsy.com).
• The "Field Notes" handbook. A mini booklet with travel sketching and visual journaling on location assignments!
• Delicious and healthy full breakfasts and lunches served poolside featuring local cuisine and the freshest of ingredients to feed and nurture your spirit on every level!
• Unlimited Studio time in the open air studio overlooking the gardens and quiet neighborhood.
• Abundant Inspiration: All the gardens, pathways, furniture, rugs, everywhere you walk and everything you walk upon has been created by our Hostess, the Divine Sam, a woman of uncommon courage, resilience, generosity, and creativity- her life and her home will inspire you (as it has myself and my family) for the rest of your days! Sam truly made Hacienda Mosaico either by her hand, or by her vision. What better place to realize our own creative visions?
• Find comfort and respite in a restored private Hacienda tucked away from the bustling, noisy tourists and hawking vendors of the Malecon in an historic neighborhood to soak up local culture.
• Relax in the pool and many gardens.
• Sam made that mosaic fountain, but it’s so much more than that: it is the wellspring that fills our own creative well...

Workshop Supplies: (please see video on supplies and safe packing!) (This list seems long but it’s really not. You do not need a whole set of anything. Just one or two items from each category to create your mixed media arsenal. All of my stuff fits into a small Barbie case. But that‘s just for my carry on- if you‘re like me- you‘ll pack a whole extra suitcase for supplies!)

You will need:
A found book (or 2 or 3!) to create your Reconstruction Journal. Choose one that appeals to you- any size larger than 6“ x 9,“ any size thickness, and the following Mixed Media Tools:
Mixed Media Materials: You will need your favorite supplies or your traveling mixed media tool kit. You will definitely need the following: your favorite glue - I love big UHU gluesticks (don‘t bother with the small ones), scissors, various brushes for your paints ( at least one big brush, 1 inch- not a sponge brush, and a 1/4 inch brush)& a rag or two. All Visual Journalist’s should have a set of rubber stamp letters and numbers. And I highly recommend Staz On stamp pads because we work so quickly. You will need acrylic paint- any brand, any color in at least two colors, one light one & one dark. (cheapy craft paints like Anita’s brand are fine - there is also a craft store near the hacienda where you can purchase small jars of acrylics- these are my favorite paints and the size is so perfect to travel with!). You will need at least two brush markers in different colors- black would be good. A graphite pencil- regular old number two is fine, but I highly recommend you can get to an art store get an ebony pencil, or a 6B, or a graphite stick (not charcoal)- just make sure that you have some wet items and some dry items. A writing pen- whatever kind is your favorite. An Eraser. If you have one on the bottom of your pencil that will work- or you can just get one of those pink pearls. ( my favorite). A magazine to cut up. China Markers( at least in white or black), water color crayons ( no oil sticks or water based oil sticks like portfolio- it needs to make a clear hard line- not smudgy) in at least two different colors. Some random collage items. (copies of things that are precious.) And anything you can’t live without.

Book (see http://meandpete.com/id14.html for more info on choosing a book).
Gluesticks (At least 6 big ones - don‘t bother with the little ones) or your favorite glue or medium.
Scissors.
Self healing cutting board.
12 inch metal cork backed ruler.
Utility knife or exacto
Acrylic paints: at least one light, one dark, and 1 black, 1 white.
Brushes in at least two different thicknesses (crappy is fine).
1 quarter inch brush (relative good quality - no frayed edges or wispys.)
Rubberstamp letters (any size) & stamp pads (Prefer Staz On for this process).
2 brush markers in any color.
1 black permanent marker.
1 white poster paint marker (or other tool that can write on dark surfaces).
1 graphite pencil, 6B, Ebony, or graphite stick, no charcoal.
A coupla colored pencils, one pastel, light, or white.
white china marker or grease pencil.
A couple pretty colors of water color crayons.
Writing pen (nothin’ fancy).
2 different masking tapes in different colors/thicknesses (you may want some transparent tape, but not necessary).
Some alternative attachment methods; stapler, wire, needle and thread, brads, etc.
Container of Wet Ones Brand wipes or any similar wipes.
collage items: 1 magazine to cut up, 1 poetry book to cut up, random collage items.

Each student will be required to bring an "Alchemy Bag." A plastic grocery bag or smaller will do. Some suggestions are collage items, paper, an old paintbrush that is all glued together, that orange paint you hate, stickers from when you were 14, Artist tools and supplies you no longer use or never liked, ribbon, torn up pieces of your artwork that didn’t work out (no recognizable artwork, please) books to cut up, magazines, office supplies, sticks, markers, 2 inch chewed up pencils, you get the picture-sort of a grab bag. We will be using these mystery bags as part of a mixed media warm up assignment. What, and how much to bring, is up to you. Don’t worry about trying to include nice things- we’re looking more for garbage items. We all ready have our own nice supplies-we want your cast offs to really make us think!(please see video on supplies and safe packing!)

Email Juliana Coles with any questions or concerns:

Testimonial from first Hacienda Mosaico Retreat:

Dear Juliana,
I wanted to write and tell you that my visual journaling experience with you was an incredible breakthrough for me. I have mused on those days in Puerto Vallarta every day since returning home. In your class I was able to break out of my box and go places I have never been. As this is what I live for--to explore new corners of myself--I wanted to tell you how much I appreciated your generosity and availability to us....your inspiring, encouraging, and innovative teaching is truly brilliant and not like anything I have encountered before. I chose you as a teacher not because of anything I read about you but because I felt I saw in your "line" in journal entries I saw reproduced the energy of a luminous and penetrating intelligence. I was right. In your class I was able to silence my Inner Critic and just enjoy myself for myself alone. It was a rapturous experience. What a pleasure to study with someone who has done so much work on herself, so much writing, so much self-observation, who seems to view the journey the way I do. So exciting to meet a fellow traveler!! Since I have returned home, I have started four different journals, including one that fits in my purse. I am working in them with the abandon of the Free Child, the daughter of the Royal Marriage of image and word. To me you will always be Juliana, the Queen of the Wild Extreme Visual Journaling/Journeying Banditos. Thank you for all you brought to our time in Mexico. I hope to study with you again.
Fondly, Ellen