A RETREAT WITH JULIE BLUE
Singing Water
If you’re a woman who senses there’s more voice in you than you’ve ever let out and you’re ready to hear it…
Come spend a week with us in a jungle sanctuary near Tulum, singing in ancient cenotes and around the fire, where you’ll free your voice and creativity, express yourself with authentic confidence, and experience the sheer joy of singing with other women.
A secret cenote. A circle of women. Your voice set free.
The jungle opens and there it is, a secret cenote hidden deep in the Yucatán jungle, inviting you into a world of pure wonder.
Light streams through the cave, illuminating the crystal-clear pool and transforming everything it touches into a luminous world of many shades of blue and grey.
You slip beneath the cool surface and swim deeper and deeper into the glowing cave, surrounded by ancient stone, shimmering water and extraordinary Mexican light.
It feels as though you are swimming into a dream.
Then you hear it, the soft sound of women humming, and you add your voice, feeling its vibration move through the water and into your body.
Your breath deepens, your jaw relaxes.
Humming becomes toning, toning becomes song, and you find yourself effortlessly weaving delicious colours of sound with the other women floating around you.
As the water moves over your skin, any old beliefs that may have kept you playing small wash away into the cool, clear water.
There is nothing blocking your genius from shining out into the world now, and your voice rises, carrying this newfound freedom into an ancient song that has been with you all along.
Now you’re letting it out.
“Julie Blue’s retreat is not about being a perfect singer. It’s about becoming more of who you truly are through the invitation of song… there is more to you than you know and it’s time to let it flow.”
Ancient Knowledge — Present-Day Realizations
For generations, the cenotes of the Yucatán have been places of mystery, reverence and connection. Water is ancient and enduring, yet always changing shape. It has a way of showing you what’s ready to transform.
So what might transform for you at the Singing Water Retreat?
“My voice isn’t good enough.”
Wouldn’t it feel amazing to open your mouth and sing without judging the sound?
On this retreat, through Authentic Voice Activation (AVA) and daily singing in a circle where nobody is judging, you will build a relaxed and trusting relationship with your voice, so you can sing out loud without waiting until you feel good enough.
“I’ve lost touch with my creative spark.”
Wouldn’t it feel inspiring to feel creatively alive again?
Journalling, dancing, intuitive singing and Ho’oponopono work will help you clear old beliefs, reconnect with your creativity and trust what wants to come through, so you can give it form in your life.
“I look after everybody else. When is there time for me?”
Can you imagine how empowering it would feel to spend a week prioritizing giving care and attention to yourself?
During our week together, we’ll practise self-love in real ways — being nourished by beautiful meals made for you, resting when you’re tired, and making more room for joy and fun — so you return home with clearer boundaries and stronger self-care practices.
“I don’t trust my intuition, so I hold myself back.”
Wouldn’t it be life-changing to have a clear sense of direction, trust your inner knowing and feel confident enough to move forward?
During our week together, you’ll set clear intentions, strengthen your connection to your inner knowing and practise trusting what you already know, so you return home with more confidence to move through fear and stand strong.
From “Stand Strong” by Julie Blue, a song we’ll sing together at Singing Water.
In Their Own Voices
“The retreat was ideal as I found my voice after 5 years of not singing. I feel alive again within. I appreciate how Julie holds space and offers the invitation of ease & grace in opening our voice to sing. It was amazing to witness the songs each participant created.”
“This retreat helped me go deeper within myself and learn to love myself more. I’m becoming more gentle, patient and kind toward myself, held in a community that feels safe, welcoming and supportive.”
When I first met Theda Phoenix, she was just beginning to find confidence in her voice and her path. She studied songwriting and performance with me for several years. Today, Theda is a recording artist, songwriter and respected sound healer.
“Julie takes the significance and perfectionism out of singing and creates a space in which participants are free to explore, celebrate and shine. Working with Julie took my self-expression through music to the next level.”
There are moments on retreat you could never plan. As we were chanting together, preparing for a cacao ceremony, two monkeys came walking out of the forest. One went right up to Andrea and crawled onto her lap. It became one of those unforgettable moments in a week of deep transformation.
“Julie held an amazing container for self-awareness and growth — safe, supportive and loving. This was not just a singing retreat, but a deep personal journey using voice and self-expression as a vehicle for transformation.”
Here’s what Cindy, Jenny and Michele are taking away with them.
Welcome to Tulili
What becomes possible when you step away from ordinary life and into a sanctuary in the jungle?
For one glorious week, Tulili will be our retreat home, tucked into the lush jungle inside Dos Ojos cenote park, about 15 minutes from Tulum.
You’ll find beautiful places to gather and plenty of room to slip away for a while. Settle into one of the swings, stretch out in a hammock beneath the trees, curl up in the open-air living room with a cup of tea, or simply find a shady corner and unwind.
Our spacious open-air shala will become the creative heart of the retreat, with room for the piano and our whole circle to sing, chant and create together. Some mornings, we’ll head up to the rooftop to move and dance while the air is still cool and watch the sun rise over the jungle.
Between sessions, there will be time to cool off in the pool, rest, book a massage, move your body, or do absolutely nothing. For those who feel called, Tulili also has its own ceremonial Temazcal.
Meals will bring us back together around the communal table to eat, talk, laugh and linger. Part of what made Tulili so memorable for me was the warmth of the people there and the feeling of being genuinely cared for. That sense of welcome is part of what I want you to experience too.
At the end of the day, you’ll have your own cozy bed waiting for you: a king-size bed in a private room, or a queen-size bed in a double- or triple-occupancy room. Even when you’re sharing, there will be space to settle in and enjoy some quiet of your own.
And all around us will be the jungle, the limestone and the clear ancient waters of Dos Ojos.
For one week, this beautiful little world will be ours.
Food that makes you happy to come to the table
MORNING
Mornings begin with tropical fruit piled high, freshly squeezed juices glowing in jewel-bright colours, good Mexican coffee and breakfasts inspired by the flavours of the Yucatán.
Think chilaquiles layered with salsa and creamy avocado, warm tortillas, eggs, fresh fruit and something delicious coming from the kitchen.
MIDDAY
At lunch, the table fills again with big colourful salads, creamy guacamole, soups bright with lime and herbs, crisp vegetables and satisfying dishes of beans, fish, seafood or chicken. There might be sopa de lima fragrant with citrus and herbs, fresh ceviche, roasted vegetables, homemade salsas and cool glasses of agua de jamaica.
EVENING
Dinner feels like a celebration. Platters arrive overflowing with colour, perhaps pineapple filled with shrimp and vegetables, sizzling fish with lime and herbs, warm tortillas wrapped in cloth, roasted vegetables caramelized at the edges, bowls of guacamole and pico de gallo, fragrant rice, beans and colourful salads made for passing around the table.
And sometimes it becomes a feast you build yourself, layering tacos with everything you love, tasting this, passing that, reaching across the table for one more spoonful while conversation and laughter carry on around you.
The pleasure isn’t only in what’s on the plate. It’s in being cooked for. In coming to the table after a day of singing, swimming and exploring and finding something beautiful waiting for you. In lingering over dinner as the table becomes part feast, part creative connection, part sisterhood and part fiesta.
These are the Core Practices that weave through the entire week, helping you free your voice and creativity, move your body, and make room for play, rest and connection.
The image above is inspired by the great ceremonial gateway at Uxmal, one of the extraordinary Maya cities of the Yucatán. In Maya architecture, gateways created a threshold between where you had been and what you were about to enter.
Over the course of our week, we’ll move through eight gateways of our own, each opening into a different aspect of your voice, creativity and inner life.
What You Will Take Away With You
A week at Singing Water with Julie Blue will be so much more than a beautiful escape. You may come for the music, the water, the adventure and the joy of being with other women, but somewhere along the way, something will begin to shift.
You will hear yourself differently. You will discover more freedom in your voice, more trust in your own knowing and more courage to express what matters to you. And what shifts during this week will change how you sing, how you express yourself and how you show up in your life.
- Your breath, inner knowing and voice will become more connected. What you feel inside will flow more freely into singing, speaking, creating and letting yourself be heard.
- You will give yourself more of the approval you’ve been looking for outside yourself. The endless Was that good enough? Did I do enough? What will they think? will begin to give way to greater trust in your own choices, desires and worth.
- Your emotions will have somewhere to go. Grief, anger, tenderness, joy. The feelings you’ve held tightly inside will move through breath, sound, song, tears and laughter, creating more space for you to move forward.
- Your creativity will feel alive and in motion. You will follow an idea, make something up, sing a sound you’ve never sung before, take a creative risk and discover that expression doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful.
- You will live with greater self-expression and choice. You will say what you have to say. Ask for what you want. Make room for what brings you joy. And take real steps toward the people, experiences and dreams that matter to you.
“Julie, you’re a master at what you do and I’m so grateful to have been part of it. I came away from the retreat with a suitcase full of tools I can use in my day-to-day life. I love the way you build confidence in every soul so they feel safe to sing and share their own song. I love the way you channel the right song for the moment.”
Wondering if Singing Water is right for you?
If you’re feeling drawn to the retreat but you’re not quite sure whether it’s the right fit, I’d be happy to have a relaxed, no-pressure conversation with you.
We can talk about what you’re looking for, what you’re wondering about, and whether Singing Water feels like the right fit for you.
Email me at julie@julieblue.com and we’ll find a time to connect.
Special Perks
Thoughtful extras to support you before, during and after our week together in Mexico.
- 1
Start Singing Before the Retreat
Receive selected vocal training videos before Mexico so you can begin exploring ways to make singing easier, freer and more resonant.
- 2
Pre-Retreat Connection Circle
Meet on Zoom before the retreat to connect, ask questions and begin creating the circle together.
- 3
Private Singing Water WhatsApp Group
Connect before the retreat, share questions and travel plans, and stay connected once you’re home.
- 4
Your Singing Water Music Library
Receive recordings and lyrics for many of the songs, chants and mantras we’ll sing, so the music feels familiar before you arrive and stays with you afterward.
- 5
Your Singing Water Companion
A digital journal with reflections, prompts and space to capture insights, ideas and moments you want to remember.
- 6
Two Audio Blueprints
Love and Accept Your Voice and Meet Your Inner Singer: two hypnosis audios designed to support a more loving relationship with your voice and reconnect you with the part of you that already knows how to sing, create and express herself freely.
- 7
Post-Retreat Integration Circle
Reconnect on Zoom after the retreat to reflect on what has unfolded and support bringing it into everyday life.
Mexico: A Land of Water, Colour and Ancient Memory
I have a deep and ongoing relationship with Mexico that began in my twenties, when I had the opportunity to play in a jazz band with three Mexican maestros. I came to appreciate the warmth of the Mexican people, and I learned Spanish, which became one of the great adventures of my life.
Travelling through the Yucatán Peninsula, I became fascinated with the ancient Maya culture, the jungle, the stone and the extraordinary world of water beneath the earth.
Rainwater filters through limestone into caves and underground rivers before gathering in luminous cenotes. To the Maya, these waters were sacred. Here, you can float almost weightless in light-filled turquoise water, surrounded by jungle and ancient stone.
Being in natural water has always felt deeply restorative to me. In these cenotes, that feeling seems amplified, as though the lifeblood of Mother Earth is moving through veins of stone beneath us.
It was here, in this land of water, colour and ancient memory, that Singing Water was born.
And that is why I’m inviting you here: not only to sing, but to live, explore, float, create and be moved by a place that gives us something real to sing about and stories worth telling.
Thinking about coming and have a question?
If there’s something you’re still wondering about — the travel, the rooms, the singing, or anything else — I’d love to hear from you.
Email me at julie@julieblue.com and we’ll find a time to connect.
Meet Julie Blue
I’ve heard music in my head since I was a child and started playing the piano and singing when I still needed help climbing onto the piano bench.
Music has accompanied me through everything. Through times of profound grief and loss, and times of great ease and celebration, it is what returns me to myself and helps me remember who I am.
And like many women I know, I too know the pain of not feeling good enough. I’ve had to learn, again and again, not to let those thoughts stop me from creating, sharing my gifts and fully expressing myself. That journey has become an important part of why I do this work.
For more than 40 years, I’ve followed music wherever it has led me as a singer, composer, recording artist, teacher, choir director and retreat leader. Along the way, I’ve released eight albums, composed music for more than 40 film and television projects, and worked with thousands of people helping them free their voices, trust their creativity and experience the joy of making music together.
Over time, I began developing my own approaches to helping people free their voices, including Authentic Voice Activation (AVA), and created Radiant Heart Song Circles as a place where women could sing, grow, connect and become more fully who they are.
I offer Singing Water retreats because I want other women to experience what music has given me: a way home to the voice, creativity, courage and aliveness that can get buried under everything life asks of us.
Singing Water brings together so much of what I love most: making music in magical places with wonderful women who are willing to be real, open their hearts, take a few creative risks and enjoy some singing shenanigans along the way.
“Julie Blue moved our group of women with embodied singing that could move mountains and rivers. Her workshop was pivotal in inspiring women to open their creative voices, and we have used Julie’s sacred chants for years in profound processes and rituals. When I work with Julie personally, my heart sings. She has a gift for helping the true, radiant voice emerge. Julie Blue is a muse extraordinaire.”
Is Singing Water for You?
This retreat is for you if…
- You love music and are open to songs, rituals and traditions from around the world.
- You’re curious, open-hearted and willing to explore your voice and creativity.
- You value kindness, connection and being part of a supportive circle of women.
- You don’t need to be a perfect singer — you’re willing to let go of self-judgment and discover what becomes possible when you use your voice more freely.
- You’re ready to give yourself this time — to step away from everyday responsibilities, be cared for, have fun and reconnect with what makes you feel alive.
This retreat may not be for you if…
- You’re not comfortable with songs, rituals or traditions that may be different from your own.
- You prefer a highly structured experience and don’t enjoy flexibility, spontaneity or shared group flow.
- You’re not interested in listening deeply, encouraging others or contributing to a supportive group experience.
“Julie creates a safe, encouraging place to sing. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced singer, you’ll learn a lot. She’s a consummate musician — and she took us on the most wonderful, beautifully chosen adventures.”
Retreat Investment
All prices are in U.S. dollars.
Early Bird Pricing: available until November 1, 2026
Private Room
$3,497
Limited private rooms available
Double Occupancy
$2,997
Triple Occupancy
$2,597
Reserve your place with a $500 non-refundable deposit. Choose a payment plan or pay in full when you register.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions?
I want to make sure you have all the information you need to decide whether Singing Water is right for you.
Please email me at julie@julieblue.com. I’d be happy to answer your questions or set up a time for us to have a conversation.
