colour & style in ibiza
The magnificent pool at the Six Senses resort.
Where do I even begin?
Let’s rewind to April 2025. I was a little apprehensive, but mostly excited, as I sat down for a call with Josie Hamilton-Cook (founder and director of Rebellious Essence). After nearly a year spent lovingly building her new business, Josie was finally assembling her dream team… Avengers-style.
That first conversation was meant to last half an hour. Two hours later, we were still talking. Every word, every idea, every spark of Josie’s vision for Rebellious Essence hit something deeper for me. This wasn’t just another corporate booking, it felt like stepping into something rare. Something important.
Rebellious Essence is a bold and beautiful force in the world of luxury retreats, reimagining what’s possible for women seeking reconnection, self-discovery, and a little magic. Josie’s creation is grounded in something truly original; her trademarked Essence Code. A powerful blueprint that explains why these retreats go far beyond surface-level wellness.
When she told me she needed two Image Consultants to deliver Colour Analysis and Style sessions for her guests, I didn’t hesitate. I said yes.
There’s honestly so much I could say about this experience, it’s been hard to know where to begin. But in this blog, I’ll walk you through three things; my biggest takeaway, what I enjoyed the most and one small luxury I absolutely loved.
Josie Hamilton-Cook, founder of Rebellious Essence.
My biggest takeaway
Josie isn’t the kind of company director who swoops in for the opening speech and disappears. She is present, grounded, and visibly there for every guest throughout the retreat. She leads from the heart and she holds space for everyone with such calm, human grace.
After checking into the magnificent Six Senses resort, we began with an opening circle. Josie invited us to set our intentions for the week.
I admitted I was feeling anxious but excited.
Not the deepest confession on the surface. But the truth behind it? I was scared. I was afraid that if I opened up too much, I wouldn’t be able to hold myself together. I was worried that my grief, the quiet, heavy grief of never having children, would suddenly overwhelm me, and that I’d be... embarrassing.
For the rest of day one and most of day two, I unknowingly kept myself in a holding pattern. Engaged, but guarded. Friendly, but not vulnerable. I didn’t want to crack the surface too deeply, afraid of what would spill out.
But this retreat had other plans.
By the end of day two, every group session had already led to tears. Tears of release, of healing, of transformation. Women showing up for themselves, and being met with deep care by the group.
That evening, we were guided through a Shamanic healing session by the goddess Deva Wild. During the meditation, something surfaced, a belief I didn’t realise I’d been carrying for years. I believed I was embarrassing.
And it hit me: this fear of being emotional, of being “too much,” of embarrassing myself has kept me small. It's been the quiet handbrake on so many parts of my life.
On day four, we did rooftop kundalini yoga at sunrise. The ritual ended as the early Ibiza sunlight poured across the rooftop, and I quietly wept. Josie was the first to come over and take my hand. Then her marvellous daughter Fran. Then my beautiful friend and colleague Jo.
We sat together, looking out at the golden sky, and I allowed myself to simply be. To feel. To be seen. Without fear. Without shame. And I realised: these women love me exactly as I am.
Later that day, Deva turned to me with her wide, knowing smile and said, “I love being embarrassing.” I think that might be the single most empowering thing anyone has ever said to me.
Why should I fear being too much?
My biggest takeaway? That I have kept myself small for far too long through fear of being embarrassing. But watch out… those days are over!
The Rebellious Essence alchemists, from left to right; Jo Gaffney, Becky McCormack, Deva Wild, Aman Summers and Lucy Putney.
What did I enjoy the most?
Yes, there were a lot of tears. Real, necessary, beautiful tears.
But what you might not expect is that I also laughed. Every single day. Big, deep belly laughs.
From the very first moment, even our extraordinary content creator Alex, who felt like a friend the moment I met her, had me howling.
I had met Josie once before and had a few virtual team calls, but this was the first time we were all together in real life. I already knew Jo. I’d followed her on social media for years and later chose her Academy to train as an Image Consultant. This was our first time delivering a workshop together and it just clicked. It felt natural, effortless and fun. Guests were soon trying to guess which season they might be, buzzing with excitement as they waited for their turn in the colour analysis chair.
Everyone else was technically a stranger… but it didn’t feel that way for long.
What I loved the most was how close we all became. We only had five days together, but the laughter, the shared stories, the whispered jokes, all made it feel like we’d known each other for years.
I’m one of four daughters, but since leaving home I haven’t lived with women, until now. Sharing a villa with Deva, Jo, Becky, and Aman felt unexpectedly like coming home. There was something so soft, so comforting, about that little sisterhood.
I won’t say who was reminding everyone of the schedule every day, who was always running late, who skinny dipped in the pool every night and who could never find their way back to the Villa — but those who know me well can probably guess which one I was…
Casa Wild (outside the Alchemist Villa )
With Becky and her amazing voice opening each day for us, we became a little obsessed with becoming a Girl band - what do you think of our first album cover photo?
One small luxury I loved
This one’s easy: the goody bags.
Josie and her wonderful assistant Fran created the most beautiful welcome gifts, and honestly, I felt like a movie star attending her own premier!
Each guest received a branded bag and water bottle, a gorgeous journal paired with a sparkly pen (because obviously), and a silky-soft luxury eye mask to use during our healing sessions. Every detail whispered luxury.
But it didn’t stop there. The bags were filled with treasures from small, thoughtful businesses — nourishing skincare from Nourish Skin, dreamy candles from Hobo & Co, herbal drinks from Forage Botanicals, breezy sarongs from Bra Sense, and colour-rich scarves from Kettlewell.
It was all so beautifully curated; generous, considered, and so aligned with the energy of the retreat. Just pure joy in a bag.
In conclusion
I came to Rebellious Essence with a suitcase full of colour swatches, a heart full of hope, and a little knot of anxiety I wasn’t quite ready to name.
I left with so much more than I expected. New friendships, a deeper understanding of myself, and a quiet but powerful reminder that healing doesn’t have to be loud. Sometimes it looks like sunrise tears, belly laughs, shared glances, and the kind of love that shows up without needing to say a word.
This experience reminded me true beauty isn’t found in trends, it’s found in self-knowledge, confidence, and the courage to show the world exactly who you are.
To Josie, Fran, Jo, Alex, Deva, Becky, Aman, and to every guest who came with an open heart, thank you.
I feel like I’ve finally found the woman I was always meant to be, without shame, without fear, just fully and freely me.
Ready for your own transformation? Do you want to join me and Josie on the next one?
Rebellious Essence retreats aren’t just escapes — they’re powerful spaces to remember who you truly are. To reconnect with your essence, reclaim your beauty, and express your truth with confidence.
Here’s how to take the next step:
Sign up to the Retreat Waitlist log your interest and receive exclusive updates
Book a Discovery Call explore which retreat is aligned for your next chapter
Email Josie directly at for personal guidance or questions hello@rebelliousessence.com
Follow along on Instagram @rebelliousessence for behind-the-scenes magic, updates, and soul nourishment
These spaces are intimate, intentional, and deeply transformational.
If your soul is whispering “yes,” this is your moment to listen.