“I believe that not everything happens for a reason but something can be learned from it all, and it is a lost opportunity if you don’t.”
Dear fellow Visionaries,
It is an honor to be on this path and grow together with you. I tend to shy away from the spotlight and do my best to let my actions speak for themselves. My name is Josh, I’m an Envision founder and as of recently the one who carries the torch. Behind our Festival and its marketing, we are a team of humans trying our best to make an impact and we are learning along the way. At this moment, I wanted to speak from my heart to share my background and where Envision is headed.
Thank you in advance for allowing me to be vulnerable. As I reflect on 15 years of dedication and devotion to Envision, I fill my cup with gratitude for all of those who have believed in the intention of our project and have poured their hearts into it as well.
My older brother and best friend Mike turned me on to the Grateful Dead when I was only 13. The doors of perception opened. At a time when I was feeling lost, I fell in love with music. Later, I felt a yearning to find a community with a similar sense of belonging and I wanted it to be somewhere in the jungle, where I could be one with nature. I had no idea what that would look like–until I visited Uvita. 22 years ago. I let go of my vegan food company, called The Jungle, quit acupuncture school and knew it was time to prioritize living the life that I had promoted.
In Uvita, I realized that I had found my home and that change was coming. It couldn’t be fought and there was no point resenting it. Others would feel the same sense of home I felt in this paradise. I wanted to have a tangible impact in helping guide the change in a more positive direction.
“To the degree you feel your sorrow, to the same degree you feel your joy” -Kahlil Gibran
Since 2020, I have faced more challenges, grief and opportunities to grow than I have in my whole life leading up to that point. We lost Ivan “Oneiro” Cespedes, a legendary Costa Rican DJ, Reuben Walker, an Envision leader, Maricruz Lizano, a ball of laughter known by all in the music scene in CR, and my brother was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a terminal form of brain cancer.
Grief has made me focus on how precious life is, and that I can’t take it for granted. I ask myself and others to consider what we might do in life, or what we would have said to each other if we had known how limited our time might be. I have learned to love more profoundly, forgive wholeheartedly and make sure that I am not procrastinating on living the life that I want to live.
It’s been a lot. We faced challenges navigating the pandemic. Creating a temporary city in our uncertain times in a remote jungle in Costa Rica is a massive responsibility, full of constant curveballs. Envision has pushed me beyond what I ever thought I could do and these experiences have made me who I am.
I am filled with an overwhelming amount of gratitude for Envision. Out of a dream to impact others to be the best version of themselves, I am in awe of the surprise finding that it has pushed me to reflect on myself and encourage me to show up as the best version of myself.
Envision is an invitation to a discussion about how we can live in a more inspired way, in alignment with ourselves, our community and nature. We are a community that may only meet once a year, but we share a common goal. Envision is not an expert on a specific way to do anything, we are an invitation to become part of the conversation, a celebration of life and a demonstration of our potential.
Envision is a community in a time when community is needed more than ever. In a time when the people of the world are still lonely and traumatized from the pandemic, there is more division than ever due to wars and turmoil. There is uncertainty of the economy and technologies replacing humans. The antidote is to get together in support of each other. We can hold each other accountable; when we fall off course, we can support each other.
Of course – we also join together to celebrate this incredible, unbelievable life in a jungle full of unparalleled beauty.
As I know that I will continue to make mistakes and remain eager to learn, Envision acknowledges that we can always do better. As Burning Man preaches radical self-reliance, I ask that Envision stands on the principle of radical self care, compassion for each other and willingness to listen and grow.
This year off has allowed us to focus on how to be more intentional and effective with our goals and purpose. We are committed to reducing capacity and focusing our efforts on the comfort, health and safety of all of our Visionaries–our attendees, talent, staff, volunteers and local community. Every year we will get better, and we will get better at sharing how we can all help each other. We believe that by improving the experience and encouraging greater self care for each other, the more meaningful and impactful experience all participants can have. We are also working on ways for Envision to achieve a more permanent impact on delivering upon our mission–to inspire the greatest version of ourselves in alignment with nature.
I invite you to join us for this next chapter of Envision in 2026. Envision is an invitation, a call to action. Envision is a beacon of unity, love and connection to nature now more than ever. I invite you to come be the light that the world needs, be the visionary for those that may not see, come together with love and compassion, let go of what does not serve you and step forward with more intention.
We are not alone. Let us dance together and celebrate our potential. Let us manifest what can and will be.
With love and gratitude,
Josh B Wendel
Company registered and recorded by the MEIC
Under number: DAC-DECVP-RE-250-2025
