can nature enhance your journaling practice?
we took a walk in the woods to find out
“Connection. Gratitude. Serendipity”.
These were some of the words that came up as we reflected on last Sunday’s Walking Meditation & Journaling event—three hours of movement, reflection, and meaningful conversations in nature.
The whole thing had started as a chance conversation between me and co-host Vibeke, a web designer who runs a networking group for female entrepreneurs in Barcelona. I told her that when I feel creatively blocked, I take a walk in Collserola, a small mountain that forms a natural border along the city’s northern edge—and just happens to be right behind my house—to reconnect with myself and draw inspiration from nature.
In many ways, I’m blessed to live in this “secret” corner of Barcelona, with easy access to the city centre via metro and the natural beauty of Collserola—home to wild boar, foxes, partridges, and hoepoos, among others—right on my doorstep.
“Oh, that sounds wonderful!” Vibeke replied. “Perhaps we can organise an event for my network!” We fixed a date for March 30th, and crossed our fingers that the spring rains that had been falling for over a month would have eased by then.
On the day of the walk, the weather gods smiled upon us. Clear blue skies, a warm late-March sun, and a gentle refreshing breeze met us as we—six women and one tiny dog—gathered at Roquetes metro station before a short but steep climb to our starting point at Torre Baró, a miniature castle perched at one end of the mountain, with views of the city on one side and Montseny and El Vallès on the other.
After inviting participants to set an intention, we set off on our circular five-kilometre route, walking (mostly) in silence and allowing ourselves to connect with the present moment through our five senses. Despite her tiny legs, Luna the dog kept up surprisingly well.
Along the way, we stopped at three special but distinct locations:
A clearing in the forest, where we explored business challenges through the wisdom of the trees.
A viewpoint (“mirador”) overlooking Barcelona, prompting us to see our work from a new perspective.
The Torre Baró castle was both our start and end point, where we reflected on protection, boundaries, and our long-term visions.
For each place, I prepared a selection of creative journaling prompts designed to help participants think about their businesses and creative blocks in different ways—unlocking new insights, creativity, and clarity in the process.
After each journaling session, participants paired up to briefly share their insights, changing partners each time. This created moments of serendipity, where common themes emerged naturally in conversation and potential collaborations were sown.
Following our last journaling session—sitting in the sun outside the castle—we gathered in a circle for one final group share, and it was clear that the setting and prompts had made an impact.
“You could do these prompts in an office or room, and they wouldn’t have the same effect”, shared one participant. The others agreed, with two group members who were newer to journaling adding that the prompts tailored to specific places helped them access their thoughts in a completely different way.
Another commented on the synchronicities that emerged in conversations—a reminder that, despite entrepreneurship sometimes being a lonely journey, there are always others out there facing similar challenges and struggles.
As for me, I was so grateful to these ladies for their presence, energy, and trust. I had so much fun designing the prompts and playing tour guide in my little hidden corner of the city, and I can’t wait to run more events like this one.
Whether you’re in Barcelona or elsewhere, I’m planning a mix of online and in-person journaling events, so make sure you’re subscribed for updates.
In the meantime, here’s a journaling prompt for you: If your creative work or business were a landscape, what would it look like right now?
I’d love to read your answers—feel free to share them in the comments or subscriber chat.
That was an amazing event! 👏