Barcelona Journaling Festival – A Creative Space for Writing and Wellbeing

From magazine editor to journaling guide, Marusha Mozolevskaya, the co-founder of the Barcelona Journaling Festival shares how a personal writing practice evolved into a growing international event.

In this interview, she reflects on the power of journaling, building creative community, and why this simple yet powerful habit resonates more than ever in today’s fast-paced world.

In Conversation with Marusha Mozolevskaya, Founder of the Barcelona Journaling Festival

When did your personal journaling journey begin? How did this practice become such a central part of your life and how has it evolved over the years?

I have always been a writer. First, a journalist (not to be confused with a journal-ER), working for Harper’s Bazaar and Grazia as travel & lifestyle editor. What a fab job it was! In the 2000s, glossy mags were booming, and every fancy hotel (or other luxury experiences such as the opulent Orient Express train) wanted us travel writers there, offering all of their services free of charge. It was a dream job and dream life. Little did I know that over a decade later, I’d be preaching about a very different kinds of journeys – through inner landscapes instead. 

Back then, I was teaching my online course for aspiring journalists, explaining to craft a good article for a magazine without being a trained writer or copywriter. My idea was to show that whether you’re simply passionate about a topic or an expert in your field, you just have to follow a particular set rules to deliver a story – talent is optional (not to mention I believe it’s a bit of a myth, too). Among various assignments, I had one that didn’t quite fit into my structured teaching. I placed it in the middle of the course to spice things up a bit and let my students write about something personal for a change. Surprisingly, this assignment got the most feedback! People were getting really emotional, reporting serious insights, and even life-changing breakthroughs. 

Needless to say, this exercise was actually pure journaling – something about pivoting decisions made in the past and how it changed us. I added this prompt intuitively without knowing that guided journaling was a whole thing, and an industry in its own right. Once I started digging into that, I was absolutely amazed how many books and studies there were on healing writing –  and that became my own pivotal moment in my career as a writer. From journalist to journal-ER.

What originally inspired you to create the Barcelona Journaling Festival? Was there a particular moment or experience that sparked the idea?

After working as a journaling coach – or a journaling guide, as I loved to call myself  – for a few years, I realised that it was a very rewarding yet kinda lonely job. Pretty much like psychotherapists, who have 1:1 sessions all day long. But while they have supervision and the opportunity to process their own feelings and talk about their job with fellow professionals, us journaling coaches don’t have this. By that time, I knew only a few other journaling coaches like me – someone in Sweden and someone in the USA. So I said to myself: how cool would it be to invite these people to Barcelona to share some tapas, drink wine and talk about our journaling jobs! I envisioned an intimate industry event first. And then – it escalated! 

The festival has grown rapidly into an international gathering. How has that evolution unfolded, and what has it been like to guide that process as a co-founder?

One bold thing I did – which surprised even myself! – was reach out to the absolute legend of therapeutic writing, Kathleen Adams, founder of The Center For Journal Therapy (USA). She’s the biggest figure in this field, with 40 years in the industry under her belt. We had never met, nor had she ever heard of me ever in her life, yet it didn’t stop me from inviting her to the festival that didn’t even exist yet – only in my head. Once she said yes (shock!), inviting other amazing speakers became easy and fun. Everyone wanted to be a part of it. 

This year, we received about 50 open call applications from journaling coaches and therapists from all over the globe – from Iceland to South Africa. It’s amazing to see that we are MANY and that journaling is not as niche or a “hobby” of a thing as many people consider it to be. 

What makes journaling such a powerful tool for people from all walks of life – whether writers, creatives, therapists or those simply seeking self-reflection?

It gives you a place to hear your own voice. Unfiltered, honest, and alive. I run my signature journaling program called Naked Words – and I think this name reflects what journaling is really well. Because that’s what journaling is at its core: a space where the layers come off. No audience, no pressure, just you and the page.

Whether you’re a writer, a therapist, or just trying to make sense of your day, the page doesn’t judge. It holds space. It’s where ideas form, patterns surface, and your truth comes clear. You can be your real self between the lines. It’s liberating! 

This year’s festival programme centres on three themes: Self-Help, Creativity, and Growth. Why did you choose these particular focuses, and how do they reflect the broader mission of the BJF?

I believe these tracks reflect the natural arc of what journaling makes possible. Many people come to the page looking for clarity or healing – that’s where self-help begins. From there, creativity often follows, as writing opens space for new ideas, perspectives, and expression. And growth is the thread that runs through it all – a quiet but powerful shift in how we see ourselves and our lives. These themes mirror the broader mission of the Barcelona Journaling Festival: to celebrate journaling not just as a tool, but as a practice that meets you where you are and takes you somewhere new.

Can you give us a sneak peek into the types of workshops or speakers attendees can expect in the 2025 edition? Are there any new elements or surprises you’re particularly excited about?

I’m so excited about what’s unfolding for the 2025 edition of the Barcelona Journaling Festival! My personal favourite is probably the workshop called Be The Elephant with Antoinette McDonald, our guest speaker from South Africa – a powerful session on digging deep into inner resilience and creativity, inspired by the wisdom of elephants. We’ll also hear from the founder of Iceland’s Write it Out studio, sharing how reflective writing has supported mental health and connection during months of Arctic darkness. How amazing is that?

So many amazing speakers and workshop holders this year – it’s impossible to mention them all! But we’ll touch on memoir-writing, healing poetry, Jungian studies, hypnosis, and so much more. I’m also very excited that Amie McNee is coming – an Australian creativity coach and author of We Need Your Art. I’ve been following her for years, can’t wait to meet her in person!

And for those looking to take journaling from personal to professional, we’re introducing a post-festival training with Lynda Monk, another journaling legend (from Canada): How to Thrive as a Journaling Coach and Facilitator. You’ll learn how to create and sell courses, work with groups or 1:1 clients, and collaborate with organisations, because doing meaningful work should be sustainable, too.

This year’s programme is our most heart-opening, expansive, and empowering yet. I just can’t wait!

Barcelona is not just home to the festival, but also where you live. How does the city’s atmosphere and character influence the identity and energy of the festival?

Barcelona has this layered, soulful energy. An old-world beauty mixed with creative edge. It’s a city that invites reflection but also reinvention. That’s very much the spirit of the festival. The sea, the light, all the colours, the rhythm of life here – they give the festival a kind of spaciousness, a warmth. It’s not about rushing or performing. It’s about pausing, tuning in, and connecting – both with yourself and with others.

I like to think of the festival as a kind of trencadís – Gaudí’s iconic mosaic of broken pieces – where every story, voice, technique and experience adds to the bigger picture. Beautiful and extra-powerful because of its diversity, not despite it.

You’ve also founded and built community platforms like Girls Who Write and the Naked Words journaling circle. How do these initiatives complement the work you’re doing with the festival?

Girls Who Write and Naked Words were born from the same impulse as the festival: to create spaces where people feel safe to express themselves honestly. Whether it’s a group of women gathering around a shared love of writing (even if they have never tried that before!), or a circle showing up month after month with nothing but a notebook and an open heart – these communities are about connection, courage, and the quiet magic of showing up as you are.

The festival expands that intention outward. It brings together everything I care about: writing as a tool for self-discovery, the power of community, and the belief that creativity isn’t just for artists, it’s for everyone. These projects complement each other because they’re all part of the same mosaic (here comes the mosaic again!). They invite people in, remind them they have something to say, and give them the space to say it. As a result, not only do they find their own voice –  they find their tribe. 

And I have a strong feeling that’s what people are really craving these days. Something real, something tender, and something that helps them come home to themselves.

Have there been any especially moving or memorable moments from last year’s festival attendees that have stayed with you?

Strangers connecting, having deep conversations without any small talk BS, hugging, and making friends. One man exclaiming: “It’s a joy bath!” People sharing the most vulnerable moments of their lives. My festival partner Oliver and I sneaking out of the main room to have a little moment and share a beer – and then looking at each other with crazy eyes and laughing in awe and disbelief that we DID IT! And in general, that true festival spirit and also that feeling that you have created something truly special. Something that makes others happy. 

What message would you share with those who may be new to journaling?

If you have ever kept a diary – you are a journaler. If you’ve tried morning pages (or any other hyped technique) and it didn’t work out for you – don’t give up, there are so many more tools to try and find what’s yours. If you think you don’t have time to write, keep in mind that even 10 minutes counts. And there are so many things you can discover about yourself in just 10 minutes! 

All in all, give it a try. It doesn’t cost a thing. Any journal or just a stray sheet of paper would work. You don’t need a fancy pen. Join a local journaling community or use this prompt: “I really don’t know what to say today…” and see where it takes you. I can guarantee you’ll be surprised!

As a creative entrepreneur and community builder, what’s been the most unexpected lesson or personal shift for you since launching the first edition of the festival?

I always thought of myself as a bit of a hermit – a girl who writes, which means alone, quiet, avoiding people, you know? Turns out I actually love being in the spotlight, on stage, leading a community of like-minded people. Honestly, it came as a surprise. Also, running a festival turned out to be a full-time job. Our little team works every day for something that is months away. And honestly, I can’t complain. It’s the most rewarding project I’ve ever been involved in.

Finally, looking towards the future, what are your hopes or long-term vision for the Barcelona Journaling Festival and the wider journaling movement?

I want to create a happy place where people return to year after year for inspiration, connection, and a deeper relationship with themselves. I want it to grow gently, with integrity, always rooted in real stories and real community. I’d love to see journaling embraced not just as a wellness trend, but as an essential tool for emotional resilience, creative thinking, and conscious living – and the Barcelona Journaling Festival becoming a hub for this. 

And in this era of AI, where so much of our content is generated, automated, and fast, I believe the act of journaling becomes even more radical. It’s slow. It’s human. It’s old school. It’s authentic. It’s something machines won’t take away – because it’s truly ours. Let them do all the boring stuff, but leave the soul work to us!

Ready to explore the power journaling and connect with a like-minded community, book your tickets for the 2025 Barcelona Journaling Festival.

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