We host free monthly journal gatherings open to everyone — no experience needed, no pressure to share. Just show up with a blanket, a journal, and an open mind.
"strangers,
turned friends"
✦ connection through reflection
What started as a desire for connection and community has turned into something electric. Every month, we gather in a beautiful St. Louis space — strangers, friends, and everyone in between — to slow down, reflect, and connect through the simple act of putting pen to paper.
No journaling experience needed. No pressure to share. Just showing up for ourselves and each other.
Monthly themed prompts dropped on Instagram, TikTok, and the email list day-of — to help you reflect, explore, and get a little vulnerable on the page.
A welcoming third space where you can make genuine connections or explore a deeper relationship with yourself. No pressure either way.
Whoever you are, wherever you are in life — you belong here. No judgement ever, just curiosity. It's radical.
I've been solo journaling for years, but I wanted to do it with other people. What if you could slow down, reflect, and build community at the same time? So I took a leap and posted a TikTok. Open invite. Strangers on the internet. Come journal with me?
What happened next still blows my mind. 80+ people showed up — in sub-25 degree, brutally windy St. Louis winter weather. Everyone wrapped in blankets and gloves, huddled behind the walls near the art museum, journaling together. It was freezing. It was borderline dangerous. It was electric.
Bonding through shared suffering, as they say! That November day — Journal Club #1 — is one I'll remember forever. Then the amazing team at MADE Makerspace opened their doors and let us hibernate indoors through the winters. And now? The STL Journal Collective is 400+ strong and monthly journal clubs are a regular thing.
We keep it simple so nothing gets in the way of actually being present.
Grab a spot anywhere you feel comfortable. BYOB — bring your own blanket, journal, and something to write with.
Each month has a theme and a set of reflection questions. Deep enough to be interesting, open enough for anyone.
There's no right way. Write a sentence, write pages. Doodle. Cry a little. No judgement.
Chat with your neighbors, make a new friend, or "opt to continue journaling". Every kind of showing up is welcome.
✦ just show up and reflect
Seriously. Come as you are. We've had people show up after big life events, in the middle of transitions, just looking for connection, or just because they were curious. The only requirement is being kind — to yourself and others.
This is a judgment-free third space built on radical acceptance, vulnerability, and the belief that community changes people. Journaling is deeply personal — typically a solo, quiet act of vulnerability. But something magical happens when you do it among other people. A kind of vulnerability dust settles over the room, and suddenly there's space for real, genuine human connection. That's the power of pen to paper.
Art Hill in Forest Park · 2:00 PM · Free
You'll receive a confirmation email with event details. Can't make it after all? There'll be a one-click cancel link in your email — no stress. 💛
Got a journal question that's been living rent-free in your head? A thought, a feeling, feedback for the collective? Want to bring the Journal Collective to your city? We want to hear it — drop it below.
Drop your thoughts here ✦Connection through reflection, right to your inbox — be the first to know of our monthly events, journal prompts, and notes from Julie. And we're always cooking up exciting things for the collective....stay tuned!