2026 Events

  • Be The Elephant

    Jan, 2026

    Online Workshop

    A storytelling-rich, soul-stirring writing workshop inspired by the extraordinary ways and wisdom of elephants.


    Join me for three 55-minute Zoom sessions, where we slow down, feel deeply, remember what’s important, and play on the page.

    These are four beautiful wells we’ll dig together… Using stories, prompts, and creative practice to help you write with more spaciousness, courage, and clarity

    Email to Book

  • Vision Journaling Workshop

    Jan, 2026

    In-Person Workshops

    A creative, reflective space to help shape your year ahead.

    Before you dive into 2026, carve out time to think, reflect, dream and create. This four-hour workshop is a guided experience where you’ll use the power of journaling to clarify what’s on your heart and then turn those words into a vision board that captures who you’re becoming and what you’re hoping for in the year ahead.

    Come hone your vision for 2026 with paper, pens, purpose and a whole lot of heart.

    Email to Book

  • Words That Stick - Collage & Journaling

    Feb, 2026

    Online Workshop

    What happens when a Romanian Barcelonian woman passionate about collage meets a South African woman who loves words? You get a workshop full of colour, creativity, story, scissors, glue and laughter – and surprising breakthroughs on paper.

    Blending collage artistry with storytelling and journaling wisdom - come join for an hour of ripping, writing, assembling, feeling, dreaming. You’ll make something beautiful from the fragments of your life.

    Email to Book

  • The Basics

    Runs Throughout The Year

    Online or In-Person Workshop

    Foundations for a Life-Giving Journaling Practice. For anyone new to journaling, curious about it, returning after years away or longing for a grounded way to begin again.

    This is the workshop that started everything. The one I taught around my dining room table for years. The one that grew into a three-day retreat at Brookdale Health Hydro in the KZN Midlands. The one hundreds of people have asked to repeat because it meets you exactly where you are with clarity and with heart.

    I’ve facilitated this workshop for:
    • Small friendship circles
    • Women’s groups
    • Corporate teams
    • Educators and school staff
    • Creative groups and community gatherings

    This 4-hour workshop can be adapted for your context, team, season or retreat.

    Email for More

  • Deeper In

    Runs Throughout The Year

    Online or In-Person

    Taking Heart Work to Another Level.

    If you’re journaling regularly or have attended a workshop with me before, this space is for you. You are ready to go deeper.

    We begin with a brief recap of the foundations from The Basics Workshop and then explore the intricacies of journal-writing devices that will enrich and expand your existing practice.

    You’ll gain valuable insights and practical tools designed to:
    • Make your writing more creative and fresh
    • Keep your practice rewarding and alive
    • Deepen your connection to yourself and others
    • Strengthen your sense of wholeheartedness
    • Cultivate greater emotional awareness and expressive confidence

    This 4-hour workshop can be adapted for your context, team, season or retreat.

    Click Here

  • Hello Dreamer

    Mid-Feb-Mid March

    In-Person

    Journaling Through the Story of Joseph: A journaling journey through Genesis 37–50.

    An introduction to understanding your dreams and using your journal to deepen dream interpretation. Lessons from Joseph’s life in 1900 BC teaches us about 21st-century living.

    You’ll learn how to
    • Journal through heart issues and pain to find God’s voice
    • Draw links between your words and your leadership potential

    This is for you if you:
    • Connect journaling and Bible studies
    • Have big dreams or are surrounded by big dreamers
    • Want to grow in character and calling

    x2 hours a week for 4 consecutive weeks. Can also be a full day workshop with a minimum of 10 people.

    Email for More

Events, workshops & retreats

Workshops, retreats, courses & journal mentorship

For more information, including pricing, please pop us an email.

Get in touch

  • You can book Ant to speak at your event. In an hour, she will inspire and encourage listeners to kickstart a life-giving journaling practice.

  • The Basics Workshop: Ant will host this workshop and give your group the tools they need to start journaling and stay journaling through all seasons of life.

  • For those who have attended The Basics Workshop. Dive deeper into your journaling practice. Learn new methods to unblock creative expression, get new techniques to work through personal issues in your journal, heal broken relationships, access your subconscious, interpret your dreams, and heal from childhood wounds.

  • Includes an A4 handstitched leather journal, art supplies, drinks and snacks.

    Ant will open some of her journals and, page by page, teach you to fill up your journal with the things that are closest to your heart. In this fun, creative, and incredibly interactive workshop, you will learn to practically pour your heart (and paints) out on paper.

  • Ant will lead you through three-hour sessions a day for three consecutive days. A beautiful way to learn how to journal and to practice what you’re learning, day by day. This retreat concept is inspired by Ant’s Journaling Getaways hosted at Brookdale Health Hydro in Nottingham Road (visit www.brookdale.co.za for more).

  • For those who have attended Ant’s Intro to Journaling Workshop. Dive deeper into your journaling practice. Learn new methods to unblock creative expression, get new techniques to work through personal issues in your journal, heal broken relationships, access your subconscious, interpret your dreams, and heal from childhood wounds.

  • Tailored to suit your group, Ant will deliver an engaging, inspiring, and empowering session/s or workshops on Journaling.

    • Session One: Introduction to Journaling. The history and science of journaling. Foundations of a life-giving journaling practice and keys to keep journaling.

    • Session Two: Helpful tools to creatively unblock, clear out the mental debris, and journal through the everyday ordinary in a way that reveals how extraordinary it really is.

    • Session Three: Using your journal to set and cast vision; How to journal through day and night dreams.

  • In-person or online, you can book Ant for private journal mentorship sessions. In these sessions, you will work together to set a goal for your journaling practice, and Ant will help you to not only achieve this goal but will coach you through several different ways to journal and access the depths of your own heart, mind, and soul.

“..she is a kind and patient teacher, who gives much of herself as she imparts her wisdom.”

Testimonials

The online journaling workshop was a powerful tool for our Grade 11 girls. It was helpful to consider the benefits of journaling and some of the various methods. Thank you Ant for creating a safe and practical space for our girls to learn and grow.

– Meg Meeding, Head of Life Orientation, St Anne’s Diocesan College

Ant inspired us to inspire the boys we teach! As life-long learners, we are constantly looking for ways to reinvent ourselves as teachers. A journalling-day with Ant reignited a love for writing while reminding us of the importance of reflection. We use these strategies in our classrooms daily.

– Tanith von Mayer, Head of English Department, Michaelhouse

Ant spent an afternoon with our marketing and communications team, providing an amazingly authentic experience. She helped us connect as a team and explore different aspects of ourselves, fostering a broader and deeper level of connection. Through her coaching on journaling, especially vision journaling, she equipped us with a valuable tool to understand our current state and envision where we want to be. This perspective is crucial in our fast-paced school environment. We highly recommend her and encourage you to invest in what she offers—it is truly unique and impactful.

– Pete Storrar, Director of Advancement, Hilton College

Antoinette has a beautiful gift to write, which she shares diligently through her journaling course.

She provokes and challenges you to throw caution to the wind and write!

Her methods encourage you to start scribbling first thing in the morning with "morning pages" to more deeper reflective writings that encapsulate your pain, worries, joy, peace and gratitude....and even perhaps being emboldened to write a love letter to God. I've been inspired to write, and as I look at what I've written, maybe....just maybe a book could be birthed.....

A huge thank you, Antoinette for sharing your love word for word.

– Verna Douman

I attended Ant McDonald’s journalling retreat last year at Brookdale. I was unsure what to expect from the retreat and I must say I was very pleasantly surprised. Ant has a very warm, vulnerable and authentic approach and she speaks from a space of faith, experience and intuition. Ant has an incredible mastery of the English language and was able to put concepts into words unlike any other facilitator I have encountered. The journalling retreat covered so much more than journalling. I took away many practical tools, life-hacks, nuggets and tips for journalling as well as for everyday life and I left the retreat feeling more equipped, calm and inspired.

– Cindy Norcott

Leave a testimonial

Past events

  • Be The Elephant - Barcelona

    8-9 Nov - Barcelona, Spain

    Be The Elephant goes to the Barcelona Journaling Festival.

  • Seize The Season Breakfast

    2 Sept - Hillcrest, DBN

    Cindy Norcott is a sought-after motivational speaker, coach and best-selling author. Join us as we cheer you into Spring.

  • Be The Elephant Workshop

    Aug 2025, Salt Rock

    Big Tree Africa, The Litchi Orchard

  • Be The Elephant Retreat

    Aug 2025, Nottingham Road

    Brookdale Health Hydro

  • Online Journal Writing Workshop

    Sept 2025

    Online workshop for a group in the USA.

  • Private Workshop

    15 Sept, Parktown North

    The Basics of Journaling

  • Be The Elephant - Cape Town

    18 Sept - Constantia, Cape Town

  • Be The Elephant - Johannesburg

    Saturday 4 October 10-12, Parktown North

  • MeiTafel Launch

    8-9 November 2024

    Private Retreat, Fairland, Johannesburg

  • Wrapping The Year Workshop

    Friday, 29 November 2024

    Wrapping up the year with intention.

  • Advanced Journaling Retreat

    26 & 27 February 2025

    Brookdale Health Hydro, Nottingham Road

  • Wave Church, Salt Rock

    28 February 2025

    Closed Event - Leaders Workshop

  • The Vine Church,

    15 March 2025

    Ink & Intimacy - Closed Ladies Workshop

    https://www.vinechurch.co.za/

  • St Stithians Boys College Charity Event

    15 March 2025

    Speaker: CHOC Fundraiser - 2-5:30pm

  • Kingsmead Book Fair 2025

    24 May 2025

    Antoinette McDonald shares the best ways to kickstart a life-giving journaling rhythm.

  • Whole-Hearted Ladies Conference

    Saturday 31 May 2025

    Speaker - The Wave Church, Salt Rock

  • Clifton Prep Nottingham Road

    12 May 2025

    Online Lessons - Grade 6’s

    What is Journaling and How do I do it?

  • YPO Pretoria Chapter Retreat

    June 24 2025

    Women’s Retreat - Hosted by YPO Pretoria

    https://www.ypo.org/africa/

  • St Anne’s Diocesan College, Hilton

    18,19,20, 23 June 2025

    Online Workshops - Grade 11’s

    The Joy of Journaling

  • Nice, Parkhurst

    26 June 2025, 17h30-21h00

    Workshop