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EVERYTHING WE KEEP
Objects as Medicine
A 3-Day Visual Masterclass in Material Culture & Identity
What if the objects you refuse
to throw away are actually holding the exact pieces
of who you are today?
Think of your home right now. Inside a dark drawer or on a quiet shelf, there is an object you no longer use, yet refuse to part with—a silent witness to your past, your joy, and your secrets.
You aren't just holding onto "stuff." Material culture research proves that we do not preserve dead matter; we use objects to preserve versions of ourselves.
If you are facing professional burnout, a creative block, or a transition point in your practice, the heavy lifting isn't just in your mind - it is anchored in your physical environment. Until you decode these objects, you will keep running the same old scripts.
This laboratory is your sanctuary to map out who you are becoming.
✧ The Language of Things
"We think with the objects we love; we love the objects we think with."
Sherry Turkle
September 25-27, 2026
10:00 - 18:00 daily
San José, Costa Rica
Led by: Efrat Shani, Former Co-Founder of Points of You
✧ What Will Unfold
By the end of our 3 days together, you will hold tangible, elegant proof of your transformation:
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Absolute Clarity: A 300-word Identity Manifesto that clearly articulates exactly who you are today, ready to be integrated into your life, your relationships, and your business.
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Your Personal Idiom: A set of 5 beautifully crafted, rigid DNA Cards that serve as your "Adult Transitional Object" - a tangible anchor for your inner truth that you will carry home.
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Professional Renewal: New, radical somatic and visual tools (The Silent Portrait, The Kind Gaze™) that you can apply with your own clients to bypass their intellectual defenses.
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Space for the Next Chapter: A profound release of old narratives, creating immense physical and emotional space for your growth.
✧ Our Shared Journey: The 3-Day Arc
Over three days, we step into a screen-free sanctuary, alchemizing your physical objects into a clear vision for your future.
Day 1:
Mapping the Invisible
You bring 10 life objects from your home. We create The Silent Portrait, photographing your items from a bird's-eye view to create a faceless portrait. Moving in total silence, we map your objects through the "Topography of Emotion" and anchor them to universal Jungian archetypes.
Day 2:
Forming the Unspoken
Immersed in a tactile, camera-free studio, we bypass the intellect entirely. Surrendering to the physical work, you will dive into a rich archive of raw materials, papers, and textures. Here, you will physically cut, tear, and assemble your chosen archetypes into 5 breathtaking Symbolic DNA Cards.
Day 3:
A Memory of the Future
You will weave the essence of your visual cards into a definitive 300-word Identity Manifesto. After designing a micro-experiment on the "DNA Wheel," we close with a celebratory gallery opening. Here, your final exhibition is witnessed, and your beautifully packaged cards become anchors into your life.
✧ The woman holding the space for you.
Meet Efrat Shani
For over 25 years, my life’s work has been bridging art, therapy, and the human soul.
You might know my work as the Co-Founder of Points of You,
a visual language that has reached millions of professionals worldwide. But after years of building global methods for the masses, I realized my deepest calling is in the intimate, quiet spaces where profound shifts actually happen.
That is how The Kind Gaze™ was born.
I am a photo-therapist, artist, and mentor. But more than anything, I am someone who knows how to look.
I am not here to "teach" you. You already know enough. You already have enough tools. I am here to offer you a new lens. A precise, deeply compassionate, and sharp way of looking at the world, at your creations, and most importantly - at yourself.
I will hold the space for you to take off your armor, pick up a camera, and remember how beautiful it is to simply see. It would be my absolute honor to walk this journey with you.
"It’s easier for me to make decisions now, to know what I want. My energy changed completely – now I’m attracting people way more easily. Life is just simpler since my Symbolic DNA!"
"Meeting Efrat in real life is something you must live...
Those 3 days changed my life forever. It’s a real game changer."
Emmanuelle Fauchille, France , PHD Creative Coach
"An absolute game-changer! The professionalism of the facilitators was unique, guiding us through each process with care to create a safe space. I left feeling empowered, equipped with invaluable tools to navigate both personal and professional challenges."
Carolina Martin, Spain, EDI Lead Consultant & Project Manager
✧ Reserve Your Sanctuary
To preserve the intimacy, safety, and depth of our shared laboratory, we are limiting the space to exactly 24 souls. We hold this container with great care, and look forward to welcoming those who feel the call.
Early Bird
(Available until August 31st):
$990 USD
Regular Price: $1190 USD
Your Masterclass Ticket Includes:
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The Complete Visual Lab Experience: 3 full days of intimate, solo facilitation by Efrat Shani in a psychologically safe container.
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The "Human Studio" Crafting Kit: All premium analog materials, rigid A5 cards, curated visual archives, and aesthetic packaging for your final creation.
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The Kind Gaze™ Professional Framework: Access to proprietary methodologies you can apply directly in your professional and clinical practice.
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Nourishment: Daily fine coffee, premium teas, and curated light snacks to keep your creative energy flowing.
(Note: To allow for personal integration time, participants are responsible for their own flights, accommodation, and daily main lunches during our 90-minute breaks).
Maybe You Have Some Questions...
Do I need to be an artist or know how to craft?
Not at all. The crafting process is intuitive, analog, and designed to bypass the intellect. If you can use scissors and glue, you have everything you need.
What exactly do I need to bring?
Just yourself, an open heart, and exactly 10 objects from your home that you no longer use but simply cannot throw away. And... Lunch to share.
Will we be taking photos during the workshop?
Of course, on the very first morning, you will take a single bird's-eye-view photo of your objects using your smartphone. After that, the masterclass is a completely screen- and camera-free, analog sanctuary to ensure absolute psychological safety.
Is this the same as the "Falling in Love with Life" retreat?
No. The "Falling in Love with Life" retreat is an extraordinary 5-day intensive where participants experience the complete Kind Gaze™ methodology. Objects as Medicine is a highly focused 3-day laboratory dedicated exclusively to a specific, profound pillar of that method: mapping your Symbolic DNA through material culture and hands-on art-making.
What if life happens and I need to cancel my spot?
We understand that life can be unpredictable. Because our circle is intentionally kept very small (exactly 24 souls), and our laboratory space in Costa Rica is secured well in advance, our policy balances grace with the commitment required to hold this container.
Please note: A $200 USD non-refundable registration fee applies to all cancellations.
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More than 60 days before we begin: You will receive a full monetary refund (minus the $200 fee), or you can choose to convert your entire payment (minus the $200 fee) into a credit for a future masterclass or retreat.
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Between 30 and 60 days before: We offer a 50% monetary refund of your remaining balance (minus the $200 fee), or a full credit (minus the $200 fee) toward a future masterclass or retreat.
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Less than 30 days prior: We cannot offer a monetary refund, but we will gladly apply your payment (minus the $200 fee) as a credit toward a future masterclass or retreat with us.
We warmly recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance (if you are coming from abroad)
so you can reserve your spot with complete peace of mind.
