The Transformative Dance of Witnessing
- Efrat Shani
- Mar 5
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 12
A few weeks ago, I started a silent WhatsApp group and asked the members what they wanted to explore more deeply. The winning response was clear: the art of seeing and being seen. This resonated deeply with me, and I was amazed to realize that this is what it's all about—being seen is at the heart of what makes life so meaningful.

After recovering from cancer (almost 11 years ago - wow), I found myself questioning how quickly I was 'normalizing' life again. This led me to embark on a solo trip to Scotland - not just as a vacation, but as a pilgrimage to rediscover and recover myself.
Standing alone by a serene river in the Scottish highlands, I took my camera for a self-portrait, a moment of enjoying my partnership with myself. As I faced the lens, something profound happened. The camera became more than a tool. It became a witness to me. At that moment, I wasn't just taking a picture—I was allowing myself to be seen, perhaps for the first time in a long time.
I understood the transformative power of being witnessed. It's not just about self-reflection. It's about the magic that happens when we allow another, even if it's the camera lens , to see us fully, flaws and all. This is the essence of falling in love—when someone truly sees us, and we feel deeply who we are.
The healing I experienced wasn't solitary. It came from the vulnerability of exposing my true self to the camera's witness. In that moment of being seen, I fell in love with life again. I realized that healing isn't about returning to who we were but embracing who we've become and allowing ourselves to be witnessed and accepted.
In my work, I've seen countless individuals transform when they allow themselves to be truly seen by another. In this space of witnessing vulnerability, we often find our greatest strength and potential for growth.
I guide participants through this transformative process in my retreats, using photography and mindfulness to facilitate deep connection and healing. These experiences provide a unique opportunity to explore the art of being seen in a supportive environment, reminding us that we don't just heal in being witnessed—we fall in love with life and ourselves again.