Keil Space: In the Cradle of Light

Psychotherapist Paola Dei shares her experience, in which art, light, and sound become tools for healing and imagination.

Paola Dei is a psychologist, psychotherapist, writer and art therapist with a background in both art and psycho-pedagogy. She has developed innovative methods that integrate art and psychology in therapeutic and preventive practices. Author of more than 40 books and 100 scientific articles, she has worked for decades in the fields of addiction, psycho-oncology, and audiovisual pedagogy. She is the editor of scientific journals, has collaborated with international universities, and since 2017 has served as Artistic Director of the “Bulli ed Eroi” Festival, focused on youth and the prevention of bullying.

Together with Dr. Dei, we enter the depths of Keil Space, leaving the outside world behind. As soon as she crosses the threshold, Paola immediately perceives the power of the space to awaken wonder and imagination, while also inducing a state of calm. For her, the Keil Space experience goes beyond art, it is a therapeutic journey. Here we share the story she wrote after immersing herself in the experience, with words that reveal its profound impact.

An Immersive Experience
My experience at Keil Space in Florence was deeply immersive and intense. The encounter with colors and sounds awakened ancestral parts of me, amplifying my senses and perceptions. Entering felt like returning to the maternal womb, reliving the marvelous sensation of being cradled by a welcoming and nurturing mother. The fragrances, the darkness and the soundscape allowed me to walk through another dimension while remaining grounded in the present, creating magical sensations. From the very first moments, my mind opened to new perceptions. I felt my feet connect to the earth, while my thoughts roamed freely in vast spaces, lulled by scents and colors.

The Geometry of Sound
Guided by a calm, warm voice, I experienced geometries of sound, color and image that blended into a sensory phenomenon, an enchanting synesthesia. Sight, sound, smell and touch slowly led me into the pure form of my mind. A spiritual experience that lasted throughout the journey, allowing me to hear my breath, perceive the voice of colors, and listen to the sounds of the soul.

The First Room
From the colonnaded hall, we entered the first room, home to several sculptures. One in particular stirred my imagination: birds with great wings, evoking the legend of eagles and their process of rebirth. Those vast wings suggested a flight over the world that carried me all the way to Mary Poppins. Yes, my “travel bag” was filled with new sensations. I danced on rooftops with Dick Van Dyke, my legs tracing the steps of a dance. The experience, suspended in time and space, stretched hours into days. With my guide, I entered another room, where a glowing sword transported me to the legend of King Arthur. Shadow and light, memory and present. The contrast was so strong at first that it seemed the two sides could never meet, yet they did. The deepest point of shadow turned to light, and the brightest light became shadow. The Knights of the Round Table, Arthur and Lancelot, and perhaps the end of war. I hoped for it! I believed it!

The Final Room
Finally, the last room, with sounds and shapes on the walls. The guide left me alone, and there I experienced the union of soul and body. Interwoven branches like bodies entwined in intense sensory connection, yet within a deep stillness. Embraced by the spirit of the wind, I soared through infinite spaces, twirling in light, and witnessing the disappearance of contradictions. It is all the work of consciousness seeking and affirming its identity, while simultaneously becoming one with a universe of colors and sounds. The experience was a continuous shift between sensual charge and spiritual intimacy. Light asserts its power and becomes something unique and undefinable, even though the images and colors are there for all to see. It is full participation in all of creation.

The Foundation Dr. Paola Dei for sharing her unique account of the Keil Space experience, highlighting how art can be a powerful tool for awakening focus, imagination, and inner peace.