I. Definitions
1. Relating to a transitional or initial stage of a process
2. Occupying a position at, or on both sides of, a boundary or threshold
A liminal space is the time between the 'what was' and the 'next'. It is a place of transition, a season of waiting, and not knowing. It can be physical, emotional, and/or mental. Liminal space is where all transformation takes place, if we learn to wait and let it form us.
The word liminal comes from the Latin word ‘limen’, meaning threshold – any point or place of entering or beginning. It is a place of transition, a season of waiting, and not knowing.
Where we are betwixt and between the familiar and the completely unknown. There alone is our old world left behind, while we are not yet sure of the new existence. That’s a good space where genuine newness can begin. Get there often and stay as long as you can by whatever means possible…This is the sacred space where the old world is able to fall apart, and a bigger world is revealed. If we don’t encounter liminal space in our lives, we start idealizing normalcy. -Richard Rohr-
Each usher in a new chapter of life and hold varying degrees of disruption.
The only way out is through…
 II. Personal space
For months before the virus stuff took over our consciousness, I had been contemplating my own transition and transformation. At different times in my life I have felt that there was change in the works for me. This generally involved a sort of “reading the tea leaves” of things that were occurring around me, and contemplating my inner thoughts and state. This is characterized by a notion like “Something is happening”, and/or “Something wants/needs to happen”.
When this occurred, I by and large had no idea what exactly that was, or had no clear mental idea of what to do that would facilitate the change. It is like an undefined inner calling that resisted mental processes such as brainstorming, problem solving, and planning. All of those approaches come from my current paradigm, and the transformation is to some new, as-of-yet unknown paradigm. My process is to quiet the mind, contemplate, and open up to a deeper silent knowing that would inform my way of being, and consequently inform my doing. Liminal space.
In the early 90’s as I was in a “what’s next” liminal space (I didn’t have the “liminal” terminology then, so this is in retrospect…) around career-work-calling, I was introduced to the idea of “holding the question”. This entails crafting a question that best represents my understating of the quest I’m engaged in. If I get a clear answer, it will move me forward in being and action into the new space. Next is holding the question—not forcibly attempting to answer it through my current mental processes, but being with it and noticing what comes into my life in terms of ideas and opportunities that might inform the answer.
Actions include:
- Making an inventory of my talents, interests, experience, and education, with the question being around how these might come together in a new and fecund way.
- Holding a context that my interactions and my inner thought process will provide information towards the answer (but not being in a hurry to “arrive”).
- Having a regular contemplation process (outlined below) to develop an ongoing relationship with where I am at with the question. This is done in my contemplation journal
Contemplation process:
- Write down the question (as lucid and focused as you can).
- Journal your current thoughts, feelings, and conjectures around the question.
- Meditate on your question (I generally do 10-15 minutes).
- Journal any new insights from meditation.
The contemplation process often informs reframing and tweaking the question I’m holding, making it more focused or clear. It serves to access a deeper knowing, the Self, a sub-liminal comprehension.
For me an important part of traversing liminal space is creative expression. My go-to is playing and writing music, but I’ve also used painting, poetry, story writing, sculpture, building, photography, and theater. These expressions provide a channel for the subliminal to become conscious.
The last thing I’ll say about my process is that I hold it as important to pay attention to the people I’m meeting and situations I find myself in. I look for new situations and interactions without forcing it. I do a “gut check” to see what I feel called to do and be a part of. I find kernels of insight, possibilities, and wisdom.
Bergamo, Italy
III. The Current State
My personal liminal journey has been fascinatingly modulated by the rest of humanity coming into its own liminal space with the COVID-19 virus pandemic. We’re all neither here nor there, with the processes of “normal” life and interaction upended on what feels like an unprecedented scale. Though disrupting on a scale we haven’t experienced as a species perhaps since World War II, it is not unprecedented. There have been intense disruptions throughout history. It may seem that way to us that have become accustomed to regarding our existence as relatively stable and reliable. We have shifted into unknown territory, perhaps desiring for this to end and get back to our usual and reliable lives. But the general case with liminal space and the corresponding transitions is that there is movement to a new order, hopefully a higher order where the transition period helps birth necessary changes in the evolution of consciousness. How we are in a being sense, and what we do with the time determines the new direction.
IV. Possibilities and Action
What are the possibilities for us personally and collectively during this time? I subscribe to the be-do-have model—first be how you want to be, that informs what to do, and doing winds up bringing you the things you want to have. (I think our societal default is do-have-be). First I ask “What are the possibilities for my way of being during this?” My friend the Peruvian shaman, Puma Quispe Singona, breaks it down that we can either come from a place of love or of fear. That’s the starting point. I can feel many friends in the fear place, wondering what’s going to happen, worrying about finances, medicating with Netflix, YouTube, sugar, experiencing anxiety and depression, etc.
How can I accept what is and explore the unique possibilities? Established in a place of love and potential, I can look at the doing—projects I can take on, communicating and partnering in new ways, meditation and prayer, putting order to my space, and for me, seeing how this informs the personal liminal space that I was already experiencing. It has shifted my context for one of a personal journey to that of a family, tribal, and human exploration where I can explore a higher purpose around what we all can have when we cross the liminal space with love, power, and consciousness.
-Paul Kwiecinski
I’ve been in liminal space around writing this article…
PK
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