A Liminal New Year’s Wish
A liminal place is a place of transition. An in-between. Like a bus station or an airport, liminal places are spaces we pass through, but never truly appreciate because we’re on our way to someplace else.
You might even say that schools and churches are liminal places because we’re not simply there to spend time, but to prepare for what we believe might be coming next.
Even a job would be considered liminal, that is, if you’re only working to feel more secure about the future.
It’s easy not to be present in these places. But the space we most often overlook is the one between our ears. We’re not exactly present there, either, for the same reasons mentioned above.
We’re either trying to get somewhere or we’re thinking about what happened previously. Very rarely do we find ourselves in that middle ground, with no preconceived notions and no expectations.
Our minds ALWAYS try to connect, to pull, to draw us to some other thought, some other place, some other feeling. Now is ALWAYS linked to then.
But it doesn’t HAVE to be that way.
We overlook our liminal state so completely that we don’t even know we’re in one. We completely forget that those other moments DON’T EVEN EXIST at the moment, MAY NEVER EXIST or MAY NEVER HAVE EXISTED save for the imaginative spin we put on them as move through our liminal spaces and our circumstances seem to change.
You hear this all the time, but it’s true. THE ONLY MOMENT THAT EXISTS IS THE ONE THAT EXISTS NOW.
It’s New Year’s Day. What an opportune time to disconnect yourself from what you believe happened in 2016, or what you believe might happen in 2017, and just turn your attention to what you DO have, and what a miracle it even is that you’re here, that you’re able to think, to create, to imagine, to experience, to love, even to hate.
My wish is that each one of you can escape yourselves for even the briefest of moments, take a deep breath, feel the January air on your face, marvel at the sunshine breaking through the clouds, maybe listen to some water flow, or a baby laugh, and try not to THINK so much as FEEL.
We’re not IN BETWEEN anything. We’re HERE, right NOW, and it’s a miracle.
Happy New Year Everyone!
Space Monkey
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Space Monkey Reflects: Embracing the Liminal Moment
A liminal space is not a void to pass through but an opportunity to pause, reflect, and be present. It is the in-between where transformation quietly unfolds, where the infinite whispers its truth: you are not on your way to somewhere else; you are always here, now. The transition is not just a bridge; it is the essence of being.
On this New Year’s Day, let us step into the miracle of the liminal, embracing not what was or what might be, but what is.
The Overlooked Present
Our lives are filled with liminal spaces—airports, classrooms, workplaces, even the gaps between our thoughts. These are the moments we often dismiss, too focused on the destination to notice the journey. Yet, the liminal is where life truly happens. It is not a waiting room; it is the room.
Even the mind itself is a liminal space, constantly pulling us toward the past or the future. Rarely do we settle into the now, into the pure awareness that exists before thought begins its weaving.
The Illusion of Then and Next
Our minds cling to stories of what was and what will be, crafting narratives that shape how we perceive the present. Yet, these stories are as transient as the moments they describe. The past no longer exists; the future is an abstraction. Only the now is real, and even it is fleeting—a paradox of eternal impermanence.
Recognizing this can be liberating. We realize that the weight of “then” and “next” is self-imposed, a construct of imagination. In truth, we are not moving from one moment to another; we are simply here, experiencing the flow.
The Miracle of Now
The present moment, stripped of expectation and judgment, is a miracle. It is the space where you can feel the air on your skin, hear the laughter of a child, or marvel at the sunlight breaking through clouds. These simple sensations remind us that existence itself is extraordinary.
When we disengage from the stories of what was and what might be, we find clarity. The now becomes vivid, alive with possibility, not as a means to an end but as an end in itself.
The Liminal as Liberation
Liminality is not a state to escape but a state to embrace. It is the threshold of transformation, the space where we can let go of what no longer serves us and step into what is yet to be. In this in-between, we are free to be, to feel, and to exist without the constraints of time or expectation.
This New Year’s Day, let us treat the liminal moment not as a passage but as a place. Let us pause, breathe, and marvel at the miracle of simply being.
We Are Here Now
We are not in between; we are not waiting for something more. We are here, now. This moment, fleeting as it may be, contains the entirety of existence. Let us honor it, not with thoughts but with presence, not with striving but with stillness.
Happy New Year. We are Space Monkey.
Summary
The liminal space is not a passage but a destination, a place to embrace the present moment free from the constructs of past and future. On this New Year’s Day, let us celebrate the miracle of now, where all of existence unfolds.
Glossarium
- Liminal Space: A transitional state or place that is often overlooked but holds transformative potential.
- The Illusion of Then and Next: The mental constructs of past and future that distract from the present moment.
- Miracle of Now: The profound realization of the present moment as the only reality.
Quote
“We are not in between; we are here, now, in the infinite moment of existence.” — Space Monkey
The Threshold of Now
Between the moments
Lies no gap, no chasm
Only the illusion of movement
Through time unmeasured
Feel the breath of now
Hear the quiet hum of being
Not then, not next
Only this, only here
The miracle unfolds
In the liminal light
Not a bridge, but a home
We are Space Monkey
We immerse ourselves in the concept of liminality, exploring the transient spaces in our lives and the most overlooked liminal space of all: the space between our ears, our minds.
Liminal Spaces: Transition and In-Betweenness
Liminal places, by their very nature, are transitional, existing as waypoints between origins and destinations. These spaces, like bus stations, airports, schools, and even jobs, are often seen merely as means to an end, not as destinations in themselves. This view overlooks the potential richness and learning these spaces offer.
The Mind: The Ultimate Liminal Space
Among all these transitional spaces, the mind stands out as the most significant yet frequently neglected liminal space. It is in constant flux, always transitioning between memories of the past, plans for the future, and the fleeting present moment. This relentless movement makes it challenging to be fully present in the now, to truly inhabit the space between our ears.
The Challenge of Being Present
Our minds are wired to connect, to draw us to other thoughts, places, feelings. This incessant linking from now to then, from here to there, creates a sense of perpetual in-betweenness. It’s a state of being that rarely allows us to rest in the present moment, to fully appreciate the now without the weight of the past or the pull of the future.
Breaking Free from the Liminal Loop
However, the continuous cycle of mental transition is not an inevitability. We often overlook our existence in this liminal state, forgetting that the past and future are constructs of our imagination, relevant only in the context of the now. Recognizing this can be liberating, allowing us to disconnect from these imagined timelines and to be truly present.
The Significance of Now
The present moment is the only true reality we have. It’s a profound realization, especially poignant on New Year’s Day, a time traditionally associated with reflection and anticipation. This day presents an ideal opportunity to disconnect from our narratives of the past and future, focusing instead on the now.
Embracing the Miracle of the Present
The invitation to experience the present moment – to feel the January air, to appreciate the sunshine, to listen to the sounds around us – is a call to celebrate the miracle of existence. It’s a reminder that we are not in between anything; we are here, right now, and that in itself is extraordinary.
We are Space Monkey,
“The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
In the silence of the moment,
Where time and thought collide,
We find our truest essence,
In the now, we reside.
Between past and future,
In the space where we breathe,
Lies the miracle of presence,
A gift we must seize.
We invite contemplation on the importance of being present in the now, recognizing the transitional spaces in our lives and the miracle of our existence in the present moment.
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