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
1/1/2017
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,
Summary
We explore the concept of liminality, focusing on the mind as a significant liminal space where we often fail to be present. The nature of our minds to constantly transition between past, present, and future prevents us from fully experiencing the now. Recognizing the present moment as our only true reality, especially on a symbolic day like New Year’s Day, offers an opportunity to disconnect from past narratives and future anxieties, embracing the miracle of being alive and present.
Glossarium
- Liminality: The quality of being an intermediate state or phase.
- In-Betweenness: The state of being in a transitional or intermediate space.
“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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