In his book Soulcraft, Bill Plotkin defines liminal space as "a threshold between two worlds or states of being." He explains that liminal space is a place of transition, where individuals leave behind their old identities and enter a period of uncertainty and transformation.

Closely related is the rite of passage, a significant life transition where an individual leaves one group to join another or leaves one role to assume a new one, and consists of three stages: separation, liminality, and incorporation. Recognized and valued by many societies throughout history, especially the indigenous cultures as well as the ancient greeks.

Modern society though, with its myriad of distractions and coping mechanisms, stands in the way of the introspection necessary for our individual rites of passage, an essential human experience. Addiction to technological devices offers places to hide, and ways to avoid. We numb our minds with substances and social media platforms to avoid emotions-especially anxiety and depression. We obligate ourselves, our time, the processing ability of our brains with our busyness. And we choose to seek comfort in the familiar. In the jobs we despise but begrudgingly still report to, in familiar people, and in habitual consumerism of things we don’t need but, we hope, will keep the dread away. In contemporary life, it’s largely up to the individual to recognize when a separation is needed. And also how to navigate the liminal space – the hardest phase due to the high degree of uncertainty from leaving behind one’s identity and not yet assuming or understanding fully a new one.

This article aims to provide some insight into the liminal with some examples, defining characteristics, the benefits of liminal space, and how to navigate them. It’s a worthwhile step in any journey and can made better, as most things can, with some knowledge and guidance of what to expect.

Examples of Liminal Space in Culture

Liminal spaces can be metaphorical. Take, for example, the Hindu epic Ramayana, where the hero Rama seeks the help of the monkey-god Hanuman who lives in a cave in the Himalayas. Entering the cave can be seen as departing from the familiar world and transitioning into a new, unknown.

In Star Wars, Luke Skywalker enters the cantina in Mos Eisley, a liminal space attracting criminals, smugglers, and fugitives where Luke meets Hans Solo and Chewbacca. The cantina is a place where people of different cultures and species interact, and is the place of transition for Luke, marking the beginning of his hero’s journey to become a Jedi.

Liminal spaces are also connected with cultural rituals around the globe and mark significant life changes such as birth, puberty, and death. The Bar Mitzvah is a ceremony in Judaism marking the transition from childhood to adulthood, and where the adolescent starts to become responsible for their actions and become recognized as adults in their community.

Many Native American cultures employ vision quests, where young males entering adulthood go on a solo journey into the wilderness to seek visions or a connection with the spirit world, which will help them find their purpose in life, their role in their community, and how best to serve the “People.” The visions or dreams may take the form of animals or natural forces and require interpretation from elders. The Nez Perce, an indigenous people from the Pacific Northwest United States, came to believe that by fasting for several days, staying awake and concentrating on their quest the mind becomes comatose, and this is when they might receive a “Weyekin”, a mediator-like spiritual being.

The workplace can be a liminal space too, with settings like start-up incubators, shared co-working spaces, and similar dedicated efforts to spur collaboration and encourage individuals to think outside the box. In these liminal spaces new ideas can be explored and executed.

Wilderness therapy, like the vision quest, are programs offering space where individuals can disconnect from technology, modern society, and their respective roles within society. Encouraged to connect with nature, and spiritual elements of themselves with professional or expert guidance, the individual may be more likely to achieve far greater transformation results in this type of setting.

And even living in a new city, especially if temporarily, with the usual feelings of disorientation and uncertainty can lead to self-discovery and growth and be considered a liminal space. One is forced to step outside normal routines, and explore new sides of themselves as they begin to form new social connections in the community and discover new opportunities to shape themselves. It can also be a healing experience, offering a fresh start or a reprieve, and the freedom needed to let go of old beliefs which no longer serve them. All of this is highly dependent upon the support the individual receives in the new city, one’s mindset, and the surrounding social environment.

Characteristics of Liminal Space

Common characteristics of liminal spaces can be broken down into the physical and the psychological-especially important as these are tied to one's thoughts and emotions, dictating their personal experience.

• Thresholds: Boundaries like gateways, bridges, doors act as markers symbolizing the point of departure and transition into a new phase of life. Thresholds can be literal and as well metaphorical. For instance, deciding to pack up everything you own into boxes and put it into storage with a plan to begin traveling the world may not require a literal threshold to pass through.

• Anchors: Things which provide a sense of connection, guidance, and protection, helping the individual undergo personal and spiritual transformation. One of Luke Skywalker’s anchors was Obi-Wan Kenobi. Obi-Wan in life and in death reminded Luke to “use the force” the energy field which gives a Jedi its power, that binds the galaxy together.

• Sacred Objects: In indigenous cultures, the rite of passage can be sacred and so individuals will use good luck charms, amulets, or talismans to navigate the liminal space, and even connect the individual with their heritage, spirituality, and traditions.

• Rituals: Ceremonial acts which help or guide the individual through a transition. The vision quest with its period of fasting and solitude to receive a message of guidance. From pop culture, a notable ritual is the sorting ceremony in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter, where the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry holds an annual ceremony where new students are sorted into one of four houses based on their personality traits and their values. Though the Harry Potter ceremony is fictional, it’s based on real-world traditions from the medieval period at Oxford where students were assigned to colleges based on their backgrounds and interests, known commonly as matriculation.

• Ambiguity: The individual is no longer what they were before, yet also has not fully become what they will be in the future. Feelings of being caught between two worlds are common, with the individual neither fully belonging anymore to their old world and their old identity nor able in this period to fully embrace their new one. Feeling lost and disorientated, the individual may feel unsettled and unable to find footing in new territory. Such experiences though acts as catalysts for transformation.

• Transformation: The individual, when forced to let go of the old beliefs and habits and confront the unknown, will open up possibilities for growth and self-discovery. Introspection allows the individual to assess their motivations, beliefs, values, and their priorities. The insight gained allows them to better understand themselves and their place, or role, in the world. Additionally, when one confronts new challenges and experiences, they may develop new ways of thinking and skills. Necessity is the mother of invention, as they say.

• Cognitive Dissonance: Severe initiations employed by some cultures as part of traditional rite of passages have shown to produce cognitive dissonance. It is theorized that this may be due to the need to find justification for the effort undertaken by the individual after the experience resulting in group attraction. Rewards also have a large influence. Initiates that feel more rewarded express stronger group identity and conformity. And so care should be taken to work with a trustworthy group which has the best interests of the individual in mind, and will conduct any related rite of passage responsibly.

The Benefits of Liminal Space

Because in a liminal space the usual boundaries of society, community, and of the mind are blurred, the initiate will feel more free to attempt to understand themselves and also express themselves in new ways. Doing so allows for new identities to emerge when one is freed from the expectations and pressures associated with their former roles-even if just the association implied within the mind of the initiate. Here’s some benefits to expect:

• Personal growth: Liminal spaces create opportunities for self-discovery. When an individual is in a liminal space, they are more likely to confront long-held assumptions, beliefs, and biases. They can be pushed to explore new ways of thinking. Establishing new norms, healthier self-talk, and new-found freedoms.

• Innovation: These spaces can inspire creativity and innovation by allowing individuals to think beyond and outside usual constraints and thought patterns. New ideas can be stimulated and explored, especially in settings where this is encouraged and externally facilitated.

• Healing: If one of the motivating factors is a desire to leave behind old patterns and negative associations, one can find a great opportunity for healing and for positive transformation. The liminal space allows for reflection, for letting go of old habits which no longer are of service, and establishing new practices.

• Increased resilience: A dose of uncertainty and disorientation can be helpful in learning to be adaptive, building ones ability and capacities to cope with change and adversity.

• Exploration: Liminal spaces, especially those related to traveling far off places, can provide opportunities for cultural exploration and cultural awareness. Developing an understanding of different values and norms and how they shape people's behaviors. This also increases the ability to communicate cross-culturally through different languages and non-verbal cues. This may gain the individual skills for communication, develop empathy, and the recognition that cultural differences can provide opportunities for learning.

Navigating Liminal Space

Here are some tips for navigating liminal space effectively. Generally, stay grounded, seek support when needed, and maintain a sense of purpose. These tips are important as liminal space can leave one feeling disconnected and isolated, anxious, frustrated, lacking growth, leading to negative feelings and emotions.

• Embrace uncertainty: Avoid trying to resist or control the uncertainty associated with liminal space. Recognize that not knowing what to expect can be a valuable opportunity to learn.

• Stay present: It's easy to get caught up worrying about what will happen in the future, and looking back at past regrets. Instead, say focused on the present moment and live in the present moment. Take part in the experiences available to you right now.

• Set goals: Setting goals and intentions will help to focus attention within liminal space. Consider what should be achieved, and set specific, achievable goals which will help to work towards the larger objective.

• Seek support: If one finds themselves feeling overwhelmed, feeling anxious or depressed, seek support from others. This can be friends, family, or professional therapists and guides. Sometimes by simply stating things, one can feel some relief.

• Practice self-care: Make sure to take care of your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Identify ways to practice self-care and make them part of your daily routine like exercising, meditating, or spending time in nature. Write about the experience using journaling techniques suitable to the individual.

Summing it up

Liminal spaces, whether physical or psychological, are unique opportunities for growth. They are transitional, offering one a chance to be out of bounds and experience life in a new way. By following the tips like embracing uncertainty, staying present, setting goals, seeking support, and practicing self-care, one can navigate the liminal space. By making the most of the opportunities one can achieve transformation, learn about others, about nature, and especially about themselves. Embrace the uncertainty and see where the journey takes you.