...between no longer and not yet.
Welcome November and the fast approaching festive season!
I have been reflecting recently on time spent studying at school and wanted to concentrate this month's blog on a topic which arose in an English lesson when discussing different themes from novels by Kazuo Ishiguro. I am talking about the idea of liminal spaces, what they mean and how they are significant at this time of year.
Nancy Levin's words above highlight the significance of the future and being aware of what is yet to happen, without being attached to the final result or outcome.
The topic of this months blog is “liminal spaces” for many reasons, including the fact that November often feels like it is waiting for December and Christmas, the days often feel like they’re waiting for the night and the weather is just waiting for the cold…
The etymology of liminal originates from the Latin ‘limen’ meaning threshold. In other words, liminal spaces are transitional or transformative spaces. They are the waiting areas between one point in time and space and the next.
As I mentioned, I came to the conclusion about the importance of this topic when considering my own personal experiences of the word in school.
Below is a photo taken while I experienced a liminal space between Earth and Sky during an afternoon walk which culminated in this truly spectacular view, overlooking a wonderful landscape. This was a sight definitely not to be forgotten and reminded me of the strong physicality of Nature and how it was able to withstand time.
Author and Franciscan friar Richard Rohr describes a liminal space as follows:
“…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.”
If we consider Richard's words, he seems to suggest that these thresholds of waiting and not knowing our ‘next’ are inevitable and most are incredibly disruptive.
And I think that it’s how we react to the waiting and potentially unknown future times is what characterises ourselves as individuals.
The liminal space opens up opportunities for 'genuine newness' which could open all manner of fantastic realms for us to experience.
But thinking in a more practical sense for our everyday lives, we could challenge ourselves to consider the idea of liminal spaces in more detail...
When we are facing major changes, many of us often don’t know who to become or how to navigate the future ahead.
We often miss the real potential of ‘in-between’ places – we either stand paralyzed or we flee quickly, doing anything to avoid the discomfort.
But how would it feel to embrace those “in-between” places?
Next time you experience a liminal space - perhaps a job change, moving house, a life discontent - try being comfortable with it and not trying to imagine it away.
I feel that we can spend time wishing away the month of November in preparation for celebrating December and all things Christmas. However, we can often miss the important learnings from our daily lives.
Recently, I have been regularly listening to a particular song, as the lyrics really connect with me and remind me of the importance of being myself and what we can achieve if we believe in ourselves.
Here are a few lines from the popular song by Craig David & MNEK:
'Cause the person they all see
Doesn't matter much to me
Already know that you're a star
But I just wanna get to who you are
Who you are, are, are, are, are, are
Are
Already know that you're a star
But I just wanna get to who you more
To me, the lyrics signify how we should never question or doubt ourselves. This song seems to be describing a liminal space where the recipient of the song is being encouraged by the singer to trust in their talents. There seems to be a liminal space between uncertainty and true belief for the recipient, but the singer of the song has steady loyalty and is working to help their dearest realise their full potential. Naturally, songs are very subjective and can have different meanings for every person but I thought that this may be another useful way to consider liminal spaces and how they may appear in our lives.
Tracee Ellis Ross said:
“May the space between where I am and where I want to be inspire me”
For me, the photo above highlights the importance of space and what it may offer us all. Here I took a moment to enjoy my surroundings and all that it could offer my senses - smells, sounds, visuals and even physical connections with the ground.
Why not take advantage to explore your own liminal spaces, particularly as we approach the final month of 2021?
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As Winter and Christmas are fast approaching, remember to keep rejuvenating your body with hearty and warming food and drinks, to ensure you keep steady throughout the colder months. Above is a delicious wintry plate of goodness which I enjoyed during a recent short weekend staycation.
Wednesday Wind down With Sitara continues every week 8-10pm and I hope you're looking forward to the festive tunes starting next week on 1st December. It's a show not to be missed...
Take the time to tune in and enjoy a variety of different weekly themes, motivational quotes and uplifting music to end your #humpday with positivity and calm.
Tune into the radio show via your smart speaker or via this link...a positive way to start the day! #localradio
I conclude November's blog with words by Joseph Campbell:
"We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned so as to accept the life that is waiting for us"
Remember the liminal space in your life and be content with whatever happens, perhaps unexpectedly, on a daily basis.
And always leave a little space in your garden for the wandering rabbits :)
Happy November,
Sitara xxx
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