Transitional Space

Winnie Man
Written by Winnie Man

There is a place betwixt and between that can be a space of grace, or a moment that passes us by without our notice.

Photo by Jeffrey Czum

I imagine doorways to be portals into moments of consciousness, of grace. 

Consider the moment when you step through the imposing entrance of a cathedral or an old stately home.  Instead of striding quickly through the doorway, and charging ahead to view all the beauty inside, we stop.  We breathe.  We pause.  We may even gasp.  And we take the time to soak up the atmosphere, the scents, and we scan our gaze across the space in front of us.

Photo by Sami TÜRK

This is liminal space.  Transitional space.  The place betwixt and between that speaks of grace in the silence that embraces us in that moment of wonder and awe. 

Our ability to fully embrace the present moment and feel our way into this transitional space can almost feel as if time slips away, and we are graced with a moment that feels timeless.  We could almost imagine what our ancestors felt when they stepped through the same doorways.  Timeless wonder that connects us across time.  A moment of awe that reminds us that beneath it all, there is a thread in humanity that connects us all.

Photo by Ramon Perucho

Now, imagine being able to tap into that energy outside of standing in a doorway or portal, so that you can carry the sense of the liminal space with out.   Carrying that feeling, try out this short present moment practice.

Present moment awareness exercise:

  • Take a moment to pause and reflect
  • Soften, defocus or close your eyes
  • Inhale through your nostrils and breathe out through your mouth
  • Continue breathing in this pattern, softening into each exhale until your breath settles into a regular pattern
  • Place your awareness on the tip of your nose.  Place a fingertip on the tip of your nose to support your focus if that feels helpful
  • Recall a moment where you have encountered liminal space
  • Recall an image, a feeling, a memory or music that supports that moment if that feels helpful
  • Feel the sense of that space wrap around you and give you an embracing hug
  • Draw that feeling into yourself, and allow it to wash over you
  • Allow yourself to be with that feeling
  • Reconnect with your breath, begin to be aware of the shape of your body, placing your finger on the tip of your nose if it’s not already there
  • Release, and open your eyes gently

And observe how you feel.  Notice anything different?

Each time you notice a particular doorway or entrance, allow yourself to pause. 

Allow yourself to come into an encounter with the transitional space of the liminal. 

Allow the universe to speak, to call out and remind you of the sacred within and without. 

The call of the divine. 

Photo by Anna Tarazevich

Allow yourself to embrace the quiet knowing that emerges from that place of awe and wonder, that space of curiosity and deep knowing that connects us directly with our rich inner worlds.

And then breathe…

…allowing yourself to return to the present, carrying that hint of something ineffable with you, and return to regular scheduled programming.  Somewhat changed.  Somewhat enlivened, and more alive.

Photo by Frank Cone

My hope for you is that you allow yourself to heed that call within you that seeks out the sacred liminal spaces, the transitional space that carries you into the rich depths of your inner knowing.  I hope that you continue to invite in the spaces and senses that enrich and nourish you heart and soul.  That you might invite in a sense of the sacred that you might live life, deeply connected to the richness of the universe that resides within you.

Photo by Pixabay

Notice what calls to you. 

For some, it may be nature.  For others, it may be in experiencing adventures, the new and awesome.  Some may find it in touch…in connecting with animals.  It may come in that moment you allow another human to touch you deeply as they gaze into your eyes.  You may find it in music…in the lyrics that reach the quiet of your soul…or that moment in the theatre when the movement or speech of the principal brings tears to your eyes. 

That moment when nothing else exists but the moment someone or something touches your soul.

Photo by Ken Cheung

We are pieces of the universe seeking a unique human experience.  When we invite in the moments that connect us more deeply with something bigger than ourselves, we are reminded that we are not alone, we are made of the same matter that stars and universes are made.

Seek out the quiet spaces.  Seek out the transitional spaces that bridge one moment to the next.  And in that reverie, perhaps allow yourself to be in touch with the universal call of what it is to be fully human, fully connected to that spark, the light which resides within us all. 


Main – Photo by Pixabay