In-Between Places
“Traveler, there is no road;
you make your own path as you walk.”
We are in the Between Places, called ‘Idir Áit, in Gaelic. The Irish Ancestors would say this is an in-between time of abundant light, as the days slowly wane toward darkness. We’re straddling one of the thresholds where life cycles are side by side, connected yet different. We sense the moments between Summer’s blossoming and the Autumn’s harvest. There is an ineffable threshold between the shift of seasons as we walk toward Autumn’s shedding, which is not quite here yet.
The In-Between place is often described as a space between two borders: the In-Between time that marks dawn, as the day begins, and just after dusk, before twilight. We are in the midst of a transition. A state of being that lies in the boundaries between the known and the unknown.
The journey through these transitions may be filled with the wonder and awe of the mystery, conversely, we may also be met by unexpected waves of sorrow and periods of grief. John O’Donohue, the Irish poet, reminds us of this fragile coexistence, “Think for a moment how, across the world, someone’s life just changed – irrevocably and permanently – and everything that once was so steady, so reliable, must now find a new way of unfolding.”
The In-Between Places is a gateway for many of our life’s thresholds. Life is an initiation that sometimes invites us, gently or fiercely, into terrains that are foreign to us. The In-Between Space can be a simple moment in the day or a major life transition. We may be going about the ordinary tasks of the day, the shifting seasons, beginning or ending a marriage, a career, a move, an illness, children leaving the nest, or grieving the loss of loved ones. As we mature on our soul path, we recognize the vast beginnings and endings, the myriad of experiences that ebb and flow.
When the transitions we are experiencing seem complete, we realize the transitional continuum is endless. There may be journeys-within-journeys. “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end”. These words echo in the In-Between Spaces, this is a saying from the Seneca Nation. Embrace each new phase as an opportunity to turn your learning into gifts that can be taken out into the world.
During these transitions we leave behind who we were and are not yet who we are becoming. We may feel untethered, scared, and disoriented – met with a confluence of thoughts, sensations, and emotions as we attempt to stand on this unknown ground.
Feeling our way over the ground that is shrouded in the mist, our steps are unknown to us, the path uncertain. This journey invites us to trust our primordial knowing, and necessitates courage. John O’Donohue says:
“. . . natural courage that casts out fear and opens up our lives to become voyages of discovery, creativity, and compassion. No threshold need be a threat, but rather an invitation and a promise”.
In-Between Spaces are mirrored within Nature’s landscapes and language - the moments at dawn and dusk, when daybreaks and twilight lingers on the horizon. We sense these In-Between Places as liminal space – when we approach a crossing, entering the woodlands or forest, gazing at the mist just beyond the water’s edge. . . In these moments we sense the betwixt and between, the unseen, and the mystery.
Liminal space constitutes the transition between the unknown place – it isn’t where you've been and it isn’t quite where you are going – it is neither here nor there - physically, emotionally, or spiritually. The root of "liminal" originates from the Latin word “limen,” representing the threshold.
Being present in the place where we are landing is essential to our growth. Giving ourselves the spaciousness and generosity to remain there after we enter and cross these challenging terrains can be transformational. This landing is the ground that holds us - a place where we can take root even when we feel groundless. We shed the old worn-out ways of being that no longer serve us. In time, we harvest our courage, wisdom, and power.
Remaining mindful of simplicity, especially when life feels so overwhelming, exhausting, and unpredictable, invites us to drop into moments where we can show up and burrow into the In-Between Places. Those moments offer refuge, retreat, and restoration from our weariness. When we pause from rushing through, figuring it out, and the compulsive need to do something, another way can open up to us.
These moments to pause create a space for us to reflect. I have found these questions and reflections from John O’Donohue’s book, To Bless the Space Between Us, to have been a guide, I have revisited them again and again, during intimate, raw, and vulnerable moments to support me in taking stock of where I am – helping me get my footing.
At any time you can ask yourself:
At which threshold am I now standing?
At this time in my life, what am I leaving?
Where am I about to enter?
What is preventing me from crossing my next threshold?
What gift would enable me to do it?
A pause can be a bridge between the real and the unreal, the seen and the unseen, it connects us with our humanness and divinity. Through the energy of the sacred, we open to a fuller presence and deeper connection with the Sacred Web of Life.
The wise console of Francis Weller, from The Wild Edge of Sorrow, guides us into the sacred ground of ritual: “Once we begin the ritual, it is out of our hands; it now belongs to Spirit. Life is far too complex to rely solely on our intellect. We need the invisible hands of Spirit to shelter us, to support us, and to offer us the nourishing comfort that comes from that Other World”.
Rituals can support us when we are traversing the territories of transitions. Rituals are intentional, meaningful, and a symbolic act, they can mark the numinous passages in our lives. When we create simple rituals, we dwell in the In-Between Spaces, strengthening our relations with the Great Mystery and all that guides us. As Don Oscar says, “When we surrender the need to figure it all out and cultivate the ability to let it all in, then our earth walk becomes a sacred dance of healing service on the planet”.
Rituals are doorways that connect our Soul and Body – Spirit and Matter. We bring ourselves to the doorway with humility and reverence, then there are moments we enter on our knees, shattered, in tears. I talk to the Holy Ones anytime and anyplace, whenever I need. The Holy Ones are always here for us, but we need to ask for their help, call them in, and talk with them. For me, enacting rituals and prayers is the foundation of this intimate relationship. I trust they have my back and guide my steps and path, and I’m so grateful.
A simple prayer can be a ritual, one breath – one whisper. Rituals and prayers are the bridge to the unknown, inviting the unknown to be made visible. Here, at the western edge of the Pacific Ocean, I often give ritual offerings to Mama Ocean. I can feel the presence of the guardians with me while I sprinkle white sage, cornmeal, tobacco, or a libation on the sand. All that is sacred to me is being restored in beauty, with each gesture, bringing balance and harmony to all worlds. These words of wisdom from Don Oscar always bring me home to the relevance and reverence of ritual:
Rituals are an evolutionary art that beautifies
our spiritual vision and humanness.
Most importantly, I am riding the tides of the mundane and the mystical, I do my best to be kind and gentle with myself, nourishing what sustains my aliveness, resilience, and perseverance. These ways become intuitive and instinctive the more I practice. As I continue to awaken and evolve, I engage in ritualized practices and ways of being that embody the sacred.
The In-Between Places can become a sanctuary when we live in the truth of the moment. The truth is healing medicine. We suspend thinking that we know and listen to the Universe speaking to us. Spirit guides us to move forward seeing a larger picture. The winged ones show us the way - sometimes we need to glide on the currents and see where they take us.
Below are suggestions from my heart to yours. Explore, be playful, and see what unfolds naturally for you. You can rephrase these suggestions into writing prompts to inspire your practice or create new ones that speak directly to your experience.
The practices below invite you to navigate and integrate the experience and the gifts of liminal spaces.
Practices to Explore Liminal Spaces
Breathe Consciously. Truly Be in the moment, and linger in the liminal spaces.
Invoke and pay homage to the Gatekeepers and Guardians that dwell in the In-Between Spaces, whoever that may be for you.
Offer gratitude at Dawn and Dusk.
Be intentional in the ways that support you to pause, and deepen into the In-Between Places.
Befriend the unknown. Lean into the moments when you feel uneasy, unsettled, unbalanced, or weary. Listen to the messages you receive.
Be Honest with yourself – tell it like it is.
Follow your intuition, honoring your instinctual nature.
Receive the scented communications from our plant allies.
Commune with the elements in Nature.
Build an altar that supports the transition you are currently meeting.
Share a smile and revel in laughter.
“. . .That, I think, is the power of ceremony:
it marries the mundane to the sacred.
The water turns to wine, the coffee to a prayer.
The material and the spiritual mingle-
like grounds mingled with humus,
transformed like steam rising
from a mug into the morning mist.”
Contact me if you would like to schedule an energy medicine session or a soul path mentoring session