Daily Dose: The Word “Liminal”
The word liminal comes from the Latin word limen, meaning threshold. It describes a space or moment that exists in between...no longer what it was, but not yet what it will become.
Liminal spaces are everywhere, even if we don’t always have language for them. Waiting rooms. Hallways. Dawn and
dusk. The quiet pause between seasons. Moments of transition that feel unsettled, undefined, and strangely reflective.
What makes liminal moments interesting is that they often feel uncomfortable. Humans like clarity. We like labels, plans, and certainty. Liminal periods resist all three. They ask us to sit in the middle
without rushing to resolve it.
And yet, liminal spaces are also where awareness increases.
When you’re in between, you tend to notice more. You
reflect more. You ask quieter questions. You sense shifts that might be missed during busier, more defined times.
January itself is deeply liminal. The holidays are over, but the year hasn’t fully found its rhythm. There’s a sense of resetting without fully knowing what’s next. That can feel disorienting, but it can also
be gentle.
The idea of liminal gives permission to not have everything figured out yet.
It suggests that being “in between” isn’t a problem to
fix, but a state to acknowledge. Some transitions need time. Some answers arrive slowly. Some clarity comes only after we stop forcing it.
Liminal moments aren’t empty; they’re fertile. They hold potential, even when they feel quiet or uncertain.
Recognizing when you’re in a liminal space can soften expectations. It can replace urgency with patience. And it can remind you that transitions are not detours, they’re part of the path.
Enjoying my newsletter? Please REPLY and let me know! Also, please forward this newsletter to 5 of your family members and/or friends and share the love!
Here's what just one GON reader had to say...
"Thank you! Your December 30th issue was exactly what
I needed! All the best wishes for the New Year to you and your family and loved ones. Warm regards!"-- Jolanda, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
