What Is Liminal Space And How Does It Affect You?
If you're like many people, you may have noticed that there are certain places or states of being in which you feel different, off, or uncomfortable. These might be literal places like empty bus stops and airport terminals, or moods/states of mind. Liminal space is a transitional or in-between area that evokes feelings of ambiguity and unease, often occurring during times of change. Often, these uncomfortable spaces can be defined as liminal spaces.
There's a reasonable explanation for why liminal space just feels different. Once you know the source of your feelings about liminality, you can better manage uncomfortable emotions whenever a place makes you a bit unsettled.
What is liminal space?
You can define liminal space in several different ways. The etymology of “liminal” comes from the Latin word "limen," which means “threshold.”
Often, when we are in liminal spaces, we have the feeling of being just on the verge of something. Liminal space can be, of course, a literal space. And there are plenty of examples of physical spaces that feel liminal. But there are also spaces of liminality in our mental states. These, too, are types of liminal space.
Physical liminal spaces
Liminal spaces are often physical places. In some cases, the same place may be at one time liminal and at other times not. Other places may feel like liminal spaces regardless of the time of day or year you visit them.
Whenever we are in a place that is outside of our routine, it can feel unsettling. If we're in a liminal space for longer than necessary to pass through to our destination, we may experience that same feeling of something being "off" that we can't quite pinpoint. A liminal realm might even seem eerie, which can cause discomfort.
Some may associate liminal periods and off-putting physical liminal space with the same emotions often elicited by horror movies. Places with fluorescent lights, endless background noise, and constant movement, like waiting rooms or the airport, can lead to the same kind of heebie-jeebies as those caused by a scary movie. Physical liminal spaces can include:
- Stairwells and elevators. Stairwells and elevators are in-between spaces or thresholds. Their purpose is for transportation from one place to another, which is why lingering in an empty stairwell or elevator can seem a bit creepy. An elevator may be a comfortable space during the day when it's crowded, but certainly not late at night.
- Empty art galleries. Rooms in art galleries often imitate the style and aesthetic of rooms in homes. But no one lives in these spaces, so it can seem weird to be in a gallery by yourself, especially one with furniture or clear and intentional design choices. Even if an art gallery isn’t replicating a living space, it is a space we usually expect to be full of people. As you might imagine, essentially any large empty space can feel liminal.
- Hotel hallways late at night. Hallways are another in-between zone. During the day, you may see other people passing through the hallway with you, making the space seem a bit more "normal." The existence of other people in the area gives it more meaning and detracts from its liminality. At night, however, it can feel like the space has been shut down, and you may feel out of place. The hallways in one's home are a bit different because they are familiar; leading to a greater sense of tranquility. If you’re somewhere unfamiliar like a hotel, though, these spaces can seem frightening. Unfamiliar spaces typically have more liminal qualities than those we see regularly, especially if they are linking rooms or destinations.
- Schools during breaks. When no classes are in session, a school can seem a bit like a ghost town. The absence of familiar community and activity can create discomfort. You may expect to hear the sounds of students and teachers, but instead, there is silence.
- Empty parking lots. A parking lot is another example of an in-between place that only functions in conjunction with another space. Usually, the parking lot itself is not your destination, but the place adjoining or nearby the lot is, making the parking lot the ultimate liminal space.
- Non-functioning lighthouses. When places lose their function, they can become liminal spaces. Without a light, a lighthouse provides no function. Lighthouses are a particularly spooky example, but the same rule can apply to other defunct facilities.
- The lighting section of hardware stores. In contrast to spaces that are no longer able to perform their intended function, some places provide a redundant or unexpected function. Lighting sections of stores provide examples of how to light up a room, but the stores typically already have adequate lighting, making the light from the lighting section unnecessary. Further, the many different lighting fixtures may also be giving off different colors and brightness levels, which can be disturbing and emphasize the space’s liminality.
- Abandoned buildings. Like non-functioning lighthouses, abandoned buildings are spaces that no longer serve a purpose. They can be unsettling because they once performed a role and had people living in them, but, once abandoned, the lights are always out, and they stand as mere husks of civilization.
- Airport lobbies. Terminals at airports act only as waiting spaces, as people’s destinations are the plane and eventual new locations. Media depictions of airports have built on this sense of liminality: we often tell stories where the key moment of change happens at the airport, train platform, or just as people are saying goodbye.
Non-physical liminal spaces
In addition to places that have liminal qualities, there are also non-physical liminal spaces. Rather than actual places, these are liminal mental states. Liminal periods are most often the result of transitional moments that give you the sense of a new identity or role.
Divorce
Marriage is often seen as a beginning. The wedding may seem like an entry into a new life and the following years of a marriage like an ongoing journey. The lives we start with our partners can give us the sense that we have become truly different people.
Divorce, however, often happens unexpectedly, so it can leave you thinking you don't know where you are, or sometimes even who you are. Additionally, divorces can seem to drag on, leaving people at a loss as to what to do or what will happen next.
In your life journey, there are certain destinations you expect to reach, and divorce can seem like a waystation between destinations. When you've devoted years of your life to a marriage, it can be hard to see who you are and where you're going without that relationship.
Job loss
Jobs are also milestone markers in your life. Losing your job can put you in a particularly stressful liminal space, as you may be scrambling to find a new job and avoid income loss. Job loss can be an especially difficult place to be after you've been employed for a long time.
Moving to a new place
While relocating likely involves some physical liminal spaces, you may very well find yourself in a mental liminal space throughout the process as well. You know where you are physically and geographically, but you may not know where you are as a person.
You might have to make a new beginning for yourself in a new physical place. You could be confused as to how you fit into this new community, especially if you’re outside of your home country. Moving can involve leaving behind a community and making new friends. All of these changes can put us into a liminal mental space.
Liminality in the human mind
Liminality is as much a state of the human mind as it is a particular place. Indeed, the places that exude a sense of liminality are usually unremarkable as far as physical structures go. It's only in the context we give them that they become unusual.
Liminality in art, literature, and nature
Creation and art have a unique relationship with liminality. Capturing the idea of liminality in art has been key to many creative careers. Liminality can provoke an emotional response in people, just like physical liminal spaces can evoke particular feelings. Think about how often you hear stories about "coming of age." Coming of age is a classic tale of liminality that describes the time period when one is not quite an adult but no longer a child.
Creatives can emphasize the idea of liminality in various art forms. For example, the poem, "Rime of the Ancient Mariner," by Samuel Taylor Coleridge is a classic tale of liminal space. The Mariner is caught between life and death. He lives while his shipmates do not.
Artists themselves can be said to enter a liminal state when they create, a place where they have the potential to act. Perhaps that is why so many writers or other artists feel anxiety before getting started, even if they have engaged in the creative process many times before.
Nature can provide a sense of both creativity and liminality. Being in slower-paced, quiet, and relatively people-free natural places can feel both unsettling and peaceful. This experience provides a different space both physically and mentally than many of us are accustomed to in our day-to-day lives. Nature can make us feel more in touch with ourselves and trigger mental or spiritual liminality as we hover in a different state of being. It can also trigger a creative liminal state simply by observing the inherent creativity of all that is natural around us. This creativity and beauty includes the shapes of leaves, the running of water over stones and sand in a stream, the rustle of wind through a tree canopy, the multitude of colors in a forest, and the vibrancy of flowers.
Liminality in philosophy, theology, and cultural studies
Liminality is also thoroughly discussed in academia and the humanities. Author and theologian Richard Rohr writes that liminal spaces should be considered introspective rather than unsettling. He argued that liminality refers to the “threshold between one stage of life to another.” Therefore, liminal spaces can be viewed in a positive way, as places where genuine newness can begin and a bigger world is revealed.
Similarly, twentieth-century sociologist Joseph Campbell held that the world is made up of sacred spaces and profane spaces. Profane spaces are places that we must go to because we live in a modern society. Examples include our jobs, the bank, or the post office. Sacred spaces are places where transformation takes place. In these places, we come to a deeper, better understanding of ourselves and a world bigger than ourselves.
Liminal dreaming
Liminal dreaming is a different form of being in a liminal state. It can be related to creativity. Indeed, some people use the art of liminal dreaming to enhance their creative states. Liminal dreaming is simply the state during which you are not quite asleep yet, but your mind experiences vivid images or sounds.
This state is also called hypnoidal dreaming. You may notice physical signs that you are slipping into a liminal dream state when your body jerks as you are falling asleep or just as you are waking.
Being in a liminal state
One of the first psychological liminal states to be explored by researchers was the concept of “a rite of passage.” During a rite of passage, an individual is at the threshold between two different states of being. Examples of such liminal life states can include:
Adolescence
Many teenagers may feel that both their social standing and their physical development are in an ambiguous place. Their bodies are in a distinct transition period, with adulthood as the end destination. Many religions and belief systems create ceremonial rites to coincide with this time in a young person’s life to encourage them to engage in self-reflection and explore these concepts further.
Midlife
Many people may reach a point in midlife where they feel in-between and don't know what lies beyond the threshold. When people are in that place mentally, they may become afraid and act irrationally. This experience may be one reason why so many people undergo what can be referred to as a “midlife crisis.”
Gender identity questioning
Another state of liminality can occur when a person feels that they do not belong to their assigned gender, or like they are between genders. This liminal state can involve both physical and mental liminality. Your body may undergo physical transformations, while your mind may shift to accommodate changing gender expectations.
Liminal spaces and mental health
Liminal spaces can present a challenge for some people. Physical or emotional liminal spaces can cause a heightened sense of disquiet for certain individuals. If you are uncomfortable in such places – or feel like you are living in a liminal space – talking to a therapist can help. An experienced, licensed therapist can provide you with insights and tools to help you better navigate liminal places in the future.
Feeling out of sorts can make seeking in-person therapy difficult. You may prefer to stay at home when you’re not quite yourself, which can make keeping a traditional office visit with a therapist challenging. Online therapy might be a helpful alternative in these cases. With internet-based counseling, you can speak to a trained mental health professional from the comfort of your home. You can also save the time you might normally spend sitting in traffic or the waiting room.
Online therapy has been found to be effective in treating a wide variety of mental health challenges and conditions. One study demonstrated that participants experienced similar outcomes post-treatment whether they received therapy in person or online.
Takeaway
What makes a space feel liminal?
A space can feel liminal when it possesses certain characteristics that create an in-between or transitional quality. Liminal spaces often evoke a sense of ambiguity, transformation, and the potential for change. Here are some factors that can make a space feel liminal:
- Ambiguity: Liminal spaces are characterized by ambiguity and a lack of clear definition. They may not have a specific, fixed purpose or identity, leaving room for interpretation. The absence of clear boundaries or labels contributes to the feeling of transition.
- Transitional Elements: Physical elements that suggest transition or movement, such as doorways, corridors, bridges, and thresholds, can create a liminal atmosphere. These elements imply a journey from one state to another.
- Temporal Uncertainty: Liminal spaces often involve a sense of temporal uncertainty. They may exist in a state of in-between, where time feels suspended or slowed down. This temporal ambiguity can contribute to the feeling of transition.
- Minimalism: A lack of decoration or personalization in a space can make it feel liminal. When a space is intentionally kept simple or sterile, it may encourage a sense of detachment from the familiar, fostering a transitional atmosphere.
- Dim Lighting: Dim or muted lighting can create a sense of ambiguity and blur the boundaries of a space. It can also emphasize the transitional quality of a space, as it obscures details and encourages a focus on the experience of being in the space rather than its physical features.
- Minimal Human Presence: The absence of people or signs of human activity can contribute to the feeling of liminality. Spaces that are empty or sparsely populated may evoke a sense of solitude and transition.
- Non-Place Elements: Elements associated with non-places, as described by anthropologist Marc Augé, can make a space feel liminal. Non-places are areas like airports, parking lots, and highways, which are transient and lack a strong sense of identity. They emphasize the idea of transition.
What is the psychology of liminal spaces?
The psychology of liminal spaces is complex, encompassing a wide range of emotional and cognitive responses. These spaces offer the potential for personal growth and transformation, but they can also be disorienting and challenging. The psychological impact of liminal spaces is influenced by individual experiences, cultural context, and the specific characteristics of the space in question. Some key aspects of the psychology of liminal spaces include:
- Ambiguity and Uncertainty: Liminal spaces are often characterized by a lack of clear boundaries and definitions. Psychologically, this ambiguity can create a sense of uncertainty and disorientation. Individuals may not have a clear understanding of their roles or identities within these spaces, leading to feelings of vulnerability.
- Transition and Transformation: Liminal spaces represent a period of transition or transformation. Psychologically, they can symbolize leaving behind the known and entering the unknown. This transitional quality can evoke a mix of emotions, including excitement, anxiety, and anticipation.
- Heightened Awareness: Some individuals report a heightened sense of awareness when in liminal spaces. They may become more attuned to their surroundings and their own thoughts and emotions. This heightened awareness can lead to introspection and self-reflection.
- Freedom and Creativity: Liminal spaces can be liberating, encouraging individuals to experiment and be creative. Psychologically, they may provide a sense of freedom to explore new possibilities and perspectives.
- Ritual and Symbolism: Many cultures incorporate liminal spaces into rituals and ceremonies, recognizing their psychological significance in facilitating transformation and change. These rituals can provide individuals with a sense of structure and meaning during periods of transition.
- Anxiety and Discomfort: Liminal spaces can evoke anxiety and discomfort, especially when individuals are unprepared for the transition or uncertain about what lies ahead. The lack of clear structure and identity can be distressing for some.
Can liminal spaces be real?
Liminal spaces can be real and exist in the physical world. They are not purely abstract or metaphorical concepts; rather, they represent physical locations or situations that possess certain characteristics. Liminal spaces are defined by their transitional, in-between nature, and they often occur naturally or are created intentionally.
Examples of real liminal spaces include airports, train stations, waiting rooms, and corridors—all places where people are in transit from one location or state to another. These spaces may have a sense of temporariness, and people within them are typically in a state of transition. Additionally, areas near borders, checkpoints, and international zones can also exhibit liminal qualities, as they are places where individuals cross boundaries and experience shifts in identity or legal status. While the concept of liminal spaces has been explored in various fields, including anthropology, psychology, and architecture, it is grounded in the tangible environments and experiences of individuals in the real world.
What is a liminal horror?
Liminal horror is a subgenre of horror that plays on the concept of liminality, often set in or around liminal spaces and times. An author may write using liminal spaces to draw on the psychological tension created by the uncertainty and ambiguity associated with such spaces. Liminal horror often explores the fear of the unknown and the eerie feeling that comes with being in transitional or in-between environments. This subgenre can involve a range of themes and elements, including:
- Haunted Places: Liminal horror may take place in haunted or abandoned locations, such as deserted buildings, eerie forests, or remote areas where the boundaries between the living and the supernatural are blurred.
- Time and Reality Distortion: Liminal horror can involve temporal or spatial distortions, where characters find themselves in situations where time and reality are not as they should be. This can create a sense of disorientation and fear.
- Unsettling Transitions: The narrative in liminal horror often revolves around transitions, journeys, or liminal moments, such as moving to a new home, crossing a threshold, or experiencing significant life changes. These transitions are ripe for psychological horror.
- Psychological Horror: Liminal horror often relies on psychological horror elements, including tension, uncertainty, and the fear of the unknown. It plays on the audience's psychological responses to create a sense of dread.
- Ambiguity: Liminal horror may embrace ambiguity in storytelling, leaving room for interpretation and leaving audiences questioning what is real and what is not.
- Isolation: Characters in liminal horror often find themselves isolated or cut off from the familiar, intensifying their feelings of vulnerability and fear.
Why are liminal spaces nostalgic?
Liminal spaces can be nostalgic because they are often linked to transitional moments and personal growth, and they hold the power to evoke the emotions and experiences associated with those times. Nostalgia allows us to revisit and cherish the past while recognizing that those moments are now part of our personal history. Liminal spaces can evoke feelings of nostalgia for several reasons:
- Transitional Moments: Liminal spaces may be associated with a transitional period or moment in life. They are places where we move from one phase to another, whether it's leaving home for the first time, starting a new job, or embarking on a journey. These transitional moments are often accompanied by a sense of excitement and anticipation, and looking back on them can evoke nostalgia for the feelings and experiences associated with those times.
- In-Between States: Liminal spaces may represent in-between or intermediate states. Nostalgia often arises when we reflect on periods of our lives when we were neither here nor there, not fully immersed in one phase or another. This sense of not fully belonging to any one moment or place can trigger nostalgia as we long for the simplicity and clarity of those transitional times.
- Memorable Locations: Liminal spaces can be locations where memorable events or experiences occur. These locations may hold sentimental value because of the significant life moments they were associated with. For example, a college campus may be a liminal space for many and revisiting it can evoke nostalgia for the years of learning and personal growth.
- Personal Growth: Liminal spaces can mark periods of personal growth and self-discovery. Nostalgia can stem from a desire to reconnect with the person we were during those transformative times or to relive the emotions and insights we had during those moments of transition.
- Sense of Possibility: Liminal spaces may be associated with a sense of possibility and potential. Nostalgia can arise from the desire to recapture the feeling of having a world of opportunities ahead or the sense of adventure and exploration that these spaces represent.
- Fleeting Nature: Liminal spaces, by their nature, are transient. They exist briefly, and once the transition is complete, they may cease to exist in the same way. Nostalgia can be a response to the impermanence of these spaces, as we long for moments that have passed and cannot be recaptured.
What is liminal reality?
A liminal reality might describe a situation or experience where the line between wakefulness and dreaming is uncertain, where the boundary between the physical and the virtual world becomes indistinct, or where the distinctions between the conscious and unconscious mind are less clear. It can be a state of existence where the normal categories and definitions that define our reality become ambiguous.
The idea of liminal reality can be used to explore experiences and states of being that challenge our conventional understanding of reality, often leading to a sense of ambiguity, disorientation, and a blurring of boundaries. It's a concept that may be explored in various contexts, including art, literature, and philosophy, to examine the complex and shifting nature of human experience and perception.
What is a synonym for liminal?
Synonyms for "liminal" include:
- Transitional: Describing something as transitional implies that it's in the process of moving from one state or phase to another.
- In-between: This term suggests being in the middle or intermediate state between two distinct phases or points.
- Ambiguous: Ambiguity implies a lack of clear definition or certainty, which aligns with the uncertainty often associated with liminal spaces.
- Indeterminate: Describing something as indeterminate means that it's not precisely determined or defined, similar to how liminal spaces lack clear boundaries.
- Interim: Interim refers to the period or state between two points in time, much like the in-between quality of liminal spaces.
- Threshold: A threshold is a point of entry or a boundary, and describing something as threshold-related captures the sense of transition and passage that liminal spaces often entail.
- Betwixt and Between: This phrase is an older, more poetic way to convey the idea of being in a state between two other states.
- Intermediary: Something described as an intermediary is positioned between two other things, much like the intermediate nature of liminal spaces.
- Ambivalent: Ambivalence suggests having mixed or conflicting feelings, which can relate to the complex emotions often associated with liminality.
Who created the term “liminal space”?
The term "liminal space" and the concept of liminality were popularized by the anthropologist and folklorist Arnold van Gennep (1873-1957) in his work "The Rites of Passage," published in 1909. Van Gennep's book explored the cultural and social rituals associated with life transitions, such as birth, puberty, marriage, and death, in various societies around the world. He introduced the idea of the "rite of passage," which includes three phases: separation, transition (or liminality), and incorporation.
The concept of liminality, as introduced by van Gennep, refers to the middle phase of a rite of passage, where individuals are neither here nor there, in a state of ambiguity and transition. It's a time and space of profound transformation, where people often experience a sense of disorientation and are open to new possibilities and changes.
What is liminal space’s opposite?
The opposite of liminal space is typically described as a "non-liminal" or "non-transitional" space. Liminal spaces are characterized by their transitional, in-between, and often ambiguous nature. In contrast, non-liminal spaces are stable, well-defined, and lack the sense of transition and transformation that liminal spaces possess.
Non-liminal spaces are typically places or states where there is clarity, stability, and a clear sense of purpose or identity. These spaces are associated with a lack of ambiguity and are firmly situated within established boundaries and norms.
For example, a traditional family home, a well-organized office, or a classroom with a structured curriculum can be considered non-liminal spaces. These environments are defined by their stability and lack of significant transition or transformation.
What type of horror is liminal space?
Liminal space, as a concept, is not a specific subgenre of horror but rather a setting or context that can be used within various subgenres of horror to create a unique and unsettling atmosphere. Liminal space often serves as a backdrop for horror elements, contributing to the overall eerie and disconcerting mood of a story or experience. It can be incorporated by into different types of horror, such as:
- Psychological Horror: Liminal spaces can heighten the psychological tension in horror narratives. The sense of uncertainty and disorientation associated with liminality can be used to create fear in the minds of the characters and the audience.
- Supernatural Horror: Liminal spaces are often associated with the supernatural, such as haunted houses, abandoned asylums, or eerie forests. These settings can enhance the sense of otherworldly or paranormal occurrences.
- Cosmic Horror: Liminality can be used to convey a sense of existential dread and insignificance in the face of cosmic forces beyond human comprehension. The surreal idea of being in an in-between state can align with themes of cosmic horror.
- Existential Horror: Liminal space can be used to explore themes of isolation, the unknown, and the search for meaning in an indifferent universe, all of which are central to existential horror.
- Atmospheric Horror: The unsettling and ambiguous nature of liminal spaces contributes to the atmosphere of horror. The setting itself can become a source of fear and discomfort.
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