The Middle Spaces (living in-between)

Hey, there.

Where are you today, as you read this?

Where are you, physically, in space?

is it a favorite place? A waiting place? An in-between place?

Ever since our yoga nidra with Hope, my brain has been rolling around this idea of thresholds and liminal spaces.

In that practice, she invited us to explore the in-between space as a place that could be warm and welcoming, rather than only a space to get through as quickly as possible, or a space to fear.

I LOVE THIS.

I've felt very inbetween over the last while. I've heard that many of you are also feeling very inbetween over the last while. We know there are things ending, we know we're living in uncertainty, we know new things may be beginning....

I often find myself trying to figure it all out and move to whatever is next, without always honoring the beauty of the middle space.

Now I'm feeling pretty inspired to embrace it. Thanks, Hope!

One of the most beloved, oft-depicted figures in Hinduism is Ganesha, usually depicted with an elephant's head. There are myriad versions of his story and how he came to have the head of an elephant, a fun reading adventure for you if you want it.

He is seen to represent these liminal spaces, often shown standing in or at doorways.

He is both the creator and destroyer of obstacles.

The middle. The beginnings-are-endings-and-endings-are-beginnings. The inner and outer parts of self. The difficulties-we-meet-shape-where-we-go-nexts.

Yoga often urges us to live in the present moment. The present moment. Isn't the present moment always an in between? If we believe that living in the present moment is an important skill to cultivate, then we probably should believe that times of transition (which are really all times ever) are important places to cultivate.

Thresholds being not always physical space.

Physical. Psychological. Spiritual. Emotional. All of them count.

So how do we get a little more comfy here/there?

Perhaps we create even more moments of threshold. Are there parts of your day that can be rituals of present in-betweens, that you could learn to enjoy rather than get through?

Perhaps it's sipping your first water/tea/coffee in the morning.

Perhaps it's putting on your shoes to leave for the day.

Perhaps it's closing your eyes and taking a full breath between meetings.

Perhaps it's running and warming up the water before you take a shower or bath.

Each of these become moments to live in.

While also being moments that cross you into what's next.

I'm thinking if we start here, simply, we'll get better at living in the liminal spaces that aren't so simple.

It's worth a try, no?