The dictionary definition of Liminal is:

Occupying a position at, or on both sides of, a boundary or threshold.

For example:

“I was in the liminal space between past and present

Within the pagan/druid traditions we often refer to a liminal space or time. This can be related to the location or the time of the year. Within the druid wheel of the year, which I briefly referred to in my last post the two times that are considered the most liminal are Samhain and Beltian and at these times it is said that the veil between the worlds is thin. My own preference is actually the equinoxes.

As I rise about 7am each morning, throughout the year, and step into the day, where I live, the equinoxes are the times when there is just enough light to see and this is the liminality which I love to connect with. It’s that threshold between day and night, twilight, which I recently heard referred to as between the two lights. Between the setting of the moon and the rising of the sun. I really like this poetic description.

As far as liminal locations my favourite is at the interface of land and water, sea shores or river banks

As a druid I make no secret of my love of being naked and musing on this and my relationship with the natural world it has occurred to me that where my skin forms the boundary between what I perceive and the element which I am perceiving this is also a liminal place as it “occupies a position at, or on both sides of, a boundary or threshold”. Therefore when I step. out of the house for my morning bathe and I feel the earth under my feet there is this perception of liminality. The morning breeze on my skin offers the same experience. Of all the elements water is the one that I most connect with and as I enter into its cold embrace there is again this liminal experience, it is literally an immersive experience.

When the river is in spate, which it has been recently, the sensations step up another notch as its so full of oxygen its impossible to say which of the elements predominates, again that liminality.

So, how do you relate to liminality? What is your favourite time, dawn or dusk? Do you ever notice these boundaries in your life?