“Limin” is a Latin word for “threshold” and in our lifetime we will experience many thresholds. Our lives are in fact littered with limins and we have all been going through a massive one recently.
Cycle of Life Limins
These are something that the majority of us will experience. They are inevitable and cannot be avoided (unless something happens to interrupt the cycle, for example, a major trauma such as early death).
Cycle of Life Limins include the following phases:-
- baby to toddler
- toddler to schoolchild
- child to teenager
- teenager to young adult
- young adult to middle age
- middle age to elder years.
Some Limins are predetermined to last for a particular length of time (for example, puberty and menopause).
Identity Limins
These are the roles and personas we take on during our lifetime as we move into different scenarios during the Cycle of Life Limin phases. Whilst some of these changes happen in a natural transitional way, others can keep us stuck. In adulthood especially, we can be caught up in the illusion of the role that we are in and totally believe that we are that persona only.
Identity Limins are created through the following scenarios:-
- Starting school
- School to college
- College to work
- Changing careers
- Work to no work
- Single to married or partnership
- Ending relationships/divorce
- Becoming a parent (and grandparent)
- Losing a child/children
- Being fully active to becoming disabled or inactive
- Becoming a carer for parents
- The death of parent/s, other family members and friends
Women’s Identity Limins throw themselves up constantly throughout a woman’s life; daddy’s little girl, being someone’s best friend, girl about town, studious girl at school, college and/or university, career woman, being a sister, being an aunt, being someone’s partner/wife, becoming a mother, becoming middle aged, becoming a grandmother, becoming old.
It is the same for men; mummy’s little boy, being a brother, one of the gang, studious boy at school/college/university, career man, being an uncle, being someone’s partner/husband and becoming a provider, becoming a father, becoming middle aged, becoming a grandfather, becoming old.
Great fears are associated with all of these thresholds. As the old you starts to disintegrate, your identity changes until it is replaced with the new version of you. The new chapter in your life begins to settle and becomes established, you are not who you were, you have changed and are now operating in your newly found identity that fits with this stage of your life.
And this is currently something that we are all slowly getting used to. We have moved through the fear and sadness of what has disintegrated (for many this is the life they have always known, the work they had been doing, the relationships they had been in). Now we are rediscovering who we really are, we are getting over the shock that life as we knew it has changed and are deciding to make our lives better than they were before. We have been given the gift of time to think about and question everything and everyone in our lives. We are not who we were. Things are never going to be the same again. Now is the time to get used to the next stage of our lives. We have just come through one of the biggest thresholds that humanity has ever been through.
A liminal period is the length of time that you are on a threshold and for some people that can feel like forever! It is the scariest time of all, because it is the complete unknown. You know you have lost who you were, but who are you becoming? Who is the new you? How will s/he function in the world? What will it feel like? It is the gap between what was and what has yet to be.
Shamanic Limins are experienced through Sweatlodge, Vision Quest, Sun Dance and other ceremonial rites that change the very foundation of who you think you are. I feel that the whole of humanity is currently going through a massive shamanic initiation.
Your Liminal Guide
We have also had a guide helping us, known as the Keeper of the Threshold. Did you connect with yours? (If you do not relate to Keeper then think of an Angel if you prefer to work with that image).
Liminal Gate/Threshold Meditation
Find some quiet time, take some deep breaths and settle yourself so that you can attune to the threshold that you feel you have come through;
- What type of gateway is it? (colour, material it is made from, shape, height).
- Is there anything on it?
- What‘s in front of it?
- What can you see/hear/feel/sense through the gateway?
- What do you feel in your body when you do that?
If the word “subliminal” (sub-liminal) according to the dictionary means “sensations present without being consciously aware of them,” well the word ‘liminal’ most definitely means feeling every sensation consciously, and you will know what I mean as everyone one of us around the world has experienced the recent limins and liminal period intensely.
Liminisms
(These are the thoughts that run through your head a million times a day when you are experiencing limins);
What the heck is going on?
Who am I?
Where am I going?
I don’t like this
I don’t want to do this (too late it’s already started)
I don’t want things to change (too late they already have)
I want to go back to the way things were (that’s not possible now)
How long is this going to go on for?
Will I be able to cope?
I’m scared of who I will be when I get through this.
Who, what and where will I be?
Limin Elements - Earth and Water
The Earth element is us wanting to cling onto the life we have always known, resisting what is happening and wanting it to be over quickly, this makes us ungrounded.
The Water element is the waves of emotions we have been feeling as we enter the unchartered territory we now find ourselves in.
When we let go and trust – even when we are still feeling scared – we allow ourselves to swim with our emotions and not be afraid of the depths that we may need to go to. When we keep ourselves grounded we cope much better.
Limin Helpers
These include meditation, journeying, connecting with spirit guides, angels, totems and other allies, flower & vibrational essences (especially gem essences for grounding), essential oils, herbs (to keep your immune strengthened), good nourishing nutrition, journaling, grounding, working on detoxing mind, body and emotions and good friends who can support you.
Keep a small stone from your garden in your pocket, this will help to keep you grounded. (Don’t forget to ask its permission first and check it wants to come with you).
Spend time by water if you can, let your gaze soften as you look out at the water and see what messages it may bring you. If you are by the sea, let the sound of the waves sing their message to you.
On your daily walk be open to receiving messages from Mother Nature; a feather, a twig in the shape of a rune (look it up when you get home), animals and critters that cross your path especially insects as they all have a message for you, sometimes a walk in Nature is like a free reading.
The Moon is also a helper, when Grandmother Moon is full, She reminds us of how far we have come over the past four weeks and invites us to reflect and celebrate that we made it through. With Her New Moon, She gives us hope for the coming month and an opportunity to do things differently over the coming four weeks.
Limin Affirmations
Everything is exactly as it should be.
I am strong, I am powerful, I am capable, I am safe.
I have stepped through the threshold and my new world awaits.
I welcome my new adventure.
All that I leave behind has been replaced with something/someone much better.
I am proud of myself, for all that I have been through and all that I am becoming.
I am limitless.
As we cross the threshold from the old world and prepare to enter the new world, may we all come together in community, in strength and in love. Together may we innovate and create the new world in peace, love and joy.
Blessed Be.
Here's to embracing the unknown! ❤