The Liminal Space of Illness

August is a liminal space of in-betweenness – not summer, not fall. Today I’m sharing how a medical condition or crisis is its own kind of liminal space.

When a medical crisis appears — for us or a loved one — it disrupts the status quo. While we try to understand what is happening and what to do, life shifts into an in-between state. We remain in that space until we are ready to cope, adjust, and grow from the changes we face.

Every time we experience a change or transition, we cross a threshold.

Every time we learn something new, we cross a threshold.

Every time we choose, we cross a threshold.

These thresholds of waiting and not knowing what comes next are everywhere in life — and they are inevitable. Each crossing interrupts and disorients us for a while, regardless of our awareness or skills.

How do you know if you’re in a liminal space? A liminal space often includes:

1. Separation from your usual group of peers.

2. Change in social status or position in the social hierarchy.

3. Shifts in self-identity, bringing disorientation and lack of clarity.

4. Waiting, wondering “now what?”

5. A sense of transition without a clear destination.

For example, a person leaves their home and goes into the hospital. They receive treatment and ‘live’ alongside others who are ill. They have little or no control of basics. They wear clothes that define their status. They give up their valuables. Their schedule is dictated by staff and tests. They stay until they’re declared well enough to leave.

For many, their “healthy” life has ended. As a medical coach, I help them navigate into a new life and a different relationship with their illness. We use the liminality of illness as an opportunity to rebalance emotions, mourn what has been lost, make room for what is changing, and step with intention across the threshold into what comes next.

Even in the discomfort of in-betweenness — whether it’s August on the calendar or a season of illness in your life — there is quiet work happening. The waiting, the wondering, and the uncertainty are not wasted. They are shaping you, preparing you for the moment you’re ready to cross the threshold into what comes next.

Tiny Self-Care Tip

Give yourself permission to linger.

Liminal spaces are the “in-between” — not where you were, not yet where you’re going.

Instead of pushing for answers or rushing forward, try simply being. Brew a cup of tea. Sit on the porch. Let the in-between be enough, just for a moment. Try it and let me know what you think!

“Liminal space is where all transformation takes place, if we learn to wait and let it form us.” —Richard Rohr

What I’m Reading

1. The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield – A short, simple read. The title says it all.

2. Put Your Ass Where Your Heart Wants to Be also by Steven Pressfield – how to get out of your rut and into action.

“Sometimes you find yourself in the middle of nowhere. And sometimes, in the middle of nowhere, you find yourself.” Unknown