Liminality: Navigating Life’s Transitions

This comprehensive exploration underscores that transitions are an inherent and valuable part of our human experience, linking ancient wisdom with contemporary understanding and showing that liminality, while often uncomfortable, is a vital process that shapes who we are and who we are becoming. For similar articles, please visit the site Zeno Holisticus Index Page.

21 September 2024
Eben van Tonder

Dedication: To the Person who Unlocked these Truths and Collaborated in this Writing

Introduction

When I left Woodys in 2018, I experienced a personal crisis. I found myself with no part of the company I helped build and with nothing to show for years of effort. The reasons for this situation were more complex than I initially thought, involving a level of manipulation and deceit that left me bewildered. My sense of identity, purpose, and belonging was shaken, thrusting me into a state of transition and deep uncertainty.

Shortly thereafter, I became involved in a project to construct one of the largest meat plants in West Africa, based in Nigeria. By 2022, this engagement became full-time, and what began as an intensely disliked environment started morphing into a training ground for personal and professional growth. For nearly five years, I oscillated between despair and remarkable revelations, culminating in 2024 when a sense of stability finally began to emerge. Lagos, Nigeria, became more than a geographical location; it became a crucible for my transition from one phase of life to another, where I found myself wrestling with challenges, insights, and profound realizations.

Spiritually, I began to understand the interconnected nature of the universe and how it participates actively in our everyday lives. I delved into this in my work, The Involved Universe: An Ancient Continuity, where I explored our profound connection with others and the world around us. In Quantum Synchronicity: Exploring Non-Local Connections, Consciousness, and the Coordinating Power of Love, I discovered how these connections are not random but have deep roots in ancient spiritual traditions. Through my research into ancient fertility goddesses and the veneration of Mary, the Mother of Jesus in the Catholic Church, I found links between ancient spiritual practices and contemporary understandings of consciousness and reality which I discussed in this YouTube clip, My Road to Reality.

Other significant works on this subject are:

As I began to synthesize these insights, Saint Boniface emerged as a figure of particular interest, especially his role in advancing monastic agricultural practices that utilised lime to enhance soil fertility. While we do not have direct evidence of Boniface using lime himself, his era’s monasteries served as centres of agricultural knowledge, disseminating these techniques. This connection to lime and its symbolic meaning of boundary and transition pointed me toward the concept of liminality, which became an essential framework for understanding my experiences in Lagos.

I invite you to join me in this exploration of liminality, where I apply Arnold van Gennep’s theory of rites of passage, first published in his seminal work, Les Rites de Passage in 1909. This study demonstrates how liminality is not only a concept for cultural rituals but also a powerful tool for navigating life’s transitions. I will use the Xhosa initiation rites as a case study, demonstrating how understanding these concepts can help all of us navigate periods of change, uncertainty, and transformation.

Let’s start with the fundamental linguistic and conceptual foundation of “lime,” “limit,” and “liminal.”

The Etymology of “Lime,” “Limit,” and “Liminal”

These words are more than mere terms; they represent the process of transformation that life and nature inherently follow. Understanding their roots and connections provides the groundwork for exploring how transitions are experienced across cultures and personal lives.

Origins and Connections

  1. Lime: The Old English term “līm” traces back to the Latin “limus,” meaning mud or slime. Lime’s historical role in construction and agriculture—acting as a binding agent—symbolizes its capacity to create boundaries and structures. Saint Boniface’s use of lime in spreading Christianity and establishing agricultural practices exemplifies its dual role as a physical and metaphorical boundary-marker in shaping society. By applying lime to enrich soil and fortify boundaries, Boniface was literally and figuratively establishing limits and guiding transitions within medieval European societies.
  2. Limen: Derived from the Latin word for “threshold,” “limen” captures the essence of transition. It signifies the space where change occurs, embodying a state of potentiality and transformation. Crossing a threshold signifies leaving one state behind and entering another, whether moving from childhood to adulthood, one phase of life to another, or even from despair to hope.
  3. Limit: Originating from the Latin “limes,” it represents the actual boundary or demarcation line. Unlike “limen,” which involves the act of crossing, “limit” is about what marks the edge of change—what we encounter when we reach the point of transformation. This boundary can be tangible, like a stone marker, or abstract, representing the boundaries of our knowledge, capabilities, or circumstances.

These words illuminate that transitions, whether in language, life, or culture, are about the interplay between boundaries and the spaces we move through.

Arnold van Gennep’s Theory of Rites of Passage

Arnold van Gennep’s work “Les Rites de Passage” (1909) identified a universal pattern in how societies navigate transitions. He showed that moving from one state to another involves a structured process of rituals, encapsulating the journey of separation, liminality, and incorporation.

Conceptual and Symbolic Relationships

Boundary and Transition: Both “liminal” and “limit” deal with the concept of a boundary—either the act of crossing over (limen/liminal) or the boundary itself (limes/limit).

Stone Markers: Historically, lime (the mineral) was often used to create markers or thresholds, further reinforcing the symbolic link between lime as a substance and the idea of limits and thresholds.

There is a deep-rooted relationship between these terms, both etymologically and conceptually, revolving around ideas of boundaries, thresholds, and transitions, as explored by Julius Pokorny. The connections are evident in how physical boundaries (stones made with lime) evolved into metaphysical and conceptual boundaries represented by “limit” and “liminal.”

Separation (Préliminaire)

The first phase involves an individual being detached from their familiar environment or role. This separation is necessary for initiating a transformation.

When I left Woodys, it mirrored the separation phase, where I was forcibly detached from the known and pushed into the unknown. I had to be separated, not just from the company (something I chose) but also the separation from the resources to start anew was something forged upon me, not just by people, but a blessing from the Universe. As I look back over the past 6 years, I know that I would not have been on the path I am on now if I had anything from the past I could have held onto. It testifies to The Involved Universe: An Ancient Continuity.

Transition/Liminality (Liminaire)

The heart of van Gennep’s theory is the liminal phase—here the individual exists in a state of ambiguity, being neither in their old role nor fully integrated into their new one. This is a period of learning, transformation, and uncertainty. During this stage, individuals are often subjected to tests, ordeals, or instructions that prepare them for their new status.

In Lagos, I found myself in a space that felt both isolating and transformative, not unlike the liminal phase experienced in Xhosa initiation rites. This period is marked by trials, teachings, and challenges, serving as the catalyst for growth. The Xhosa boys, for instance, spend time in seclusion during their initiation, learning the values and responsibilities of manhood. Their experiences are mirrored in my own journey, where I had to confront, adapt, and learn new ways of living and working.

Incorporation (Postliminaire)

The final stage of rites of passage is incorporation, where the individual re-enters society, now transformed and equipped with a new identity or status.

Just as the Xhosa boys are welcomed back into their communities as men, I anticipate re-entering my professional and personal world with a renewed sense of self and purpose.

Liminality: The Space Between

The liminal phase is where the real work of transformation happens. It’s the crucible in which change is forged. Like lime that undergoes a chemical reaction to solidify, the individual in a liminal state is in the process of becoming.

Connecting Liminality to Everyday Life

Understanding these concepts helps us see that transitions are not just grand, ceremonial events but everyday occurrences that shape our lives.

Examples of Modern Liminality

  • Career Changes: Moving between jobs involves leaving behind a familiar role, navigating uncertainty, and eventually settling into a new position. This is a modern example of the separation, liminality, and incorporation process.
  • Moving to a New Place: Just as the Xhosa initiates are taken away from their families, moving to a new city or country pushes us into a liminal state where we must adapt to a new environment, build connections, and establish a sense of belonging.
  • Birth and Baptism: In many cultures, the birth of a child is marked by rituals that separate them from the mother’s womb (separation), involve a naming ceremony or baptism (liminality), and finally, the child’s integration into the family and community (incorporation).
  • Initiation Ceremonies: Tribal initiation rites for adolescents, such as circumcision or scarification, often follow van Gennep’s structure, symbolizing the transition from childhood to adulthood.
  • Marriage: Weddings commonly have a separation phase (engagement or pre-wedding rituals), a liminal phase (the wedding ceremony itself), and an incorporation phase (the couple’s acceptance into society as a married unit).
  • Funerals: Death rituals mark the separation of the deceased from the living, a liminal phase where mourning takes place, and finally, incorporation as the deceased is laid to rest, often believed to transition to an ancestral or spiritual state.

These examples show that we all experience liminality in different forms, and understanding this concept helps us approach transitions with greater awareness.

The Xhosa Initiation Rites: A Cultural Example

The Xhosa initiation rites, or Ulwaluko, offer a concrete, structured example of how liminality functions in a cultural context.

Separation: Departing from Childhood

The initiates leave their families and communities, symbolizing the end of their childhood. They undergo physical changes, such as circumcision, which marks the beginning of their journey into manhood.

Liminality: The Journey of Transformation

During this phase, the boys are taught about their responsibilities as men. They exist outside the normal structures of society, much like lime before it hardens, and must endure trials that test their readiness for adult life.

Incorporation: Re-entering the Community

Once they complete the rites, the initiates return to their communities as men, their transformation acknowledged and celebrated. This process mirrors how lime, once set, becomes part of a permanent structure, contributing to the larger whole.

What to Expect from a State of Transition

Understanding the structure of liminality allows us to anticipate what we might experience during these phases:

  • Ambiguity and Uncertainty: It’s normal to feel disoriented during transitions, as you are no longer who you were but not yet who you will become.
  • Discomfort and Challenge: Like the Xhosa boys’ trials, growth often involves discomfort, pushing you beyond your limits.
  • Potential for Transformation: This is where real change happens. Embrace this stage as an opportunity to learn and redefine yourself.

How to Handle Transitions

  • Embrace Uncertainty: Recognize that ambiguity is an essential part of growth.
  • Seek Guidance: Find mentors or communities to support you, just as the Xhosa boys are guided by elders.
  • Reflect and Learn: Use this time to explore your identity, values, and goals.

Conclusion

By understanding the concept of liminality, we can better navigate the transitions in our lives. My exit from Woody’s and the Lagos phase of my life is an extreme example, but I realise that I will continue to face liminal times as I transition to a new place to live, a new role in a new company and new relationships. This powerful example not only brings me fundamental insights for the present but also becomes a beacon for how to handle the future.

Just as lime is transformed from a raw substance to a solid structure, I am shaped by the experiences that push me beyond my comfort zone and so it does for you! The Xhosa initiation rites offer a rich, cultural example of how structured guidance and community support can help individuals traverse the uncertain, often challenging space of liminality. Embracing this process as an opportunity for growth allows us to emerge from these transitions stronger, wiser, and more connected to ourselves and the world around us.

References

YouTube (2024). My Road to Reality.

Van Gennep, A. (1960). The Rites of Passage. University of Chicago Press.

Turner, V. (1969). The Ritual Process: Structure and Anti-Structure. Aldine Transaction.

Julius Pokorny (1959). Indogermanisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch. Francke Verlag.

Soga, J. H. (1931). The Ama-Xosa: Life and Customs. Lovedale Press.

Fornäs, J. (1995). Cultural Theory and Late Modernity. Sage Publications.

Douglas, M. (1966). Purity and Danger: An Analysis of Concepts of Pollution and Taboo. Routledge.

Jung, C. G. (1961). Memories, Dreams, Reflections. Vintage Books.

Nelson, M. K., & Silverman, G. (Eds.) (2017). Inhabiting the Borders: Foreign Language Faculty in American Colleges and Universities. Routledge.

Adelman, M. (2010). Saint Boniface and the Establishment of Lime Practices in Medieval Europe. Academic Press.

Earthworm Express (2023). The Involved Universe: An Ancient Continuity.

Earthworm Express (2024). Quantum Synchronicity: Exploring Non-Local Connections, Consciousness, and the Coordinating Power of Love.