Thinking in a Liminal Space

I remember when I first heard the words liminal space. The first thing I had to do was to look up what that actually meant. Here is the Merriam webster’s definition.

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

“I was in the liminal space between past and present”

relating to a transitional or initial stage of a process.

“that liminal period when a child is old enough to begin following basic rules but is still too young to do so consistently”

In the theological and spiritual world we often describe the liminal space as this place of uncertainty, place which might be holding place, a place of transition, decision point, and frequently a place of concern and worry.

Somewhere where we’re not sure what should happen next. Not often when we don’t have any control or don’t appear to have any control of next steps and direction.

Holy Saturday can be considered one of the most profound liminal spaces in our Christian tradition. If we place ourselves in the moment of holy Saturday, at the time of the passion of Jesus Christ, we don’t know what’s going to happen next. Was he a prophet with authority? Was he the Messiah? Is it all over now? What comes next? He was persecuted and I was a follower, am I next on the persecution list? These might be some of the thoughts going through the minds of Christ’s followers in the space just after his crucifixion.

Because we know the outcome it might be difficult for us to consider this liminal space for those that were around at the time. They were suspended between death and resurrection, between despair and hope, the old way and what was to come.

While holy Saturday is a good reference point for us to illustrate a liminal space in the Christian tradition. We have all probably entered liminal moments in our lives, the circumstances being different to Holy Saturday but the feelings and the effect being similar, or at least something we can relate.

In this threshold space, thoughts become fragmented and uncertain. The mind struggles to make meaning when the narrative has been violently interrupted. Consider how the disciples might have experienced this day:

The weight of absence: “He left us.” After following Jesus for years, building their identity around his presence, his absence creates a void that can’t be filled. The teacher, friend, and leader is gone, leaving only questions.

Faith under pressure: “Was He the messiah or just another prophet?” Everything they believed is now tested. Without the resurrection to validate their faith, doubt seeps into every memory and teaching.

Fear becoming tangible: “He was crucified. Will I be?” The threat of sharing Jesus’ fate would have been real. His followers might wonder if they too would be branded as “blasphemers” facing “retribution.”

Cognitive dissonance: “What should I think? What should I believe?” The mind struggles to reconcile what was promised with the reality of the cross. The frameworks for understanding have collapsed.

This liminal space forces a confrontation with our deepest attachments and beliefs. All the disciples and followers have only “word of mouth news reports” – rumors, confusion, contradicting accounts. Without certainty, without “videos” or proof, one is left with the raw experience of loss.

Yet something remains in this emptiness: “Creation, love, care, witness.” The world continues to exist. Relationships endure. The capacity to care remains when all else seems lost. This liminal space invites us to “reflect, discern, renew, trust, believe” – not because certainty has returned, but because waiting in uncertainty is a spiritual practice.

Holy Saturday teaches us that liminal spaces, while disorienting, can be fertile ground. When we step “into the unknown” without guarantees, we discover what remains when certainty is stripped away. This is where fertile ground awaits us: if we dare enter this territory.

Copyright Image and Reflection Michael J. Cunningham 2025