A liminal space is a transitional place or state of being, literally from the Latin word “limen” meaning “threshold,” that is caught between what was and what will be. These are physical spaces like empty hallways or psychological states like major life changes that evoke a complex mixture of feelings, often an unsettling blend of familiarity, nostalgia, and unease. Examples include waiting rooms, deserted parking lots, or the period of adolescence.
