The art of liminal space
black out bible poetry
It is funny to me how easy it is to rush towards the finish line of a book or creative project, when so much of the spiritual awakening and healing takes place in the middle space– the semblance of the unknown, the mystery, the waiting room of our creative expression if you will. Why is this middle space so important? Because it asks us to pay attention to the process, to the resistance, to the doubt, to the moments of resilience that lie on the verge of giving up.
In psychology this is considered liminal space, the in-between that exists in transitions. From one room to another or one stage of life to another. This uncertainty that accompanies this liminal space is also where we are asked to pay attention and awake to what is happening within us as we exist there.
In the scriptures, I call this same space Holy Saturday, the day after the death of Christ and the day before the resurrection. It is the middle day, the day of fear and disbelief, the day of no day when everything you once knew is no more. Just like every A to Z must experience a middle, so does our healing and creative process. We must do the liminal dance of not knowing in our creative work.
As I’ve been blacking out the bible to make poetry and reflections, there is a lot arising around art and the journey that exists in it. As I show up to the page and search for words to pronounce, I wonder each time- will this be it? Will be the time that there are no words? Nothing to create?
The middle space. The liminal space. The Holy Saturday. All in pen and paper.
Here is what black out is teaching me this week– show up, be with, mess up, trust, and begin again. What a mirror to living into our lives and creative work, right?
If you are joining along in this challenge (you are also totally welcome to just watch my process unfold as well), then this week I encourage you to blackout chapter 14-17 in Genesis and see where it takes you. As always, feel free to read the text first, circle the words to create your poem, haiku, story, etc. Then fill the rest of the page in black. (micron/ fabre pens work great!)
Feel free to share your black out poetry in the comments on these posts each week as you’re writing and cheer one another on. You can also hashtag #blackoutbibleclub and @meganfebuary on the socials. :)
Wouldn’t it be amazing to finish blacking out the entire bible? I’m in! Are you??? I hope so! You can, of course, jump in and out at any time.
Let me know how these writings awaken you!
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