Through Muddy Waters

I've been thinking a lot about liminality these past few weeks. These times we are living in the United States and, perhaps, all around the world, are liminal times. That is, spaces of transition and transformation where the world is no longer what it used to be but not yet what it will become.

All periods of liminality come with an array of emotions like uncertainty, sadness, confusion, grief even. They do so because the frames of reference for what life is are no longer as solid as we used to experience them and, in the process, we are confronted with the need to forge new paths and new ways of being. We are collectively becoming. This becoming, though, does not need to be passive. In fact, it should not be passive.

Passivity in times of change is giving up the agency we still have to impact our becoming and the becoming of our world. Passivity is a transfer of power and control to the forces outside of us that will effect change. Passivity, too, can be a sign of privilege if your life is not affected by the decisions of those in power. For those whose livelihoods and wellbeing are directly impacted, action is not optional but required to defend themselves and their loved ones.

But what is liminal about this times? The rise of authoritarianism is not new to this 2025, the unprecedented ways in which the White House has sided with fascist and dictatorial ideologies it is. But we know that it had been in the making for decades. Suddenly, the country is facing its own shadow. The "good guy", at least as a strategy to implement control in the rest of the world, is now becoming the enemy, even to those who used to see him as an ally. This country gets now to see, face, and battle its own demons and shadows.

The many histories of dictatorships in Latin America come to mind. We know how cruelty can be built into a government and how much suffering these bring. Language, my friends, is always how it starts. We use language to construct our world and reality. We are manipulated with words and, in this technological age, with altered images of reality. Pay attention to the language being used by the current administration to refer to other human beings and resist falling into the trap and game of believing that how they are painting other human beings to you is true. It's okay to stop others when they use language that is divisive, destructive, and hurtful. It's okay to express our disagreement.

I am no political commentator nor historian, but I feel a moral obligation to express my concern for the development of things in our country, to speak up against the cruelty aimed towards undocumented immigrants, trans people, the poor, and other marginalized communities. Because they want us to believe that people are disposable or that some lives are worth more than others and we, individuals committed to a spiritual path, know that this is not true.

A Metaphor

A swamp or wetland is a liminal space; not just land and not just water. We cannot move through this space in the same way we would do it on land or in water. The muddiness will slow us down, we will need new tools, equipment, outfits. We will be unable to see what's really under the water or around the area. This is where we are right now, in muddy and murky waters. We cannot pretend or make ourselves believe that it's temporary and that things will go back to whatever idea of normalcy we may have.

There are parts of a swamp that we can move through, even if it's muddy, but there are parts where, if stuck, moving will get us stuck even more. Our initial reaction and survival instinct is to move to try to get out of there but this can be counterproductive and get us into deeper trouble. To understand how we can move, we need to understand the space we are in and know that it requires us to move differently.

The same is true for the times we live in. They require that we move differently, that we act differently. Liminal times always move us to transformation. We must ask ourselves: how am I to respond to what I see happening right now? What is my moral compass calling me to do? What new tools can I use? How can I counter the narrative of division and hatred?

I like to think that in liminal times, we must become liminal and, in that process, a bridge between the reality we leave behind and the one in the making. This ability to bring forth the wisdom from the past can help us build the kind of future we want. We need to know that, though. We need to know the kind of vision we are fighting for and we are building every day.

If you try to move once you're stuck in the swamp, this would only get you even more stuck. But if you use whatever tools you may have: a bag, a backpack, to lean on as if you were floating, your legs will eventually rise up and become unstuck allowing you to keep moving. What creative ways can you put into place during these times?

While I do not believe that you have to consume every news that comes out, it is very important to not look away and to stay informed. You can choose, how to do this and to what extent. For example, I read a couple of summaries of news. I particularly like Heather Cox Richardson's posts. I also check some news sites when I feel I have a bit more capacity to take on what is going on. I try to opt for international news or for news sites like the Guardian. You can choose your own. The key here is to choose. The constant bombardment of news can stress us and make us feel powerless but creating some space to be informed and digest the information can help us reconnect with our own sense of agency.

Community is a powerful tool, too. And, perhaps, the most powerful tool we have: our collective power when we come together. If you don't have one, find one. Your life will be enriched by it and you will have a network of people supporting you. It will also give you space to direct your efforts somewhere. There are people suffering in our communities. The decisions the government are taking are impacting people directly. In community, you'll find them, hear the stories and put a face to the issue. Then, you will realize how closer to home these issues are and how they affect real people.

Our spiritual practices can give us a strong grounding, even if the floor beneath feels shaky and unstable. Knowing that there is a greater cause we are fighting for and thinking about how our efforts can set the foundation for future generations, then this is clearly not about us and so much greater than our temporal lives.

And don't lose sight of the beauty that is still flourishing around us. The beautiful lotus flower grows on muddy water. Take a moment to look around, to pay attention, to see beyond your immediate surroundings, what beautiful things are blooming all around you despite the facts?