Episode 8: The Psychology of Liminal Spaces

We tend to think of travel as a series of fixed points—departure, arrival, and return. But in between those fixed points lie thresholds that often go overlooked. The airport gates at midnight, the winding drives across the horizon, the hotel lobbies before sunrise.These are liminal spaces. First coined by anthropologist Arnold van Gennep in 1909 and later expanded by Victor Turner in the 1960s, “liminality” means threshold. It’s the in-between state where you’re no longer who you once were, but you’re also not yet who you will become.In today’s episode of The Places We Become, I share:* What psychology research tells us about liminal spaces and how they open us up to concepts researchers call identity play and mind-wandering with purpose.* A personal story from a long five-hour drive to Kenya’s Maasai Mara, where the absence of “checking out” and the presence of a new culture left space for reflection, depth, and personal transformation.* Practical ways to embrace your own liminal moments—so waiting becomes more than just waiting, and travel becomes a canvas for re-imagining your life.If you’ve ever wondered why those in-between moments stay with you—or how they might be more than simply wasted time—this episode is for you.Let’s Plan Your Next JourneyIf you’ve been dreaming of a trip of your own, I’d love to help you bring it to life. Fill out my travel inquiry form to get started. For the month of September I’m waiving all planning fees for The Places We Become listeners. Consider it your perfect invitation to step into your own threshold moment.Share Your Story!Have you ever had a travel moment in-between—a long layover, a winding drive, a quiet morning in a hotel lobby—that changed how you saw yourself or your life back home? I’d love to hear about your own liminal experiences, those thresholds where waiting became more than just waiting. Share your story for a chance to be featured on a future episode of The Places We Become.Stay Connected* Subscribe to The Places We Become so you never miss an episode!* Sign up for my digital publication Psychologie for deep dives into the psychology of travel.* Follow me for more travel psychology insights and inspiration. Get full access to Psychologie at drkatieblake.substack.com/subscribe