The mood of the moment: Liminality 🛸

TLDR; It's what happens after Languishing.

Hey there,

DD HQ here. Is it just us, or does it feel like everyone you know is at a crossroads?

We all seem to be in-between something: jobs, relationships, even our own personal identity. And collectively, we’re transitioning into a new state of the world; one that acknowledges the difficult reality we’ve experienced, while making room for something…hopeful.

At DD HQ, we’ve noticed a common theme in many of you who are drawn to what we’re building: you’re in a state of transition. You’re either on the precipice of change - knowing something needs to shift, but unsure of what - or right in the midst of it.

But, this isn’t just a DD thing. It’s a collective thing, especially right now.

While change is often uncomfortable, at Daydreamers, we see it as the starting point of creativity. It’s the beautiful part of our brains to ask ‘what if…’ and turn it into forward momentum.

But, before that powerful change erupts, we often get stuck in a Liminal Space. An in-between. A crossroads. A transition point.

Just like languishing was the mood of 2021, from our POV, Liminality is the mood of the current moment.

Let us explain.

If you haven’t been deep on r/LiminalSpace Reddit, or studied Jungian psychology, we’ll clarify what liminality really means.

If we look back to its roots, liminality is derived from the Latin word “limen,” which means “threshold.” Psychologically, liminal spaces refer to the disorienting quality of being in the middle of a life transition, whether it be adulthood, parenthood or even death. It’s when we’re in the midst of forming a new identity.

If this seems ambiguous, it’s not just you; by definition, liminal spaces are hard to define. We like to think of it as a feeling, and the way they’re described in this recent piece by Ph.D. candidate, Jake Pietre really resonates:

“[Liminal spaces] can be tinged with tragedy or just inexplicably sad in its ordinariness. Liminal spaces can be both comforting and discomforting, nostalgic and unsettling, intimate and unnatural.”

Think of them, in the physical sense, as empty parking lots or long airport hallways. Symbolically though, they represent an evolution. We know subconsciously or not, at some point, they’ll shift from a dark and lonely place into one that feels more alive.

Oddly enough - like our lives right now.

Since the earliest days of Daydreamers, our team has often referred to the DD journey as a ‘liminal space.’ We think of what we’re building as the permission slip and gateway door into a more imaginative, fulfilling way of life.

Look at this scribble from Katina + Dupi’s kitchen table brainstorm circa 2021 when we were first imagining the potential of what Daydreamers could be:

At Daydreamers, it’s our entire mission to help all adults move from a robotic, stuck place into a free, fulfilling one. And to us, creativity is the momentum, the vehicle, to get there.

Even though it can feel scary and overwhelming, as human beings, we are wired for change. It is in our DNA (literally) to bounce back and form anew - our species has been driven by our ability to shift, grow and evolve. In big ways and small, we’re driven to ask: “What if things could be different? …better?”

And, the mechanism to get to the other side of that dark, windy hallway has always been our naturally creative brains. Just look back at history - any creative renaissance has happened after periods of turmoil (wars, plagues, religious persecution, you name it).

So, what can a psychological-concept-turned-internet-aesthetic tell us about our current moment?

Even in the darkness, possibility is just around the corner 🛸

Katina + Dupi

and the entire team @ DD HQ

Feeling like you’re at a crossroads? Join the DD community + use your creative brain to move forward. Our latest Early Access spots have been filled, but ppl are claiming their spots for our new cohort. Make sure to snag yours ASAP - they go fast!

---

An idea to noodle on 💭

Creativity is our momentum out of liminal spaces.

THINK ON THIS: Creativity = forward momentum. Srsly. While there’s a time + a place to be okay with what is, transitionary times require action. Because creativity helps us be open to new ideas and curious about turning them into reality, we can use it to not only feel better - but do something about it.

…MAYBE NOT THAT: Liminal spaces aren’t bad - they’re a necessary component of growth. We often try escaping transitionary times because they’re uncomfortable. But, if we look back at history (and even today) most ‘liminal spaces’ have been ritualized and celebrated. Think about graduations + weddings - they’re celebrations of a new identity. What if we applied that same mentality to celebrating our personal growth, too?

---

Inside our brains at DD HQ  🧠

When everything feels hard, humor can help. We’re down for this status-quo pushing energy. Real life alien landscapes? Count us in. We love how cool it is to be cringe these days (not sold? read more ab why it’s good for you from a DD POV). Speaking of internet aesthetics, why did this make us tear up a little bit?

---

Ideas from the DD Crew 🛸

we’re launching something new: Creativity in the Wild.

shh - we’re not making a big fuss about it yet, but, we’re always on the lookout for what our crew is creating out in real life.

fill out this survey + share with us what you’re feeling inspired by lately or creating in big ways and small. It could be a photo you snapped on a walk home, or a big, new creative project you’ve been moving towards in secret.

did this note make you feel something? tell us: