Liminal Space

Exploring Our Relationship with Life, Death, Loss and Grief

So much of what we feel about death - our fears, our beliefs, our hopes for how we might meet it - often goes unspoken. Liminal Space is an invitation to explore the emotional, spiritual, and practical territory around dying, death, loss and grief and to talk about these things openly, even when there may be a sense of fear or awkwardness. We do this in the company of others - sharing thoughts and questions, hearing different perspectives, and reflecting on these subjects, together, rather than alone.

I co-host Liminal Space with Dorothy McGuire. Her background in nursing, together with personal experience, has given her a deep, hard-won familiarity with dying, death, loss and grief and she brings great compassion to this work. The group grew out of a shared conviction: that conversations exploring these topics deserve more room than we usually give them.

What happens

Each month we offer a different theme, to open up the conversation and give it some depth. Sometimes that means a short video clip to introduce an idea or a point of view; other times, a brief informal presentation or simply posing a thoughtful enquiry. But always, the emphasis is on making space - for questions, for sharing, for whatever the theme brings up for those in the room.

Our themes are varied, and have included:

• How do our spiritual or religious beliefs shape our thoughts on death?

• What would we like our legacy to be?

• What is it about death that we're most afraid of?

• The phases and physiology of dying.

What this isn't

Liminal Space is not a therapy group, and not a support group. We hold the space and facilitate the discussion with care, and being together in this way can be supportive - even therapeutic - but that isn't how the group is run or intended. It is, at its heart, a space for conversation.

Who comes

The group isn't closed, so the mix of people is a little different each month - on average around nine of us, with a good balance of men and women. All viewpoints and beliefs are genuinely welcome; you don't need any particular outlook on death, spirituality, or faith to take part.

Our intent

Liminal Space exists to provide an open space to explore the emotional, spiritual, and practical issues around end of life, dying, death, loss and grief - through honest, unhurried exchange. We hope, in doing so, to gently break down some of the barriers and myths that surround mortality, to build our knowledge and to examine the fears that may shape how we live.

In this spirit, we aim to:

• Provide a safe, non-judgemental space for sharing and exploring ideas

• Be open and inclusive to all

• Welcome all viewpoints and beliefs

• Share experience and information, to widen awareness and deepen understanding

Practicalities

We meet on the second Tuesday of the month, 5.45–7pm, in the Green Room (the back room) of the Assembly Rooms, Broad Street, Presteigne, LD8 2AD.

We ask for a donation towards the cost of the room.

Any questions?

If you're curious but not sure whether it's for you, you're welcome to come along and see. Please get in touch if you'd like to know more, or to let us know you're coming.