Thin Spaces

In the fall of 2019, I had the privilege of participating in a retreat for mental health and spiritual
care providers focused on the theme of Thin Spaces. I was familiar with the concept of Thin
In the fall of 2019, I had the privilege of participating in a retreat for mental health and spiritual
care providers focused on the theme of Thin Spaces. I was familiar with the concept of Thin Spaces, but to say I had spent any time contemplating or discerning what this concept means to
me would be misleading. As you can imagine, I was both excited and hesitant to delve into the
topic as I had a deep suspicion the retreat would be more about how I was to embody Thin Space
then it was for me to simply digest the concept to then teach it to others. To be completely
vulnerable here is to say that I am one who is used to being the practitioner and not the patient
and I am not naturally good with the tables turned.

This particular retreat took place at a picturesque retreat space in Northern New Mexico. The
backdrop of the location seems to be almost AI generated as the sky was perfectly open the
entire two-days of the retreat and seemed to be the clearest blue/aqua color you can imagine, and
don’t even get me started on the mountains!

I remember the retreat facilitator well; she was a small-framed petit woman who seemed to slide
about the space effortlessly and she spoke in a comforting and clear manner which drew all 12-
participants in as if we were simply feeding on every word. She began by speaking on the topic
of Thin Spaces as transitional and transformative areas that exist between two distinct spaces.
She spoke of the connection to the Divine and the importance of allowing for a heightened sense
of connection to the divine or the transcendent. The second half of the day was focused on Thin
Spaces as symbolic periods of personal transition, such as rites of passage, where individuals
move from one stage of life to another, including career and call. These spaces and marks of
time, provide opportunities for introspection and self-discovery, helping individuals process
changes and grow emotionally and psychologically.

By the conclusion of Day I, I was exhausted but filled. Falling asleep was easy and waking to
Day II seemed seamless. Day II was a day of silent retreat where our assignment was to
contemplate our Thin Spaces – what we were experiencing now as a period of personal transition
and where we considered our physical Thin Space to be.

Today, I find myself in a new Thin Space and I plan on visiting my physical Thin Space soon. I
believe this is a time that finds each of us longing for Thin Spaces in a multitude of ways and I
encourage each of you to sit and contemplate this time of transition and transformation,
connection, reflection, and growth. Recognizing and embracing Thin Spaces so they can lead to
deeper understanding and appreciation of the complex and interconnected nature of all you are
and all you are in this world.