I was editing a chapter in our book recently working with a synchronicity called Blue Dog that Tony Vigorito had offered when I came to this phrase within it:
I was curious about the end of it…the space between. I paused a moment thinking about that, then moved on. The next morning I opened up Pathways of Chance, by F. David Peat. I was looking for a chapter I’d been reading, but the first thing I spotted was this:
***
Independent of our meetings and discussions I had been thinking about what I called the space between. It was an idea that could be applied in many areas, particularly to describe what happens when you look at art or read a work of literature. It is the space that lies between the observer and the observed; it is the space of the creative act that brings a poem or painting to life.
***
Hopefully, readers will occasionally experience that space between right here.
Rob
UPDATE
The Space Between is also a song by The Dave Matthews Band.
You cannot quit me so quickly
There’s no hope in you for me
No Corner you could squeeze me
But I got all the time for you, love
The Space Between
The tears we cry
Is the laughter keeps us coming back for more
The Space Between
The wicked lies we tell
And hope to keep safe from the pain…
Well, it came to my attention just now that Austin Osman Spare uses the term "inbetweenness" to mean "the procreative instant in which belief is suspended." Does that help? 🙂
But there's no such thing as coincidence!
heh, I just thought it was an interesting coincidence, no "expert" advice to share at the moment.
Of course! You're the expert on the spaces between, teapot. So what advice do you have for the rest of us about exploring these spaces- without actually having to crawl around caves?
You might recall thte opening lines of my Teapot synchronicity write up …
"On January 30th, 2006, I was suddenly compelled to explore the hidden crawlspace under my back stairs.
Now, I'm "Max Action – Urban Explorer" – a huge part of my life and self has been built up around my passion for exploring caves, tunnels, rooftops, basements – spaces between, spaces forgotten, spaces forbidden. And, of course, I LOVE crawlspaces.
They're definitive Spaces Between – hidden away out of sight and mind – voids where people put things to be kept yet forgotten forever – a shadowy Sheol where 'the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even the memory of them is forgotten.'"
"Spaces between" is also the first thing listed under "Interests" on my social profiles … intended partially in the physical/exploring sense, but also in the 'meta phorical & physical' senses.
Interesting post!
I think it WAS Tolle, Nancy. Thanks for the reminder! And all of us should do what Butternut's doing – nurture our spaces between!
Was it Eckhart Tolle that said the space between is where we really reside?
We journey to Indra's Net tomorrow.
I am nurturing my spaces in between. I went through the last several posts. You find really wonderful stories. I love this stuff. Peace.
Thanks for the information, Erika! We'd love to hear the story about the writer's group!
This is an idea that Winnicott uses in his writings about child development. The space between is the space between the mother (now he would have to include the father too) and the child, just enough space so that the child can feel both nurtured and supported in his independence from the parent. For him, a sign of health is when a child is able to play.
Thanks for your comments on my blog. It was probably more difficult than I admitted to cut those chapters in my book. Yet when I am focused on creating my best writing I can see that it was necessary.
Synchronicity has been such a constant in my process of growth as a writer. It was how my writing group came together. Some time I can tell you that story if you want.
THanks for your inspiring blog and I look forward to reading your book when it is done!