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If you ever find yourself in a space that brings up a feeling of ‘not knowing what’s up but something’s definitely up’ you may have encountered a liminal space. Obsessed over by fans who chase the unsettling feel, liminal spaces have become somewhat of a mysterious phenomenon surfing around the internet.

According to Imgur user RobJustice, “The liminal space is the 'crossing over' space, a space where you have left something behind, yet you are not yet fully in something else. It's a transition space.”

And thanks to the r/LiminalSpace subreddit with 237k members, we now have some of the most captivating examples to rest (or stress) our eyes on. From bowling alleys and abandoned buildings to almost surreal window views and places that feel strangely familiar although you have never been there, it’s hard not to stare for more.

And let us know how you feel about these liminal spaces in the comments below!

#3

2020

2020

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joe
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No-one mentions how much better the traffic situation will be after the apocalypse, do they?

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To find out more about these mysterious spaces that have been capturing the internet's imagination, Bored Panda talked to Lillie Marshall, an English teacher and writer who runs Around the World "L" Travel and Life Blog. Lillie is also a self-confessed fan of liminal spaces and discussed the phenomenon in her articles that you can check out here and here.

Lillie said she has been fascinated by the concept of liminal spaces since she was little. “I loved thinking and writing about them. So much of our lives are spent in these in-between spaces, and yet we so often ignore them,” she said and added: “Once you can see the importance and beauty of liminal spaces, it makes it much easier to be in the moment and enjoy the journey as much as the destination.”

#5

Picture I Took A Few Years Ago In Poland

Picture I Took A Few Years Ago In Poland

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#6

It’s Christmas Eve And You’re All Alone

It’s Christmas Eve And You’re All Alone

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Bill Murray
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Away is the blue bird, your gonna pray for the new bird, we sing a death song as we go along, walkin’ in a winter wonderland

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Kenny Kulbiski
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wonderful. A great antidote for everyone overdosed on all the forced togetherness and gaiety.

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Rachael Blackwell
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I agree. Hell with all this saccharine love eveybody nonsense. The same people that go on and on about kindness and love, their behavior is in direct contradiction to what they demand of others. And I agree it looks quiet and peaceful.

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Peter Kelly
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All alone, except for the two skinny people wearing pointy hats...

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Sage Gusano
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This gives me a feeling of relief and peace. That moment when the stress the holiday season can bring blends into the mist and dissipates.

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Jane W.
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If that's Central Park, I have been there almost alone after fresh snow, and it is divine.

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Id row
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That just makes me feel sad. No one should be alone on x-mas eve or x-mas.

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Oaklynn
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And there’s like, very faint Christmas music playing far away? My inner director is rejoicing.

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TeaBear Churchill
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Fairytale of New York" by the Pogues. https://youtu.be/j9jbdgZidu8

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Rachael Blackwell
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't get why this one is scary. It looks peaceful. And imagine walking through here with your girlfriend/boyfriend, just you and your lover. You can talk about anything you want and admire the soft snow and festive Christmas lights.

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Michael McBrearty
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like City Hall park looking downtown if it is NYC . . . Poetic snowdrifts

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Danjal Jannik TIndholm
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nice. As someone who chose to opt out of christmas 10 years ago, this doesn't bother me :)

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Vermillion Ace #443
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I really do love the look of snowy nights, the way everything feels brighter than it should.

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D. Pitbull
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can 'hear the silence' in this picture - and it's beautiful.

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Tahani
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What are those two standing things a bit off centre to the right??

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Maxerica 4ever
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Christmas tree oh Christmas tree oh how I love thy Christmas tree

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K. Anderson
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I thought this was Denver. Went to the Reddit page & I was right! I don’t like snow much but agree it’s pretty when you don’t have to deal with it. This year I liked since I worked from home. It actually made me stop hating it. People who say they love snow tend to live places where it doesn’t. It’s nice to look at but not to live in- driving to work, finding parking, digging out car, driving in fear, going to store, etc

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Bestest Mensch
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Christmas Eve is my birthday. I've spent many a year like this.

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Lorelei
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

SATURDAY NIGHT AND I GOT NO FRANDS IMMA STAY AT HOME AND DO THE LONER DANCE

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Calypso poet
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is serene but eerie when you're the only one out on a snowy night. It's the only time I love snow! We don't get it NE Ohio much anymore.

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Molly Block
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's ok, to be alone on xmas eve. Just get a beagle-- best friend for life!

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Kevin Camp
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That would be immensely enjoyable if I could stay warm enough.

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Grant Barke
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You're never alone with a mobile phone on your person. Unless there is no service.

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Katinka Min
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love the empty city on christmas eve - I sometimes get to experience on my way to or from my brother's place. Silent Night.

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Bisexual Backflipping
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One part of me thinks it's peaceful. One part of me thinks it's eerie. The other parts of me want to run like hell.

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When asked how she’d describe a liminal space, Lillie explained it has to do with a magical and transformative quality. “Liminality can exist in physical space, time, and states of being, and refers to that in-between moment where you're between two things.”

Moreover, “It is a sometimes uncomfortable—but extremely important—era of transformation and shifting. Often we get impatient with these transitional spaces, but they are KEY, and are beautiful and profound if you allow yourself to truly be in them and understand their magical gifts,” she concluded.

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#9

Google Maps Said This Is Where I Can Find Taco Bell, And I Just Realized That The Last Car I Saw Was An Hour Ago...

Google Maps Said This Is Where I Can Find Taco Bell, And I Just Realized That The Last Car I Saw Was An Hour Ago...

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Bisexual Backflipping
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One time Google Maps told my family our hotel was down River Road, it was a long-ass gravel trail that led to literally nowhere, and we ended up with a 6-inch nail in our tire. F****n Google Maps, man.

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Bored Panda also spoke to Rob Justice, a table-top role-playing game designer and software engineer living in Kansas City, Missouri who is a fan of the liminal aesthetic and has shared an illuminating post on the topic on Imgur.“

A few months ago I saw a picture on Twitter, it's actually the very first one in the imgur post you linked above, and just couldn't stop thinking about it,” he recounted. Rob said he hadn’t heard about liminality so he did a bit of reading. “A few days later I was looking through old pictures on my phone and realized I'd taken a few liminal space pictures myself over the years. Just places that felt unique or odd to me. It's always weird to realize you're a fan of something before you know what it is.”

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#10

Stay On The Light. They Won't Be Able To Get You If You're On The Light

Stay On The Light. They Won't Be Able To Get You If You're On The Light

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Kira Okah
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Darn caption, just did a game quest that required me to do that, was creepy enough in the game!

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#11

It's Not Safe To Go Outside But Inside Feels Haunted

It's Not Safe To Go Outside But Inside Feels Haunted

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Samantha Lomb
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

naah Just feels like literally any Eastern European apartment block. I can smell the cigarettes and cats

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#12

The Oval Office Between Us Presidents

The Oval Office Between Us Presidents

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Rob believes that there’s “something strangely powerful to the human psyche about transitionary places. The feeling of being between two places is an uncanny feeling, whether it's literal or psychological.”

This feeling can occur in any place. “I recently took a family vacation and we spent several hours in airports, where I kept thinking about the concept of liminality; We're not home but we're not on our vacation yet.” Rob explained that just like most transitions, “it's stressful but there is something comforting knowing that it's temporary. I think that's where people find themselves drawn to liminal pictures. It's temporary places made permanent."

#13

This Memory Belongs To Everybody And Nobody

This Memory Belongs To Everybody And Nobody

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Nigel Rodgers
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can hear the wipers and other cars splashing past. And of course, there's a tragic jam. Edit: I only saw this auto correct 5 days later😂🤣

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#15

The Entrance To The Infinity Pool. Once You Enter, There Is No Going Back

The Entrance To The Infinity Pool. Once You Enter, There Is No Going Back

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When it comes to describing this phenomenon, Rob said that his favorite definition is that “a liminal space is a 'crossing over' or transition space. It's a place where you have left something behind yet you are not yet fully in something else. It's the space between other spaces.”

Turns out that, “liminal is from the Latin word limen, meaning 'a threshold' so a liminal space is often a boundary point of one space beginning and another space ending,” he concluded.

#16

Lemme Get Some Uhhhhhhh

Lemme Get Some Uhhhhhhh

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#17

Only A Faint Hum And My Footsteps Can Be Heard.

Only A Faint Hum And My Footsteps Can Be Heard.

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Dhukath
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is the type of place where your instincts say no but you go anyway, then half way you hear footsteps, could be your echo or not! Do you go forward, backward or wait?

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#18

My Grandmother’s Basement

My Grandmother’s Basement

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#21

My Friend Was Tested For Covid, This Is The Room He Waited In

My Friend Was Tested For Covid, This Is The Room He Waited In

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#22

The Lower I Go, The Higher The Water Gets

The Lower I Go, The Higher The Water Gets

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#23

Empty Aquarium Restaurant, Made Me Feel Sad And Empty For Some Reason

Empty Aquarium Restaurant, Made Me Feel Sad And Empty For Some Reason

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#27

Feels Like I Shouldn't Turn Around. Just Keep Walking

Feels Like I Shouldn't Turn Around. Just Keep Walking

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#28

View From The Laundry Room Looks Fake

View From The Laundry Room Looks Fake

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#30

The Exam Will Take Place Down The Hall And To The Left, Good Luck

The Exam Will Take Place Down The Hall And To The Left, Good Luck

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#32

Driving To The Airport

Driving To The Airport

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Green Machine
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe I'm the only one, but I love fog and how it seems to transform places by changing nothing but the perspective.

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#34

Found An Artist Doing Some Pure Liminal

Found An Artist Doing Some Pure Liminal

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#36

An Old Pic I Forgot I Had On My Phone

An Old Pic I Forgot I Had On My Phone

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#37

A Nice Place To Make A Best Friend That You'll Never See Again

A Nice Place To Make A Best Friend That You'll Never See Again

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#38

Railway

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#40

8821

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Note: this post originally had 56 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.