There’s a moment between what was and what will be- a space of uncertainty, discomfort, and, often, quiet chaos. It’s the in-between, the liminal space where the old has been stripped away, but the new has yet to fully take form. This transition period exists everywhere: in nature, in human experience, in the universe itself. It can be unsettling, but if we look closer, it’s also a place of transformation, growth, and quiet beauty.  

Wildfires and the Renewal of Life  

One of the most striking examples of transition in nature is found in the aftermath of a wildfire. At first, the destruction seems absolute—ashes where there was once a thriving forest, silence where there was once life. But beneath the charred earth, something remarkable happens. The fire clears away the dead and decaying, making way for new growth. Certain plants, like the lodgepole pine, require the intense heat of fire to release their seeds, ensuring that life begins again. What seems like devastation is actually renewal in disguise.  

The landscape doesn’t recover overnight. At first, it looks barren, lifeless, and uninhabitable. But slowly, new shoots emerge, the soil is enriched with nutrients, and what once seemed ruined becomes fertile ground for something even stronger and more resilient than before.  

The Human Experience of Transition 

Our lives mirror this natural cycle in countless ways. When a relationship ends, when we leave a job, when we step into an unfamiliar path, there’s often a period of disarray. It can feel like standing in the ruins of what once was, uncertain if anything good will ever come again. There’s discomfort in the space between the past and the future, in the waiting, in the not knowing.  

But just like the forest, we need this period of transition. The old must be cleared away to make space for something new. The ashes of what we once knew provide the foundation for growth. Even when it feels like nothing is happening, the groundwork is being laid. The healing, the shifting, the rebuilding—it’s all happening beneath the surface.  

The Universe and the Art of Becoming

Even the universe itself has gone through—and continues to go through—this process. Stars collapse before new ones are born. Galaxies stretch and shift, evolving over billions of years. The cycle of creation, destruction, and rebirth is written into the very fabric of existence.  

This tells us something profound: transition is not an accident—it is a necessity. It is not a failure or a detour; it is an essential part of the process of becoming.  

Finding Beauty in the In- Between  

So what do we do when we find ourselves in the in-between? How do we navigate the discomfort of transition?  

1. Accept the Uncertainty – The discomfort is temporary, but fighting it only prolongs the process. Accept that this is a season of change, and trust that something new is forming.  

2. Look for Small Signs of Growth – Just as tiny green shoots emerge from the ashes, there are always small signs that new beginnings are taking shape in our lives. Pay attention to them.  

3. Let Go of What No Longer Serves You – The wildfire doesn’t ask permission before clearing the dead wood. Likewise, sometimes we must release the things that are no longer in alignment with who we are becoming.  

4. Trust That the Best is Yet to Come – The forest does not remain barren. The stars do not stay collapsed. Life continues, and so will you. What’s ahead may be even more beautiful than what was left behind.  

Stepping into Your Own Rebirth 

Every great transformation requires a period of discomfort. The transition is where the magic happens—not in the past, not in the future, but in the space between. This is where we shed, where we grow, where we become.  

So if you find yourself in the middle of an uncertain chapter, remember: you are not lost. You are in the process of becoming. The ashes of your past are simply the fertile ground for what’s next.  

And what’s next? It just might be the most extraordinary chapter of your life yet.