Co-holding And Co-navigating Collective Liminal Spaces For Transformative Learning Outside Educational Contexts

Transformative learning (TL) has evolved beyond its educational roots to address contemporary societal challenges. Now applied beyond formal education, TL emerges from societal dialogue amid current crises. This paper advocates for a transdisciplinary approach to TL, emphasizing the importance of co-holding and co-navigating collective liminal spaces. It calls for an onto-epistemological shift among practitioners to facilitate paradigm change. The paper, drawing on the case of the WorldEthicForum, applies a Critical Incident approach and explores prerequisites for navigating collective TL spaces, emphasizing the importance of creating safe enough environments for transformative experiences. Emotions such as fear and awe can initiate liminal spaces that require attentive process stewardship and inclusive leadership. Nurturing environments that encourage courageous participation and holding uncertainty can catalyze a profound shift in a group towards becoming a collective body, preparing the ground for larger shifts and societal transformation.