The Gift of the In-Between and the Trickster Mind

For whoever needs to hear this today, come, sit with me for a while. Let us talk about the space between things, the in-between. Many people rush to choose a side, to name something as this or that, right or wrong, light or dark. But the old ones knew, and the land teaches, that much of life is lived in the space between.

Think of the dawn, when night is not yet gone and day has not fully arrived. The sky is painted with colours that have no name, and the world is quiet, listening. Or think of the riverbank, where water meets earth, and both are changed by their meeting. This is the in-between, the place where new life is born.

We Métis people know something about the in-between. We carry many stories, many bloodlines, many ways of seeing. Sometimes we are told we are not enough of one thing or too much of another. But I say, the in-between is not a place of lack, but a place of great richness. It is where the willow grows, flexible and strong, able to bend without breaking.

In the in-between, we learn to listen. We learn to hold two truths at once, to see with both eyes, to walk with both feet. We become bridges, connecting worlds that others believe must stay apart. We know that healing does not come from choosing one side over another, but from honouring the whole circle.

And then there is the Trickster mind, Nanabush, who dances in the in-between. The Trickster is the master of stories and illusions, the one who reminds us that what we see is not always the whole truth. Nanabush plays with our thoughts, shifting shapes and meanings, inviting us to laugh, to question, and to see beyond the surface.

If you find yourself caught in the Trickster’s dance, do not fear. The mind may fill with confusion, laughter, or questions, but this too is part of the journey. The Trickster’s medicine is to teach us humility, flexibility, and the gift of seeing with new eyes. When you are in the in-between, do not rush to leave it. Sit for a while. Listen to what the wind is saying. Notice how the land holds both shadow and light. Trust that you belong here, in this place of becoming. The in-between is a sacred place, a place of possibility, a place where you can be fully yourself.

Remember, it is in the spaces between the notes that the song is made. It is in the pause between breaths that spirit enters. The in-between is not emptiness, but fullness waiting to be known.

Thank you for walking this path with me. You are exactly where you need to be.