Crossing the Threshold: Rethinking the Midlife “Crisis”

At some point in our forties, many of us begin to feel a subtle shift—sometimes slow and creeping, sometimes sudden and disorienting. It might appear as restlessness, a sense of disconnection, or a growing unease or dissatisifaction. The outer shape of life may still look the same, but inwardly, there are processes going on which can feel deeply unsettling.

Popular culture calls this the midlife crisis—but how much more empowering would it be if this period were known as the midlife initiation. This experience isn’t trivial, nor is it a personal failing. It is, in fact, a deeply meaningful phase of life—a threshold with rich developmental potential.

What “Crisis” Really Means

The word crisis comes from the Greek krisis, a term once used in medicine to indicate a decisive turning point. A moment when a patient would either move toward healing or into deeper illness.

Seen in this light, the so-called midlife crisis is better understood as a rite of passage—a time of review, recalibration, and potential renewal. Somewhere along the way, we’ve come to associate “crisis” only with breakdown. But its deeper meaning points to something else: a time of tension that precedes transformation. One that invites clarity, asks for courage, and opens the possibility of a new alignment with what really matters.

From this perspective, a midlife crisis isn’t a failure of adulthood—it’s a threshold. A time when the soul, or deeper self, begins to press for change, asking us to grow into greater alignment with who we truly are becoming.

Biography and the Rhythms of Life

Biography work understands human life as unfolding in seven-year phases. Each larger phase of 21 years (three ‘septennials’) is a soul-season—shaped by developmental needs, inner tasks, and archetypal influences. The seasons are a helpful metaphor: we spent our first twenty years in our Spring, followed by the next twenty or so years in the Summer of our lives. Now, we begin to prepare for the Autumn years. There is a turning inwards, and a necessary confrontion with the self.

Between the ages of 42 and 56, we move through two important phases in the ongoing development of our personal consciousness.

42–49: Confrontation and Courage

This phase, characterised by firey Mars, often brings a sharper sense of what no longer fits. It may involve inner conflict, outer change, or a deep desire to shed what’s false. This is a time when illusions tend to fall away, and the soul presses for honesty.

Questions that arise during this phase might include:

• Am I living in alignment with my deeper values?

• Where have I compromised too much?

• What needs to change, even if it’s difficult?

Mars is associated with will, strength, and decisive action. This is a time when life demands us to consciously engage with the inner tension we feel.

These challenges are not about upheaval for its own sake, but about preparing the ground for what wants to emerge next.

49–56: Meaning and Maturity

After the intensity of the 40’s, this phase tends to bring a broader view. This is a time of integration, where we may begin to see life as a whole, rather than as a collection of separate events.

There’s often a growing interest in wisdom, contribution, and legacy. It’s not uncommon for people to shift focus—perhaps mentoring, teaching, or exploring deeper spiritual questions.

Themes of this phase include:

• What do I stand for now?

• How do I want to serve or contribute?

• What has my life been pointing toward?

This period invites expansion—not just outward, but inward. It is characterised by Jupiter - symbolic of wisdom, expansion and higher learning - and is a time of synthesis and perspective, where the experiences of earlier years can begin to be seen with deeper understanding.

From Tension to Transition

Often, the Mars phase begins with a sense of inner pressure. Something wants to change, but we may not yet see what or how. This is the threshold—the space between the known and the as yet unknown.

It’s easy to interpret this as a personal problem, or panic at the discomfort, especially if life is already presenting you with unique challenges. The discomfort is a sign that something is moving, rather than something is wrong. Viewed from the perspective of life’s unfolding rhythms, it’s more accurate to say that the soul is preparing for its next step.

A Shared Human Threshold

This experience of midlife transition is not unique to modern individuals. It appears across time and culture—in ancient, indigenous, and spiritual traditions—as a natural and significant moment in the human journey.

Recognising this can be a great relief. Rather than seeing this period as a personal crisis to be fixed, we can begin to approach it with more trust, compassion, and willingness to listen for what’s emerging.

A Time of Becoming

These middle years mark the beginning of true adulthood. Not the outer adulthood of roles and responsibilities, but the inner adulthood of soul presence and conscious participation in one’s destiny.

Like all thresholds, this one comes with its own tasks: to let go of what no longer serves, to listen for the deeper current of life, and to step more fully into the person you are becoming.

This phase is not easy—but it is rich, necessary, and full of possibility. And you don’t have to walk it alone.

If you’d like to explore these themes further, I offer one-to-one biography sessions and periodic workshops on the midlife threshold, drawing on anthroposophy, soul development, and your lived experience.

You’re welcome to reach out or explore the Blog above for related materials.

This phase is not easy—but it is rich, necessary, and full of possibility. And you don’t have to walk it alone.