Beyond the Ninth Wave: Transformation, Thresholds, and the Need to Let Go

The Ninth Wave Rises

In Celtic mythology, there is a boundary at sea, a threshold that marks the edge of the known world. It is said that beyond the ninth wave, the mortal realm gives way to the Otherworld—Tír na nóg, the land of eternal youth, wisdom, and transformation. To reach it, one must cross that final, towering wave, leaving behind the familiar and surrendering to the unknown.

It is a striking image: the sea roiling beneath, the sky stretching infinite above, and the ninth wave cresting like a moment of decision. Go forward, and there is no return. Stay back, and nothing changes.

Change is not a smooth transition from one stable ground to another; it is a passage through instability, a moment when we are unmoored, in between states, suspended between the past and the possible.

This is the essence of transformation—not just in mythology but in work, leadership practices, and life. Change is not a smooth transition from one stable ground to another; it is a passage through instability, a moment when we are unmoored, in between states, suspended between the past and the possible. In existential terms, it is the leap into uncertainty, the moment when old structures fall away, and nothing is guaranteed.

Threshold Moment: Between Vines, Between Waves

We often imagine transformation as a controlled, stepwise process—a linear path from A to B. But real change, whether at the individual or organisational level, is far more fluid, far more unsettling. It requires a moment of free fall—the space between where you were and where you will be.

A mentor once described it to me like this: if you are swinging from vine to vine, there is always a moment when you are in midair, holding onto nothing. The instinct is to cling, to reach for security before letting go. But real transformation demands the opposite—it requires letting go before the new vine appears. That moment of suspension, of not knowing, is where change truly happens.

If you are swinging from vine to vine, there is always a moment when you are in midair, holding onto nothing.

The ninth wave is the same. Organisations say they want transformation, but many hesitate at the threshold, wanting the certainty of a safe landing before they leave the shore. They seek control rather than navigation, predictability rather than adaptation. But crossing the ninth wave means relinquishing control, accepting that change is not a fixed destination but a shifting sea.

Manannán mac Lir: The Guide, Not the Controller

In Celtic mythology, those who cross the ninth wave do not do so alone. They are often guided by Manannán mac Lir, the great sea god, who ferries heroes and seekers into the unknown. Yet, even he does not control the sea. He moves with it, reading its rhythms, guiding rather than dictating.

The true role of leadership practices in transformation—not to impose change through rigid structures but to navigate uncertainty alongside others.

This is the true role of leadership practices in transformation—not to impose change through rigid structures but to navigate uncertainty alongside others. Workplace strategists, change practitioners, and executives must recognise that the sea will never be still, and transformation will never be complete. The goal is not to force stability but to cultivate adaptability, resilience, and trust in motion.

The Nine Waves of Workplace Transformation

If we extend this idea to the world of work, each wave could represent a stage of change—a challenge that must be met before reaching the next threshold. In my own work, I am developing a Waves of Workplace Strategy model, and I see how the Nine Waves helps shape my thinking. Organisations must pass through each wave, each disruption, before truly transforming.

Some get stuck at wave three, clinging to outdated processes. Others reach wave seven and balk at the unknown ahead. Few reach the ninth wave—and fewer still have the courage to cross it.

Crossing the Ninth Wave

So, where does this leave us? Whether we are individuals, teams, or entire organisations, we all face our own ninth waves—moments where the old world no longer holds, and the new one is not yet in reach. The question is: do we turn back, or do we cross?

The answer, as in myth, is never easy. But those who do cross—who embrace the uncertainty, let go of control, and move forward despite the unknown—find themselves in a new world. A world of possibility, transformation, and motion.

And as the great waves continue to rise, that is the only world that will last.

Your Course to Set

Dip your toe in: What is your ninth wave? Where are you holding back instead of letting go?

Take the plunge: In your organisation, do leadership practices embody Manannán mac Lir—navigating the waves—or are they trying to control the sea?

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