The Mystique, Magic, Myths and Superstitions of Mirrors

[Alpha]

Thought this was a pretty interesting read....anyone here have any superstitions or experiences with mirrors?

The Mystique, Magic, Myths and Superstitions of Mirrors


“I looked in the mirror and what did I see…”

What does one see when one looks in a mirror? Is it merely as the song says “…A nine stone weakling with knobbly knees…” Or is there more to be seen in a mirror than one’s own reflection?

Mirrors have a certain mystique about them, which gives rise to beliefs, magic, myths, legends and superstitions.

Amongst many things they have been seen as a “tool of the devil”, a “catcher” of the soul, a harbinger of things to come, a portal to another dimension and a source of bad luck.

But what are these beliefs myths and superstitions and where do they come from?

In the Bible, the Book of Genesis says that God made man in his own image. Therefore when we look into a mirror do we merely see our own reflection, our doppelganger, or are we looking into the face of God? This may have been the starting point where religious teachers found the answer to be: that of course, one could not see the face of god, which relied on faith, but if “man” was made in his image, therefore one must surely be looking at the nearest thing possible: one’s own soul.


There are areas of the world, including parts of the USA, Greece and Southern Ireland, where it was, and in some cases still is, the tradition that when there is a death in the house, all the mirrors in the household are covered until the body has been removed, so that the soul of the dead person will not be forever trapped there. There is also a belief that if a person was to look at the reflected image of the dead person in a mirror then they would see the face of the devil.


The thought of the soul being seen in a mirror, would also explain why, in stories of vampires, the vampire does not have a reflection in a mirror. As the vampire is already dead it has no soul and therefore cannot have a reflection.


Article Continues

[sunshine]

Personally, I can't believe that God made us physically in His image. But then I don't believe that God is physical. And certainly not an old man with a long beard watching from afar.

My, my all this talk of mirrors breaking on Friday the 13th. I remember the Bloody Mary story from my childhood in Michigan. If you said her names three times in front of the mirror it was said that you could see her in the mirror.

PS I think you have a space before the word 'article' in your link that's messing it up.

[WolfPa]

I personnally don't have any visible mirrors in my room. Mirrors can be dangerous. Things can see into our world from the other side.

[Hadriana]

I have a lot of thoughts on mirrors.

I don't think I could put them into words here though.

I will say this though - the bathroom mirror in most houses is quite a receptical for strong energies. Think of all the times you've looked into it - the times you washed tear stained eyes in it, looked at yourself growing old, smiled at yourself, studied yourself, laid your soul bare in front of the thing.

Mirrors are like altars...to ourselves.

I think the key to the magickal potency of a mirror lies in that.

[Hadriana]

I personnally don't have any visible mirrors in my room. Mirrors can be dangerous. Things can see into our world from the other side.

See, the way I consider it - is that things can already see in. I was engaging in a bit of travel the other night, borrowing a set of eyes from someone in automatic mode...and I realized that I was being watched...reminded me of lord of the rings stuff....

also, shamans typically used mirrors. I don't like to go to a house that is reported to be haunted without a mirror. It's a long story....but I was TAUGHT by my astral teachers not to. I'd never heard of such a thing myself, but yep, it's all there if you look -shamans often sewed mirrors into their clothes, just for the reason I was taught to use them - really evil spirits don't LIKE to see themslves in the mirrors. They find themselves repulsive.

[WolfPa]

I'm worried because my ill aunt has one overlooking her bed. Any mirror in the room I'm staying in is covered at night. Mirrors were not ment for vanity.

[jackportd]

Mirrors in my culture are seen as things that can reflect spirits. Spirits of dead people or just evil entities. For that reason, mirrors, especially full length mirrors are never to be placed at the foot of the bed as it can reveal things that you may not want to see. This belief is still held by my mother who after moving here found that new apartments are fitted with full length mirrors on wardrobes in every bedroom. She promptly removed all of them.

I also remember how mirrors were seen as a tool to reflect bad luck. One day when my dad was shaving he noticed that the neighbour directly opposite us had stuck a small mirror directly facing our open window. He was really pissed off and asked the neighbour to take it down, but he refused because he wanted to reflect away the bad luck of poor health from our family because my grandfather was sick at the time. Livid, my dad stuck a mirror outside our window to reflect it back at him. Kinda funny actually

[butterflydreamwalker]

Mirrors creep me out when the room is dark, especially the one in the bathroom. I cannot look at it if the room is dark. I always think I'm going to see a demonic presence... not fun. I also hate being in the dark & sleep with lights on.

[Judee]

Mirrors creep me out when the room is dark, especially the one in the bathroom. I cannot look at it if the room is dark. I always think I'm going to see a demonic presence... not fun. I also hate being in the dark & sleep with lights on.

Hello butterfly, and welcome to IW!! I used to feel that way about mirrors also, and I was always afraid of the dark in general. That changed after my husband died, and I had to face so many things that had scared me before. One night, I got tired of being afraid, and sat up in bed, and hollered out to the darkness - "No More! I am not afraid!" I've never been afraid again. I don't know what makes us afraid of certain things. Past lives maybe? I do know when we have to face what we are most afraid of, then we can overcome the fear.

[maryals]

I love reflective surfaces: a very still body of water, smooth ice, polished surfaces, mirrors, the Moon, all manner of sparkly things. I love looking at them, gazing into them
Just one strange thing lately. There is this Old Lady who keeps looking back at me from within the mirror. I don't know who she is ..... couldn't possibly be me

Mary and Bessie

[WolfPa]

While my Aunt was in the hospitle, I had all the mirrors covered. Safest I ever felt.