Mirrors

MIRRORS by David W.

It was reading a book called HOW TO HUNT GHOSTS [Warren; 2003] that I came across an entry about mirrors which told of how if two mirrors are placed facing each other, then there is a chance of increasing paranormal activity. There are many reasons why this could occur. Could it be that the reflective energy of the mirrors cause a portal or reflect electromagnetic energy, this is due to both light (which is reflected) and ghosts being primarily made up of electromagnetic energy. Many people also believe that the ‘infinity’ effect of opposing mirrors has a lot to do with why paranormal activity could occur when mirrors are facing each other.

The idea of ‘mirrors as portals’, could come from the original use of water for its reflective properties and its divinatory properties. In my research, I read a number of articles which told of how mirrors are a relatively new invention and therefore couldn’t have these paranormal properties. Water has always been used for paranormal purposes, whether this be divination – trying to get information or tell the future – or whether it be water’s link to Wicca and natural forces. Therefore reflections have always been seen as paranormal and some people believe that looking at your reflection, is looking at your soul.

Growing up I always remember when I would stand in front of the mirror and my Nan would tell me, ‘don’t stare in there too long, you’ll see the devil on your shoulder’. I was scared to death and never really understood why she had said that. When I got older I just thought it was a colloquial saying that she had picked up. It would, however, appear that this ‘idea’ was more than that. There are many sayings and superstitions that looking in the mirror for too long can be a bad thing. One of the main superstitions is that by looking at your reflection by candlelight is bad luck. As with usual superstitions there is no reasoning behind this, it has just somehow become what people think.

Could it be that by staring into a mirror you are partaking in the sin of vanity? Has this superstition been brought about by Christian beliefs that to be vain is a mortal sin? It is believed that vanity (a.k.a. pride) is one of the seven deadly sins and this particular sin interferes with a person’s ability to recognise the grace of God.

Here I am, reminded of the Greek myth of Narcissus. This legend tells of a man who was cursed into falling in love with his own reflection. He stayed looking at himself until he finally died. Once again a tale giving a clear message that vanity is something to be afraid of.

Bloody Mary is another such tale which tells of what could happen if one is caught staring into a mirror or playing around with the mirrors ‘power’. The difference with this story is that a chant is needed. A number of legends tell of how if one is to stand in front of a mirror and chant the words ‘Bloody Mary’ – whether this is three to a hundred times dependent on the legend – then the spirit of Bloody Mary will appear. The legend also varies as to whether Mary would kill you, appear to you, scratch your face off etc.

There are many superstitions about mirrors, for example some cultures believe that if a baby looks into a mirror before its first birthday it will die. Another such superstition is that if someone dies in a household the mirrors should all be covered as it is believed the mirrors could capture the soul of the departed. These all relate to mirrors being something of an evil origin.

However, there are a number of stories which tell of mirrors being powers of good. The Chinese have a belief that mirrors placed on the outside of one’s residence can keep away evil spirits, as the spirits will see their own reflection and will be scared away. Other stories tell of how if a couple’s first sight of each other is their reflection, they will have a happy marriage.

Whichever side of the story you look at, mirrors are seen as great powers and used for many reasons in the paranormal. The most interesting for me, is the idea of placing two mirrors facing each other, to create a portal in which to increase paranormal activity. Could this work to increase activity in paranormal investigations and could mediums and psychics use such a technique to improve the strength of communication that they gain? Also, could we use facing mirrors with a device to increase electromagnetic energy in order to create a stronger portal?

Bibliography
- HOW TO HUNT GHOSTS; Joshua P. Warren; A Fireside Book, Published by Simon & Schuster; 2003