Welcome back, I’m Adeline Atlas, 11-times published author, and this is the Mirror Mirror series.

In today’s video, we’ll be exploring the mystical and symbolic role mirrors play across cultures. From ancient Egypt to modern superstitions, mirrors have been more than just reflective surfaces. They have held spiritual significance and been seen as gateways to other realms, windows to the soul, and even tools for spiritual monitoring. Across civilizations, mirrors have carried mysterious powers—from the ability to trap souls to protecting homes from evil spirits.

Let’s dive into the superstitions and folklore from around the world and overstand why mirrors have always held such a potent and sometimes dangerous place in spiritual and cultural practices.

1. Ancient Egypt: Mirrors as Soul Reflectors

In Ancient Egypt, mirrors were much more than tools to reflect your physical appearance—they were believed to reflect your soul. Egyptians viewed mirrors as spiritual instruments, capable of not only showing your outer form but also giving insight into your spiritual essence.

Mirrors and the Afterlife

Mirrors were often placed in tombs to help guide the deceased to the afterlife. It was believed that the spirit of the deceased would use the mirror to navigate the underworld and find its way to the afterlife. However, if the mirror wasn’t placed correctly, it was thought that it could trap the soul in the physical realm, preventing it from passing on to the afterlife. The concept of the mirror acting as a portal to the soul is still prevalent in many cultures today.

2. Ancient China: Mirrors as Protective Tools

In Chinese tradition, mirrors were believed to have a powerful spiritual role. They were often used to ward off evil spirits and protect the home from negative energies.

Mirrors as Spiritual Shields

Many ancient Chinese believed that mirrors reflected not just the physical, but also the spiritual energies around them. They used mirrors at the entrances of homes to reflect away harmful energies or malevolent spirits. One key belief was that mirrors could reflect spirits away by acting as a barrier to the unseen world.

The Mirror as a Gateway

In Chinese folklore, mirrors were also seen as windows into the spirit realm, and reflecting souls. The idea was that mirrors could trap souls or spirits. They had to be used with caution, especially during mourning, as it was thought that the deceased could become trapped in the mirror, unable to move on to the afterlife.

3. European Superstitions: Mirrors and Bad Luck

One of the most well-known superstitions about mirrors in Europe is that breaking a mirror will bring seven years of bad luck. But where did this idea come from?

Seven Years of Bad Luck

The origin of this superstition lies in the ancient belief that mirrors reflect not just the physical body but also the soul. In the Roman Empire, it was believed that breaking a mirror would distort the soul’s reflection, causing a rupture in the spirit. It was thought that the soul would go through a seven-year cycle of recovery to regain its balance and harmony, which is why seven years of bad luck was associated with broken mirrors.

Covering Mirrors During Death

In Europe, it was common practice to cover mirrors after a death. The idea was that mirrors could trap the soul of the deceased, preventing it from passing on to the afterlife. Covering the mirrors was seen as a way of ensuring that the spirit could move on peacefully without being trapped by its reflection.

4. Roman Empire: Mirrors for Divination and Omen

In the Roman Empire, mirrors were used for divination, or the practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown through spiritual means.

Mirrors and Divination

Romans would often use mirrors as tools to scry—a form of divination where one gazes into a reflective surface to receive visions or glimpses of the future. The belief was that mirrors, because they were reflective, could allow access to the spirit world, giving insights into one’s future or the hidden realms.

Bad Omens

Mirrors were also linked with bad omens in Roman culture. If the reflection in a mirror appeared distorted or showed unnatural images, it was seen as a warning or sign of misfortune. A distorted reflection could signal the presence of an evil spirit, or indicate spiritual imbalance.

5. Native American Beliefs: Mirrors and the Soul

In many Native American traditions, mirrors were believed to reflect more than just a person’s physical form. They were often seen as objects capable of revealing the spirit.

Mirrors as Soul Reflectors

Some Native American tribes, particularly the Shamanic cultures, believed that mirrors could reflect a person’s soul essence. In these traditions, mirrors were used in ceremonies to help people connect with their inner self or spirit guides. However, there was also a belief that mirrors could trap the soul or distort it, especially in the case of death. This is why, in certain tribes, mirrors were avoided in the homes of the sick or deceased.

6. South American Folklore: Spirits in the Mirror

In South American folklore, mirrors were believed to serve as portals to the spirit world, where both spirits of the dead and unseen entities could pass through.

Trapped Spirits

It was common for South American cultures to cover mirrors during mourning to prevent spirits from becoming trapped. The idea was that the soul of the deceased might wander into the mirror and become lost, unable to find peace in the afterlife. Similar to other cultures, spiritual cleansing rituals were used to ensure that negative spirits did not remain attached to mirrors.

7. African Superstitions: Mirrors as Protection and Danger

In many African traditions, mirrors are both protective objects and dangerous portals. They are often used in spiritual practices to shield the living from evil spirits or malevolent energy.

Mirrors and Protection

In certain African cultures, mirrors were hung at doorways to reflect evil spirits away from the home. The belief was that the mirror would act as a barrier, bouncing back negative energy or evil entities. However, mirrors were also seen as potentially dangerous if they were used incorrectly. If mirrors were placed in areas where the dead were not properly honored or remembered, it was feared that they could trap souls or allow negative spiritual forces to enter the home.

8. Japanese Superstitions: The Spirit of the Mirror

In Japanese superstition, mirrors are considered powerful objects, often associated with spiritual rituals and communication with spirits.

Trapping Spirits

Mirrors in Japan were believed to be reflective of not only the body but also the soul, and in some cases, they were used in rituals to summon or communicate with spirits. However, mirrors were also seen as objects that could trap spirits, particularly the spirits of the dead. If not properly used, a mirror could cause the soul to become lost or confused, unable to transition peacefully into the afterlife.

9. Islamic Superstitions: Mirrors and the Unseen

In Islamic culture, mirrors are believed to be reflective windows into the unseen world, and they can potentially attract both benevolent and malevolent entities.

Mirrors and Jinn

In Islamic traditions, mirrors are sometimes thought to summon jinn—spirits that can be either good or evil. The belief is that when a person looks into a mirror, they might unknowingly attract jinn into their lives, especially if they are performing an act of scrying or trying to see beyond the physical realm. Protective prayers or symbols are often used to shield mirrors and prevent negative entities from crossing over.

The Power and Danger of Mirrors

As we've seen, mirrors have held significant spiritual meaning across many civilizations. From the ancient Egyptians to modern-day folklore, mirrors have been viewed as portals to other realms, reflective surfaces for the soul, and powerful tools for spiritual observation. Whether used for protection, communication, or as a means of reflecting spiritual energy, mirrors continue to hold a mysterious and sometimes dangerous place in our lives.

In the next video, we’ll dive into mirrors and moonlight—how lunar energy enhances psychic abilities and the practice of lunar scrying. Until then, take care, and remember: mirrors are not just windows into our physical world; they are windows into unseen realms, and they need to be treated with respect and caution.