Can ghosts be seen in mirrors?

Do ghosts appear in mirrors?

Ghostly images in the mirror are considered a type of scrying.

I’ll address scrying shortly.

Let’s say, for now, that mirrors serve as entranceways to other realms.

Reflect on the reasonableness of that uncomplicated statement for a moment: a mirror will serve as entranceway to another realm!

The image you see in your mirror is not a reflection of your true self. Not really! Your reflection shows a mirrored version of you. By manipulating the tint, texture, or contour of the glass, the mirrored version you see will be modified, at least to some extent. Keep that in mind when you look at your face today.

Moreover (and this is more perplexing): the reflection in your mirror differs from the person seen by others. The image you see in your mirror is not an exact copy of you, but a modified version. It’s not the “you” that everyone else sees nor is it the ‘you’ that you think is yourself! That's why seeing yourself 'caught' in a video film, or 'caught' in a candid still you didn't know was being taken, can sometimes seem dismaying ! In short, if you want to examine your “true self” you ought to  ditch the mirror and look deeper into your being. Ha! That’s Snow White “evil queen complex” dealt with, but we're moving away from the topic. 

I'm not implying anything supernatural is happening when we look into mirrors.

However, I am saying we should acknowledge the true strangeness of a mirrored surface.

We often fail to appreciate shiny surfaces, despite the fact we look into them for a large portion of our day. Shiny surfaces possess a mystical power to control us... sometimes these mirrored surfaces attain absolute control over our existence. To test the truth of this, try taking away a teenager’s smartphone or denying them a screen.

However, when it comes to ordinary day-to-day mirrors, I believe it’s because the symmetrical nature of the “mirror world” (I refer to this as symmetrylity) is so captivating & insightful that we fail to acknowledge the profound flaws in our thought processes when we regard our mirrored reflection.

We have a sincere belief, maybe even a longing, that the reflected world in the mirror we hold actually exists. However, it does not. It’s a different dimension altogether. For example, don’t you think it’s peculiar that when two people look into a reflected surface simultaneously they perceive entirely different images on the same surface. Also, don’t you think it’s curious that, when someone looks into a mirror, they see a reverse image of their front and back? To comprehend the inter-dimensional aspect of mirrors, one must possess mathematical knowledge!

Even though we might assume a typical mirror reflects accurately, a non-flat surface will distort & magnify the reflection like a lens. Even a slightly tilted mirror will produce realistic —though distorted —images. The tiniest bend, the smallest crack, the tiniest spot, all these will have a noticeable effect on the image we see in the surface.

By combining these factors with the unique ability mirrors have to allow us see behind ourselves (without turning around, for example when we use the wing mirror on a car) we gain a valuable benefit of the reflective surfaces we use — if we're literally looking behind us when we use a rear-view mirror, it's akin to looking into the past. When these curious attributes are combined, it’s no wonder people claim to see “ghosts” in mirrors.

Mirrored surfaces, such as still waters in sacred places, perhaps the water glimpsed in a bowl, a baptismal font, or a dream pool, or seen upon polished stones or jewels, or in shiny goblets, or glass spheres (orbs), have been used since prehistoric times for 'seeing behind' or into another dimension. When a reflective surface is utilized in paranormal activities, it's known as scrying. Scrying comes in different types: clairvoyance (seeing into future), augury (interpreting omens), and divination (prophecy).

Focusing on a reflective surface during a scrying exploration helps practitioners “focus attention” and “clear their mind” similar to how a guru might meditate or a priest might pray before attempting to distribute a sacrament.

Scrying is a type of self-hypnosis. A fortune teller might claim to “see” images in a mirror-like surface. Voices are sometimes heard by scryers, too. Nostradamus, the well-known French seer from the 16th century, was known to practice scrying.

Mirrors have the power to reveal glimpses of the spiritual realm beyond our physical reality. The Mayans and other ancient civilizations believed mirrors were gateways between humans and gods.

In order to grasp the concept of mirrors becoming portals, we ought to acknowledge that luminous surfaces are interpretations of in-between spaces, and this makes them gateways between physical & spiritual realms. To delve into the captivating subject of liminality, check out episodes 13, 40, and 51 of my Myth & Magic podcast. It’s worth noting that people often turn to mirrors to seek answers about their existence during significant moments in their lives. For instance, during a wedding night, or while getting prepared for a funeral, or before a significant presentation (going up in the elevator before a work interview,) or amidst the dim waters of a baptismal font. (A child under 18 months cannot see their own reflection, but what do the godparents see in the dark waters of a baptismal font?)

Mirrors are often used in literature, particularly in fantasy fiction, to explore mythology, cosmology, and the concept of visiting other worlds beyond our human limitations. The usefulness of a mirror lies in its ability to allow the protagonist to explore new realms without leaving a mundane existence.

Alice ponders the experience of living in a mirror’s reflection, prompting her decision to journey “Through the Looking-Glass” in Lewis Carroll’s beloved story. In a surprising twist, Alice uncovers an alternate dimension where logic and reality are completely reversed. The mirror world she inhabits for a while is divided by streams and reflective surfaces, implying countless dimensions to explore.

Harry Potter discovers a “mirror of desire” that could potentially reverse time and serve as a scrying tool to glimpse his deceased parents.

Getting back to the main point, can we actually see ghosts in mirrors? Some people, especially those who are prone to such things, are certain to “see” puzzling images in reflected surfaces.

These 'sightings' might be attributed to sensory deprivation, such as the darkness of the pool or the glow of the chalice, or perhaps caused by distortions due to 'misreading' unreliable reflections in the imperfect surface. The seer’s mental state must also be factored in—could she he/they be experiencing a pivotal moment in life?

Observers have a natural inclination, called pareidolia, which leads them to interpret disconnected presentations as recognizable objects, patterns, or messages. Take, for instance, how we all perceive faces in ordinary objects. Have you ever noticed an electrical socket that seemed to have a happy face? Everyone perceives shapes in clouds or eerie figures in reflections. Pareidolia is not a psychosis; it’s a common human tendency. Common pareidolia sheds light on many puzzling and curious 'sightings'.

Let’s not overlook the fact that our perception of our environment can differ greatly from another's perception of the same environment due to to the subjective nature of senses and sensing. Each of us has our own 'sensed' version of the universe, and each  'sensed' version is separate from everyone else’s. They say each of us has as unique pattern:  we all live in different worlds, and even though those worlds have a great many things in common, each world is experienced in a totally different way. Psychologists believe that anyone could experience a harmless hallucination on a mirrored surface. And if it happens to you, don’t be surprised!

Mirrors can indeed reflect the presence of ghosts. And that’s possibly the least alarming thing about reflective surfaces!

Words: Neil Mach 2024 ©

Neil Mach is highly regarded in the field of fantasy studies and has been described as a fantologist. His book So You Want to Write Fantasy? is an enlightening easy-to-read manual that delves into fantasy perspectives.

To book Neil's Fantasy Fiction Illustrated Talk go to the SpeakerNet site https://speakernet.co.uk and use the search form provided to find Neil Mach. A list of all the author's talks and presentations is listed there.