The Witch and the Looking Glass
A witch standing before a mirror is a classic icon. Whether it’s Snow White’s ill-tempered stepmom looking for beauty advice or Harry Potter communing with his long- lost parents, magic mirrors hold a place in our imagination. Of course, these are examples of fictional witches, but real witches have used magical mirrors for ages. The connection with mirrors and witchcraft is very real indeed.
The reflective surfaces of witch’s mirrors throughout history have been made from reflecting pools, obsidian, polished copper, brass, and modern glass mirrors both silvered and blackened. One of the most commonly known uses for today’s witch’s mirror is the art of scrying, or peering into the unknown within a deep reflective surface. In truth, the magic of mirrors doesn’t stop there; many witches have various uses for mirrors, including protection, hex breaking, multiplying power, glamour magic, exploring the inner self, meditation, and even improving the energy flow in a home through the art of feng shui.
Some of the most famous mirrors in literature were infused with magical power. Alice stepped through her looking glass into a madcap journey of inner growth. J. R. R. Tolkien wrote of Galadriel and her famous silver basin mirror that shows “many things, and not all have yet come to pass. Some shall never come to be.” Perseus used Athena’s gift, a magic shield polished to a mirrored finish, to protect himself and safely strike down the gorgon Medusa. We discover through the myths and legends of mirrors that a reflective surface can help us to see deeply within, as well as reach far beyond ourselves.
Today’s witch has many mirrors in the home. Most are used to check our reflections—make sure our hair looks perfect, eyebrows plucked, pointy hat on straight—but many witches have magical mirrors tucked away for ritual use as well. The magic mirror can be new or antique, bought or crafted by hand. All are enchanted tools of the trade. You can craft a magic mirror or make any mirror magical by the use of symbols, herbs, oils, condensers, and, of course, your own magical intention.
The art of looking-glass magic is very rewarding, putting you in touch with your own spirit and giving you new ways to manifest abundance, protection, glamour, and divination. Would you like to know how to find, create, and use magical mirrors for scrying, spells, amulets, and more? Well, you now have the secrets of the witch’s mirror at your fingertips, so turn the page and gaze into your own magical mirror; what will you discover?
mirror lore
In Chinese tradition,
mirrors frighten away
evil spirits, who are repelled by their own reflections.