September 20, 2010

Mirror, Mirror On The Wall...

While looking at my reflection in a handheld mirror the other morning, applying my make-up, the glass object slipped out of my hand all of a sudden. I fumbled with it for a while, as it jumped in and out of my palms, in between my fingers, while the shiny surface reflected the sun, blinding me with its brilliance, until it finally dropped onto the tiled bathroom floor. I watched this event, almost in slow motion, as I cringed and instinctively shut my eyes and raised my shoulders towards my ears in a reflex, but a futile attempt to protect them, expecting that familiar loud and extremely uncomfortable sound of shattering - sharp pieces flying in all directions. The thought of seven years of bad luck enveloped my consciousness, while I wished I could turn back time...

But no such sound came however, only a muffled noise resembling the one when a china plate is tossed onto a clothed table. When I looked down, I could see the mirror was intact. As luck had it, I was standing on my new, very thick and lavish bathroom mat, which miraculously softened the effect of the fall.

I think I exhaled with a relief and even smiled, at the thought of not having my luck run out with yet another broken mirror; I have broken a few in my life. I am not overly superstitious, but I sure have had my share of bad luck - not that I blame that on broken mirrors of my past.
As I picked up the silver object, to continue with my morning routine, mixed thoughts about mirrors and their meaning entered my mind, causing me to pause for a moment, while studying my own reflection.

The term mirror is used so freely in our vocabulary, as the idea of a reflection is such an important one. Even I use it in the title of this blog...
We look for reflection of oursleves in our physical form, but the mirrors that capture our interest are not just those we hold to our face, but also the ones that reflect our inner self, our inner beings and our inner most thoughts and emotions.

We look for our reflection in our surroundings and in the effect we have on other people. The reflection of us is not only seen in the calm surface of water on a sunny day, but also in the way we touch the lives of others with our actions. Or perhaps it can be spotted in the work of art or of other nature, including our deeds, which we leave behind in our footsteps. We long to be satisfied with what we see, whether it is the physical form that stares back at us or the abstract form, that can be sensed by the way others view us. Eventually, these two are intertwined as the later one is what makes the former look beautiful...

The eyes are "the mirrors of our soul" and as such we scrutinize the gazes of strangers. Then again, we can see ourselves in others, whether it is in the smile of loved ones or the faces of our children.

Mirrors must be one of the most common objects with which we come into contact daily. They are present in every household, in restrooms of all public buildings, in hotel rooms and even elevators. And in most purses of women - and even in the pockets of some men. They are the objects of art, with its potential to create labyrinths and playing trick with our perception, expanding our sense of depth into infinity, effecting our feeling of perspective, making us laugh and loose control. In a more serious sense, mirrors are part of state of the art technology, as they are used in high definition televisions, projectors, telescopes and multitude of military applications; in fact it has been said that Archimedes used a large array of mirrors to burn Roman ships during an attack on Syracuse.

Last, but not least, mirrors are used in folklore, fairy tales and fables, often instigating vanity and preoccupation with out physical attributes. And ultimately, mirrors are considered the sources of superstition, the gateways to the unknown, perhaps windows to parallel worlds or dimensions and the tools of witchcraft and sorcery.

Indeed, the term mirror, whether in its pure physical form or an abstract form, is an object of importance, despite it being viewed with a slightly negative perception.
Ultimately I hope that the reflection I see in all the mirrors of my life makes me not shun away from my own reflection...
No matter how many mirrors I am yet about to break.

37 comments:

S. Susan Deborah said...

What lovely flow of thoughts taking off from the slipping of a mirror. Only you can do this, Zuzana! Many things in life are such. One thing leads to a trail of thought and off we travel in time and space. I loved this take on mirrors!

Now I will see mirrors in a completely different light.

Have a insightful week ahead, dear Zuzana.

Joy always,
Susan

Brian Miller said...

really a wonderful post zuzana...i hope i can look myself int he mirror each day and see not only who i am but who i can be..so one day i can see it reflected back at me. have a wonderful week zuzana.

A Bit of the Blarney said...

This is a wonderful reflection. Certainly no pun intended, for it truly is. I have looked inward and have seen the value of taking time see who I am in respect to my place in the grand scheme of things. The reflection has offered the opportunity to see the flaws and how I can go about repairing them.

Wishing you well! Cathy

Elisabeth said...

Lucky for you, Zuzana. Your mirror survived the fall.

I wonder what life would be like without mirrors. How strange not to see ourselves reflected back.

I think of the first mirror as reflected in our mother's eyes.

Thanks, Zuzana.

Claus said...

I couldn't help but think about my little niece when reading your entry Zuzana. She's 5 months old, yet already recognize her and other people through mirrors, taking her sight off the mirror and actually looking for the "real" person. Kind of makes you wonder how our mind works and what an amazing and powerful thing it is!! I'm sure, though, that breaking one and associate it with bad luck has no meaning in her little mind, which also makes you wonder how much the world around us influence...interesting.
have a great week ahead!!...with the best of luck :-)
*hugs*

Kath said...

Very thought provoking Zuzana. I don't think you ever need fear the mirror, my lovely freind.

Donna said...

What a lovely post, Zuzana, very thought provoking. I'm happy you didn't break this one.

Hugs,
Donna

Jill from Killeny Glen said...

Wonderful thoughts Zuzana.

"Behavior is the mirror in which everyone shows their image."

~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Lulda Casadaga said...

thank goodness for thick bathroom rugs! :D I was listening to my fave radio show last nite and they were talking about a haunted mirror. I'm happy that you only saw yourself and not some ghost! Although, Halloween is right around the corner...:/ have a great week!

sprinkles said...

What a thought provoking post! I usually avoid mirrors but I have a whole new outlook on them now.

A friend of mine put up a bazillion mirrors in her living room at one of the houses she rented. She said it made the room look bigger. I didn't think so, it just made the wall look jam packed with mirrors to me. But she apparently liked it so I never said anything.

Roger Gauthier said...

Wow Zuzana, it is so well written and so interesting!

About mirrors, though, when I drop one I make sure that it breaks in a million small pieces! It's considered a sign of good luck to come in my family.

Once during my graduate studies (I'm a chemist, it takes all sorts), I dropped a flask on the terrazzo floor. It bounced off the floor without breaking and I caught it in mid-air. Well, I felt bad for days after that!

Roger :-)

SandyCarlson said...

I like this a lot, my friend. Capturing your whole self and loving the world through that image is really wonderful.

Hilary said...

Wonderful, reflective post, Zuzana. I'm sure you never need worry about who you're seeing in your mirror.

Sukanya said...

Oh my my...Lovely post Zuzana. You really believe breaking a mirror will be you bad luck?? Really?? :)
And yes Zuzana, i have sometimes looked myself in the mirror and have traveled back in time thinking of old memories :) We all have a story and you beautiful described your reflections.

Cheers,
sukanya

Bossy Betty said...

Zuzana--I have a post planned for Wednesday about mirrors. It will not be nearly as lovely nor as thought-provoking as this!

steviewren said...

I'm amazed that one slip of a mirror lead you to reflect on so much.

You know the Bible says that God allows us to feel the fire of loss, pain, broken relationships and failure because those circumstances have the power to purify us.

Just like a silversmith places silver in the fire, the heat allowing waste products and trash to rise to the surface. The trials in our lives are much the same as the silver. The end result of the purification is so that we will be an accurate reflection of God Himself.

I've always thought there is something so comforting in the thought...that the broken mirrors in my life are there to make me into God's reflection.

Catherine said...

It's a strange thing with mirrors, that we go through life unable to see our own faces except through them, or through the reactions of those around us.

We look for reflections everywhere. Perhaps otherwise, we wouldn't really know who we are?

Anonymous said...

Zuzana, I don't look at myself in mirrors very often because I don't like the way I look... so, as you can imagine, mirrors hold negative connotations for me. However, your post brings up so many interesting things about them that I may have to reconsider my attitude toward them. :)

Reading Tea Leaves said...

Wonderful! Only you my dear Zuzana could write such an intriguing post.

Jeanne
xx

PS I did write a much longer comment but Blogger wss being very temperamental!!

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

I simply loved this post. I use mirrors in Kids Church often to make a point or read a Bible verse I've written backwards. I'm talented like that...Heeehehehehe!

Granny Walden would of said, "oops seven years bad luck." I just say,"woohoo, and opportunity to buy a better mirror!!!"

We are made in God's image, we really should be showin' that more in our works toward others.'

Ya'll have the most wonderfully blessed day! :o)

Rajesh said...

Beautiful writeup. What a thrilling experience you had with the mirror.

Kat_RN said...

I love to read your posts! The flow is so smooth and often makes me think, or "reflect".
What you said at the end about what you hope to see in the mirror reminds me of the old Michael Jackson (I think) song, the one that starts out "I'm looking at the man in the mirror".
I don't think you have a thing to worry about.
Kat

Betsy Brock said...

Just lovely...and the pictures you choose to go along with your post are perfect!

I'm so glad your mirror landed on the soft rug and you were spared the bad luck! Seven years is a long time! ha.

Alberto Hugo Rojas said...

nice reflection. I liked it.
have a nice autumn.
kisses

ZHENYA ZHURAVLYOVA said...

интересные фотографии!))

Sumandebray said...

Enjoyed reading through the post. Yes superstitions helps people who loves to put the blame on someone else.
Today off course you can have a thermally controlled glass which could change its property from being transparent to opaque to a mirror ... that’s technology!

Phivos Nicolaides said...

The more you see your face in the mirror, the less you can see…

Keith said...

Glad the mirror survived. I've had some that did and some that didn't.

I like this posting. Mirrors play such a big part in our lives. I do like how they fit into folklore, etc.

Hope Adela Pasztor said...

what an interesting post! i love your writing style! =)

http://pinkchampagnefashion.blogspot.com/

My Farmhouse Kitchen said...

....enjoyed this post....

happy to stop by for a visit today

kary

SandyCarlson said...

Thanks for stopping by!

Regina said...

Beautiful writings Zuzana.
xo

Regina said...

Beautiful writings Zuzana.
xo

Maria said...

I always find that reading your blog has a very calming effect on me. You reflect serenity, Zuzana. That's why! xxxx

Zuzana said...

Susan, Brian, Cathy, Elisabeth, Claudia, Kath, Donna, Jill, Lulda, sprinkles, Roger, Sandy, Hilary, Sukanya, Betty, Stevie, Marianne, Tony, Jeanne, Nezzy, Rajesh, Kat, Betsy, Alberto, Sofia (welcome), Sumandebray, Phillip, Keith, Hope (welcome), Kary, Regina and Maria - I am always so delighted when you take the time to read even the longer, more contemplative posts, that I love to write. The world is full of moments that are causes for contemplation and my mind never stops thinking, as my heart never stops feeling either.

Thank you everyone for your kind words and your constant visits; they make my day.

Xoxo
Zuzana

Nessa said...

I love the idea that everything and everyone we come in contact with helps us hold a mirror to ourselves helping us see ourselves better.

tony said...

We See Ourself In Other People.We Are Someone Else's Mirror.