Against Mirrors

Henry Rollins knows...

Mirrors have been integrated so wholly into modern interior decoration that the eye glazes over them; indeed, the mirror itself is invisible. But they are sneaking and malicious entities, venomous snakes blended into the foliage of space.

One could make the obvious point that mirrors are the beacon of vanity and self-lust. This is true, but not only that: they carry a quality of inversion. One finds photographs of himself uncanny or distasteful when he is too familiar with mirrors; this is because the self-image is flipped horizontally. Right becomes left, and vice versa (quite significant when one considers the Biblical significance of orientation). The composition of mirrors, too, share this inverted quality. Silver, along with glass, is the key metal in the mirror effect and the main component, suggesting a vulgarization of the sacred (read "The Significance of Metallurgy" from Rene Guenon's Reign of Quantity for an expanded idea). Judas' betrayal of Christ for silver pieces illustrates this inversion further; good is used for evil, selfish purposes.

An expanded essay could undoubtedly be written on the subject, dealing with the mirror's literary, cultural, and/or Biblical significance (1 Cor. 13:12). But one only has to avoiding looking in a mirror for a week, even a day, to feel the relief of the burden of self-image, and enjoy the wonderful world as it is. If I ever escape being a rentoid and get some of my own property, I will certainly do away with any mirrors around.