That One Creepy Mirror Scene that haunts me

have you ever wondered what happens when a mirror isn’t just a mirror? As a kid, I remember watching an unsettling TV mini-series: Alice in Wonderland (the mini series 1980s version). Like the original film, it had an eerie vibe—and this one too, felt undeniably dark. Now, after digging into the origins of Alice in Wonderland, I’m convinced the story is more than just a quirky fairytale. There’s something sinister woven through it—and maybe the films are more than just entertainment. But that’s a rabbit hole for another time.

but What’s stuck with me all these years, is one strange scene—burned into my memory—so odd that I’ve never been able to shake it.

It’s the scene where Alice is wandering through her house, calling out for her family—but no one hears her. The house feels familiar, but something is off. Then she hears her cat meowing—and the sound is coming from the mirror above the fireplace. She approaches the mirror and sees a reflection of her home, except inside the mirror, her cat is calmly lying on the rug. Confused, she turns around to check the rug behind her, but the cat isn’t there.

Suddenly, her parents come down the stairs and glance into the mirror—staring right at her. But no matter how loudly she screams or waves her arms, they can’t see her. Alice is trapped in a different realm, watching her family live life without her. She can see them… but they can’t see her…

That scene weirded me out as a kid—but now, as an adult, I can’t help but wonder: what inspired something so strange? Was it just creative fiction… or could there actually be something deeper going on with mirrors? so what happens when a mirror isn’t just a mirror?

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The Mysterious Spiritual History of Mirrors

I recently heard that during the Victorian era, as well as in ancient egypt, people would cover up all the mirrors in their homes whenever a loved one passed on. The belief was that the soul of the deceased could get trapped in the mirror if it wasn’t covered. Strange, right?

But it made me wonder: Why would that even be a thing? Where did that idea come from? Surely, it must have started with someone’s experience. And as I looked into it more, I realized this wasn’t an isolated belief.

Across ancient civilizations, mirrors have long been thought to hold spiritual power:

• Victorian mourners covered mirrors after a death—afraid the soul might get trapped inside.
• Ancient Greeks used mirrors to communicate with the dead (catoptromancy).
• Romans believed mirrors held a piece of your soul—breaking one meant 7 years of bad luck.
• Asian cultures placed mirrors by doors to scare away spirits—they feared their own reflection.
• Occultists still use mirrors for summoning, scrying, and astral projection.
• luciferians Don’t own mirrors because of its ties to the spiritual realm.
• holly wood has created many movies and television shows that portray mirrors as spiritual portals.
• folklore and stories like narcissus teach that self obsession (staring at your image too long) can be very dangerous.

Sure, it’s tempting to write all that off as superstition or the product of a creative mind. Honestly, I don’t buy that “the ancients were just overly spiritual” excuse. They were far more spiritually discerning than we give them credit for. Whether or not they understood optics and physics, they did understand the spiritual realm better than most of us do today.

And I definitely don’t believe all these Hollywood writers are just being wildly creative with their creepy mirror scenes. Let’s be real—they’re not coming up with new concepts. They’re recycling old ones.

so, what happens when so many unrelated cultures all say the same thing about mirrors being spiritually charged—maybe there’s something to it. maybe a mirror isn’t just a mirror anymore. It becomes something more—a window, a warning, a portal.

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Portals in the Bible? Actually… Yes.

While the Bible doesn’t talk about mirrors as “portals,” it does describe moments when the spiritual realm touches the physical: like what we would consider a portal.

• Jacob’s ladder (Genesis 28): A stairway to heaven appears while he sleeps—he calls it “the gate of heaven.”
• Ezekiel’s vision (Ezekiel 1): He sees glowing wheels, strange creatures, and a crystal-like expanse—like glass or metal, revealing another realm.
• The bronze laver (Exodus 38:8): Made from donated mirrors, it showed priests their reflection before entering God’s presence—a symbol of self-examination before entering the holy.

Paul even says:

“Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror… then we shall see face to face.”
—1 Corinthians 13:12

In other words, we’re only seeing part of the story now. There’s more. There’s always more.

so what does all this mean?

Mirrors in Scripture symbolize reflection, truth, and spiritual revelation. In 1 Corinthians 13:12, Paul writes, “Now we see through a glass, darkly,” showing that mirrors represent our limited earthly understanding of God’s glory—imperfect reflections of divine truth. James 1:23–25 also compares God’s Word to a mirror, revealing our true selves and calling us to act on what we see.

Over time, the enemy has perverted this symbolism. Rather than using mirrors for self-examination through God’s Word, they’ve become tools of vanity, illusion, and deception. Just as we saw earlier, In occult practices and folklore, mirrors are often viewed as gateways to the unseen—portals to spiritual realms—twisting their original purpose of reflection into access points for spiritual manipulation.

Where God intended mirrors to reveal truth and identity in Him, the enemy now uses them to distort identity, hide truth, and lure people into fascination with the supernatural—apart from him, our Creator. If you haven’t already, Check out my dream series, where I share my dream I had involving my reflection in a mirror—and what I believe the Holy Spirit revealed to me through it.

Not Every Mirror is a Portal—But…

Here’s what I believe:

1. Mirrors Have Potential

Not all mirrors are portals—but under the right spiritual conditions (trauma, intense focus, occult influence), they can become a gateway. Especially antique or secondhand ones with unknown histories.

2. Spiritual Portals Require Permission

Scripture warns:

“Do not give the devil a foothold.” —Ephesians 4:27

Portals don’t open by accident. They require agreement, access, or invitation. Whether it’s through occult practices or simply lingering too long in a spiritually vulnerable space, mirrors can become more than decorative glass.

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Final Thoughts

That mirror scene from Alice Through the Looking Glass might’ve seemed like innocent fiction—but I think it tapped into something very real. Mirrors have always had a strange pull in human history. Maybe it’s because, deep down, we know we’re not just looking at ourselves. Maybe we’re standing at the edge of something else entirely.

So Maybe mirrors aren’t portals. But then again… maybe they are.

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Catch me next wednesday for more weirdness. Remember Think strange? Stay sane. but Weigh it with the Word!

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