Originally posted December 2013
Now that we have left the end-of-the-year excitement behind us, I’d like to share an experience from that seasonal whirlwind. First the energy influx on Dec. 12, then the arrival of the solstice with all its waves of hope and possibility, and then the turning of the year and the optimism inherent in fresh starts and new beginnings—all these made me quite aware of the changes in my life, my attitudes, my beliefs, my desires, etc. I knew and acknowledged that I was a different person (better, I hope—or at least a bit more evolved!) But one day in late December, I was inspired to honor my changed self in a new way when I was suddenly overcome with the need to smudge all the mirrors in my house.
As I was doing so, it made perfect sense. Why hadn’t I thought of this before?! Mirrors not only reflect their environment, but they also hold on to energy, the energy of all their old reflections. That’s why we must be especially careful about old mirrors that we bring into our homes; they may attract unwanted spirits of people whom the mirrors “saw” and reflected when those spirits were incarnate. Likewise, they contain the image of our old reflections. A mirror that sees you day after day accumulates layers of energetic expressions of you, all the “yous” you used to be plus the “you” you are now. When you look into such a mirror, you can’t see the current you absolutely clearly because of the fog of your past reflections. The amount of distortion depends on how much you have changed since the mirror was last cleanse.
You may want to smudge your mirrors regularly—perhaps at the new moon or on your birthday—or just when you feel that you’ve gone through significant changes. For certain, cleanse them if you are experiencing an identity crisis or if others don’t recognize that you are different and continue to treat you likea previous version of yourself. It’s a good idea (but not necessary) to start with a physical cleaning of your mirrors. Once that’s done, take your smudge of choice (I used white sage.), light it, and send the smoke toward the lower left corner or edge of the mirror. Trace the perimeter of the mirror—up, across to the right, down, and across to your starting point. Then reach toward the top of the mirror and zigzag the smoke downward. Look into the mirror, gauge its clarity, and repeat the zigzag if necessary. If you like the reflection looking back at you; if she seems confident and focused, you’ve successfully cleared that mirror.
This smudging process can also be used on other reflective surfaces like TV screens or window glass. Mirrors, however, seem to accumulate the most energetic memory. Try smudging the mirrors in your car, too, especially if they’ve seen accidents or scary traffic. Remember, you are created of luminous energy; your world should reflect your true light. Freshly smudged mirrors will help.
