reflection

There are 3 posts tagged reflection (this is page 1 of 1).

Doppelgangers and Seeing Yourself Reflected in the Mirror

Hearing about doppelgangers (someone who looks like you, a twin stranger) is less creepy than it would have been long ago. There are so many more people on the planet now, it doesn’t seem so dramatic to see someone else who looks like you. I’ve been more creeped out looking at myself in the mirror. No wonder there are so many superstitions about mirrors, photographs and seeing your reflection in a window or a pool of water. Really seeing yourself is a bit weird.

It helps to be doing something and not focused on looking at yourself. We don’t really look at ourselves while using the mirror to put in eye drops, add cosmetics, or shave. It’s when you stop. There is that reflection, it moves when you move, it looks right back at you. Animals get very spooked by seeing themselves in mirrors. I don’t think that’s a coincidence.

Take a real look at yourself in a mirror, or some other reflection. Store windows are good because you can see more than just your face. Seeing your whole self is eerie when you stop and really think about it. At that point, alone, do you dare test some of the old superstitions? Repeating a name in front of a mirror, challenging a ghost, demon or something to appear. Trying to look just over your shoulder, or from the corner or your eye to catch something hidden or lurking there. Could that quiet mirror be some kind of portal to another realm, just waiting for the right person to step closer, reach out and touch it. Why rock that boat. Just check your face, quickly, and move along.

One Little Word

One Little Word – A single word can be a powerful thing. It can be the ripple in the pond that changes everything. It can be sharp and biting or rich and soft and slow. From my own personal experience, it can be a catalyst for enriching your life.

In 2006, I began a tradition of choosing one word for myself each January — a word that I can focus on, mediate on, and reflect upon as I go about my daily life. My words have included play, peace, vitality, nurture, and story. These words have each become a part of my life in one way or another. They’ve been imbedded into who I am, and into who I’m becoming. They’ve been what I’ve needed (and didn’t know I needed). They’ve helped me to breathe deeper, to see clearer, and to grow.

My word for 2011 is light.

It’s not so easy to pick your own word. I thought of so many but realized they are more a reflection of what family have told me I should be doing than how I really feel about what I am doing or want to accomplish myself. Your word should be a goal uniquely relevant to yourself. Don’t base it on what other people tell you or make you feel.

In the end I am choosing my word: plunge. I’m not going to explain the word, it’s something I understand – like a message in a bottle to myself.

Choosing your Word

Can you identify a single word that sums up what you want for yourself in 2011?
It can be something tangible or intangible. It could be a thought, or a feeling, or an emotion. It can be singular or plural. The key is to find something that has personal meaning for you. This is not your mother’s word or your spouse’s word or your child’s word – this is YOUR word.

One little word can have big meaning in your life if you allow yourself to be open to the possibilities. And here’s one thing that is totally interesting: sometimes a word will pop into your brain and it will not make any sense to you right now. Give it some time. Let it percolate a bit. I have often found that our hearts speak to us in very unique ways. Maybe this is a word you need to hear but just aren’t ready for it yet.

Again, be open to the possibilities.

Ali Edwards has turned One Little Word into a monthly workshop. Read more on this site.