Chief Editor's Note: Mirror Mirror on the Wall…
Dear Reader,
It is once again time to welcome a new issue, and this time we turn our attention to the oncoming Halloween season. Indeed, the holiday is right around the corner already, and even though supermarkets seem to have skipped Halloween and moved straight to Christmas season (seriously, Christmas candies are already in shops – they arrived even before the Halloween ones – and many advent calendars have already been sold out, what’s up with that?), we would still like to not yet think about the end of the year, but celebrate the fun and spooky seasonal holiday. Afterall, even though the nights are getting colder, it is still autumn!
This time, our writers have been inspired by mirrors and reflections. Certainly, there is just something mysteriously fascinating about mirrors, don’t you think? Mirrors are objects that often serve as gateways to the supernatural or reflections of the soul and have definitely inspired many horror stories over the years. For example, vampires are not supposed to have a reflection since they don’t have a soul, and according to the legend, Bloody Mary’s spirit can be summoned through a mirror. Distorted reflections, too, are a recurring motif in horror stories. Another thing about mirrors is that they can function as portals to other dimensions or to the spiritual world. Mirrors thus do fit our halloween-y vibes, but are also associated with self-perception and identity, oftentimes reflecting one’s insecurities or self-doubts, too. Hiding from mirrors means hiding from yourself. On the other hand, mirrors can be a symbol of vanity as well: extensively staring at yourself in the mirror is considered vain, and you might turn into a narcissus if you stare too long (or an evil stepmother, I guess, if you start to ask for the mirror’s opinions). However you see mirrors, be they eerie portals to another world, windows to the soul, reflections of your inner world, or representations of vanity, they truly are objects of multiple meanings and powerful symbolism.
For this issue, Anthony is back with a beautiful and striking collection of poems. Valo brings us a story of a man who feels quite not as real as his reflection and the consequences of that. I, for my part, have written a poem from the perspective of one’s reflection. In addition to poems, we have two short stories: S.E. Hjelt and Robi have both written fascinating stories where mirrors reflect one’s identity and inner self. In Hjelt’s story, we get a glimpse of what the narrator sees in the mirror, whereas Robi’s narrator has come up with a way to hide from reflective surfaces altogether. And last but not least, Robi has also written about a different kind of reflection, namely, reflections on his exchange semester so far.
Happy reading!
