Mirror Mirror On The Wall Are You A Realist After All?

The Harry Potter series, classified as juvenile fiction has ended up as an all age favorite. It’s got something for everybody from magic to epic battles, love plots and much more.

Before you proceed further,

You-Seriously? Another Harry potter reference??

Me-Please bear with me, I’m a Potterhead

J.K.Rowling has written the series in such a way that children will have no problem reading and adults can fully interpret the in-depth associations.

In the first part of the book, there is one of my favorite chapters called The Mirror of Erised (‘desire spelled backwards’).

Anyone who steps in front of this magical mirror will see the deepest desire of their heart reflecting back. It has a writing engraved on it which makes sense if you read it backwards, “Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi” translation “I show not your face but your heart’s desire”

When Dumbledore sees Harry sitting in front of the mirror again, he warns of its danger. Here’s the dialogue,

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“Can you think what the Mirror of Erised shows us all?” Harry shook his head.

“Let me explain. The happiest man on earth would be able to use the Mirror of Erised like a normal mirror, that is, he would look into it and see himself exactly as he is. Does that help.”

Harry thought. Then he said slowly, “It shows us what we want… whatever we want…”

“Yes and no,” said Dumbledore quietly.

“‘It shows us nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts. You, who have never known your family, see them standing around you. Ronald Weasley, who has always been overshadowed by his brothers, sees himself standing alone, the best of all of them. However, this mirror will give us neither knowledge nor truth. Men have wasted away before it, entranced by what they have seen, or been driven mad, not knowing if what it shows is real or even possible”

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The Mirror of Erised is an excellent metaphor that gives us the difference between living in real world vs a dream world.

• In the real world, you can look in the mirror, know yourself and deal with the issues that is bringing you down
• In the dream world, you can look in the mirror, be consumed by issues, fail to deal with them, and ignore reality to be happy

In a world where sayings like “Ignorance is bliss” are thrown around, it’s all about choice and not turning a blind eye to reality. Be it the real world or dream world, reality will find a way to affect you. You have the choice of doing something about it or letting it get the best of you.

You will always have many ways of changing your life. Each path you choose will have its fair share of problems, ones you cannot be ignorant if you need an upgrade in your life.

The path you choose for yourself isn’t going to be a cake walk, and at times you will wish you had gone the other way. But, if you want to achieve permanent happiness, you have to let go of temporary bliss and study how problems control you.

It does not do good to dwell on the dream world and forget to live.

So, I want you do one thing now. Stand in front of the mirror, take your time and look deeply. It won’t show your desires like the Mirror of Erised, but, through your eyes you can find out if you have chosen reality or dream.

Let’s use the summoning charm and ‘accio’ reality and use the disarming charm to ‘expelliarmus’ denial.

Featured image credits- ogerente