The all powerful and ever present "they" are fond of saying that EVERYTHING and EVERYONE we encounter is a reflection of ourselves; mirrors. My experience, going back many years, has shown me otherwise. Sometimes a situation or person elicits a reaction from us shining a beacon on something within ourselves that could use some attention or work. And, sometimes, an observation of a situation or person is simply...an observation. How to tell the difference? If you are having an emotional reaction, versus a response, chances are that you are being shown something within yourself. If you are witnessing something and not reacting to it chances are you are simply making an observation. If you are unsure, do a quick grounding exercise and clarity will come your way.
Being aware of mirroring and the reflections shown to us can and should be a valuable tool. Unfortunately one person's tool can be another person's weapon. My first experience with this was about 8 years ago. I was doing energy work and massage therapy at a local metaphysical boutique. A life coach also worked out of the same space. She was just getting started and promoted herself as a relationship expert. Ironically, by her own admission, none of the relationships in her life were working; from her daughters and ex husband to her landlord and everyone in between. This brought a nervous and heavy energy into the space at times. After discussing it with others in the space I initiated a conversation with the owner. She said she saw the same things we did and was trying to figure out how to address it. A couple of weeks later the topic came up again between the owner and myself. This time there was a shift of some sort. Rather than agreeing that it needed to be addressed, as she did previously, she said that she used to judge the life coach because she was mirroring back characteristics that she did not like about herself. She then said that the life coach was showing me behavior in myself that I had not addressed. I sat there wondering what in 180 degree flip flop heck was happening. Through the haze of my confusion I managed to say, "No, I have never behaved that way or treated people like that in my life." Unaware of what had changed within the owner, one thing I knew for sure in that moment, was that mirroring was being used to deflect from the real issues and make me the bad guy. Being self aware I knew that I was correct when I said "no" to the idea of the life coach being a mirror to me. Being self aware also meant that I needed to take another look and see if there was a possibility that there was some truth to the owner's statement. Upon self reflection I arrived at the conclusion that The Universe was reflecting back to me a dynamic I needed to be aware of; a lesson learned.
I have since seen mirroring used to disarm, diminish the input, render a valid voice silent both within and outside of the spiritual community many times. When it is perpetrated by a person of leadership within the spiritual community it is most disconcerting as it is an abuse of power. Regardless the context, when it is aimed at me I face it head on, look the person in the eye, and call them on their actions. It's fun to watch them squirm!