Are mirrors evil or dangerous?

[CinnamonFaerie]

I personally have never had any bad experiences with them. Then again, I tend to just use them to check my reflection since that's what they're for. As a kid, I loved to scare myself with the medicine cabinet doors so that you could see forever in either direction. To this day it creeps me out how that works. And during my freshman yr of high school, at a Christian school no less, our English/choir teacher insisted on taking all the girls into the bathroom to try Bloody Mary with the lights off to prove to us that it was real. Didn't do a thing for me. But other than catching shadows and such, I have never understood what was so bad about them.

But I was chatting with an acquaintance not terribly long ago who was going on about how mirrors are evil and she doesn't have any in her home (she was somehow able to get the reluctant apartment manager to come in and remove the bathroom mirrors and medicine cabinets, which doesn't add to her psycho personality at all :lol:) and that no one else should have any either since they are a tool of the devil (yes she is very religious and not rational at all about it). She said the reason she feels this way is that her daughter who is pagan, but she is willing to overlook that just for her, had a very bad experience where she was caught in a fire where everything burned except the mirrors that she blames on them of course. While I took everything she said with a grain of salt, I thought it was interesting and a bit creepy that a couple other people very randomly around that same time mentioned they believed mirrors to be evil, without me having mentioned the previous conversation at all.

[mtpathy]

I personally have never had any bad experiences with them. Then again, I tend to just use them to check my reflection since that's what they're for. As a kid, I loved to scare myself with the medicine cabinet doors so that you could see forever in either direction. To this day it creeps me out how that works. And during my freshman yr of high school, at a Christian school no less, our English/choir teacher insisted on taking all the girls into the bathroom to try Bloody Mary with the lights off to prove to us that it was real. Didn't do a thing for me. But other than catching shadows and such, I have never understood what was so bad about them.

But I was chatting with an acquaintance not terribly long ago who was going on about how mirrors are evil and she doesn't have any in her home (she was somehow able to get the reluctant apartment manager to come in and remove the bathroom mirrors and medicine cabinets, which doesn't add to her psycho personality at all :lol:) and that no one else should have any either since they are a tool of the devil (yes she is very religious and not rational at all about it). She said the reason she feels this way is that her daughter who is pagan, but she is willing to overlook that just for her, had a very bad experience where she was caught in a fire where everything burned except the mirrors that she blames on them of course. While I took everything she said with a grain of salt, I thought it was interesting and a bit creepy that a couple other people very randomly around that same time mentioned they believed mirrors to be evil, without me having mentioned the previous conversation at all.

not quite sure what your asking here, are you asking if i have a phobia of mirrors or if i believe that mirrors are portals to hell..
i regularly work with mirrors as a tool of posession, but the face that i see in the reflection doesnt mean that the mirrors evil.
its just a tool.

[CinnamonFaerie]

I'm curious as to why some people have such intense phobias of them and others believe they are portals to hell, as you put it. I'm not saying I necessarily they are. Are they just glass with a reflective element or is something else able to be involved with them?

[DracoJesi]

I'd have to agree with Mtpathy here....

it's just a mirroe unless it's been influenced....

as for the bad luck if you break one thing.... I don't think so....I've never had anything bad happen to me.... but I don't even know how that got started... so there might be more to that.

I remember trying that Bloody Mary thing when I was younger, like years ago, I don't remember how old I was... I dont even remember how it wrks... but nothing happened....

it's a religious thing isn't it, thats what I've heard and they were very religous, I didn't know it was at the time though... thought it was a pop culture movie thing xd

@mtpathy, possesion, how does that work... I never thought of them being usefull for anything scrying....fixing ones hair and trying to find the tv remote when it gets lost in the couch....(same concept as a side view-mirror)

[Solya]

Mirrors can be quite scary and dangerous, as with all things when they are not used correctly, but I have never seen them as "portals to hell" or anything of the sort. I do know that a small form of astral projection is possible through mirrors and that it can be quite interesting to try and contact somebody else you know through looking into a mirror.

I also recall attempting that Bloody Mary thing just to see what all the fuss was about, but I think any effect it could have had was destroyed by all the energetic wards I have put up around my own bedroom. I guess the fact that I didn't believe in it to begin with also would have diminished any effects it could've had on me, lol.

But yes, mirrors... they can be quite strange in use.

[mtpathy]

@mtpathy, possesion, how does that work... I never thought of them being usefull for anything scrying....fixing ones hair and trying to find the tv remote when it gets lost in the couch....(same concept as a side view-mirror)

i lean a full length mirror on its side against the wall, put a candle slightly in front of me as to cast a shadow within the hood i wear, and use the shadowed hood as a scrying surface, and the reflection of my body in the mirror as the "triangle of art" to hold the "'spirit" in its place.
use at own risk..

[DracoJesi]

I think I get what your saying... but the term hood as me for a loop... I don't think you mean a hoodie , right xd?

and I doubt I'll try it, nothing personal but as easy as it is for me to pic stuff up, possession might not be such a good idea xd...

[Philosophia]

IMO, a mirror is just a tool to use. Nothing more, nothing less. However, who or what uses it can be the problem. :)

[mtpathy]

yup its a simple throw over hoodie that ive made very minor changes to, to keep the hood "deep" as to shadow my face.

[lamoka]

if mirrors are evil by their very presence... OOOOOOOOOh! I am in trouble!!!!!
I LOVE my mirrors, every room has at least one that faces a window to reflect and bring more light into the room.. I love them in circle, oblong or wavy shaped, not so much pointed square shapes... I believe they are like any other mundane object.. it is what you make it.
aho

[Xentor]

Evil is a behavioural quality. A mirror is an inanimate object. Unless a demon possesses it, it cannot be evil.

As for being dangerous, the mileage varies. Some people I know cover their mirrors with big blankets, especially when opposite a window or door.

[Eternal Night]

But I was chatting with an acquaintance not terribly long ago who was going on about how mirrors are evil and she doesn't have any in her home.

I think maybe she had been watching The Ring or Supernatural a little too much.
Did she also mention never sleeping incase Freddy got her?

[Bettie]

My mirror is only dangerous if I look into it first thing in the morning, especially if I'm hungover. Then it causes me to sink into an unnatural depression, which can only be lifted by a large intake of chocolate.

:p

[CinnamonFaerie]

I think maybe she had been watching The Ring or Supernatural a little too much.
Did she also mention never sleeping incase Freddy got her?

:lol: No but that was the conclusion I came to. Like I said, I didn't take her seriously in the least. But I was curious because you also hear about mirrors traditionally being covered when someone dies for example. Does that have any significant meaning other than superstition?

[DracoJesi]

My mirror is only dangerous if I look into it first thing in the morning, especially if I'm hungover. Then it causes me to sink into an unnatural depression, which can only be lifted by a large intake of chocolate.

:p

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rollingla

oh my, that made my day :)

[Chaos Hawk]

I have never had a problem with them, but I do not like them. Or any reflective surface for that matter. They have always made me uncomfortable. But I'm just a bit odd.

[Liberty]

I was never really afraid of the mirror, even growing up with the bloody mary story. :) I have a full length one in my bedroom, always have, I can't stand not having a full length mirror because the bathroom one just doesn't cut it for me.

But I do get a little creeped out with mirrors occassionally, only at night when I'm alone in the dark and if I'm in an unfamiliar place/room.

Here's why:
It started after my aunt passed away. In my culture when someone dies the entire family, including extended families and their families and family friends come and stay at the deceases home (if they can all fit, if not they find somewhere else to stay) for a week, before the funeral. Anyway, during one of those days my grandmother was telling my mom and her sisters about something my uncle told her (my aunt's younger brother) while he was living with my aunt.
He was staying in one of her spare rooms at her old house, this one had a full lenth mirror, it's the kind you can tilt up and down. Anywho, he said that there was a blue haired woman that would come out of the the mirror and try to reach for him. He'd freak and wake up his gf next to him but she never saw the woman, she'd always be gone by then. I guess he thought maybe he was imagining it at first. But then he saw her on more than one occassional, frequently in fact.
The woman wasn't attached to that mirror because she'd show up in the bathroom mirror too while my uncle was going to the bathroom or showing. He got so scared that he'd have to have his gf with him while he's showering. lol...I laugh but if it were me I'd probably be scared too.
After a while he couldn't deal with it anymore and when he had the means he finally moved out on his own. Things were okay for a while but then the woman started showing up at his place too, always from a mirror. He told my grandma that the woman actually stepped out of the mirror and reached for him.
There was even an incident where he was driving home from another city and he looked up to the rear view mirror and there she was, next thing he knows she's in the seat next to him reaching for him and he swerves his car, almost getting into an accident.
I'm not sure if he still sees the woman but they eventually moved out of their apartment and bought a house.
I try avoid driving at night during long trips if I can because I'm almost always alone when I'm driving. My family has had a bad history with car accidents so I try to be extra careful.

I really don't know what to think of it. It can't be drugs or alcohol because my uncle doesn't do either, he only drinks socially and doesn't go out often. When he moved out my aunt would ask me to come stay the night with her on days her husband is out of town for work. She seemed very insistent that I come spend the night although she never mentioned anything about ever seeing a blue hair lady. I've even spent a few nights alone in that room, with the mirror, with the doors closed. I never saw or heard anything. Of course I always had the mirror facing the wall when I slept and had some sort of light on. It's funny because when I was sleeping over she said it was okay if I wanted to sleep on the couch and leave the TV on, not sure why she assumed I wouldn't wanna sleep in the spare room.

[David19]

IMO, a mirror is just a tool to use. Nothing more, nothing less. However, who or what uses it can be the problem. :)

I agree with you, mirrors are just like most other things, tools, it's who/what uses it that can cause problems, like you can use them to view events or people, or you can probably open a gateway to some hell dimension and let something come through, but it's not the mirror that's "evil".

Or if some demonic spirit or ghost possesses it, but then again, it's still not the mirrow, but the entity in it.

[Halstrom]

I haven't had that much trouble with my mirror lately. I only had to banish the devil from it, oh say about twice back when I studying Wicca. But I haven't had any trouble from the devil or my mirror being possessed in a while. :hahugh:

[firefairy86]

When I was a kid my friend had a scratch on her face and she said it was from Bloody Mary. I believed her and was totally freaked out by mirrors (only in the dark). I still have that childhood fear of mirrors even though I know it's irrational. I don't mind mirrors in the light, I just don't have one in my bedroom. And no, I don't think they are evil or anything.

[Shanti]

A mirror can be a tool.

Its up to the user of the tool as to how it will preform.
Just dont get lost in one. ;)

[IrishDancer]

I couldn't even sleep because of the story I read in here about the person's uncle seeing a blue haired lady. I've always been creeped out re: mirrors, but that story has me seriously spooked. I hope I forget about it :(

[Liberty]

I couldn't even sleep because of the story I read in here about the person's uncle seeing a blue haired lady. I've always been creeped out re: mirrors, but that story has me seriously spooked. I hope I forget about it :(

lol sorry about that.
Took me a while to get over it too but still creeps me out when I drive a night.

[IrishDancer]

Well, what creeps me out is that I think it's true! I mean, only because it has me so scared. Usually when I hear a story, even if it creeps me out, I can tell when it's not true and forget about it 99% of the time, even if I'm, at worst, creeped out for a night. I read your uncle's story DAYS ago and I'm STILL freaking out! I keep imagining him in his car :( arghh.

I know, it's stupid logic, "I'm scared so it must be true!" but that's what I figure, lol

[Infinite Grey]

I'm curious as to why some people have such intense phobias of them and others believe they are portals to hell, as you put it. I'm not saying I necessarily they are. Are they just glass with a reflective element or is something else able to be involved with them?

It's quite simple really; Mirrors force us to look at ourselves, and if you have repressed guilt or a strong sense of self loathing, mirrors would be pure torture. Also take into account people's habit of passing the blame... it's psychology, nothing supernatural about it.

[Chaos Hawk]

It's quite simple really; Mirrors force us to look at ourselves, and if you have repressed guilt or a strong sense of self loathing, mirrors would be pure torture. Also take into account people's habit of passing the blame... it's psychology, nothing supernatural about it.

I disagree.
I think that this is an overly simplistic generalisation. It'd be like saying all people who don't have problems with mirrors and vain and conceited. Working in mental health, I've seen many suicidal people, or people with severe guilt complexes and self hatred who stare endlessly into mirrors. I know plenty of people in my everyday life, who have extremely low self esteem and self worth, who are obsessed with how they look and are always looking in the mirror (or any reflective surface around).
On a personal note, I hate mirrors. I don't think their evil or supernatural. I hate cameras and pictures too. I'm not afflicted with repressed guilt or self loathing.

[Infinite Grey]

I disagree.
I think that this is an overly simplistic generalisation. It'd be like saying all people who don't have problems with mirrors and vain and conceited. Working in mental health, I've seen many suicidal people, or people with severe guilt complexes and self hatred who stare endlessly into mirrors. I know plenty of people in my everyday life, who have extremely low self esteem and self worth, who are obsessed with how they look and are always looking in the mirror (or any reflective surface around).
On a personal note, I hate mirrors. I don't think their evil or supernatural. I hate cameras and pictures too. I'm not afflicted with repressed guilt or self loathing.

-sigh- Naturally it was a generalization. I guess I should write out everything meticulously.

A possible cause for people's fear or negative attitude could be a poor self image, negative sense of self worth and guilt. Not all people that suffer from these conditions will manifest such behaviours, nor do all people that present such behaviours suffer from these conditions.

It is a fundamental function of a mirror to reflect images, in particular household mirrors are predominantly used to look at our own reflection. Often this forces us to look at ourselves and it often is a source of self assessment. In some cases that self assessment can result in a negative return, coupled with some people's inability to take responsibility for their own actions, the negative feelings can be projected towards the object that forces the self assessment.

[MonSno_LeeDra]

I can't say with any proof that it is true but the elderly Italian lady that started my training always covered them with a cloth for she said that when the spirit came to say goodbye it could be trapped in the mirror. Also that as the spirit left the body if it saw it's reflection it could become trapped as well. Of course a lot of that developed at the point when many families had the body in state in the home before the funeral.

I think some of it derived from the reflective concept of the mirror and the concept that one could be trapped in the mirror or in a painting for that matter. Sort of the Alice through the looking glass scenario where one could enter but maybe not leave.

I think part of it also developed under the concept that a mirror would reveal the true face of the spirit as if left the body. Occasionally you can still hear of holding a mirror to the face of a sleeping person and the reflection will be the true face of the individuals spirit.

Don't know if I would say they are evil or bad though. Dangerious? depends upon your cultural background, though if you have them above your bed and they fall down could be very dangerious.

My belief though is the very fact that things appear larger or closer in the mirror can humilate even the bravest of men. he he he he ok or inflat the ego

[Liberty]

I can't say with any proof that it is true but the elderly Italian lady that started my training always covered them with a cloth for she said that when the spirit came to say goodbye it could be trapped in the mirror. Also that as the spirit left the body if it saw it's reflection it could become trapped as well. Of course a lot of that developed at the point when many families had the body in state in the home before the funeral.

I think some of it derived from the reflective concept of the mirror and the concept that one could be trapped in the mirror or in a painting for that matter. Sort of the Alice through the looking glass scenario where one could enter but maybe not leave.

I think part of it also developed under the concept that a mirror would reveal the true face of the spirit as if left the body. Occasionally you can still hear of holding a mirror to the face of a sleeping person and the reflection will be the true face of the individuals spirit.

Don't know if I would say they are evil or bad though. Dangerious? depends upon your cultural background, though if you have them above your bed and they fall down could be very dangerious.

My belief though is the very fact that things appear larger or closer in the mirror can humilate even the bravest of men. he he he he ok or inflat the ego

:lol: @ the last part.
I knew someone who had mirrors glued to their ceiling, I had no idea why but as I got older I figured it out. :weirdsmil

[aluokaloo]

mirrors are just mirrors, though when I was younger I do recall seeing some sort of spirit that appeared to come out of one, although that was probably just a random incident. For the most part they are used as scrying, I've heard of them as portals for spirits to pass through but I can't say how accurate this is.

[David19]

It's quite simple really; Mirrors force us to look at ourselves, and if you have repressed guilt or a strong sense of self loathing, mirrors would be pure torture. Also take into account people's habit of passing the blame... it's psychology, nothing supernatural about it.

I'm not sure if I agree with that, I understand the point, but it's just some people can just look into a mirror and just see themselves, just a reflection. Like I have a problem with self-loathing, but mirrors aren't torture for me, they're neutral.

Also, I don't think guilty people will find it torture either, like I doubt Hitler was scared to look into the mirror.

Anyway just wanted to add that (actually, now that I think about it, I hope I've understood what you were saying, as I have a suspicion I didn't).

[Infinite Grey]

I'm not sure if I agree with that, I understand the point, but it's just some people can just look into a mirror and just see themselves, just a reflection. Like I have a problem with self-loathing, but mirrors aren't torture for me, they're neutral.

Also, I don't think guilty people will find it torture either, like I doubt Hitler was scared to look into the mirror.

Anyway just wanted to add that (actually, now that I think about it, I hope I've understood what you were saying, as I have a suspicion I didn't).

http://mysticwicks.com/showpost.php?p=3460275&postcount=27

[Glowy]

Quick note- my co worker is Puerto Rican, and her tradition is to cover ALL mirrors after someone dies.

I am of Polish descent on my mother's side and was taught to keep mirrors spotless- or bad luck .

maybe a cross cultural issue of superstion?

[Liberty]

I've never heard of anything in my culture in reference to mirrors but they've always kind of gave me the heebie jeebies growing up but only at night.

[Shosha]

I never tried the "bloody mary" or "mary worth" as it was called in my area back in the day...

However, very early in my training I was told to use a mirror to look into my own eyes and meditate....

The horrid, twisted and frightening things I saw my own face become scared the crap out of me.

Since then, I've seen .......things.... in them....

I do NOT look into anything more than a hand mirror to put on makeup...
a glance to brush my hair... I avert my eyes from most reflective surfaces and never never never will I look into a mirror in the dark or dim light.

This is not an easy thing to do since my husband and girls seem to LOVE mirrors. There's even one on the headboard of my bed... *shudder*

However...
this is MY experience. Other's have no trouble with Mirrors and that's wonderful.

I know that back when, people used to cover the mirrors in a house when someone died.
I never was totally clear on why.... I know it had something to do with making sure the soul of the departed didn't try to stay....

and no, I didn't know that until after my experience.

[Astara Seague]

IMO, a mirror is just a tool to use. Nothing more, nothing less. However, who or what uses it can be the problem. :)
perfect answer:thumbsup:

[Kailen]

perfect Answer:thumbsup:

+1

I've seen mirrors used as gateways by things before, so they can be dangerous as well as useful. Just as a knife can be useful for cutting vegetables, it might also take the end of your finger off...

[CzechWoods]

IMO, a mirror is just a tool to use. Nothing more, nothing less. However, who or what uses it can be the problem. :)

and because they are a tool, they should be treated as such.

a mirror in the wrong place can cause a lot of harm, simply by being there.

there is nothing evil about that, simply a matter of fact

stigmatation, or daemonisation will not help much though.

yet, the O.P.s indicates universe is giving ahint about a mal-use of mirrors.

i would reflect on, where mirrors are needed or not.

most are supperficial anyway

[bellamandu]

god, i just read through this entire thread and i am SO creeped out now. I dont think im going to bed tonite, so thanks guys you are stuck with me.

or maybe im just a pansie.. :lol:

[aluokaloo]

a mirror is dangerous only if you break it and have small children/pets in the house.

Or if your so conceited that you pine for yourself in front of the mirror for days on end. :lol:

seriously mirrors are only objects. it's all in what you use them for. never heard of them being a gateway to hell, or a tool of the devil. Mirrors are used for everything from applying make-up to divination.

Did the bloody mary thing too in like elementary school. I was so scared and expectant that I scared the crap outta myself! :lol: Though I did see a ghost pass through one once in high school.

[Circe3]

I had a dream where I was hiding and I was almost caught by whatever thing was following me. All of a sudden I see a mirror. I get closer to it but only see myself. For some reason I touch it and my hand goes through. My dream self is half thinking what the hell/this is so cool. I hear the things approaching and think oh what the hell, wont be worse than what they'll do and i go through it. They get inside the room I was and hough I can see them, they cant see me. So I look around and to my immense shock theres this whole other world there. To make a longer story short, I found out I had a brother who lived in this other world and helped me hide when they came there to look for me.

[Gypsyballad]

Parallel universe. Very cool! :thumbsup:

[Glowingsun]

Mirrors a portal to hell? Never heard of this and my family back ground is christian. But I have heard that in some religions, mirrors are covered when someone dies because their soul may confuse the mirror as a light or the light to heaven may be reflected in the mirror, causing the soul to go into the mirror and be trapped. (This to me, even sounds far fetched.)

There are people who do have very real phobias of mirrors. It's called eisoptrophobia. Don't feel bad if thats you. There are many many types of phobias and some are moreirrational than mirrors.

The movie Mirrors doesn't help either.

[CzechWoods]

the idea behind covering mirrors in the jwish religion after someone died, is that there should be no vanity in a mourners house. all beauty is gone

[Merilwen]

"Romans used mirrors to see reflections of themselves and considered them to be a real representation of the self and the soul. Whenever a mirror broke they believed that the self was actually harmed in the process. Another Roman belief was that life renews itself every seven years, so that this period of time was needed to recover and heal the “broken” parts of the self." http://cultural-anthropology.suite101.com/article.cfm/everyday_common_popular_superstitions

Superstitions about mirrors have been centuries in the making. Most of them predate the Renaissance when people still had very folklorish beliefs about the world around them.

[Glowy]

I can't say with any proof that it is true but the elderly Italian lady that started my training always covered them with a cloth for she said that when the spirit came to say goodbye it could be trapped in the mirror. Also that as the spirit left the body if it saw it's reflection it could become trapped as well. Of course a lot of that developed at the point when many families had the body in state in the home before the funeral.

I think some of it derived from the reflective concept of the mirror and the concept that one could be trapped in the mirror or in a painting for that matter. Sort of the Alice through the looking glass scenario where one could enter but maybe not leave.

I think part of it also developed under the concept that a mirror would reveal the true face of the spirit as if left the body. Occasionally you can still hear of holding a mirror to the face of a sleeping person and the reflection will be the true face of the individuals spirit.

Don't know if I would say they are evil or bad though. Dangerious? depends upon your cultural background, though if you have them above your bed and they fall down could be very dangerious.

My belief though is the very fact that things appear larger or closer in the mirror can humilate even the bravest of men. he he he he ok or inflat the ego


I have a large number of Puerto Rican friends.. this is very traditional, the covering of a mirror.. I remember hearing as a very young child * Irish, German, Polish roots- that you needed to keep your mirros very clean or " evil" what ever that may be... could " get in" Eh- I have dogs and huge nose prints on most of mine.. still I am creeped out that I will look in one and see something behind me that is not there when I turn lol

[Carri]

the idea behind covering mirrors in the jwish religion after someone died, is that there should be no vanity in a mourners house. all beauty is gone
I just came across that info yesterday!

And the story I've always heard on the 7 years bad luck was because it used to be that typically the wealthy were the ones to have mirrors and it was very likely that a servant would be the one to clean the mirror. So if that servant was to break the mirror it was likely to be 7 years of hardship and sacrifice to have enough money to replace the masters mirror.

Can't vouch for the validity of it though, but it makes sense to me.

[Aeryn]

Mirrors have always kinda creeped me out, but after some of the stories here they really creep me out! lol

Seriously, I only ever use one if I'm getting ready to go out, other than that I kinda ignore them. Heh, I never really even thought about it until I came across this thread.

[evergreen]

Mirrors have always kinda creeped me out, but after some of the stories here they really creep me out! lol

Seriously, I only ever use one if I'm getting ready to go out, other than that I kinda ignore them. Heh, I never really even thought about it until I came across this thread.

Same here!

Though, I'm not scared of my reflection, really. It's more that I've seen way to many horror movies and I'm always worrying that something will appear or move behind me.

[Corvis Canis Latrans]

as for the bad luck if you break one thing.... I don't think so....I've never had anything bad happen to me.... but I don't even know how that got started... so there might be more to that.


Probably because mirrors were originally so hard to make, at least a good quality one. You want to scare people into being careful (I envision some poor servant breaking a mirror and the master requiring him/her to pay for it, taking what, about 7 years to make up the cost of such a finely wrought object).

Just like it's bad luck to spill salt. At one time it was such a valuable commodity in food production (and maintaining its safety) that spilling it was in a sense bad luck for the waste given the need for it.

[brymble]

it's a religious thing isn't it, thats what I've heard and they were very religous, I didn't know it was at the time though... thought it was a pop culture movie thing xd


To the best of my knowledge there is no mention of mirrors being evil in any Christian literature about mirrors being "evil" although some interpretations of scripture by different Christian denominations may caution against excessive vanity and pride, and value modesty as a virtue. However, even the very austere Amish and similar faiths, to the best of my knowledge, do not fear mirrors as "evil" tools of the devil or portals to Hell.

It is more likely a pop culture movie thing applied to superstition and fear, using "religion" as justification. As far as I know, the fear of mirrors is not inherently religious, even though cultural folk traditions about them are plentiful.