Something I did not know until very recently was that the idea that vampires cannot see their reflections was not part of traditional folklore.
It was actually first mentioned in Bram Stoker’s famous 1897 novel “Dracula”, wherein the titular Count had no reflection in a mirror. Some digging revealed Stoker planned to go even further than that, with his original notes and outlines for the book saying:
===
“painters cannot paint him—their likenesses always like some one else”.
===
Likewise he would appear as a formless black mass or skeletal corpse when photographed (or as he wrote, “codak’d”, which I am guessing is a verb form of the brand name Kodak, kinda like how “to google” is used nowadays).
Lots of different lore reasons for why this happens.
Although one I find especially interesting is how mirrors provoke profound fear – on a level with blessed crucifixes – in some vampires.
Perhaps it’s the silver (old mirrors were made with pure silver due to its highly reflective qualities).
Or maybe it’s being confronted with the fact they are soulless, decrepit undead creatures who, despite their aristocratic titles, expensive clothing, and unfathomable wealth, are little more than blood sucking parasites, skulking in the shadows like vermin.
Where am I going with this?
Dodging the mirror is not the sole domain of the undead.
People who aren’t happy with the way they look do it as well, averting their eyes to avoid catching a glimpse of just how much they have let themselves go.
I’m not saying it’s a good thing to develop an obsession with your image so great it’d make narcissus himself blush.
But it is certainly not normal to fear or even dislike your reflection, having your photo taken, etc.
If that’s you, then you frankly owe it to yourself to do something about it.
In this regard, November’s monster-sized (52 vs the usual 20ish page) issue of The Phil Tyreman Letter will sort you out.
It contains Operation: Winnow, my latest fat mulching, heart-and-lung building training regime that, properly applied, will get you standing tall and proud again.
But…
If you want it, you must act very quickly because the deadline to subscribe in time to get the system is tonight at 23:59.
This is a real deadline. Once the angry red countdown timer on the checkout hits zero it will close and you will have missed out this time.
You will get another chance to purchase Operation: Winnow when I release it as a standalone book, but you will be paying many multiples of the meagre £20 I am asking for today.
Whatever the case.
The final decision is yours. For help making it, consult the audio and letter at the below URL:
https://philtyreman.co.uk/information/
Thank you,
Phil Tyreman