The Wildwood Tarot deck presents a unique reimagining of traditional Tarot archetypes within a framework inspired by Celtic and Druidic traditions, the Wheel of the Year, and shamanic symbolism. Within this system, the card known as The Mirror holds the position of the twelfth Major Arcana, corresponding to The Hanged Man in standard decks like the Rider-Waite. This card serves as a profound symbol for introspection, the subconscious mind, and the necessary periods of rest and healing required before facing the external world. It invites the querent to look inward, to acknowledge the "dark side" of their nature, and to understand that true insight often arises from surrendering conscious control and embracing the wisdom found in dreams and meditation. The imagery of The Mirror—depicting a half-serpent, half-woman figure emerging from dark waters with a golden mirror and a glass ball—speaks to the ancient mysteries of feminine wisdom, the archetype of the Lady of the Lake, and the journey into the soul's depths to retrieve the treasure of hidden knowledge.
The Wildwood Tarot Context and The Mirror’s Position
The Wildwood Tarot is distinct from standard Tarot decks because it is structured around the eight festivals of the Wheel of the Year. This calendrical structure grounds the spiritual symbolism in the cycles of nature. Card number 12, The Mirror, is specifically located at the autumn equinox (September 21). This timing is significant, marking a moment of balance between light and dark and the transition into the darker, introspective half of the year.
In the imagery associated with The Mirror, this transition is represented by a journey across water. The card depicts a dark sea at midnight, which is said to take the soul on a journey to a mysterious island of healing. A small wooden boat is visible, carrying a sleeping soul waiting for this passage. This visual narrative aligns with the season's energy: a time to withdraw from the active, outward-focused energy of summer and prepare for the internal reflection of winter.
The element of water dominates this card. Water represents the emotional body, the unconscious, and the fluid flow of life. By placing The Mirror at the autumn equinox with a water element, the deck emphasizes that this is a time for emotional processing and navigating the depths of the psyche. The presence of a stork at the water’s edge adds another layer of symbolism; legends suggest that giant storks or cranes guard the gate to the magical kingdom, acting as sentinels who alert or prevent uninvited guests from entering. This implies that the insights offered by The Mirror are not for everyone; they require a specific level of readiness and respect for the sacred nature of the inner journey.
Symbolism and Imagery of The Mirror
The imagery of The Mirror is dense with mythological and psychological symbolism. The central figure is described as a creature of darkness, half-serpent and half-woman, emerging from the bottom of the water. This hybrid form evokes various mythological associations, such as sirens, mermaids, the lamia, or Medusa. However, within the context of the Wildwood Tarot and broader archetypal psychology, this figure represents the primeval Goddess figure—a figure that is both nourishing and threatening, protective and dangerous, abundant and destructive. This duality is essential for understanding The Mirror; it suggests that the healing and wisdom available through this card involve acknowledging the full spectrum of existence, including its darker, more challenging aspects.
The figure holds a golden mirror on her chest. The mirror is the primary tool of this card, symbolizing reflection, truth, and the revelation of the self. It asks the querent to look at their reflection and see what is truly there, stripping away illusions. In her left hand, she lifts a glass ball, described as a tangible celestial body symbolizing the treasure of knowledge held by the woman of darkness. This glass ball represents the "crane bag" that keeps secrets or the source of inspiration found in the legend of Ceridwen. It is the prize of the quest: the burning flame of understanding and enlightenment that illuminates the dark holy land of the psyche.
The boat on the water contains a "pure creature – a sleeping soul." This represents the part of the querent that is ready for the journey but is currently in a state of dormancy or waiting. It suggests that the potential for healing and insight exists within, but it requires the journey across the waters of the unconscious to awaken.
The Archetypal Connection: The Hanged Man and The Mirror
In traditional Tarot, the twelfth Major Arcana is The Hanged Man. This card usually depicts a figure suspended upside down by one foot from a living tree, specifically the Great Oak. The Hanged Man represents a voluntary suspension of activity, a change in perspective, and the sacrifice of immediate desires for higher wisdom. The Wildwood Tarot preserves this core meaning through The Mirror.
The text explicitly states: "The traditional Tarot card of The Mirror is The Hanged Man, who chose to view the world from different perspectives by hanging upside down on the trunk of the Great Oak. Inheriting that meaning, the reflection of The Mirror is a stepping stone to bring a dizzy change from one state to another."
The connection is made through the act of seeing differently. The Hanged Man sees the world from an inverted perspective; The Mirror allows the creature to recognize the nature of everything by looking into the mirror. Both cards represent a suspension of the ego and the ordinary mode of operation to allow a deeper, more spiritual reality to emerge.
However, The Mirror introduces specific nuances. While The Hanged Man is often about the act of suspension and the perspective gained, The Mirror emphasizes the process of the inner journey, the retrieval of knowledge, and the healing of the soul. It frames this suspension not just as a sacrifice, but as a necessary nursing journey.
Interpretive Guidance: Keywords and Meanings
When interpreting The Mirror in a reading, several keywords and themes emerge from the source material. These provide a framework for understanding the card’s message for the querent.
Core Keywords: * Patience: The journey to the island of healing cannot be rushed. * Independence: The querent must undertake this journey alone; it is an internal process. * Trust: Essential for navigating the dark waters and surrendering to the insights that arise. * Rest and Healing: A recognition that now is not the time for action, but for recovery. * Reflection: The need to look inward and face the "dark side" of one's nature.
Thematic Extensions: * The Inner Journey: A descent into the unconscious to retrieve wisdom. * Animism: Connection to the spirit within nature and all things. * The Lady of the Lake / Morgan: The figure of the healer and teacher (Morgan le Fay) who guides the hero (Arthur) into the underworld (Avalon). * The Fisher King / The Wounded King: Acknowledging one's own wounds and the "bruised, wounded soul." * The Long, Dark Night of the Soul: A period of spiritual dryness or crisis that precedes renewal. * The Woman of Darkness: The holder of ancient knowledge and the initiator of quests. * Selkie and Mermaid: Shapeshifting figures that represent the fluid boundary between different states of being (conscious/unconscious, land/sea).
The Guideline of The Mirror: A Call for Surrender
The Mirror offers specific guidance that differs from more active Tarot cards. It explicitly states that "renunciation of consciousness is necessary." This means that the logical, planning, and controlling aspects of the mind must be set aside. Insight, according to this card, comes primarily from dreams and meditation.
The guideline advises: "Now is not the time to force yourself to go ahead as planned to satisfy your longing." This is a crucial distinction. In a world that values productivity and forward momentum, The Mirror acts as a brake. It warns against forcing outcomes or pushing through obstacles using sheer willpower. Instead, it suggests that the querent has heard a "deep voice in the soul" and has realized a woundedness that requires attention.
The card encourages the querent to "rest and be healed." It frames this rest not as laziness, but as an active process of "nursing." The text describes it as a time to "awaken life in you, and fill up the energy for you." Only after this internal restoration can the individual be "ready to face challenges and the world out there."
The Shadow Side and The Need for Change
While The Mirror is a card of healing, it is not purely "light." As noted in the source data, "The card isn’t overly light... what with the body in the boat, night scene e.t.c." It is a card that highlights the "dark side of their being/nature." This darkness is not necessarily evil; rather, it represents the unknown, the repressed, and the subconscious elements that drive behavior.
By bringing these elements into the light of the mirror, the card highlights "things that can and need to be changed." It is a card of "great interest" because it offers the opportunity to address deep-seated issues that are often ignored. The journey into the dark sea is a confrontation with the self. The glass ball (knowledge) is retrieved from this darkness. The healing of the "wounded soul" is the goal.
This process is contrasted with the journey of The Hooded Man (another card in the Wildwood deck), who makes a "conscious decision to enjoy the universe." The Mirror’s journey is different; it is a descent that happens because it is necessary, driven by the realization of injury and the need for restoration.
The Feminine Archetype and Ancient Legends
The figure of The Mirror is deeply tied to ancient feminine archetypes. The description mentions Robert Graves’s The White Goddess, which posits a primeval Goddess figure that prefigures later mythological goddesses. This figure is complex: she is both the nourishing mother and the dangerous destroyer. The Mirror embodies this duality.
In Arthurian legend, the card represents Morgan (Morgan le Fay), who is often depicted as a powerful enchantress and healer who brings King Arthur to the Isle of Avalon for healing. This connects The Mirror to the concept of the "Lady of the Lake," a primitive image of the water goddess who holds and defends the Excalibur sword and acts as an appraiser of the King's actions. This archetype suggests that the wisdom found in The Mirror is authoritative and judgmental in a spiritual sense—it assesses the state of the soul and offers the sword of truth or the balm of healing depending on what is needed.
The "trio of goddesses of fate" and the "Goddess of sex and healing" are also listed as extensions of the card's meaning. This broadens the scope to include the forces that shape destiny (the Norns or Moirai) and the regenerative power of life force energy. The Mirror suggests that the querent is tapping into these ancient, primal forces of creation and destiny.
Practical Application of The Mirror’s Wisdom
For the individual seeking guidance, The Mirror suggests a specific set of actions and attitudes, all centered around internal work.
- Withdrawal: The querent is encouraged to step back from the external world. The boat on the water suggests a removal from the solid ground of everyday life. This might manifest as taking a break from work, social obligations, or even active problem-solving.
- Meditation and Dream Work: Since insight comes from these realms, the individual should prioritize sleep hygiene, keep a dream journal, and engage in regular meditation. The "glass ball" is often associated with scrying and looking into the unknown; similarly, looking into the darkness of the closed eyes during meditation is the practice here.
- Acceptance of the "Dark Night": Recognizing that a period of feeling lost, wounded, or in the dark is a valid and necessary part of the spiritual cycle. Instead of fighting it, the querent is asked to "be patient" and let the "nursing journey begin."
- Trusting the Process: The stork at the water's edge reminds us that the gatekeepers are there. Trust is required to pass them. The querent must trust that the unconscious will yield its treasures if they approach with respect and patience.
The ultimate outcome of heeding The Mirror is a filling up of energy. It is a preparation. The card does not promise immediate success in the external world, but it promises the restoration of inner resources necessary to eventually face those challenges. It is the sharpening of the tool (the self) before using it.
Conclusion
The Mirror, as the twelfth Major Arcana in the Wildwood Tarot, is a powerful archetype of introspection, healing, and the retrieval of subconscious wisdom. Located at the autumn equinox, it guides the querent across the waters of the unconscious to the island of healing. Through its imagery of the half-serpent, half-woman figure, the golden mirror, and the glass ball of knowledge, it speaks of the necessity to confront the darker aspects of the self and the "wounded soul." It calls for a renunciation of conscious control, urging patience, trust, and a reliance on dreams and meditation for insight. Unlike cards that promote immediate action, The Mirror advocates for a period of rest and nursing, allowing the individual to fill up their energy reserves. By embracing the guidance of The Mirror, the querent acknowledges the ancient feminine wisdom of the Lady of the Lake and Morgan, understanding that true power and readiness to face the world come from a deep, internal journey of reflection and restoration.