Hellebore #14: The Mirror Issue

Hellebore Zine #14

by Maria J. Pérez Cuervo, Helen Cornish, Katy Soar

Reflections, masks, portraits, shadows and photographs. In folklore, they are believed to contain part of our soul, and therefore to be invested with power. But this power they hold has also inspired some of our deepest fears: worlds hidden below the surface, trapped souls, shadowy beings stealing our likeness.

Long before we traced the first lines to represent a human figure, we learnt to recognise ourselves in our reflection on the water. Later, we fashioned mirrors from metal, then glass. The mirror became a powerful symbol associated with the unconscious and the unseen. In this issue, we peer into its depths to reveal portals to other realms; rituals from the past, the present, and the future; folk traditions for the shortest nights; stories of fetches, changelings, doppelgängers and vampires. When the glass dissipates into a bright silvery mist, we will face questions about truth and illusion, identity and transformation, essence and transcendence.

Genres: Nonfiction, Folklore, Horror

90 pages, Paperback

Published October 31, 2025

Reviews

[Flo Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit more of an obscure topic for Hellebore. My favourite article was "The vampire's lost reflection" but I also found "Lucifer in London" very interesting though I was not as familiar with it's subject matter

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read cover to cover on a cool, rainy morning with 2 cups of coffee.

[Holly Goskett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strongest issue to date- loved every single contribution and voice ✨