During shiva, the seven-day ritual of mourning after a death, mirrors often are covered for two reasons: They eliminate any chance of distracting a mourner from concentrating on his deceased friend or family member (e.g., no temptation to check makeup or preen hair).
The Irish wake is a well-known funeral tradition where the family of the deceased covers all mirrors in the home. To hide the physical body from the soul, the family turns mirrors to face the wall. Some Irish superstitions say that if you look in a mirror long enough, you'll see a devil looking over your shoulder.
Someone has died, and stopping the clocks in the house of the deceased, silencing them, is an old tradition, similar to closing the blinds or curtains and covering the mirrors. The clock would be set going again after the funeral. Some people believe stopping the clock was to mark the exact time the loved one had died.
Precious for their material and their function, mirrors were used for Shinto rituals as well as personal use. In order to slow inevitable oxidation and avert marring the finish it was necessary to avoid touching the surface with bare hands and otherwise keep them wrapped up or covered when not in use.
Shiva is derived from the word sheva, which means seven, signifying the seven days of mourning. It is a time referred to as – “sitting shiva” and its primary purpose is to provide a time for spiritual and emotional healing, where mourners join together.
Many traditional Shiva restrictions include no wearing of new clothes, no shaving for men, no washing clothes, no bathing.
Here are examples of things not to say: “How are you?” (They're not so good.) “I know how you feel.” (No you don't. Each person feels a unique loss.)
Preventing Damage from Debris
Car side mirrors are vulnerable to debris such as dirt, dust, and other particles that can scratch or damage the surface. Some car owners use plastic bags to cover their side mirrors while parked to keep them clean and free of debris.
Because of this yielding quality, mirrors are used in feng shui for they can reflect without judgment or obscurations. They can expand your view as well as focus energies. Mirrors can invite energy into a space, especially near a window or front door.
In fact, in Japanese culture, people are taught not to maintain eye contact with others because too much eye contact is often considered disrespectful. For example, Japanese children are taught to look at others' necks because this way, the others' eyes still fall into their peripheral vision [28].
Opening the window after someone dies is a tradition that hasn't died out. All over the world many nurses and families abide by this practice. It is said the souls of ancestors gather at the time of death of a family member and, regardless, this aids the soul transitioning to the next world.
Historically, funerals had to take place after just a matter of days, because of decomposition. With today's preservation methods, families have a bit more time to prepare and get affairs in order. This helps families make arrangements, and to pick a day to hold the funeral.
It is a common practice to cover the legs as there is swelling in the feet and shoes don't fit. As part of funeral care, the body is dressed and preserved, with the prime focus on the face. Post embalming, bodies are often placed without shoes; hence covering the legs is the way to offer a dignified funeral.
It is customary that on the third day after cremation, the karta goes to the cremation service area and collects the ashes of the deceased. The karta would then see that the ashes were disposed of in a significant river. In India, many still travel to the Ganges River to scatter the ashes there.
What is Chautha Ritual? In Hindu tradition, Chautha ceremony usually takes place on the fourth day after the last rites. And also called the fourth. Families of the deceased perform this ritual in a place of worship, and there is a well-decorated picture of the deceased place.
When someone dies in their sleep, the on-call hospice nurse is notified who comes to the home to verify that they have died. The nurse will notify the physician and fill out the paperwork to obtain the death certificates. If you would like them to, they will also inform the mortuary and make those arrangements.
A mirror when reflects through a window can generate good amount of positive energy throughout your room.
Many Feng Shui experts believe that Feng Shui mirrors in the bedroom depletes energy and can cause sleeplessness. It also creates a certain restlessness in your bedroom that leads to disrupted sleep. The bouncing of reflection from the mirror aggravates your room's energy, thus making it feel more active and energetic.
A mirror facing the bed can create a sense of restlessness and cause a disturbance in the energy of the room. This can lead to a feeling of unease and discomfort, which can affect your sleep and overall well-being.
For a good health and peaceful sleep, mirrors should be avoided in bedrooms. According to Vastu, if there is a mirror in the bedroom then it should not face the bed. Mirrors should not face the entrance or the entry gate of the house, as they reflect the energy entering the house.
It was the sexual revolution in the 70's and people would use mirrors on the ceiling over the bed to aid in the visual stimulation during sex.
You don't have to wear black to a shiva house, but your attire should always be respectful. Keep your visit short—It's not how long you stay, but that you pay the visit.
Attending a funeral or making a shiva call does not replace attending a shiva in person. If you live in the same state, it is customary to attend the funeral, make a shiva call, and attend the shiva. This shows the family and your community that you are present in times of suffering.
There is no specific dress code. Dressing respectfully is a must though. This means women should be conservative and men should wear long pants. If Shiva is being held in an orthodox home, many women will be dressed in long skirts below the knee and long sleeve shirt.