Previously: Summoning La Cegua.
Mirrors can serve a lot of different purposes in games of the Most Dangerous variety. Sure, they’ve obviously got reflective properties — but as this method for using a mirror as a window into another world shows, they can also make for effective portals.
I’ve seen this ritual in a few places, although I believe its first appearance on the internet was over at the r/ThreeKings subreddit under the name “Peekaboo” in 2012. There, Redditor u/brillyx noted that they had heard it from their friend, who they described as someone who often “reads books on dark magic and rituals”; I haven’t been able to determine whether that’s actually true or whether it’s a bit of fiction intended to give the ritual some extra oomph, though, so do with that what you will.
[Like what you read? Check out Dangerous Games To Play In The Dark, available from Chronicle Books now!]
In many ways, this one reminds me of the Elevator Game or Closet To Another World — although I think it might be a little less dangerous than either of those other games. Here, you’re not attempting to actually travel to the Otherworld; you’re just making a window so you can peek into it a bit.
Then again, maybe it’s not that much safer. Windows go both ways, after all.
As always, play at your own risk.
Players:
- One principal.
Requirements:
- A mirror. The mirror should be capable of standing up on its own without you holding it. See: Additional Notes.
- A table. See: Additional Notes.
- A chair (optional).
- Two candles.
- Matches or a lighter.
- A time-keeping device with an alarm.
- Salt (optional).
- A sheet or large piece of cloth (optional, but highly recommended. See: In The Event Of An Emergency).
- A dark, quiet room.
Instructions:
The Prelude:
- Begin at night.
- Go to your dark, quiet room. Bring your supplies.
- If there are windows, draw the curtains.
- Position the mirror so that it is standing upright near or on the center of the table. This will be your “window.” If the mirror has a stand, place it in the middle of the table; if the mirror is hanging on the wall, place the table so that it is directly below the mirror; if the mirror is part of a vanity table, the setup is already complete and there is no need to do anything else.
- If you are using a chair, place it in front of the table and mirror.
- Place the candles on the tabletop on either side of the mirror.
- Place the matches or lighter within easy reach.
- If you have chosen to include the salt and/or sheet, place them within easy reach.
- If the lights are on, turn them off.
- Leave the room.
- Set your alarm for 3:30am.
- Fill the time until 3:30am however you wish, but do not fail to obey the alarm when it rings.
The Main Event:
- When your alarm goes off, return to your dark, quiet room as quickly as possible. You have three minutes.
- If you have chosen to include the salt, take up a handful of it now. Do not let go of this handful of salt unless it becomes necessary to do so (see: Closing The Window). You have two minutes.
- Set your alarm again for 3:53 a.m. You have one minute.
- It is time. At 3:33am exactly, light the candles using the matches or lighter.
- NOTE: If you do not complete Steps 1 through 4 of The Main Event before 3:34, do not proceed. You may try again another day.
- If you are using a chair, you may sit. If you are not, remain standing.
- Close your eyes. DO NOT open them again until instructed to do so.
- Lean in.
- Closer.
- Closer still. Lean in until your face is almost — but not quite — touching the mirror “window.” Do NOT touch the surface of the mirror.
- Keep your eyes shut, and let your mind… go.
- Look around. (Do not open your eyes.)
- What do you see? (Your eyes should still be closed.)
- Enjoy the sights — or don’t. But whatever you do, do it carefully. (Keep your eyes closed.)
- When your alarm goes off, it is time to close the “window.”
Closing The Window:
- To close the “window”:
- Keep your eyes shut and back as far away from the table and mirror as you can. Then, and only then, open your eyes.
- OR: Keep your eyes shut, back away from the table and mirror, and turn on the lights. Then, and only then, open your eyes.
- OR: Keep your eyes shut and back away from the table and mirror. The moment you open your eyes, throw your handful of salt at the mirror.
- When the “window” has been closed, extinguish the candles.
- Be careful using this mirror in the future.
Additional Notes:
Concerning the mirror:
- The only requirement is that it be able to stand upright on its own. If the mirror has a stand, that is acceptable. If the mirror hangs on the wall, that is acceptable. If the mirror is attached to a vanity, that is acceptable. A bathroom mirror may also be acceptable; however, it is NOT recommended that you use a bathroom mirror if it is permanently affixed to the wall. (See: In The Event Of An Emergency.)
- Do not use a hand mirror.
Concerning the table:
- The “table” need not necessarily be an actual table. If the mirror is attached to a vanity, the vanity’s surface functions adequately as a table. If the mirror is a bathroom mirror, the countertop beneath it functions adequately as a table. Regardless as to what specifically you choose to use as a “table,” however, it should be sturdy enough to hold two lit candles without fear of creating a fire hazard.
Concerning the dark, quiet room:
- It is not recommended that you use your bedroom.
Concerning Emergencies:
Touching the surface of the mirror at any point in The Main Event or Closing The Window constitutes an emergency.
Opening your eyes in any capacity and at any point prior to the instructions detailed in Closing The Window constitutes an emergency.
Continuing to look into the “window” past the second alarm — that is, for longer than 20 minutes — constitutes an emergency.
Opening your eyes at the correct moment during Closing The Window and seeing something in the mirror that should not be there constitutes an emergency.
In The Event Of An Emergency:
Should an emergency occur, cover the mirror with the sheet immediately, remove it from the premises, and destroy it as completely as possible. Do not allow any piece of the mirror to return to your home.
Windows can very easily become doors, you know.
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[Photo via Matt Artz/Unsplash]
What happen if the mirror is accidentally broken when I’m in the other world?
Good point
Hello! I need help!
My friend did the Peek-a-boo game a few nights ago and something is wrong. She has been pretty sure a spirit has been with her and then last night she was in bed looking through her phone and at 1:20 am she glanced around her room and saw a shadowy/dark figure in the corner of her room. She put salt around her bed and hid under her covers because she felt a “shiver zip down her spine”
This is how she messed up. She was in front of the mirror with her eyes closed and her alarm went off and startled her. She opened her eyes without backing away and turning on the light first, and she also noticed one of her candles were out. She did this in her bathroom mirror so she couldn’t destroy it.
She says right now the shadowy thing isn’t trying to harm her and that it just stands there but I am concerned that it could develop into something worse for her and that she could get hurt. What should she do? Is there anything I can do as her friend to help?
Please answer ASAP!
Maybe you could help to cleanse her home and/or herself, Ex. Get her baptized. Advise her to get a container of salt and then when she sees the creature throw salt at it. (The last one might just piss the spirit off though.)
If I will do it, (But of course NOT) what does Lucia mean by “If you see something that is not supposed to be there?” What would be there…?
What do you think would happen if we used a hand held mirror? Is it just that it’s too small? Is it that it can’t stand on it’s own? Will something really bad happen? Also if we touch the mirror, I know it said it counts as an emergency occurring, but why exactly? What happens if you touch the mirror or open your eyes?
Maybe you get sucked into that world and never return.
maybe whatever is in the mirror could get out and possibly haunt you or your home. That’s my guess. i could be wrong though…
I’ve played this game and it worked, but I just saw an extremely distorted world. I still destroyed the mirror afterwards anyway, but other than that it went as planned!
Is this an individual game, and if it is, can a friend or someone be there just to supervise or for moral support?
Lucia, another amazing post as usual! Keep up the amazing work! I can’t wait to try some of these…
Amazing as always.
If I accidentally break the mirror during the ritual, what should I do?
I think this accounts for an emergency. You should initiate one of the closing methods and then dispose of the mirror and all of its pieces. It could also account for failure; the ritual has been abruptly aborted and there’s no point in continuing. I’m really not sure though, but I would consider all things bad to possibly happen if the mirror breaks at any point during the ritual.
Even if you successfully complete the ritual is it advisable to destroy the mirror and dispose of the shards?
It wouldn’t hurt. Personally, I always think it is good practice to rid the premesis of all items used in black rituals.
What happen if i let the “window” become a door? Is it bad for me?
(The last warning)
Of course. One day you may encounter that thing and you get sucked into another world, with absolutely no way out.
could you both turn on the lights, /and/ open your eyes and throw the salt at the same time? or would that not be recommended? what if most or all of the salt misses the mirror? also, what if you stop looking through the window before the second alarm? would that be safer, or less safe? or would it not matter at all?
1. I don’t see any harm in taking extra steps to ensure your safety. But to stay on the safe side, I would just choose one of the closing methods and stick with it.
2. It says to throw the salt AT the mirror, not on it. I think as long as the salt is near the mirror, it counts as a barrier to prevent whatever’s in the “window” from getting outside of it.
3. I don’t think it matters. So long as you don’t prolong your view of the window past the 20 minute threshold, you should be fine.
This is one of the best games yet. Love it!
Purple Girl The Horror Fan, I have seen your comments on other websites like this one, like the scary for kids paranormal games. I also love to read about these kinds of games and other creepy stories 😀
ParanormalHappens Hi there! So we both share a common interest! Good to know.
He’s been following you.
Which option of closing the window is the most recommended? Also, what would happen if you used to same mirror to play another dangerous game? For example, you reused the mirror in this game for the dark reflection ritual?
Probably best not to use it in any other ritual, seeing that the this “door” you’ve opened into the Unknown is now familiar to its residence, what is to say that they won’t decide to trod through once you open it again? Especially with a game like “Dark Reflection” when you have to specifically break the mirror?
About the last step though, do you mean it becomes a portal?
Sadly, yes.
I love these ♡♡ keep it up :)))
Amazing, as usual. Do you think you could do something on the game Kagome Kagome? I was reading a little about it a couple of days ago, and even the history is really cool. It would make an awesome post! Thank you so much for continuing to post and keep up the awesome games!! (They’re my favourite XD)
Thanks! So glad you liked it!
I’m not really sure I would classify the game Kagome, Kagome itself as a Most Dangerous Game — it mostly reads as a standard children’s game to me, kind of along the lines of “Pop Goes The Weasel” or what have you — but we did cover the creepypasta titled “Kagome, Kagome” way back in 2014. You can find that post here: https://theghostinmymachine.com/2014/03/03/creepypasta-of-the-week-kagome-kagome/
Hope this helps!
What if you know what world you want to look into? How would you go about doing so?