We live in a time where we must capture a moment on camera, whether on a digital camera or on a phone, taking selfies with friends and family. Some people even say if it isn’t documented on camera it never happened. All in order, to look back on that memory and always have it. Freezing that perfect memory between your loved ones.
In many cultures, it is believed that if a picture is taken of you it does something to your soul. They make sure that their picture or even video is never taken of them for the safety of their souls. One of the most notable Native Americans, Crazy Horse, refused to be photographed and didn’t allow anyone to take photos at his own funeral.
In Mayan culture, their beliefs in accordance with Mountain Life believed that when praying to their Saints and Ancestors the individuals’ souls would travel to them. At birth, Mayans thought the soul is bound to the body and the only thing that could separate the soul from the body is death. Believing that there is an afterlife waiting for the soul after death indefinitely parts the soul from the body. So, if their picture is a taken, it may prevent parts of their soul from returning back to them. Unable to travel back and forth when praying to their Saints and Ancestors. Many Central American churches forbid the use of photography in their churches to prevent anyone from taking photos of others inside the church.
The belief in the power of a photo capturing something as sacred as one’s soul evolved throughout many different cultures. Revolving around the power of mirrors. In folklore, mirrors have the power to imprison/damage one’s soul or take a piece of it when shattered.
