Mirror World

An example of a Mirror World.

For other uses of the word "world," see World.

A Mirror World is an alternate reality/timeline that has been woven by the Wheel.

These alternate worlds represent "Ifs". What might have been if a decision was made differently, a battle swung the other way, a winner became a loser. Theoretically the Mirror world is created at that junction of decision/outcome. This allows for infinite variation and so infinite Mirror Worlds. The more likely the alternate decision/outcome the more 'real' the Mirror world associated with it seems/is. Those Mirror Worlds closest to the true World (separated by only the difference in a minor decision) are populated by 'relfections' of the people in the True World.

The first Mirror World visited by Rand al'Thor.

Mirror worlds can be reached by a person who can channel through the use of Portal Stones. Time acts differently in Mirror Worlds: a day spent in one can find a traveler re-entering the True World a year later, conversely five years spent in a Mirror World may result in a traveler returning to the True World merely weeks after he left. Study of Mirror Worlds led to the creation of The Ways.

Tel'aran'rhiod is a mirror world which connects and reflects every one of the myriad worlds within the Pattern.

Known Mirror Worlds

• The "dead world" visited by Rand al'Thor, Hurin, Loial, and Lanfear from the primary world. In this world, Trollocs defeated Artur Hawkwing and wiped out humanity, only for the Shadowspawn to later destroy themselves. This was home to several strange creatures, such as the grolm.
• Worlds visited by the ancient Seanchan before the coming of Artur Hawkwing. The Seanchan brought many strange creatures from other worlds back to the primary world.
• Elayna's world - A parallel world which was largely similar to the primary world. A great hero of this world was Elayna, an Aes Sedai of the Brown Ajah and Keeper of the Chronicles. Around 850 NE, she foiled a plot by the Ishamael of her world and restored the fractured Seals on the Dark One's prison.