4

The Mirror Pool

"Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer." — Sun Tzu
Enemies are reflections you did not ask for but cannot ignore. They reveal the traits you wish to avoid, the choices that lead to harm, and the shadows you might otherwise embrace. The Mirror Pool invites you to look closely, not with anger, but with discernment, seeing clearly the ways you do not wish to walk.

Through their opposition, you learn by contrast. Enemies illuminate the paths to avoid, the behaviours that fracture, the attitudes that diminish. Their words, actions, and judgments become a living lesson, showing the pitfalls of pride, cruelty, or thoughtlessness. In their presence, clarity arises: what you are not is just as important as who you are becoming.

Do not waste energy in vengeance. Do not let their reflection harden you. Study it, understand it, and let it shape your character. By seeing yourself through the mirror they hold up, you are guided away from shadowed paths and toward the virtues you wish to embody.

The Mirror Pool teaches through contrast. What you observe in enemies is a map of avoidance, a guide to the self you aspire to be. By learning how not to be, you craft the contours of your own integrity and illuminate the path forward with wisdom born of reflection.