What Is the Spiritual Meaning of Broken Glass?

Download Article

Explaining broken glass in religion, feng shui, and superstitions

Co-authored by Luke Smith, MFA Reviewed by Stina Garbis

Last Updated: November 25, 2024 Fact Checked

Download Article

Spiritual Meaning

|

Is breaking glass bad luck?

|

Meaning in Jewish Tradition

|

Biblical Meaning

|

Meaning in Feng Shui

|

Dream Meanings

|

Video

Breaking glass has great spiritual significance across many cultures, from Jewish wedding ceremonies to Pakistani superstitions. It can be an omen of good or bad luck, but is most often seen as a spiritual message to clear your mind and move forward. We’ll fill you in on the common meanings of broken glass, as well its meaning in the Bible, feng shui, your dreams, and other contexts.

Things You Should Know

Broken glass often symbolizes the loss of a relationship, grief over a recent death, or a need to put the past behind you and move forward.
During Jewish weddings, participants break glasses to remind themselves of the hardships of their ancestors as they celebrate the new couple.
In the Bible, broken glass may symbolize impurity or sin. In feng shui, broken glass often represents bad energies in a room.

Section 1 of 6:

Spiritual Meanings of Breaking Glass

Download Article

1
You feel loss or grief. When we grieve, we often feel like a glass that’s been shattered, so it’s no surprise that broken glass is often a sign of loss. You may be grieving the death of a loved one, or someone who’s no longer in your life for whatever reason. While it may be painful, that pain is natural, and the broken glass represents the necessary release of those intense and overwhelming emotions.
- What to do: Work through your grief by letting yourself feel those feelings. Keep a journal or a diary to record and externalize them. Then, talk to a close friend, family member, or even a therapist to help you make sense of those feelings.
2
A relationship is ending. If you witness glass breaking, it could mean that a close relationship is breaking down. It may be a romantic partner, a close friend, or a loving family member that you’ve drifted away from or even had a volatile argument with. Whatever the case, the bond is fraying, and now’s the time to choose: Either take steps to repair the relationship, or move on to the next.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- What to do: If you want to repair the relationship, apologize for your share of the damage. Say, “I’m sorry I did that. I was frustrated and hurt, but it wasn’t right. I hope we can make things better between us.”
- If you’d rather move on, start by meeting new people. Strike up conversation at coffee shops, work, or school. New friends may help old wounds heal.
Advertisement
3
You’re holding on to bad habits. Seeing shattered or cracked glass may be a sign that you’re holding on to habits that no longer serve you, and that you need to make an adjustment to move forward. Habits like overworking yourself or focusing on other people’s needs may have helped you in the past, but now it’s time to try something new in order to grow and protect your own well-being.
- What to do: Break bad habits by avoiding situations that enable those habits. For example, if you tend to eat sweets before bed, store those sweets somewhere far away from your bedroom so that you’re not tempted.
4
You’re losing your focus or determination. Glass often represents invisible barriers or hurdles that you’re not aware of.^{[2]
X
Research source} You may be feeling burned out or frustrated with your career or artistic projects. Seeing broken glass may be a sign that something is holding you back or that you’re losing your motivation, and that you need to shatter that invisible barrier in order to make progress.
- What to do: Stay motivated by focusing on your goal to remind yourself what you’re working toward. Then, don’t be afraid to take breaks whenever you need them—the work will still be there when you return.
5
Someone is speaking to you from the afterlife. Some say that breaking glass is a sign of spiritual activity somewhere nearby, or that someone is trying to communicate with you from the afterlife. The spirit may be attracted to your own energy, or may be trying to tell you to release negative energy.
- What to do: Cleanse your spirit by taking some time to yourself to clear your mind. Take a walk or a hike to connect with nature, or even just spend some time alone and in silence to quiet your mind.
6
You’re entering a new stage of your life. Glass objects are beautiful until they break, but even then they can be recycled or remade into something new. This cycle reminds us that life itself happens in phases, and just because one phase is ending doesn’t mean the next will be painful.^{[3]
X
Research source} You may be starting a new relationship, entering a new career, or even moving homes. This sign is here to tell you to embrace that change.
- What to do: Learn to accept change by focusing on the positives of your new situation. Look for new opportunities you may not have had before, or remind yourself that change is necessary to grow as a person.

Section 2 of 6:

Is breaking glass good or bad luck?

Download Article

Breaking glass is often seen as an omen of good luck. It’s true that some say broken mirrors are bad luck, but not all broken glass is a bad omen. Broken glass is often a sign of release or freedom, and likewise often signifies good things coming your way.^{[4]
X
Research source} In fact, in Pakistani tradition, a glass accidentally breaking in your house is a definite sign of your luck taking a turn for the better.^{[5]
X
Research source}
- What to do: While waiting for good luck, make your own good luck in the meantime by looking for ways to turn bad situations into positive ones. For example, if your favorite restaurant is closed, use the opportunity to try a new place—you just might find a new favorite!
- Note that you can’t make your own good luck by purposefully breaking a glass; it has to be an accident for the energy to be positive!

Section 3 of 6:

Breaking Glass in Jewish Tradition

Download Article

1
Breaking glass began as a way to sober up wedding attendees. Some accounts of Jewish tradition say that the breaking of the glass at the end of a Jewish wedding began long ago. They say that once, at a wedding, one rabbi observed another being a bit too cheerful and rowdy, so he smashed a glass to cut through the noise and sober up the attendees.^{[6]
X
Research source}
- Other accounts say the rabbi smashed the glass to stop a fellow rabbi’s laughter, afraid that the good spirits of the wedding would make demons jealous, inviting them to come and interfere.
2
The breaking of the glass recalls the destruction of the Temple. Nowadays, the original meaning has changed to commemorate the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 A.D., when the Romans claimed the city. It’s done to remind wedding-goers that, even during a joyous event, they shouldn’t forget all that their people have endured.^{[7]
X
Research source}
- The breaking of the glass also reminds wedding attendees and the married couple that the world itself is imperfect and broken, and to keep that in mind as they venture into this new chapter of their lives.

Section 4 of 6:

Broken Glass in the Bible

Download Article

Broken glass symbolizes impurity in the Bible. Revelation 21 describes a great city with streets like transparent glass. 1 Corinthians 13 uses the image of a mirror to describe the act of seeing the truth clearly. Throughout the Bible, glass is used in this way as a symbol of clarity and purity.^{[8]
X
Research source} Broken glass, then, might be seen as a symbol of the impure, or of sin.
- If you encounter broken glass, take care to avoid sin by keeping your mind on God.

Section 5 of 6:

Broken Glass in Feng Shui

Download Article

Broken glass is said to bring negative energy in feng shui. According to some feng shui experts, having a broken mirror in your home means 7 years of bad luck.^{[9]
X
Research source} A broken window, too, is bad news. It’s said that windows offer a clear perspective of the outside world, but a broken or foggy window obscures that view and invites negative energies.
- Broken objects in general are said to bring bad energies into your home, according to feng shui, and so remove them from you home as soon as possible to preserve the good energy.^{[10]
  X
  Research source}

Section 6 of 6:

Meaning of Broken Glass in Dreams

Download Article

1
Broken eyeglasses Having dreams of broken eyeglasses may mean you need a new perspective.^{[11]
X
Research source} In your waking life, you may view your world negatively or without enthusiasm, and that view is reflected in your dreams. You might be a pessimist, or things just aren’t going your way recently, but often all it takes is a shift in your outlook to get you back on track toward better things.
- What to do: Stay positive by making a list of 10 things you’re grateful for. Identifying your blessings is a great way to ward off negativity.
2
Broken mirror Seeing a broken mirror in a dream may mean you’re having trouble letting go of the past. The mirror reveals what’s behind you, but the view is cracked and distorted, signifying that it no longer serves you. This could be a sour relationship, a missed career opportunity, or just a personal disappointment. Whatever it is, it’s time to look away from the mirror and toward your future.
- What to do: Let go of the past by looking at your present and future. Ask yourself: Am I happy right now? What do I need to do to be happy? What steps can I take? Understand that the past is unchangeable, but your future is what you make it.
3
Broken windows or other glass Seeing a broken window or other shattered glass may mean you need to be more forthcoming or open to your emotions.^{[12]
X
Research source} The transparent glass represents your own transparency—how well you reveal your feelings. When you keep your negative emotions bottled up inside they risk overflowing, or worse, shattering the vessel. It’s time to wear your heart on your sleeve a bit.
- What to do: Express your negative emotions in a healthy way by explaining them to a trusted friend or family member. Or, write them down in a journal to externalize them, which can help vent your frustration or sadness.