MAGIC MIRROR

Nine Practices to be a Better Leader, Colleague, Educator, Neighbor, Friend, and More

Change your view, and see what’s true.

One seemingly ordinary day, Mira stumbles upon an online ad for “Magic Mirror: One look makes you a better person.” Skeptical but intrigued, she finds herself at a hidden sanctuary where the mystical mirror promises self-discovery beyond her wildest imagination. But the journey is anything but easy. Guided by Elara, Mira must face the most challenging journey of all—confronting the truths hidden within herself. This fantastical journey into the depths of personhood, perception, and power will change Mira—and the reader—forever.

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Available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook.

Apple Books Audiobook

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About the Book

What if the way we see ourselves and others isn’t the full picture? Magic Mirror is a powerful modern fable that explores identity, bias, and perception—encouraging readers to question their assumptions and see the world through a new lens.

Who is Magic Mirror for?Magi

What Readers will Learn:

With the 𝑴𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒄 𝑴𝒊𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 you can take your learning further with guided reflections and exercises designed to help you apply these lessons in your life and work.

Take the Course

Launching in the Spring of 2025, this semi-asynchronous course will guide you through the core concepts of The Magic Mirror, including the Positionality Prism and the nine essential skills and practices focused on personhood, perception, and power. Together with a community of learners, you’ll deepen your understanding of how to navigate biases, build self-awareness, and create lasting impact in your life and work.

This course is more than learning—it’s a space for those who believe in social justice and are ready to do the work, even in challenging times. Join us to grow, reflect, and stay inspired in a supportive environment that renews your commitment to equity and action.

Sign up below to join the course interest list and be the first to hear when course details are available.

Plan an Event

Bring the magic of Magic Mirror to your community or organization by hosting a reading group, book club, or team-wide discussion. Use the built-in discussion guide at the back of the book or download the companion workbook for deeper reflections and conversations that spark growth and connection.

Looking to take the experience even further? Consider inviting Dr. Meagan Pollock to deliver a keynote, seminar, or workshop tailored to the topics in Magic Mirror. Whether exploring the Positionality Prism, building skills around personhood, perception, and power, or creating meaningful action plans, these interactive events are designed to inspire and empower participants to make lasting change.

Meagan is also available for book reading and signing events. 

Ready to plan? Let’s make it happen. Contact Meagan to learn more and start the conversation.

Sample Discussion Guides

There is a discussion guide in the appendix of Magic Mirror, and you may choose to create your own guide from the detailed prompts and activities within the Workbook. Here are some outlines to get you started, or download the guide from the book.

Download the Reflection and Discussion Guide from the Appendix

When you download this resource, you agree to be added to our mailing list. We send about one email with resources and strategies every week. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Focus: Cultivating Inclusive Learning Environments

Objective: Reflect on how positionality impacts teaching, student engagement, and institutional equity. Identify actionable strategies to foster inclusivity.

Agenda:

  1. Introduction (5 minutes)

    • Brief overview of positionality and its importance in education.

    • Set expectations for open dialogue.

  2. Discussion on Personhood (15 minutes)

    • Prompt: “How do your personal identities influence your teaching practices?”

    • Exercise: Create a Social Identity Map.

    • Reflection: Share one way your positionality has shaped your interactions with students or colleagues.

  3. Discussion on Perception (15 minutes)

    • Prompt: “When have you misunderstood a student’s needs due to assumptions?”

    • Activity: Role-play scenarios where perception affects classroom dynamics.

    • Reflection: Discuss strategies to avoid misperceptions in the future.

  4. Discussion on Power (10 minutes)

    • Prompt: “What systemic barriers exist in your institution, and how can you address them?”

    • Exercise: Identify one area where you hold influence and can advocate for change.

  5. Action Commitments (5 minutes)

    • Each participant commits to one specific, measurable action to enhance inclusivity in their role.

Focus: Building Inclusive Communities

Objective: Explore how individual and collective positionality shapes community work and fosters empathy.

Agenda:

  1. Introduction (5 minutes)

    • Define positionality and its relevance to community building.

    • Establish a safe space for discussion.

  2. Discussion on Personhood (10 minutes)

    • Prompt: “How do your identities align with or differ from the communities you serve?”

    • Exercise: Create a Positionality Reflection Chart.

    • Reflection: Share how personal experiences inform your work.

  3. Discussion on Perception (15 minutes)

    • Prompt: “Describe a time when assumptions about a community affected your approach.”

    • Activity: Brainstorm ways to gather authentic community input.

    • Reflection: How can perception be reframed through active listening?

  4. Discussion on Power (15 minutes)

    • Prompt: “What power dynamics exist in your organization, and how do they impact your work?”

    • Exercise: Map power structures and identify areas for improvement.

    • Reflection: Develop one strategy to share or redistribute power.

  5. Action Commitments (5 minutes)

    • Participants commit to an actionable step for building a more inclusive community.

Focus: Leading with Cultural Intelligence

Objective: Reflect on how positionality influences workplace culture and identify strategies for equitable leadership.

Agenda:

  1. Introduction (5 minutes)

    • Overview of positionality and its impact on organizational culture.

    • Emphasize the importance of cultural intelligence.

  2. Discussion on Personhood (10 minutes)

    • Prompt: “How do your identities shape your leadership style?”

    • Exercise: Conduct a quick self-assessment of privilege and bias.

    • Reflection: Share one way your leadership has been influenced by your background.

  3. Discussion on Perception (15 minutes)

    • Prompt: “How do assumptions about employees affect team dynamics?”

    • Activity: Analyze a case study on perception in the workplace.

    • Reflection: Identify blind spots and discuss strategies to address them.

  4. Discussion on Power (15 minutes)

    • Prompt: “How do power dynamics manifest in your organization?”

    • Exercise: Map organizational hierarchies and assess areas of inequity.

    • Reflection: Discuss one way to make decision-making more inclusive.

  5. Action Commitments (5 minutes)

    • Leaders commit to a specific change in their leadership or workplace practices.

Focus: Navigating Personal and Professional Growth and Building Collegial Relationships

Objective: Help students understand how their identities and positionality influence their career readiness and workplace interactions.

Agenda:

  1. Introduction (5 minutes)

    • Explain positionality and its role in self-awareness and career growth.

    • Highlight the session’s relevance to workforce preparation.

  2. Discussion on Personhood (10 minutes)

    • Prompt: “What aspects of your identity will influence your career path and ability to build collegial relationships?”

    • Exercise: Create a Career Positionality Map.

    • Reflection: Discuss how your background shapes your aspirations.

  3. Discussion on Perception (15 minutes)

    • Prompt: “What challenges might arise from others’ perceptions of you in the workplace or as a colleague?”

    • Activity: Practice elevator pitches incorporating identity and experience.

    • Reflection: Share how you can address misperceptions in professional settings.

  4. Discussion on Power (15 minutes)

    • Prompt: “How can understanding power dynamics help you in the workplace and improve collegial relationships?”

    • Exercise: Analyze workplace scenarios and identify power dynamics.

    • Reflection: Develop strategies to navigate and influence workplace hierarchies.

  5. Action Commitments (5 minutes)

    • Each student commits to a step for integrating self-awareness into career preparation.

Focus: Enhancing Collaboration and Inclusion

Objective: Foster a deeper understanding of team dynamics through the lens of positionality and improve collaboration.

Agenda:

  1. Introduction (5 minutes)

    • Define positionality and its impact on team dynamics.

    • Encourage openness and respect in discussions.

  2. Discussion on Personhood (10 minutes)

    • Prompt: “How do individual identities contribute to team strengths?”

    • Exercise: Team members share one unique aspect of their identity.

    • Reflection: Discuss how diverse identities enhance collaboration.

  3. Discussion on Perception (15 minutes)

    • Prompt: “When have assumptions affected team communication?”

    • Activity: Role-play scenarios to identify and resolve misperceptions.

    • Reflection: Develop guidelines for clearer communication.

  4. Discussion on Power (15 minutes)

    • Prompt: “How do power dynamics influence team decision-making?”

    • Exercise: Map team roles and responsibilities to identify imbalances.

    • Reflection: Propose one change to improve equity in decision-making.

  5. Action Commitments (5 minutes)

    • Teams identify one collective action to enhance inclusion and collaboration.

What People Are Saying

A little magic goes a long way, and early readers of Magic Mirror have shared inspiring reflections on how its lessons have impacted their perspectives and actions. We’re thrilled to spotlight these voices and invite you to join the conversation.

If you’ve experienced the transformative power of Magic Mirror or its companion workbook, we encourage you to leave a positive review on the platform where you made your purchase—it helps others discover the magic too.

Have feedback to share directly with Meagan? Your thoughts matter! We welcome all feedback to help us continue growing and improving. Testimonials and reflections can be submitted here.

Thank you for being part of the journey!

Free Resources

We want you to have the tools you need to do the work and create meaningful change. This section is your hub for practical, accessible resources to support your journey with Magic Mirror. From worksheets to reflection guides, most of the posts below include free downloads to help you take action.

Check back often—this collection will continue to grow as we add more content and tools online. Dive in, explore, and start making an impact today!

what is in your positionality prism?

What is the Positionality Prism?

The Positionality Prism is a framework that helps individuals explore how their intersecting identities shape their perceptions, power, and actions. By understanding positionality through its three parts—Personhood, Perception, and Power—and nine actionable practices, individuals can foster greater self-awareness, challenge biases, and create systemic change.

Read More »

Audio Book PDF

In the print and ebook versions of Magic Mirror, the appendix includes endnotes and additional reading related to positionality, a picture of Mira’s social identity map, a summary of the 9 positionality practices, a reflection and discussion guide, a glossary of over 75 key terms mentioned in the book, my acknowledgments, and my bio. Listeners also missed out on a few images in the book, including a diagram of the Interlocking 4-I framework and the Positionality Prism.

I’ve included all of these items in the PDF download associated with this book. If you have trouble accessing it through your app, you can access it below through this form.

When you download this resource, you agree to be added to our mailing list. We send about one email with resources and strategies every week. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Media Content

Below I’ll keep a record of media content I’ve made to share the book as a resource for others. 

2025-01-28: A response to Trump's "socially engineer race and gender comment"

During last week’s inaugural address, we heard a call to ‘End government policy of trying to socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life.’ The truth? The structures of race and gender are already engineered into every system we navigate. But I’m not surprised he said those words because it’s a common misconception, especially for people who have not confronted their privilege. His are just weighted with more power than any other. Unfortunately, reinstating colorblind behaviors and leaning into the myth of meritocracy is not the answer. 

My new book, 𝑴𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒄 𝑴𝒊𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓: 𝑵𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝑷𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝑩𝒆 𝒂 𝑩𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑳𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓, 𝑪𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒈𝒖𝒆, 𝑬𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒓, 𝑵𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒃𝒐𝒓, 𝑭𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑴𝒐𝒓, offers a framework to understand these realities and addresses these challenges head-on. So I am rushing the book release to equip readers with language and tools to engage thoughtfully in this conversation—whether you’re building understanding, strengthening your knowledge, or teaching others.

You see, 𝑴𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒄 𝑴𝒊𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓 is a modern fable that helps us see ourselves, others, and the world differently. Rooted in storytelling, scaffolded in learning theory, and designed for accessibility for often hard-to-grasp concepts (like race and gender and the related systems of racism and sexism), the book guides readers to reflect, grow, and take actionable steps toward creating more inclusive and equitable spaces. 

Readers will learn about the positionality prism, a reflection, and refraction of our personhood, perception, and power, and leave with nine practices revealed through real-world scenarios and painted in a fantastical story of discovery.

Order your copy of 𝑴𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒄 𝑴𝒊𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓 today. Let’s create a better world together.

Just arrived and hot off the presses! My new book Magic Mirror is here. Watch me unbox and see the published book for the first time. Order your copy at https://drmp.co/mm

What if the way we see ourselves and others isn’t the full picture? Magic Mirror is a powerful modern fable that explores identity, bias, and perception—encouraging readers to question their assumptions and see the world through a new lens.

This week, I am recording the audiobook for 𝑴𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒄 𝑴𝒊𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓: 𝑵𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝑷𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒂 𝑩𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑳𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓, 𝑪𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒈𝒖𝒆, 𝑬𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒓, 𝑵𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒃𝒐𝒓, 𝑭𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑴𝒐𝒓𝒆! It’s a modern fable that teaches you how to see yourself, others, and the world differently. You’ll learn nine positionality practices you can employ today. Watch the video to come along on this publishing journey with me. Learn more and order your physical copy today: https://drmp.co/mm

𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗘𝗥 Purchase 100 copies during February and receive a complimentary 1-hour webinar discussion for your organization!