diff --git a/src/anchor.js b/src/anchor.js
index 5bb0339..c24f75e 100644
--- a/src/anchor.js
+++ b/src/anchor.js
@@ -2,12 +2,23 @@ const u = require('./utils')
 const a = require('./assert')
 const Point = require('./point')
 
-const anchor = module.exports = (raw, name, points={}, check_unexpected=true, default_point=new Point()) => units => {
+const mirror_ref = exports.mirror = (ref, mirror) => {
+    if (mirror) {
+        if (ref.startsWith('mirror_')) {
+            return ref.substring(7)
+        } else {
+            return 'mirror_' + ref
+        }
+    }
+    return ref
+}
+
+const anchor = exports.parse = (raw, name, points={}, check_unexpected=true, default_point=new Point(), mirror=false) => units => {
     if (a.type(raw)() == 'array') {
         // recursive call with incremental default_point mods, according to `affect`s
         let current = default_point.clone()
         for (const step of raw) {
-            current = anchor(step, name, points, check_unexpected, current)(units)
+            current = anchor(step, name, points, check_unexpected, current, mirror)(units)
         }
         return current
     }
@@ -19,16 +30,18 @@ const anchor = module.exports = (raw, name, points={}, check_unexpected=true, de
             let x = 0, y = 0, r = 0
             const len = raw.ref.length
             for (const ref of raw.ref) {
-                a.assert(points[ref], `Unknown point reference "${ref}" in anchor "${name}"!`)
-                const resolved = points[ref]
+                const parsed_ref = mirror_ref(ref, mirror)
+                a.assert(points[parsed_ref], `Unknown point reference "${parsed_ref}" in anchor "${name}"!`)
+                const resolved = points[parsed_ref]
                 x += resolved.x
                 y += resolved.y
                 r += resolved.r
             }
             point = new Point(x / len, y / len, r / len)
         } else {
-            a.assert(points[raw.ref], `Unknown point reference "${raw.ref}" in anchor "${name}"!`)
-            point = points[raw.ref].clone()
+            const parsed_ref = mirror_ref(raw.ref, mirror)
+            a.assert(points[parsed_ref], `Unknown point reference "${parsed_ref}" in anchor "${name}"!`)
+            point = points[parsed_ref].clone()
         }
     }
     if (raw.orient !== undefined) {
diff --git a/src/outlines.js b/src/outlines.js
index 6045948..cf86dd5 100644
--- a/src/outlines.js
+++ b/src/outlines.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ const a = require('./assert')
 const o = require('./operation')
 const Point = require('./point')
 const prep = require('./prepare')
-const make_anchor = require('./anchor')
+const anchor_lib = require('./anchor')
 
 const rectangle = (w, h, corner, bevel, name='') => {
     const error = (dim, val) => `Rectangle for "${name}" isn't ${dim} enough for its corner and bevel (${val} - 2 * ${corner} - 2 * ${bevel} <= 0)!`
@@ -41,9 +41,9 @@ const layout = exports._layout = (config = {}, points = {}, units = {}) => {
     
         for (const y of ['top', 'bottom']) {
             a.unexpected(gval[y], `outlines.glue.${gkey}.${y}`, ['left', 'right'])
-            gval[y].left = make_anchor(gval[y].left, `outlines.glue.${gkey}.${y}.left`, points)
+            gval[y].left = anchor_lib.parse(gval[y].left, `outlines.glue.${gkey}.${y}.left`, points)
             if (a.type(gval[y].right)(units) != 'number') {
-                gval[y].right = make_anchor(gval[y].right, `outlines.glue.${gkey}.${y}.right`, points)
+                gval[y].right = anchor_lib.parse(gval[y].right, `outlines.glue.${gkey}.${y}.right`, points)
             }
         }
     
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ const layout = exports._layout = (config = {}, points = {}, units = {}) => {
                     return u.line([anchor, -1000], [anchor, 1000])
                 }
 
-                // if it wasn't a number, then it's a (possibly relative) achor
+                // if it wasn't a number, then it's a (possibly relative) anchor
                 const from = anchor(relative_units).clone()
                 const to = from.clone().shift([from.meta.mirrored ? -1 : 1, 0])
 
@@ -244,43 +244,45 @@ exports.parse = (config = {}, points = {}, units = {}) => {
 
             let arg
             let anchor
+            const anchor_def = part.anchor || {}
             switch (part.type) {
                 case 'keys':
                     arg = layout_fn(part, name, expected)
                     break
                 case 'rectangle':
-                    a.unexpected(part, name, expected.concat(['ref', 'shift', 'rotate', 'size', 'corner', 'bevel', 'mirror']))
+                    a.unexpected(part, name, expected.concat(['anchor', 'size', 'corner', 'bevel', 'mirror']))
                     const size = a.wh(part.size, `${name}.size`)(units)
                     const rec_units = prep.extend({
                         sx: size[0],
                         sy: size[1]
                     }, units)
-                    anchor = make_anchor(part, name, points, false)(rec_units)
+                    anchor = anchor_lib.parse(anchor_def, `${name}.anchor`, points)(rec_units)
                     const corner = a.sane(part.corner || 0, `${name}.corner`, 'number')(rec_units)
                     const bevel = a.sane(part.bevel || 0, `${name}.bevel`, 'number')(rec_units)
                     const rect_mirror = a.sane(part.mirror || false, `${name}.mirror`, 'boolean')()
                     const rect = rectangle(size[0], size[1], corner, bevel, name)
                     arg = anchor.position(u.deepcopy(rect))
                     if (rect_mirror) {
-                        const mirror_part = u.deepcopy(part)
-                        a.assert(mirror_part.ref, `Field "${name}.ref" must be speficied if mirroring is required!`)
-                        mirror_part.ref = `mirror_${mirror_part.ref}`
-                        anchor = make_anchor(mirror_part, name, points, false)(rec_units)
+                        const mirror_anchor = u.deepcopy(anchor_def)
+                        a.assert(mirror_anchor.ref, `Field "${name}.anchor.ref" must be speficied if mirroring is required!`)
+                        anchor = anchor_lib.parse(mirror_anchor, `${name}.anchor --> mirror`, points, undefined, undefined, true)(rec_units)
                         const mirror_rect = m.model.moveRelative(u.deepcopy(rect), [-size[0], 0])
                         arg = u.union(arg, anchor.position(mirror_rect))
                     }
                     break
                 case 'circle':
-                    a.unexpected(part, name, expected.concat(['ref', 'shift', 'rotate', 'radius', 'mirror']))
-                    anchor = make_anchor(part, name, points, false)(units)
+                    a.unexpected(part, name, expected.concat(['anchor', 'radius', 'mirror']))
                     const radius = a.sane(part.radius, `${name}.radius`, 'number')(units)
+                    const circle_units = prep.extend({
+                        r: radius
+                    }, units)
+                    anchor = anchor_lib.parse(anchor_def, `${name}.anchor`, points)(circle_units)
                     const circle_mirror = a.sane(part.mirror || false, `${name}.mirror`, 'boolean')()
                     arg = u.circle(anchor.p, radius)
                     if (circle_mirror) {
-                        const mirror_part = u.deepcopy(part)
-                        a.assert(mirror_part.ref, `Field "${name}.ref" must be speficied if mirroring is required!`)
-                        mirror_part.ref = `mirror_${mirror_part.ref}`
-                        anchor = make_anchor(mirror_part, name, points, false)(units)
+                        const mirror_anchor = u.deepcopy(anchor_def)
+                        a.assert(mirror_anchor.ref, `Field "${name}.anchor.ref" must be speficied if mirroring is required!`)
+                        anchor = anchor_lib.parse(mirror_anchor, `${name}.anchor --> mirror`, points, undefined, undefined, true)(circle_units)
                         arg = u.union(arg, u.circle(anchor.p, radius))
                     }
                     break
@@ -294,12 +296,15 @@ exports.parse = (config = {}, points = {}, units = {}) => {
                     let last_anchor = new Point()
                     let poly_index = 0
                     for (const poly_point of poly_points) {
-                        if (poly_index == 0 && poly_mirror) {
-                            a.assert(poly_point.ref, `Field "${name}.ref" must be speficied if mirroring is required!`)
-                            poly_mirror_x = (points[poly_point.ref].x + points[`mirror_${poly_point.ref}`].x) / 2
-                        }
                         const poly_name = `${name}.points[${++poly_index}]`
-                        last_anchor = make_anchor(poly_point, poly_name, points, true, last_anchor)(units)
+                        if (poly_index == 1 && poly_mirror) {
+                            a.assert(poly_point.ref, `Field "${poly_name}.ref" must be speficied if mirroring is required!`)
+                            const mirrored_ref = anchor_lib.mirror(poly_point.ref, poly_mirror)
+                            a.assert(points[poly_point.ref], `Field "${poly_name}.ref" does not name an existing point!`)
+                            a.assert(points[mirrored_ref], `The mirror of field "${poly_name}.ref" ("${mirrored_ref}") does not name an existing point!`)
+                            poly_mirror_x = (points[poly_point.ref].x + points[mirrored_ref].x) / 2
+                        }
+                        last_anchor = anchor_lib.parse(poly_point, poly_name, points, true, last_anchor)(units)
                         parsed_points.push(last_anchor.p)
                         mirror_points.push(last_anchor.clone().mirror(poly_mirror_x).p)
                     }
diff --git a/src/pcbs.js b/src/pcbs.js
index bf41ba8..1377a77 100644
--- a/src/pcbs.js
+++ b/src/pcbs.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 const m = require('makerjs')
 const a = require('./assert')
 const prep = require('./prepare')
-const make_anchor = require('./anchor')
+const anchor_lib = require('./anchor')
 
 const kicad_prefix = `
 (kicad_pcb (version 20171130) (host pcbnew 5.1.6)
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ const footprint = exports._footprint = (config, name, points, point, net_indexer
     // config sanitization
     a.unexpected(config, name, ['type', 'anchor', 'nets', 'anchors', 'params'])
     const type = a.in(config.type, `${name}.type`, Object.keys(footprint_types))
-    let anchor = make_anchor(config.anchor || {}, `${name}.anchor`, points, true, point)(units)
+    let anchor = anchor_lib.parse(config.anchor || {}, `${name}.anchor`, points, true, point)(units)
     const nets = a.sane(config.nets || {}, `${name}.nets`, 'object')()
     const anchors = a.sane(config.anchors || {}, `${name}.anchors`, 'object')()
     const params = a.sane(config.params || {}, `${name}.params`, 'object')()
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ const footprint = exports._footprint = (config, name, points, point, net_indexer
     parsed_params.at = `(at ${anchor.x} ${-anchor.y} ${anchor.r})`
     parsed_params.rot = anchor.r
     parsed_params.xy = (x, y) => {
-        const new_anchor = make_anchor({
+        const new_anchor = anchor_lib.parse({
             shift: [x, -y]
         }, '_internal_footprint_xy', points, true, anchor)(units)
         return `${new_anchor.x} ${-new_anchor.y}`
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ const footprint = exports._footprint = (config, name, points, point, net_indexer
     // parsing anchor-type parameters
     parsed_params.anchors = {}
     for (const [anchor_name, anchor_config] of Object.entries(prep.extend(fp.anchors || {}, anchors))) {
-        let parsed_anchor = make_anchor(anchor_config || {}, `${name}.anchors.${anchor_name}`, points, true, anchor)(units)
+        let parsed_anchor = anchor_lib.parse(anchor_config || {}, `${name}.anchors.${anchor_name}`, points, true, anchor)(units)
         parsed_anchor.y = -parsed_anchor.y
         parsed_params.anchors[anchor_name] = parsed_anchor
     }
diff --git a/src/points.js b/src/points.js
index cd44c44..a2522ec 100644
--- a/src/points.js
+++ b/src/points.js
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ const m = require('makerjs')
 const u = require('./utils')
 const a = require('./assert')
 const prep = require('./prepare')
-const make_anchor = require('./anchor')
+const anchor_lib = require('./anchor')
 
 const push_rotation = exports._push_rotation = (list, angle, origin) => {
     let candidate = origin
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ const parse_axis = exports._parse_axis = (config, name, points, units) => {
         const mirror_obj = a.sane(config || {}, name, 'object')()
         const distance = a.sane(mirror_obj.distance || 0, `${name}.distance`, 'number')(units)
         delete mirror_obj.distance
-        let axis = make_anchor(mirror_obj, name, points)(units).x
+        let axis = anchor_lib.parse(mirror_obj, name, points)(units).x
         axis += distance / 2
         return axis
     } else return config
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ exports.parse = (config, units) => {
     for (let [zone_name, zone] of Object.entries(zones)) {
 
         // extracting keys that are handled here, not at the zone render level
-        const anchor = make_anchor(zone.anchor || {}, `points.zones.${zone_name}.anchor`, all_points)(units)
+        const anchor = anchor_lib.parse(zone.anchor || {}, `points.zones.${zone_name}.anchor`, all_points)(units)
         const rotate = a.sane(zone.rotate || 0, `points.zones.${zone_name}.rotate`, 'number')(units)
         const mirror = zone.mirror
         delete zone.anchor
diff --git a/test/unit/anchor.js b/test/unit/anchor.js
index a5ed60b..b335840 100644
--- a/test/unit/anchor.js
+++ b/test/unit/anchor.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-const anchor = require('../../src/anchor')
+const {parse} = require('../../src/anchor')
 const Point = require('../../src/point')
 const {check} = require('../helpers/point')
 
@@ -13,17 +13,17 @@ describe('Anchor', function() {
     it('params', function() {
         // an empty anchor definition leads to the default point
         check(
-            anchor({}, 'name')(),
+            parse({}, 'name')(),
             [0, 0, 0, {}]
         )
         // unexpected check can be disabled
         check(
-            anchor({unexpected_key: true}, 'name', {}, false)(),
+            parse({unexpected_key: true}, 'name', {}, false)(),
             [0, 0, 0, {}]
         )
         // default point can be overridden
         check(
-            anchor({}, 'name', {}, true, new Point(1, 1))(),
+            parse({}, 'name', {}, true, new Point(1, 1))(),
             [1, 1, 0, {}]
         )
     })
@@ -31,12 +31,12 @@ describe('Anchor', function() {
     it('ref', function() {
         // single reference
         check(
-            anchor({ref: 'o'}, 'name', points)(),
+            parse({ref: 'o'}, 'name', points)(),
             [0, 0, 0, {label: 'o'}]
         )
         // average of multiple references (metadata gets ignored)
         check(
-            anchor({ref: ['o', 'ten']}, 'name', points)(),
+            parse({ref: ['o', 'ten']}, 'name', points)(),
             [5, 5, 5, {}]
         )
     })
@@ -44,12 +44,12 @@ describe('Anchor', function() {
     it('shift', function() {
         // normal shift
         check(
-            anchor({shift: [1, 1]}, 'name')(),
+            parse({shift: [1, 1]}, 'name')(),
             [1, 1, 0, {}]
         )
         // shift should respect mirrored points (and invert along the x axis)
         check(
-            anchor({ref: 'mirror', shift: [1, 1]}, 'name', points)(),
+            parse({ref: 'mirror', shift: [1, 1]}, 'name', points)(),
             [19, 1, 0, {mirrored: true}]
         )
     })
@@ -57,13 +57,13 @@ describe('Anchor', function() {
     it('orient', function() {
         // an orient by itself is equal to rotation
         check(
-            anchor({orient: 10}, 'name')(),
+            parse({orient: 10}, 'name')(),
             [0, 0, 10, {}]
         )
         // orient acts before shifting
         // so when we orient to the right, an upward shift goes to the right
         check(
-            anchor({orient: -90, shift: [0, 1]}, 'name')(),
+            parse({orient: -90, shift: [0, 1]}, 'name')(),
             [1, 0, -90, {}]
         )
     })
@@ -71,13 +71,13 @@ describe('Anchor', function() {
     it('rotate', function() {
         // basic rotation
         check(
-            anchor({rotate: 10}, 'name')(),
+            parse({rotate: 10}, 'name')(),
             [0, 0, 10, {}]
         )
         // rotate acts *after* shifting
         // so even tho we rotate to the right, an upward shift does go upward
         check(
-            anchor({shift: [0, 1], rotate: -90}, 'name')(),
+            parse({shift: [0, 1], rotate: -90}, 'name')(),
             [0, 1, -90, {}]
         )
     })
@@ -85,16 +85,16 @@ describe('Anchor', function() {
     it('affect', function() {
         // affect can restrict which point fields (x, y, r) are affected by the transformations
         check(
-            anchor({orient: -90, shift: [0, 1], rotate: 10, affect: 'r'}, 'name')(),
+            parse({orient: -90, shift: [0, 1], rotate: 10, affect: 'r'}, 'name')(),
             [0, 0, -80, {}]
         )
         check(
-            anchor({orient: -90, shift: [0, 1], rotate: 10, affect: 'xy'}, 'name')(),
+            parse({orient: -90, shift: [0, 1], rotate: 10, affect: 'xy'}, 'name')(),
             [1, 0, 0, {}]
         )
         // affects can also be arrays (example same as above)
         check(
-            anchor({orient: -90, shift: [0, 1], rotate: 10, affect: ['x', 'y']}, 'name')(),
+            parse({orient: -90, shift: [0, 1], rotate: 10, affect: ['x', 'y']}, 'name')(),
             [1, 0, 0, {}]
         )
     })
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ describe('Anchor', function() {
     it('array', function() {
         // basic multi-anchor
         check(
-            anchor([
+            parse([
                 {shift: [1, 1]},
                 {rotate: 10}
             ], 'name')(),