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[Alexandr Korol]

and stones, and spirits, so too there are dark ones. Well, this is natural, like the night and the day sky. Let us go further. “Deity of happiness. In Japanese mythology this is Hotei, one of the Seven Deities of Happiness. Alatyr. In Slavic mythology Alatyr is a stone possessing miraculous power, able to fulfill wishes.” Just so. Baba Yaga in fairy tales, they say, also practiced this — that she often offers travelers the fulfillment of a wish, but in return demands something they cannot give, or fulfills the wish with conditions. “The Domovoy ((household spirit in Slavic mythology) in Slavic mythology — this may be something connected with the fulfillment of wishes. That is, he may fulfill a wish, but does it with small distortions.” And, of course, the fairies. “These beings also symbolize the fulfillment of wishes. They may be capricious and demanding.” And this too is one of the attributes — though I do not know whether I must do this or simply take note of it — but still, the staff, the scepter, the magic wand, I mention it once more — it is very important. Not just simply so, the magic wand. Well, as for people, you do not need it. The very moment itself, so that you understand, it is one of the attributes of the world of heaven and of this magical world. The magic wand does indeed exist, one can make it. I have spent a whole heap of time now, all weekend reading and studying this, very interesting. That is, perhaps I will make something like this for myself, or maybe later the extraterrestrials will give me such a wand, to “shepherd” the people. Joking. Let us go further. There is also such an attribute for the fulfillment of wishes — the “Zhelannitsa,” such a Slavic protective doll.

If we now move smoothly into the theme of the fulfillment of wishes, then here I googled what objects or places, or characters in general may fulfill a wish. And here is what is written: that a magic ring: “In fairy tales there often appears a magic ring, which fulfills the wish of its owner if he turns it in a certain way. In Arabic tales and legends a Djinn imprisoned in a lamp fulfills the wish of its possessor. The tinderbox in Hans Christian Andersen’s tale, found in a cave, the tinderbox fulfills the wish of its owner. The monument of Baron Munchausen’s boot in Leningrad — touch the boot and make a wish, so that it will come true. The Stone of Wishes in Ephesus — on this stone one can make a wish by touching it. The sacred pillar Sergeh, Olkhon Island — the locals believe