Go to the Verge of Destruction and Bring Back Shmat-Razum

The king’s best hunter shoots a bird, wounding it, and it begs him to not kill it, instructing him to bring it home, put it on a window sill, and strike it. When he does so, it turns into a beautiful woman and they marry. She sees that he is wearied by his daily hunting and instructs him to borrow money from everyone he knows to buy silk. She summons two youthful magical helpers and they craft a tapestry of the whole kingdom, down to the smallest detail. At her direction, he takes it to the marketplace to sell it for whatever is offered. The merchants are struck dumb, but the mayor, traveling through, offers a very high price for it.

Back at the palace, the mayor shows it to the king, who is so impressed he forces him to sell it to him for a much higher price. Wanting to commission another such work, the mayor goes to the hunter’s home but falls in love with his wife. He tells the king, who then dispatches the mayor to get rid of the hunter. Baba Yaga meets the mayor in a wasteland and tells him to send the hunter on a quest from which he’ll not return. The king summons the wife to his castle, but she escapes him, flying through a window in bird form.

The hunter’s wife gives him a ball he is to follow on his way and a towel he is to use rather than any he is offered. It brings him to a castle with women who recognize their sister’s towel, and they help him by summoning the animals of creation. Only a lowly and old frog knows where to find the Shmat-Razum. He is given a bowl of milk in which to carry the guide. When they cross a river, the frog increases in size and the hunter rides him over it.

He hides in a cave where there is a table set, and spies on two old men who eat and are waited upon by a servant. When the men leave, the hunter offers to be the new master of the servant, who is glad to have someone who is grateful for his help. On their way back, Shmat-Razum begins to carry the hunter, and they fly fast as the wind. In the middle of a large lake, they stop and are visited by three merchants, who exchange their magical gifts for the hunter’s servant. On their way, though, the servant abandons them and returns to his grateful master.

Upon returning to his wife, the hunter uses the magical gifts to establish a beautiful castle and gardens on the shore. The king, looking upon the success with envy, sends troops who are defeated by an army from one of the gifts. The king is killed in the battle, and the hunter and his wife are free, prosperous, and unhounded by rivals.

We read and discuss this tale and related ideas.

Searching for the Search:

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For the full video episode:

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About our guest:

Ian Reclusado is currently off exploring the poetic wilds of psychology, neuroscience, and spirituality.

He also offers guidance services for those interested in delving into their own inner wilderness.

You can find his weekly dispatches at www.thekindknife.com or follow him on Instagram: @ian_reclusado

I plan to conduct more interviews with various guests, so please check back later for those.