The Wishing Project

(Copyright 1996 by C. Pickover)

This is part of my overall personal interest in creativity and understanding the human spirit. (As a reward for your participation, feel free to download an image of a beautiful wishing stone of your choice.)

Since the dawn of civilization, humans have been fascinated by the notion of wish fulfillment. From mythological genies in bottles offering three wishes, to religious prayers, to witchcraft, to children's whispered entreaties while blowing out candles on a birthday cake, humans are continually wishing, wishing, wishing....

What do people wish for today? Are people more materialistic or spiritual? How do our wishes correlate with such parameters as gender, age, or country? My intent is to catalog and publish a collection of people's wishes from around the world and from people of all ages. Consider this a fun and informal psychological study, or something that might make stimulating reading in a small paperback book. Can you help add to my wish catalog?

Here's the scenario: you are walking along a path and come to a colorful stone. As you pick up the stone, you hear a voice. "Squeeze the stone with all your might, and your wishes will be granted. Use the stone as often as you like." You hold the stone in your trembling hand for a few seconds, close your eyes, and make your wishes. What are your wishes? Why did you wish for them?


Wish Fulfilment Entry Form:

Summary and Explanation:
  1. Name (I'll identify you in the publication by first name and last initial. If you want to give me your last name for my records, please do so. However, feel free only to use your first name and last initial. If you need further anonimity, just send me your initials.)
  2. City, State (or City, Country):
  3. E-mail address (This will not be published or given to anyone. This may be useful in case I need to contact you if your wish is is not transmitted properly. If you are worried, then omit your e-mail address.)
  4. Gender and Age (in case I sort responses according to these categories or search for correlations)
  5. If you don't mind, tell me a little bit about yourself in case I search for other interesting correlations (e.g. Interests, occupations, or hobbies, etc.)
  6. By sending me your wishes, you give permission for me to publish them in whole, or in part, in any future publications. Send me your wishes. Take us much space and time as you like. (I'm also collecting visual representations of wishes. If you'd like a chance to get your black-and-white drawing published, send to Dr. Cliff Pickover, PO Box 549, Millwood, New York 10546-0549. Please also send a note of permission to use your drawing.)

Actual Form below:

Name:                                   
E-mail address (will not be published): 
City, State (or City, Country):         
Your Gender: 
Your Age:    

If you don't mind, tell me a little bit about yourself in case I search for interesting correlations (e.g. Interests, occupations, or hobbies, etc.):

By sending me your wishes, you give permission for me to publish them in whole, or in part, in any future publications. Enter your wish below. Take us much space and time as you like. If you're busy, just a few sentences will be welcome. What are your wishes? Why did you wish for them? Enter your wishes:

To register your wishes, press this button:
Thanks!

Click here if you want to read wishes by some people who have already entered wishes.


My colleague, Professor Clint Sprott, is conducting a study involving your predictions of future technologies and related. You might enjoy this as well.
Go to my home page which includes web kudos and awards for the Wishing Project, as well as computer art, educational puzzles, fractals, virtual caverns, JAVA/VRML, alien creatures, black hole artwork, and animations.