Tallisman: (special often magical item)

Hero's Journey from ''the Alchemist''

In the Alchemist by Paolo Coelho a boy named Santiago is given two stones to help him find a treasure. "Take these," said the old man, holding out a white stone and a black stone that had been embedded at the center of the breastplate. "They are called Urim and Thummim. The black signifies 'yes,' and the white 'no.' When you are unable to read the omens, they will help you to do so. Always ask an objective question."These two stones, Urim and Thummim are talismans. A talisman is anything whose presence exercises a remarkable or powerful influence on human feelings or actions. An example of a talisman in another book is the Mirror in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone. The Mirror that Harry finds in Hogwarts that shows the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts.

Sources:

The Alchemist by Paolo Coehlo

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/talisman?s=t

http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Mirror_of_Erised

Picture: http://hellogiggles.com/harry-potter-family-history/mirror-of-erised-2/

Douglas Parsley