the psychokinetic experiments involving nina kulagina, who claimed to have psychic powers, were watchedby the government in the 1960's. shortly before the soviet union collapsed, a self-professed psychic named anatoly kashpirovsky appeared on tv to conduct mass healing sessions to millions throughout the soviet bloc. and the faith healer juna davitashvili was sought by many in the politburo. her famous patients included soviet premier leonid brezhnev and later, president boris yeltsin. nearly 30 years later, countless healing services online represent a major enterprise. the patriarch of the russian orthodox church considers president vladimir putin's rise to power a miracle of god. he also foresees an impending apocalypse. it's not uncommon for a police officer to ask a priest to bless the sis of numerous car accidents. jesus has become an antidote for misfortune. sociologists point to depression, anxiety, and a disoriented society as an explanation for the rising belief in magical thinking. lev: people have no idea what's going to happen in the near future. they plan their lives from