| I've always taken pride in having an open mind ... So, | | | | of a year. Meanwhile, he repeated the feat. The only |
| when the invitation came to visit Uri Geller at his | | | | factor I noticed that could have possibly come into |
| estate in the English countryside back in the summer | | | | play was that Geller made sure he was standing in |
| of 1987, I couldn't pass the opportunity to personally | | | | the same place both times. There was a metal |
| experience the phenomenon he represents and/or | | | | radiator very close to him, but I have no idea if that |
| channels. Uri Geller has made a career out of being | | | | played any role in the result. He then gave me a small |
| controversial. His claims of possessing paranormal | | | | notebook and pen and asked me to draw something |
| talents have not necessarily polarized opinions as | | | | simple. He stood away and there was no chance he |
| much as the outrageous outlets by which he | | | | could see what I did. As this was summer, I opted |
| seemingly prefers to display them. For example, | | | | for something totally opposite from the season and |
| Geller has, at one time or another, alleged to have: - | | | | sketched a Christmas tree with a star on top. I then |
| bent spoons and keys merely by concentrating on | | | | closed the notebook and told him I was finished. |
| them, - made a soccer ball move just before a | | | | Geller reached for a totally separate piece of paper |
| Scottish penalty kick was taken during an | | | | and pen. He sat at the table, thought for a moment |
| international match against England, causing the shot | | | | and began to draw. He briefly stared at me and then |
| to be missed and victory assured for the English, - | | | | returned to his task. It only took another minute for |
| stopped the hands of time on Big Ben, - advised | | | | him to announce he was done. He put down his pen |
| families that messages from the dead would appear | | | | and held up his drawing. It was a Christmas tree, with |
| to them in symbolic acts, - sent disorienting mental | | | | a star on top. I was impressed. I almost wished I had |
| signals to KGB agents at the request of the CIA, and | | | | something he could heal. I could not resist asking one |
| - healed people's afflictions merely by being close to | | | | off-the-wall question. I knew a prominent shipbuilding |
| them. Uri Geller was an Israeli paratrooper who | | | | family in Spain who had access to the records of |
| fought in the Six-Day War and dabbled in modeling | | | | many galleons which disappeared on return voyages |
| and a small-time magician's career before bursting | | | | from the New World. Many of them were laden with |
| onto the global oddity scene by apparently having | | | | gold. Had Geller ever been asked to 'divine' for |
| access to a part of his brain that others didn't. He | | | | precious metals underwater? He didn't bat an eye. |
| seemingly had the powers to move objects and | | | | "No," he replied, "But I don't know why I couldn't." He |
| sense thoughts and do them well enough that major | | | | pulled a book from a nearby shelf and opened it to a |
| media and, yes, even major governments took | | | | section of photographs in the middle. The topic was |
| notice. Results may have been mixed --- the CIA, | | | | Uri Geller. The photos were allegedly taken with a |
| interestingly, doesn't comment either way about their | | | | sensitivity that exceeded the spectrum of light. |
| contact with Geller --- but they all served to | | | | There seemed to be a 'cloud' between Geller's head |
| perpetuate his fame (or notoriety, according to the | | | | and a small object of his concentration, such as a ball. |
| skeptics). When we approached his mansion, there | | | | The inference was that his mental projection was |
| was no doubting that his exhibitions, books, television | | | | being physically 'captured' on film, joining his mind with |
| appearances and hobnobbing with politicos and | | | | the matter on which he was focused. I ultimately did |
| celebrities had allowed him to amass considerable | | | | report to the Spanish magnates what I had seen and |
| wealth. Geller met us in the foyer, immediately | | | | what I suggested. They were more than interested. |
| conveying the impression that he may be a | | | | One of their scions promised to get back to me, and |
| shameless self-promoter in public, but at home, he | | | | he did, but somewhere during the course of our |
| was a gracious host. This was a social call, so he was | | | | days, the momentum to pursue such a project |
| casually dressed, soft-spoken and totally | | | | faded. I did pay closer attention to Uri Geller in the |
| unpretentious. I couldn't say that for the furniture in | | | | next few years. The two displays I witnessed were |
| his drawing room, however, as the matching sofa, | | | | clearly his top talents; I read accounts of similar feats |
| chairs and coffee table were composed of huge | | | | from others who had met him. However, Geller |
| glass-shards held together by metal spines. They | | | | wasn't as successful when he attempted to expand |
| were more artwork than furniture, and I was quite | | | | his range. For instance, he bought a soccer team, |
| glad we settled in the kitchen instead. Inevitably, our | | | | Exeter, and said he'd keep his mind off the pitch. I |
| conversation broached the topic of Geller's talents. He | | | | guess he did, as they were relegated to a lower |
| asked if I wanted to see them for myself and, after | | | | division under his chairmanship. Allegedly, Geller did |
| receiving the obvious response, he pulled a spoon | | | | later claim to avail his services to oil and gold |
| from the utensil drawer and gave it to me to inspect. | | | | companies. He said he got results, but that nobody |
| I can attest that it was a normal, everyday spoon; I | | | | wanted to disclose he was the secret to their |
| tried to flex it and confirmed that its malleability was | | | | success. He's since written a number of books --- |
| what one would expect from a common spoon. | | | | some of the holistic tomes are actually quite logical |
| Geller took it, kept it in clear view, and began to rub | | | | and devoid of anything paranormal --- and continues |
| the stem in short, quick strokes from his index finger. | | | | to enjoy the company of celebrities. I have no idea |
| Before my eyes, the spoon's business end began a | | | | about his talents beyond what I saw. I am convinced |
| perpendicular rise, as if awakening from a nap. When | | | | that what I witnessed was authentic. My lingering |
| it had formed a 90-degree angle, Geller stopped | | | | thought is what Geller's displays to me could portend |
| rubbing and handed me the spoon again. I felt the | | | | for the human condition. It's a fact that 90% of our |
| bent segment of the stem for signs of heat, but | | | | cerebrum's utility is yet to be understood. Did all of us |
| there was none. I checked to see if the tensile | | | | really have the powers of telekinesis and telepathy? |
| strength had been diminished, but it had not. He really | | | | Those are deep thoughts, and I'm certainly open to |
| did it. Geller then asked me to pull any spoon from | | | | further suggestions. In the meantime, if I ever come |
| the drawer and he'd do it again. I noticed that they | | | | across shipping records which list a cargo of golden |
| were made of sterling silver --- ie- a normal metal --- | | | | spoons lost at sea, I know who I'm going to call. |
| and wondered how many he'd buy during the course | | | | |