Download Article
Download Article
Ever since Israeli illusionist Uri Geller blew Americans' minds in the 1970s with his telekinetic spoon bending illusion, people have been wondering how the trick works. [1] X Research source The truth is there are lots of different ways to convince people that you are bending a spoon with your mind, although none of them involve real telekinesis. [2] X Research source With a little practice, you'll soon be wowing your friends with your new abilities .
Steps
-
Hold the spoon with the bowl downward. Take an ordinary metal spoon and position it vertically, with the bowl at the lower end. Grip the lower half of the spoon with your dominant hand. Use your other hand to cover the top half of the spoon handle completely. It should look like the upper hand is gripping the spoon, but the thumb should not wrap around the handle.
- The audience must be straight in front of you for this trick.
- If you like, you can demonstrate the spoon is an ordinary spoon by rapping it against the table, or letting the audience handle it.
-
Push the spoon against the table while letting it fall backward. Place the tip of the bowl against the table and pretend to push hard. Push the spoon down with your lower hand so the audience can see the effort. Meanwhile, keep your upper hand in the same vertical position, but let the spoon fall backward. Let the spoon handle rest on the ring and little fingers of your lower hand.Advertisement -
Pretend to straighten the spoon. Show the audience your magic ability by "returning" the spoon to its unbent state. This can be as simple as running your hands over the spoon, then lifting it to show the audience. Just make sure the audience does not see the straight spoon while it is still supposed to be bent.
Advertisement
-
Be realistic. This technique can look good on camera, but you won't fool a live audience, particularly not up close. It could conceivably work live if done at a distance, but as there is no simple way to produce an unbroken spoon, it would be difficult to end well. [3] X Research source
-
Break the spoon. If you have a hacksaw you can use it to cut the bowl of the spoon off the handle. If not, manually bending the spoon back and forth a few times should do the trick just as well. Sand down any sharp edges when you are done. [4] X Research source
-
Hold both parts of the spoon between your pointer finger and thumb. You hand should be positioned almost like you are making the hand signal for “okay,” but with your middle, ring, and little fingers relaxed instead of extended. Grip the two parts of the spoon in such a way that it creates the illusion you are holding a whole spoon. [5] X Research source
-
Advertisement
-
-
Bend the other spoon. Hold it with the front of the spoon facing up, and bend the handle down to make a 90-degree angle. With the handle perpendicular to the floor, the bowl of the spoon should face skyward.
-
Hold the bent spoon behind the bowl with your pointer finger and thumb. If you are right handed, the bowl should point to your right; if you are left handed, it should point to your left. The handle should lie flat against your palm, and be angled so that it is concealed behind your wrist, rather than jutting out visibly under your hand. The rest of your fingers will form a visual shield, blocking the handle of the bent spoon from view. Make sure they are held together, with no cracks showing between them. [10] X Research source
-
Hold the handle of the broken spoon between the same fingers. The idea is to create the illusion that the broken handle is attached to the bowl of the bent spoon. Try to grip it more with the tips of your fingers, so that you will be able to roll back your grip on the broken handle, loosening it while still holding on to the bent spoon firmly. [11] X Research source
-
Loosen your grip on the broken handle gradually. It will droop downward, creating the illusion that it is bending. Make sure not to loosen your grip so much that you don't drop the broken handle. [12] X Research source
-
Palm the broken handle. With a quick flourish, “bend” the broken handle all the way into your palm—making sure the two handles don't clunk together audibly—and slide the bent spoon up out of your fist with your other hand.
-
Distract the audience with the bent spoon. Hold it up for them to see, tap it against the table a few times, or invite a member of the audience to examine it. While their attention is on the bent spoon, slip the broken handle into your pocket.
Advertisement
Community Q&A
Search
-
QuestionWon't the spoon break if I bend it?Community AnswerThe spoon will only break if you bend it too far during preparation.
-
QuestionHow can I fix a bent spoon?Community AnswerBend it back by hand or by gently hitting the bent angle with a small hammer until it's flat.
-
QuestionIs spoon bending dangerous?Community AnswerNot if you take your time and are careful.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Video
Tips
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
References
- ↑ http://www.openculture.com/2012/11/skeptic_michael_shermer_shows_you_how_to_bend_spoons_with_your_mind.html
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9w7jHYriFo&feature=youtu.be
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RhwlgmLwXo
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RhwlgmLwXo
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RhwlgmLwXo
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RhwlgmLwXo
- ↑ http://www.openculture.com/2012/11/skeptic_michael_shermer_shows_you_how_to_bend_spoons_with_your_mind.html
- ↑ http://www.freemagictricks4u.com/spoon-bending.html
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RhwlgmLwXo
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To “bend” an unbent spoon, hold your spoon in two hands with the bowl facing down. Place the bowl against a table or other surface and push down so that the bowl starts sliding forward. As the bowl slides forward, let the handle fall back. Continue holding the handle with the ring and pinky fingers of your lower hand, but keep both hands vertical to maintain the “bending” illusion. When you’re ready, “return” the spoon to its unbent state! For more spoon bending tips, including how to “bend” a broken spoon, read the article!
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,076,754 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "I think wikiHow is the best website for knowledge, I really love this site. It has the best explanation for all types of queries, and your short animations and videos are really impressive to understand a topic." ..." more
Advertisement
"I think wikiHow is the best website for knowledge, I really love this site. It has the best explanation for all types of queries, and your short animations and videos are really impressive to understand a topic."
..."
more
"I thought it was fascinating how you simply have to lower the spoon, and the upper hand concealing the trick overall was mind-blowing. Thanks, wikiHow!"
..."
more
"Very cool. It will help with the show I am doing!"
