THE METAL-BENDERS” by PROFESSOR JOHN B. HASTED

In 1974 the ‘induction effect’ began to occupy attention. During Geller’s television performances other people both in the studio and in their homes would find that a latchkey held gently in the hand would bend of its own accord.

In most West European countries, as well as Japan, South Africa and others, the television companies received letters and telephone calls reporting cutlery bending of its own accord in viewers’ homes. Hundreds of such cases have been followed up in West Germany, and in Britain by the Society for Psychical Research; investigations were made by mathematical physicist John Taylor, who wrote of his experience with children, the ‘mini-Gellers’ who could produce metal-bending effects on their own.

In nearly all cases the effects began during or after the television performance. Moreover it is quite possible that some deliberately faked performance or account has actually induced real paranormal metal-bending.

In January 1974, I became involved myself, and slowly developed my research with Uri Geller, and more extensively with British children. In 1975 the first scientific conference to discuss the effect was held, called by Andrija Puharich at Tarrytown, USA. At this time certain professional conjurors and science-writers started what has since become an organized campaign to convince the public that the entire phenomenon was fraudulent.

In 1976-7, what might be termed ‘second generation metal-benders’ made their appearance in Europe. These people, some of whom are adult rather than children, came forward not as an immediate result of Geller’s own performances but rather as a result of their own personal experiences that such a thing existed, and their gradual realization that it was affecting them to an extent that could not be ignored.

The onset of the bendings was a long time, as much as three years, after the first Geller performances. The Frenchman Jean-Pierre Girard and the Bernese Silvio Mayer are examples of this second generation.

The attitudes of the children and of the second generation of benders are rather different from each other and from that of Geller himself. There is no longer much possibility, as there was with Geller, of becoming an international ‘star’ or entertainer. They do not spend their entire life demonstrating the effect; they continue with their careers and as far as possible co-operate with researchers and the media in their spare time.

At this time it cannot be said that …. the scientific community, are convinced of the reality of these phenomena. One important reason is that the phenomena do not connect up with physical science, and that as yet there have been no good hypotheses for such a connection. Hypotheses must wait until definitive quantitative information regarding metal-bending becomes available.

Another reason for popular scepticism is that the metal-bending is rare and spontaneous, and cannot be reproduced to order. Many times I have been approached by television producers with the request that one of the metal-bending children demonstrate his or her ‘powers’ in front of the television camera. I have nearly always advised the family not to allow such a ‘performance’, because the chance of success is usually small.

Nevertheless some successful television recordings of metal-bendings by children and also of strain gauge experiments have been made, and have appeared in various countries. But there have also been unsuccessful attempts, and these have caused great frustration and unhappiness. Nearly always the metal-bending effects must be taken to be ‘spontaneous’ and not readily reproducible to order.

Do not try to bend the spoon — that’s impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth: there is no spoon.

The Matrix is one of my favorite movies when it comes to exploring the power of the mind and our ability to change our circumstances.  It has been proven that belief in a thing can create physiological changes in our bodies.  In pharmaceutical trials, one group of participants will be given the drug that is being tested while another group gets a placebo (a pill that has no medicinal value).

In some cases, participants who received the placebo experienced a decrease or elimination of their ailment or symptoms simply because they thought they were taking the medicine.  Their belief had an incredible impact on their physiological state.

What if we began to truly believe in the goals, dreams, and aspirations we desire?  Sort of like bending the spoon in the Matrix.