# How did Uri Geller (psychic) divine pictures people had written?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-uri-geller-psychic-divine-pictures-people-had-written/652260
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [March 7, 2013, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-uri-geller-psychic-divine-pictures-people-had-written/652260 "2013-03-07T03:25:59Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)
#### Post date: [March 7, 2013, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-uri-geller-psychic-divine-pictures-people-had-written/652260/21 "2013-03-07T19:05:30Z")
Yeah, but does Geller have invisible thread?
Thought not.
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### Author:  [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)
#### Post date: [March 7, 2013, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-uri-geller-psychic-divine-pictures-people-had-written/652260/22 "2013-03-07T19:24:35Z")
Tried to edit my post but timed out.
For those of you who still cannot see how this is done, watch Randi when he first picks up the pen and pad of paper. He twists the pen like he is sharpening it up or cleaning the end. He is removing the ball point and ink cartridge.
So he makes loud scraping sounds with an empty pen on the paper. When he slaps the pad of paper down on the table the pad is still blank and he declares that it can’t be altered.
Then he picks up the pad while Baba Wawa is opening the envelope and asks where the cameras are. You can see his hand go behind the pad, which he is using as a screen, and position the pen fragment.
He holds the pad close to his belly and moves his thumbs and the pad around against the ball point he had previously removed from the pen, and makes a rough sketch of what he sees on the camera monitors.
Man, he’s good.
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### Author:  [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)
#### Post date: [March 7, 2013, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-uri-geller-psychic-divine-pictures-people-had-written/652260/23 "2013-03-07T20:22:37Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#):
>
> There are many ways how the drawing trick can be done:
>
> 1. Use psychic powers to read your subject’s mind.\* Geller may do it this way, but he might have also chosen to . . .
> 2. Have the subject make a drawing on a pad of paper. Instruct him to tear off the top sheet and fold it and hide it so you can’t see it. When he gives you back the pad the impression of the drawing is on the sheet below. You can say something like “be sure to make it clear so everyone can see it” to get them to press hard on the pad. Or . . .
> 3. We all have checks chemically treated so that they leave an impression on the next sheet below. You can get special pads of paper like this. Or . . .
> 4. Get a special clipboard with a carbon sheet beneath the top layer that you peel back after your subject makes his drawing on top of it. Or . . .
> 5. Peek when the drawing is being made. Or . . .
> 6. Watch the top of the pen as it traces out the drawing. Or . . .
> 7. Use a confederate to help you get the drawing. Or . . .
> 8. The psychology of people: most will draw a house or a happy face.
Heck, I’m no magician, but I can think of another way: 9. Use an envelope that’s opaque when dry but fairly see-through when wet, and a small container/sponge of alcohol or other quickly evaporating solvent…
You can also extend 8, by making a bunch of drawings of common subjects and hiding them in various places around the set or pockets on your person. Then you just need to remember which hiding place has the hiding place and which place has the house, etc., then once their drawing is revealed, dramatically ask the person to pull out the drawing in your right shoe/left shoe/right sock/etc as appropriate. After all, they’ll never know about the hidden ones you didn’t ask them to pull out.
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### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [March 7, 2013, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-uri-geller-psychic-divine-pictures-people-had-written/652260/24 "2013-03-07T21:25:10Z")
There is no question Geller knew what the image was before he had to draw it. Most likely from a confederate getting a glimpse somehow. There are many ways to do this, non of them depending on psychic ability, because there is no such thing. The big difference at issue between Geller and Randi is that Geller claims to have actual psychic powers, which means he is a fraud.
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### Author:  [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)
#### Post date: [March 7, 2013, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-uri-geller-psychic-divine-pictures-people-had-written/652260/25 "2013-03-07T21:49:50Z")
Randi likes to say that Geller _could be_ using real psychic powers to do these stunts that are common magician/mentalist tricks, but if he is, he’s doing it the hard way!
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### Author:  [@Razncain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Razncain)
#### Post date: [March 7, 2013, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-uri-geller-psychic-divine-pictures-people-had-written/652260/26 "2013-03-07T23:14:11Z")
With Geller, **GIGObuster’s** post # 5 and #2 on the list seems the apparent method Uri used on Barbara. Notice the pad. It’s edited to where we don’t have her drawing hers in this clip, but obviously she went first, and if so, that portion gets torn out. Now Geller has the pad, all be had to do was look at the slight impression left on the paper underneath, which was made with a ball point pen that Barbara used.
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#):
>
> It’s not relevant to to the OP’s question of how Uri Geller did his tricks, but I’ve read that Randi broke off the end of his ball point pen’s cartridge and lodged it in his belt. He then --while looking at Walter’s revealed drawing-- moved the paper around his belly and drew the picture.
Randi wouldn’t have drew with the miniature ballpoint on his belt though, it would haved caused him to move the whole pad around too much where everybody could see it was moving. He knows better. **stpauler** gave the best clue.
How many remember [Uri Geller on the Tonight Show](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9w7jHYriFo) with Johnny Carson? That link will show it at the 5:45 mark, along with some more of Geller, and Peter Popoff.
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### Author:  [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)
#### Post date: [March 8, 2013, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-uri-geller-psychic-divine-pictures-people-had-written/652260/27 "2013-03-08T06:20:05Z")
Geller’s drawing trick with Walters was to create a picture that incorporated several of the most-likely-drawn drawings: It _could_ be mountains; it _could_ be a sun and moon; it _could_ be an M (a common letter for people to pick to draw) or a W for Walters; it _could_ be people; it _could_ be house. For pete’s sake, when Walters drew a second secret picture, she drew a _house_!
The easy part of being a psychic is that the charlatans have convinced people that ‘misses’ are a normal part of being psychic. Thus, if they fail, it doesn’t rule out that they’re a fraud.
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### Author:  [@Frumpy\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frumpy_Jones)
#### Post date: [March 8, 2013, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-uri-geller-psychic-divine-pictures-people-had-written/652260/28 "2013-03-08T06:49:08Z")
> [@bri1600bv](#):
>
> Uri Geller was a famous “psychic” from the 1970s (I think he now admits he is just a magician/trickster).
Nope. He was just in my hometown recently and still pushes the psychic bit, but now he’s more about the power of collective thought or some other horse hockey… :smack:
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### Author:  [@alborada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alborada)
#### Post date: [March 8, 2013, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-uri-geller-psychic-divine-pictures-people-had-written/652260/29 "2013-03-08T13:04:00Z")
There is a very good upcoming film to be shown on the BBC in the next couple of months called The Secret Life of Uri Geller. Fascinating stuff, look out for it. Talks to the heads of various CIA and government organizations that did research into Remote Viewing as a result of experiments with URI.
Also, anyone who hasn’t seen this should check it out for curiosity alone:
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lERbTkN82go)
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### Author:  [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)
#### Post date: [March 8, 2013, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-uri-geller-psychic-divine-pictures-people-had-written/652260/30 "2013-03-08T14:14:19Z")
It looks like Baba’s picture for Uri was done with a pretty fat pen, wouldn’t leave much of an impression on a pad. Either he guessed from pen top movement (which would explain the “It’s an M, some mountains or churches, circles”), or someone told him - “two stick figures holding hands”. He of course missed the key element - “it’s me and my daughter”.
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### Author:  [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)
#### Post date: [March 8, 2013, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-uri-geller-psychic-divine-pictures-people-had-written/652260/31 "2013-03-08T15:07:54Z")
> [@the\_diego](#):
>
> Too bad his biggest trick bombed: he invited investors to fund a gold exploration company during the 1980s gold boom. Exploration method to be employed was, you guessed it, guessing.
cite?
> [@glaeken](#):
>
> He even claimed to have stopped Big Ben in London when it broke down a few years back. He said he contacted the UK government to have them confirm that how Big Ben had broken down was not normal but whoever he spoke to, if he actually really did, said they would not comment which of course equated to a cover up of Gellar’s powers in the way he presented it.
cite?
Okay, folks, amateur magician speaking here.
Uri Geller is a conjurer. Not a fraud, not a charlatan, a conjurer. The tricks he performs are no different from any other magician. It’s just a piece of entertainment. Roll with it.
He doesn’t claim to assist the police in solving crimes. He doesn’t attempt to locate missing children. He doesn’t claim to bring messages from beyond the grave. He doesn’t offer psychic healing. People who do this are lowlifes, bur Geller isn’t one of them.
And he’s very good at it. He’s held in high regard by most magicians. He can perform in front of an audience consisting of professional magicians, amateurs, and magic fans , to great acclaim, and been given a prestigious award for it. It’s sort of like a lifetime achievement Oscar. Most magicians will see his act, will be impressed, and they won’t call him a fraud. Neither will most well-informed sceptics. He’s got many friends who are magicians, sceptics, and sceptical magicians, including The Straight Dope’s own **Ianzin**.
Just [enjoy it](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sh1hsdzVdkE)for what it is, a very clever and entertaining magic act.
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### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [March 8, 2013, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-uri-geller-psychic-divine-pictures-people-had-written/652260/32 "2013-03-08T15:27:00Z")
Uri Gellar was, is, and always will be a con artist/fraud who uses 3rd rate magic tricks to convince the gullible that he has psychic abilities. James Randi has proven this time and time again, most famously on Johnny Carson’s _Tonight Show_.
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### Author:  [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)
#### Post date: [March 8, 2013, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-uri-geller-psychic-divine-pictures-people-had-written/652260/33 "2013-03-08T16:16:26Z")
So far as I can tell, Uri Geller claims to have psychic powers. He does not admit to being a regular-old entertainer at all. And, as James Randi has pointed out, Geller only knows about five tricks, which is rather paltry for a professional magician.
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### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [March 8, 2013, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-uri-geller-psychic-divine-pictures-people-had-written/652260/34 "2013-03-08T16:34:27Z")
I’ve never heard of any professional magician calling Geller anything but a fraud. Maybe some don’t mind his ‘psychic’ gimmick, but most are disgusted by the use of a strategy employed by con artists whose business is stealing and not entertainment. And I consider Geller a fraud in that regard, his popularity was primarily among those who believed in the woo, and others who take advantage of them.
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### Author:  [@Razncain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Razncain)
#### Post date: [March 8, 2013, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-uri-geller-psychic-divine-pictures-people-had-written/652260/35 "2013-03-08T17:23:02Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#):
>
> cite?
Here is one of him claiming he stopped [Big Ben.](http://www.uri-geller.com/notw.htm) A [youtube clip](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ppeO-F0jBc) of him recapping how he stopped Big Ben, but not done in English. And another [cite](http://skepdic.com/comments/gellcom.html) that comments briefly on it, and also Geller’s law offices threatening to sue the Skeptic’s Dictionary for putting him under a heading they didn’t prefer, and were putting them on notice. He sued Randi plenty too, but never once won.
> [@](#):
>
> cite?
Uri doing [mineral exploration](http://www.uri-geller.com/mine.htm) and using his psychic powers to look for it. Various googling gives plenty of hits on this. What exactly are you disputing?
> [@](#):
>
> Uri Geller is a conjurer. Not a fraud, not a charlatan, a conjurer. The tricks he performs are no different from any other magician. It’s just a piece of entertainment. Roll with it.
In the very first 10 seconds of your video, Uri claims he is not a magician. I didn’t need to watch much more after this admission.
Do you have a cite where Uri Geller ever says he is a magician, a conjurer, etc?
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### Author:  [@Razncain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Razncain)
#### Post date: [March 8, 2013, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-uri-geller-psychic-divine-pictures-people-had-written/652260/36 "2013-03-08T17:37:59Z")
> [@alborada](#):
>
> There is a very good upcoming film to be shown on the BBC in the next couple of months called The Secret Life of Uri Geller. Fascinating stuff, look out for it. Talks to the heads of various CIA and government organizations that did research into Remote Viewing as a result of experiments with URI.
>
> Also, anyone who hasn’t seen this should check it out for curiosity alone:
> [http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player\_embedded&v=lERbTkN82go](http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=lERbTkN82go)
I was curious about that sort of thing at one time too. Randi looked into all of this over 30 years ago. Read his book _Flim Flam_ or his other book, _The Truth about Uri Geller_ to learn more about what Uri is really about.
I watched the first five minutes of your video. Notice again the pad. Also note what the Stanford Research Institute (SRI) consists of that Randi’s explains at the 2:00 mark from the link I gave in post # 9. Notice how he bombed with Carson starting at the 5:45 mark in post # 26 with the link provided.
When Geller has control, he’ll get his success. Put him in front of others that are magicians or others familiar with deceit, and his powers go away every time. If he would just admit already he’s just a magician, conjuror, etc, instead of exploiting it for something more, he wouldn’t be getting himself into as much trouble.
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### Author:  [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)
#### Post date: [March 8, 2013, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-uri-geller-psychic-divine-pictures-people-had-written/652260/37 "2013-03-08T17:39:00Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#):
>
> Uri Gellar … uses 3rd rate magic tricks ..
You have the right to your opinion.
It would seem, however, that the president of the Magic Circle, and the majority of it’s members disagree with you.
> [@Acsenray](#):
>
> Geller only knows about five tricks, which is rather paltry for a professional magician.
Not at all.
[There is a story, well known to magicians](http://www.penguinmagic.com/discuss/viewtopic.php?f=10002&t=161083). A young magician approached [David Devant](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Devant)at a magic club. “Mr Devant” he said “I know over 200 tricks. How many do you know?” David Devant thought for a moment, then replied “I should say that I know eight.”
The fact is, that there are many magicians with a small repertoire of tricks that they perform really well.
And the fact is that those few tricks that Geller does have made him rich and famous. He regularly gets booking to go on TV around the world and perform those tricks. 99.9% of magicians would be jealous of his career.
> [@TriPolar](#):
>
> I’ve never heard of any professional magician calling Geller anything but a fraud. .
Follow the link in my earlier post.
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### Author:  [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)
#### Post date: [March 8, 2013, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-uri-geller-psychic-divine-pictures-people-had-written/652260/38 "2013-03-08T17:48:56Z")
> [@razncain](#):
>
> In the very first 10 seconds of your video, Uri claims he is not a magician. I didn’t need to watch much more after this admission.
As in fact do lots of magicians.
> [@](#):
>
> Do you have a cite where Uri Geller ever says he is a magician, a conjurer, etc?
Try watching the whole thing, and you might get a different opinion. I think it’s obvious that he doesn’t expect anyone to believe the trick is real.
Here’s a hint, by the way. That clip was taken from a magic show. The performer before Geller was a magician. Everyone watching would recognise it as a magic act.
---
### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [March 8, 2013, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-uri-geller-psychic-divine-pictures-people-had-written/652260/39 "2013-03-08T17:51:09Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#):
>
> You have the right to your opinion.
> It would seem, however, that the president of the Magic Circle, and the majority of it’s members disagree with you.
>
> Not at all.
>
> [There is a story, well known to magicians](http://www.penguinmagic.com/discuss/viewtopic.php?f=10002&t=161083). A young magician approached [David Devant](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Devant)at a magic club. “Mr Devant” he said “I know over 200 tricks. How many do you know?” David Devant thought for a moment, then replied “I should say that I know eight.”
>
> The fact is, that there are many magicians with a small repertoire of tricks that they perform really well.
>
> And the fact is that those few tricks that Geller does have made him rich and famous. He regularly gets booking to go on TV around the world and perform those tricks. 99.9% of magicians would be jealous of his career.
>
> Follow the link in my earlier post.
And your response to the links you ask for and were promptly provided?
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### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [March 8, 2013, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-uri-geller-psychic-divine-pictures-people-had-written/652260/40 "2013-03-08T17:55:18Z")
[Here is a video exposing Gellar for the fraud he is.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9w7jHYriFo)
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