Magik Spin

In the film Inception, a totem is a small, unique object that a dreamer uses to distinguish between dreams and reality. Each totem is highly personal, carefully designed so only its owner knows its exact weight, balance, and physical properties. This prevents others from manipulating it inside a shared dream.

The most iconic totem in the movie belongs to Dominick Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio)—a small, metal spinning top. This top originally belonged to his wife, Mal, before her tragic fate. In reality, the top would spin for a short while before falling, behaving according to the laws of physics. However, in a dream, it would spin endlessly, defying gravity, as the dream world had no inherent physical constraints.