Like ouija boards, the "light as a feather" party trick has graced many a sleepover with musings of supernatural abilities. It's been stirring debate since as early as 1700, when it was described by diarist Samuel Pepys. Through unexplained forces, a single person can be lifted solely by the fingers of the participants. Is it levitation? The power of suggestion? Magnetic forces? A specific combination of muscle tension, balance and distribution of weight? Whatever makes it work, many people have been amazed by this experience. Here's how to replicate it.
Step 1
Place a chair in an open space so that your movement is not restricted. Use a standard desk chair, without any arm rests. Sit the person chosen to be lifted in the chair. (Do not pick someone too large at first, but gradually try larger and larger people to see what you are capable of.) Tell them to relax, with both feet together on the floor, hands in lap.
Step 2
Four lifters should bring their hands together with forefingers and index fingers pointing outwards, and the remaining fingers clasped around each other.
Step 3
Make a test lift. Two lifters should stand behind the liftee, and one at either side of their legs. With hands in the position described in step two, place the protruding fingers under the corresponding the knees and armpits. Once everyone is comfortable, lifters should count to three and all lift up with their fingers at the same time. You may manage to lift the person slightly, or maybe not at all. If the liftee is boosted straight up in the air, then they are far too light and should be changed for a heavier subject.
Step 4
Engage your minds. Once you have established how difficult it is to lift the subject, it is time to employ some simple "mind over matter" to increase your strength.
- All lifters should place each of their hands in turn above the head of the liftee. Hands should alternate so that one's persons hands are separated by someone else's. Press down, but obviously don't hurt the person's head.
- Clear your minds, and focus as hard as you can on the idea of lifting up the person in the chair. Visualise lifting the person as high as your arms can stretch. You must picture yourselves with huge arm muscles, and "feel" immense strength in your arms.
- Whilst doing this, repeat over and over in your heads or out loud: "Light as a feather, strong as an ox". (In variations where the person is lying down, the more common phrase is "Light as a feather, stiff as a board.")
- This mental preparation should last for about thirty seconds.
Step 5
Remove your hands quickly in the order that they were put up there, and whilst remaining focused on the visual imagery, resume the lifting position. Lift at the same time. If you have done everything right, you should lift the person with remarkable ease to a remarkable height. Always remember to lower the subject carefully.
Tips
- Sometimes it helps if the person being lifted closes their eyes. If they open their eyes while they're being lifted, they could panic, jolt the lifters, and possibly fall to the ground once the concentration is broken.
- If the person is lying down, they are usually on a table or bed, and there are six people to do the lifting.
- The most commonly accepted explanation for this old trick is as follows:
- The person's weight is distributed among four people, well within an individual's lifting ability.
- The first lift is difficult because the lifting is not coordinated and the liftee, not knowing what to expect, tends to be relaxed and "floppy."
- The second lift is easier because all of the lifters know what they are going to do, what it will feel like (i.e. muscle memory), and the liftee, expecting to be lifted and probably worried about falling, stiffens up, making him or herself easier to be lifted (and making the weight distribution more even).
- The chanting helps the lifters fall into a "rhythm" that will make them more likely to exert the force needed to lift the person at the same exact time.
- Think of the difference between lifting a stack of books as opposed to a sandbag of the same weight. The books are much easier to lift because of their stiffness. The sandbag's weight will shift unpredictably, making it more difficult to hold onto and balance.
- Alternatively, we used to do it a bit different but with similar results:
- Instead of placing our hands over the person's head, we circled around her seven times. Without any particular thought in our heads.
- After ending the seventh turning around, we all went to the closest reachable possition to raise her up without saying anything.
- It really feels like lifting a feather!
Things You'll Need
- 4 People to lift
- 1 Person to be lifted
- A Chair
