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Children love to repeat words and phrases. "Light as a feather, Stiff as a Board" is that kind of 'cute' phrase that would get their attention. It is also a phrase that would drive parents nuts - which is another part of this 'game'. Sometimes they do repeat phrases and words to become more familiar with them, sometimes they do this to drive parents nuts and sometimes they do this for attention. It is easy to see how something like this started. It is harder to understand why some adults turned this into a belief without questioning.
The chanting is also important to the process. If the person being lifted doesn’t stiffen, engage their musculature, the trick won’t work. Often, the reason it seems like magic, is because the liftee isn’t conscious of engaging his body. As we’re repeating stiffen stiffen, the liftee does stiffen.
Think of a large empty box. You alone can lift a large empty box as a prepared box. Deconstruct the box into a huge flat cardboard piece with a lot of floppy parts that will do what they do regardless of what you want them to do. Much harder to manage.
I just described a janitor’s after Christmas clean up. I had a very large empty box I had to break down, and it took me several minutes of fighting with it. I had to kick out the corners to flatten it, then I had to fold it into thirds to fit it in the dumpster. I fell against the wall once.
The chanting is also important to the process. If the person being lifted doesn’t stiffen, engage their musculature, the trick won’t work. Often, the reason it seems like magic, is because the liftee isn’t conscious of engaging his body. As we’re repeating stiffen stiffen, the liftee does stiffen.
Think of a large empty box. You alone can lift a large empty box as a prepared box. Deconstruct the box into a huge flat cardboard piece with a lot of floppy parts that will do what they do regardless of what you want them to do. Much harder to manage.
I just described a janitor’s after Christmas clean up. I had a very large empty box I had to break down, and it took me several minutes of fighting with it. I had to kick out the corners to flatten it, then I had to fold it into thirds to fit it in the dumpster. I fell against the wall once.
I was not saying the chanting is not important; I was saying is this is how many learned: https://www.thecut.com/2018/06/why-d...s-so-much.html. It is more of a carryover from earliest years. Of course the 'lifters' and 'liftee' bought into the game because they felt the chanting was what worked the 'miracle' and not their physical efforts. And, yes, I can clearly see how the chants caused the subject to stiffen.
A typical 10 year old weighs 70 pounds. If four friends lift her with both index fingers, that's 70/8 = 8.75 pounds per finger. With five lifters, that's 70/10 = 7 pounds per finger. You need at least four people to keep the weight distributed to each finger manageable. I just did these calculations with the power of my mind -- no spirits involved.
Impressive.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vasily
That might be the case, but this thread is specifically about levitation in the child's game light as a feather.
Psychokenisis....more so telekenisis observed and documented in children as well as adolescents; usually pertaining to objects.
Supernatural, natural abilities or
mathmatic calculations, agree the latter category accounts for about 99%.
I actually agree that at least part of this can be explained scientifically.
I'm not sure that the event is purely paranormal, although I think there is a psychological, and paranormal componant to it
Levitation appears in many religious and spiritual practices. Here, in the United States, there are many people who attend church every Sunday where supernatural events are not only expected, but desired.
There are many North Americans, and others; who are members of the Assemblies of God or the Church of God. These sects believe that congregants can be "slain in the spirit" - touched by a pastor, deacon, elder or other church member, who lays hands on the person, and causes them to fall to the floor. How different is that from levitation?
They also practice "glossolalia" or "speaking in tongues.
I have seen both events with my own eyes, while visiting there churches out of intellectual curiosity.
There have been politicians in my livfetime who are members of such churhes. James Watt, secretary of the interior under Ronald Reagan, and Sarah Palin, former runnning mate of the late John McCain.
Light as a feather, stiff as a board is a parlor game, a geek trick. It isn’t levitation in any way shape or form.
The only true levitation I have ever witnessed is some piece of metal suspended with opposing magnets at each end. The metal object — usually a pen — floats in the air.
Light as a feather, stiff as a board is a parlor game, a geek trick. It isn’t levitation in any way shape or form.
The only true levitation I have ever witnessed is some piece of metal suspended with opposing magnets at each end. The metal object — usually a pen — floats in the air.
The only true levitation I have ever witnessed is some piece of metal suspended with opposing magnets at each end. The metal object — usually a pen — floats in the air.
Light as a feather, stiff as a board is a parlor game, a geek trick. It isn’t levitation in any way shape or form.
The only true levitation I have ever witnessed is some piece of metal suspended with opposing magnets at each end. The metal object — usually a pen — floats in the air.
have seen falling to floor in charasmatic services
not getting this topic at all????
It should be in the conversation, and I am glad that you brought it up. auntieannie68.
Having visited charismatic and Pentecostal churches with all practice faith healing, speaking in tongues, and being "slain in the spirit" - which is the falling on the floor event that annie referenced.
I visited one with a relative. At the time, I had headaches. I went up for healing, at her suggestion. The pastor, and a couple of congregants "laid hands" on me.
I walked up a skeptic. However to my shock, I was slain in the spirit". I fell to the floor and came to a few minutes later.
For the life of me, I have no idea what happened, however I think it is somehow connected to the "light as a feather...." game.
One of the fastest growing denominations in the world is the Assemblies of God, a Pentecostal church. Where ever you live, there is probably one within 25 miles of you, and you probably know AG people.
This church, and others like them, have supernatural events at their services on a weekly basis. Are all of these people "making this up"?
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Solly says — Be nice!
