Legends Week: Light As a Feather Stiff As a Board

A favorite scary slumber party game is "Light As a Feather, Stiff As a Board."

Directions: A girl lies flat. The others sit around her and put two fingers underneath her. The one sitting near the girl's head says something to the effect of, "she looks ill." Then, the others chime in, "she's getting sicker," "she's dying," "she's dead." Everyone begins to chant, "light as a feather, stiff as a board," and imagine the girl's body lifting.

Does it work? Well, with everyone concentrating on making something happen, every nuance is interpreted as successful.

With reports that this can actually work, the question is, "how?" It's believed that it is all in perception, that the people chant and concentrate and believe that they can lift this person because they are light as a feather and it is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Others say that they do not lift the person, but only imaging the person's lightness and they believe they were lifted somewhat.

It is thought that the game began during the time of the plague to ward off death.