MONITOREO QUINCENAL (SISS)

Overview

This is a very old "game" that many people hear about as teenagers and you may have tried it before. It involves one person sitting in a chair while four people lift that person above their heads using only the first two fingers of one hand. (It is possible for just two people to do the lifting, in which case they lift with two fingers of each hand.) The first time you experience this will blow your mind, since it really seems like the person being lifted has become almost weightless.

Detailed Instructions

Success requires the ability of everyone involved to concentrate with absolute clarity and seriousness, but it is only necessary to maintain this level of concentration for a few seconds and most people are able to do this. The procedure uses a form of ritual to help focus each person's attention, and once the procedure has begun it should not be interrupted for any reason unless you stop completely and start over.

The person to be lifted (it helps to start with the lightest person present) sits relaxed but upright in an armless chair or stool placed in the center of the room. To protect against physical injury there must not be any obstructions around the chair and it should not be placed directly under an overhead light fixture, ceiling fan, etc. The seated person sits with his or her arms folded, knees together and feet firmly on the floor. Throughout the entire experience the seated person must remain silent and concentrate on feeling "light as a feather, stiff as a board."

The two or four people who are to do the lifting stand to each side of the seated person. One person is selected to be the leader and at his or her signal everyone except the seated person says the phrase, "light as a feather, stiff as a board" four times before any movement begins. After the phrase has been spoken four times, the leader places his or her right hand firmly on the head of the seated person while the phrase is repeated again. In a predetermined sequence -- clockwise, for example -- each person standing places their right hand firmly (but not forcefully) on the person's head, one hand atop the other. This cycle is repeated with the left hand until everyone has both hands on top of the seated person's head.

Each time a hand is being placed, everyone but the seated

person repeats aloud the phrase, "Light as a feather, stiff as a board." Once all the hands have been placed on the head, the phrase is repeated one time while no movement occurs. Then the hands are removed one at a time from top to bottom, the phrase repeated each time a hand is removed. (You may want to practice this much before doing the entire procedure the first time.)

Immediately after all the hands have been removed, everyone becomes absolutely silent. The subject in the chair holds his or her body stiff, while the people standing slip their first two fingers under the armpits and knees of the seated person and simply lift that person, in a very gentle manner, as high as possible, then immediately and carefully set the person back into the chair. If four people are doing the lifting, which is best if that many are available, they do the lifting with the first and second fingers of their strongest hand. (Be sure to stand where you will be able to use your strong hand most comfortably.)

All the while, from the moment the hands are being placed upon the head, everyone must concentrate on the absolute certainty that the person being lifted is "light as a feather." This is especially important for the one being lifted. As the last hand is removed the sudden loss of pressure against the head actually produces a sensation of lightness for the seated person, and that sensation should be concentrated upon and believed. Everyone must continue to concentrate on the idea that the person being lifted is very light until that person is once again returned to the chair.

Some serious warnings are necessary. If anyone laughs or otherwise breaks the concentration the leader should stop the event immediately and start over when everyone is once again in control of themselves. The lifting motion should be gentle but steady and quick. If you lift too slowly it may break your concentration. If you lift too quickly the person can literally be thrown against the ceiling and come crashing down out of control. People have broken bones doing this! It's possible to break one's neck! If performed with seriousness and responsibility it is quite harmless, but if you don't trust all the people doing the lifting do not allow such persons to participate. And don't lose your concentration once you find yourself almost in shock at the surprising loss of apparent weight. Everyone must understand that the subject must be returned gently and safely to the chair before any break in the concentration is permitted. After that you can all freak out about how amazing it is.

Once everyone who wants to be lifted has had the opportunity, but not before, you can attempt to lift someone without the benefit of the intense concentration. The difference will surprise you.