Gravity Defied One of the most interesting and undetectable of impromptu tricks with cards is the feat I am about to explain. With this trick the performer causes all the cards of the pack to adhere and remain suspended, in a most mysterious way, to the lower side of the hand. The hand, as well as the cards, can be closely inspected at all stages of the trick &endash; the performer carrying the cards about as they cling to the hand, and inviting anyone who so desires to convince themselves of the mysterious nature of the experiment. Fig 36 Those of my readers who are not acquainted with the secret of the trick will be moderately surprised to know that nothing but a fine needle is required for the performance of the trick. Previous to the exhibition, the conjurer has pushed this needle through the skin of the inside of the hand, as shown in Fig. 36. The hand, thus prepared, can be used with impunity, as the needle will not in the least incommode a person. Fig 37 When ready to exhibit the trick, the artist places the prepared hand flat on the table and pushes a card under each end of the needle, Fig. 37. Two more cards are next placed between the first two and the hand, Fig. 38. Fig 38 With the exception of two cards, the remainder of the pack is then inserted in a circle between the first four cards and the palm, which the performer now turns over in order to introduce the remaining two cards, shown by dotted lines in Fig. 39. One end of these cards is placed underneath the Ace of Diamonds and above the Five of Spades, thus hiding one-half of the needle, while part of the last card is placed underneath the Five of Spades and above the Ace of Diamonds, the needle being thereby hidden completely. Fig 39 The conjurer now exhibits both sides of the hand, bending back the cards to allow the company to inspect the surface of the inside of the hand, to prove that there is absolutely no preparation of any kind. By exerting a slight pressure on the backs of the cards, with the fingers of the hand holding them, the loop of the skin holding the needle is broken &endash; all of the cards, together with the needle, drop to the, floor. Or, if the conjurer does not wish to do this, they can cause all the cards to fall off by simply giving a quick lateral movement of the hand. In this case, the conjurer secretly draws the needle out from under the skin at the first opportunity. Home | Card Tricks | Card Trick Skills | The Pass | The Force | Changes False Shuffling | The Glimpse | Card Palm | Card Sleights Copyright © 2003-2006 HowToDoCardTricks.com. All rights reserved worldwide.   You can quickly get a copy of every trick on this web site in a downloadable PDF book. That's over 40 classic card tricks to amaze and astound your friends, all stored on your computer to refer to at any time! Just click the link below to get your own copy today for just $5.