The Ghost In My Machine

Stories of the Strange and Unusual

The Most Dangerous Games: The Man In The Fields Ritual

by

Previously: The Corner Game.

(By request.) 

The Man in the Fields ritual bears some similarities to a couple of other games we’ve looked at in previous installments of “The Most Dangerous Games”: Like the Candles Game, you have a task to complete after you perform the summoning (in this case, closing everything in your house that could possibly open), and like the Midnight Game, you’ll have to watch your back while you do it (here, you’ll meet the Man in the Fields if you’re not careful). But while the stakes for the Man in the Fields are roughly as high as they are for these two previous rituals, there’s also much more to gain; for that reason alone, the Man in the Fields ritual might be very attractive to some.

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Although the game’s introduction notes that it has been “passed down throughout the centuries” and “originates from the British Isles during the Middle Ages,” I’m somewhat skeptical of this claim; I suspect that, like many of the other games and rituals floating around out there on the internet, it’s actually an invention of the digital age, an internet urban legend aged up to lend it a little more gravity. However, it is true that wicker men have long been burned in effigy  stretching back to ancient times — so perhaps there’s something at the root of this ritual after all. Of course, it’s also true that we have little to no proof that these wicker men were used as tools for human sacrifice — the idea of them being used as such may have been a rumor spread by Julius Caesar in an attempt to dehumanize his enemies — but… still.

That scarecrow in your backyard?

It’s not a scarecrow.

As always, play at your own risk.

Players:

  • One principal.

Requirements:

  • A house with a back garden or backyard. Inside the house should be at least one room that has only one door. Ideally this room should be empty, and ideally, the sole door should have a lock.
  • A non-electric source of illumination. A candle or lantern works well, as long as you have a supply of matches or a lighter.
  • A crucifix.
  • An analog watch or clock. Do not use a cell phone. It won’t work.

Instructions:

The Invitation:

  1. Begin after sunset, but before midnight. How much time you leave yourself is up to you, but it is not recommended that you begin less than one hour before midnight. See also: Additional Notes.
  2. Clear the house and backyard of other people. Make sure you have your crucifix on your person.
  3. Light your candle or lantern.
  4. Enter the backyard and turn to face the house. Repeat the following phrase seven times: “But who will scare the crows away?”
  5. After the seventh repetition, listen closely.
    • If you hear nothing: The summoning has failed; do not proceed. Although there are no known negative consequences for simply returning to your house, it is recommended that you leave the premises immediately. Do not return until after 6am.
    • If you hear a voice behind you (or perhaps in your own head): The summoning has succeeded; you may proceed. The voice will say, “That’s not your biggest problem.” Heed its warning.
  6. Return to your house and close the door behind you. Do not look back.

The Main Event:

  1. Go to the room with only one door. Ideally the room should be empty of all objects, but if it is not, close anything in it that might open — drawers, closets, windows, doors, boxes, containers, bags, anything. Do not miss anything. If it is able to be opened, and if it is open, you MUST close it. This will be your safe room.
  2. Leave the crucifix in the safe room. Continue carrying your candle or lantern.
  3. Exit the safe room.
  4. Everything else in your house that is capable of opening will also be open. Your task is to close everything — everything — before your clock strikes 12.
  5. If you see a man with ashen skin in your peripheral vision: Do not look at him. Do not make eye contact with him. However, there is no need to fear him. Simply go about your business. He is not the Man in the Fields.
  6. Do not look into the backyard.
  7. Do not look into the backyard.
  8. Do not look into the backyard.
  9. If you look in the backyard: Go immediately to your safe room and close and lock the door. Find your crucifix, and grasp it tightly. Pray you did not leave anything in the room open — anything at all. Do NOT open the door before 6am, no matter what you hear — or don’t hear — outside.

The Closing:

  1. After you have closed everything in your house — and you are positive you have closed everything in your house — go to bed and close one final thing: Your eyes.
  2. Sleep, if you can. Do not open your eyes.
  3. If you wake up in the morning, congratulations — you’ve won.

Additional Notes:

  • Although any house with a backyard or back garden will suffice as a location, a secluded house in the country with a proper field at its back is recommended. This location yields the strongest results.
  • Although you may begin the ritual at any point between sunset and midnight, no attempt performed before 9pm has ever succeeded. Additionally, no attempt performed less than one hour before midnight has ever succeeded, although for very different reasons. See also: The Winning Condition.

The Winning Condition:

If you successfully complete the ritual, you will be completely safe for one calendar year; however, what you are safe from will depend on when you began the ritual:

  • If you began three hours before midnight: Your safety is physical. You will suffer no illness; you will suffer no injury; you will remain in perfect health for one calendar year.
  • If you began two hours before midnight: Your safety is physical and financial. You will remain in perfect health, and you will never want for money for one calendar year.
  • If you began one hour before midnight: Your safety is complete and total. Your actions will cause no negative consequences in any way for you for one calendar year.

It is unlikely that you will complete the ritual successfully in one hour.

Concerning the Ashen Man:

He is not the Man in the Fields.

He is more like a referee.

Concerning the Backyard:

If you look in the backyard, you will see a scarecrow that you’ve never seen there before. I say “scarecrow,” of course, but “scarecrow” is a loose term. It is much taller than any scarecrow should be, and it will be missing the same piece of anatomy as a certain horseman I could name.

If you see the scarecrow, he will also see you. And when he sees you, he will begin to climb down from his post.

This is the Man in the Fields.

From the moment he turns his gaze to you, you will have no more than 60 seconds to reach your safe room and lock the door. Do not, under any circumstances, open the door before 6am. If you do, he’ll take something of yours. Something you need. Something you can’t get… ahead without.

One Final Note:

Should you be forced to flee to your safe room, you’d also better hope that you didn’t leave anything in there open.

If you did…

…He’ll still be able to get in.

The Man in the Fields Ritual: FAQ.

***

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[Photo via The hills are alive*/Flickr]

Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. Do I have to close books or apps on my phone? Do I have to close something that’s already in something closed like an open box within a closed one?

    Reply

  5. now, just outta interest… In the house I’m living right now we have a split up backyard pretty much; we have one small court pretty much surrounded by our house and then behind that there’s our garden.. Now when I would start this ritual and I start in the garden, the man in the fields should “spawn” behind me in the garden right? Cause to reach the rest of the house I would have to cross the court and I’d be pretty much fucked if I had to pass him wouldn’t I? 0_0
    If it helps the court is open to the top no roof whatsoever

    Reply

  7. Ah, scary! Even though the head joke made me giggle, this ritual somehow scared me more than usual. Thank you so much more making these posts, I love reading about this rituals!

    Reply

  8. Hmmm, what if you have things in your backyard that can be opened or closed? For example, a box of gardening tools or a hose with a lid? I’d like to try this, but I have both of those things, and obviously I’m not supposed to go into the backyard. Will those put me at risk?

    Reply

  9. Say there’s a giant box and a small box within. Do I have to close both? Do I have to close books or apps on my phone? What if the lid to something was missing or broken off? What do you do if you close something but it immediately comes loose and opens? Should I close my mouth and eyes when I’m done?

    Reply

    • You better nail everything shut, and i mean EVERYTHING, although i doubt you have to close your eyes. But probably your mouth

      Reply

      • What if you put the crucifix in your mouth and go to sleep with it in your mouth? Would you still have to close your mouth?

        Reply

    • Seal ’em. For example, a jar. Just try to find the lid, then if you did, close it tightly. If not, tape it with lots of tapes. He’ll get in if you don’t.

      Reply

  10. I wonder if the game can be “cheated” by starting it with an empty house, minus a bed in the safe room, which would basically only require windows and doors to be closed. That would make completion in under an hour contemptuously easy.

    Reply

  13. This is probably one of the creepier rituals I’ve read. It almost seems like the risk is closing EVERYTHING. It requires absolute detail to everything in your home. Like the smallest thing could be overlooked and it would result in losing the game. There’s so many things that can be “opened”, that would need to be closed, especially in the kitchen. Also if your window was open that perhaps shows the back yard, you’d have to avoid looking at him but he only sees you if you see him right? Creepy. Don’t think I would chance this one, but gave me chills reading it. Nice!

    Reply

    • No, you sleep in your bedroom. If you know you failed, get to the safe room before midnight, unless you looked at him. If that’s the case, then get there ASAP. Anyway, if in doubt. Sleep in the safe room. You won’t get anything.

      Reply

  16. What if I film the apex with a gopro that is fixed on my back?

    And if I leave the woods would the game stop after 24 hours too?

    Reply

    • Although you commented on the wrong article, I’ll answer your questions.

      1. Viewing him in any way, shape, or form, will cause you to be permanently impaired.

      2. Leaving the woods into civilization would cause you to bring it there too. The game does NOT end until the 24 hour mark, so don’t expect to be “out of the woods” yet. And that would also be considered cheating because you’re not supposed to leave. That’s reckless thinking and if you don’t think you could finish it out in the woods, you really shouldn’t participate in it at all.

      Reply

  22. I never expected a Buzzfeed video to lead me to such an awesome website. These rituals are fascinating. I know they’re just stories made up by mostly Reddit users but they still scare me. :S

    Reply

    • If the ashen man is just there to make sure you close everything then why exactly would he be the referee? Just curious if that’s his only purpose in the game.

      Reply

  23. So would a crucifix still work even if you aren’t religious? I wonder if the power is within the beliefs of the beholder or if they have power on their own.

    Reply

    • I don’t think it would work. Why bother relying on something to save you when you don’t even believe in the power behind it? That’s where most religions receive their power. The belief strengthens it.

      Reply

  24. Like to read about these games.
    But i would suggest anyone reading these to never try them

    Reply

    • I wouldn’t. It might not work, technology and magick/supernatural rituals don’t always mix well. Why not just experience things as they are? Does everything need to be recorded? Sometimes, there are some things that are better off not being re-lived.

      Reply

  29. I have a see through door that leads to the backyard that has curtains on it. If I were to “play” the game, would the curtains be open from the backyard door? If so, would I have to close it? If you’re wondering, the curtains is on the inside of the house, not outside.

    Reply

    • You have 60 seconds to get to the safe room, so I will dare to assume this;

      That is the time you have before he starts attempting to enter your house. You have 60 seconds to get to your safe room and shut everything.

      Reply

  31. Can I put up a big piece of opaque material (I.e. really big piece of cardboard) between my house and the bulk of the backward so there’s no way I can actually see the Man In The Fields while closing stuff, is that cheating or anything?

    Reply

    • He may consider it cheating. Or the piece of cardboard could fly off, cos using it may consider that window or whatever closed or whatever. So if I were you, I’d play in a house that doesn’t have like any huge bay windows that look out into the backyard

      Reply

    • i take it as if your phone is dead, apps won’t be able to to open. besides im not sure he could get in through a phone. probably better safe than sorry though

      Reply

    • This is the kind of ritual where you can never be too cautious. If you’re concerned about something, it’s better to just trust your gut and take care of it beforehand. Preparation is key with this one, so I would not attempt to start the ritual until you have charged your phone, closed the apps and turned it off again.

      Reply

  33. Will the crucifix still work if I’m an atheist? Like, is the safety from the crucifix in my own personal beliefs or is the crucifix actually powerful in this one?

    Reply

  34. These are probably dumb questions, but will he still try to get you if you don’t look at him? Or will he just, like, stand around in the yard until midnight?
    Also, what happens, exactly, if you do forget to close something in a room outside of your safe room? I’m assuming he’d get in through the opening and hang out* in your house until midnight/morning, right? If he does get in somehow, what guarantees that your safe room will actually keep him out?
    (*i.e., horribly kill you)

    Reply

    • I’ll answer your questions.

      1. Will he still try to get you even if you don’t look at him?

      Yes, he’ll try to. But unless you close all of your stuff, he will get you and take your head (poor you).

      2. What happens if you forgot to close something outside the safe room?

      He’ll get in. He’ll get your head and you’ll never wake up. Ever.

      3. If he does get in, what guarantees that your safe room will keep him out?

      If your safe room is closed, then he’ll not get in your safe room. He’ll probably just stay there banging at the door and begging you to open it.

      Reply

      • Yeah. I had a friend who did it and the man supposedly does everything he possibly can to get in. He’ll bang on the door, plead you to let him in, she said he even promised her anything she wanted if she let him in. Just don’t, cause he ain’t gonna keep his promise, he’ll come out ahead of you. (Lol. Lame, already used puns ?)

        Reply

    • That’s a reference to “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” a short story by American author Washington Irving. In the story, a spectral horseman (who is notably missing his noggin) terrorizes a hapless schoolmaster by chasing him on horseback through a dark forest and throwing his severed head in the schoolmaster’s face.
      There’s also a novel called “The Headless Horseman” by Mayne Reid that apparently mentions a headless horseman, but the “Sleepy Hollow” legend is older and arguably better-known.

      Reply

    • I believe once the ritual starts, it stays closed if you had previously closed everything within it. If you hadn’t previously closed EVERYTHING in there, you’d better.

      Reply

  40. 1. Would it help if i pick a literal empty one bedroom bungalow with nothing in? And i’ll just bring along a lantern, a lighter, a bottle of drinking water, and a rosary (it has a crucifix so it’ll do) and a sleeping bag? So i don’t have to close anything?

    2. If me and my friends would decide to play at exactly the same time, at different locations, would it work? Who would the MNTF go first?

    3. Would it work if i play it in a tropical country, ie. Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam? Or would the MITF only cater to players in the western part of the world (airfare’s expensive, you know)…

    Reply

    • I imagine that you could. I mean, it isn’t stated anywhere that you have to play in a house with furniture. But do remember that even if there aren’t any objects that can be opened in the house such as jars, you still have to close things that are built into the house, such as cabinets.

      Reply

  42. Does anyone know of any games where you can’t look at a specific picture on the internet? I’d love to read about it!

    Reply

    • Smile.dog or Smile.jpg is one of them. It is not necessarily a game, but it forbids the reader/participant to look at the picture.

      Reply

  43. does that mean you have to close everything that could conceivably be closed? like rings, you’d have to tape over them? or if you have curtains on your bed you’d have to close the curtains? jewelry clasps?empty bottles?

    Reply

  45. Wow I wanna try this next time I’m home alone at night but my house is two stories and i would end up crying in my safe room until the next morning and you can be sure I would never set foot in that house again… but anyway cool story and the joke is just amazing.

    Reply

  46. What if you do the summoning but don’t go back in the house, just like, walk away, will you get followed by him or will it just negate the ritual?

    Reply

  47. Can you play with another person, even if they do the whole ritual with you (saying the summoning statement with you and walking with you to close every object?)

    Reply

  48. Found out, said by looking at the ashen man will cause him to get more angrier as long as you stare at him. Concerning the man in the fields to be called in by him.

    Reply

  49. We have a maid and her family lives with us and their room is on the outside of my house, but is attached. My dad also has his office and both of these are located on the ground floor. Will these count?

    This website has become my latest addiction! Thank you, Lucia for the creeps you give me every night!

    Reply

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