Today's Stichomancy for Aretha Franklin

The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Tanach:

Proverbs 29: 6 In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare; but the righteous doth sing and rejoice.

Proverbs 29: 7 The righteous taketh knowledge of the cause of the poor; the wicked understandeth not knowledge.

Proverbs 29: 8 Scornful men set a city in a blaze; but wise men turn away wrath.

Proverbs 29: 9 If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he be angry or laugh, there will be no rest.

Proverbs 29: 10 The men of blood hate him that is sincere; and as for the upright, they seek his life.

Proverbs 29: 11 A fool spendeth all his spirit; but a wise man stilleth it within him.

Proverbs 29: 12 If a ruler hearkeneth to falsehood, all his servants are wicked.

Proverbs 29: 13 The poor man and the oppressor meet together; the LORD giveth light to the eyes of them both.

Proverbs 29: 14 The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.

Proverbs 29: 15 The rod and reproof give wisdom; but a child left to himself causeth shame to his mother.

Proverbs 29: 16 When the wicked are increased, transgression increaseth; but the righteous shall gaze upon their fall.

The Tanach

The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin:

and place it in heaven, I had contriv'd to fix it on earth.

The last time I saw Mr. Whitefield was in London, when he consulted me about his Orphan House concern, and his purpose of appropriating it to the establishment of a college.

He had a loud and clear voice, and articulated his words and sentences so perfectly, that he might be heard and understood at a great distance, especially as his auditories, however numerous, observ'd the most exact silence. He preach'd one evening from the top of the Court-house steps, which are in the middle of Market-street, and on the west side of Second-street, which crosses it at right angles. Both streets were fill'd with his hearers to a considerable distance.

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Breaking Point by Mary Roberts Rinehart:

guess. If you'll let me pay for it - "

"Forget it," said the man amiably, and started his horse. "But better cut it out, first chance you get. It's bad medicine."

He rode on after his vanishing pack, and Dick took up the trail again. But before long he began to feel sick and dizzy. The aftertaste of the liquor in his mouth nauseated him. The craving had been mental habit, not physical need, and his body fought the poison rebelliously. After a time the sickness passed, and he slept in the saddle. He roused once, enough to know that the horse had left the trail and was grazing in a green meadow. Still overcome with his first real sleep he tumbled out of the saddle and

The Breaking Point

The fourth excerpt represents the element of Earth. It speaks of physical influences and the impact of the unseen on the visible world, and is drawn from Gobseck by Honore de Balzac:

for a thousand francs! She would be so nice to me, she would talk to me in that ingratiating tone peculiar to endorsers of bills, she would pour out a torrent of coaxing words, perhaps she would beg and pray, and I . . .' (here the old man turned his pale eyes upon me)--'and I not to be moved, inexorable!' he continued. 'I am there as the avenger, the apparition of Remorse. So much for hypotheses. I reached the house.

" ' "Madame la Comtesse is asleep," says the maid.

" ' "When can I see her?"

" ' "At twelve o'clock."

" ' "Is Madame la Comtesse ill?"

Gobseck