Today's Stichomancy for Ashlee Simpson
| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Reason Discourse by Rene Descartes: inasmuch as besides the stars, I knew nothing except fire which produces
light, I spared no pains to set forth all that pertains to its nature, --
the manner of its production and support, and to explain how heat is
sometimes found without light, and light without heat; to show how it can
induce various colors upon different bodies and other diverse qualities;
how it reduces some to a liquid state and hardens others; how it can
consume almost all bodies, or convert them into ashes and smoke; and
finally, how from these ashes, by the mere intensity of its action, it
forms glass: for as this transmutation of ashes into glass appeared to me
as wonderful as any other in nature, I took a special pleasure in
describing it. I was not, however, disposed, from these circumstances, to
 Reason Discourse |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Apology by Xenophon: my head and pressed the hair upon my neck--he had a way of playing
with my air; and then he said: 'To-morrow, Phaedo, I suppose that
these fair locks of yours will be severed.'"
It is also said that, seeing Anytus[55] pass by, Socrates remarked:
"How proudly the great man steps; he thinks, no doubt, he has
performed some great and noble deed in putting me to death, and all
because, seeing him deemed worthy of the highest honours of the state,
I told him it ill became him to bring up his so in a tan-yard.[56]
What a scamp the fellow is! he appears not to know that of us two
whichever has achieved what is best and noblest for all future time is
the real victor in this suit. Well! well!" he added, "Homer[57] has
 The Apology |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Black Beauty by Anna Sewell: but I am sure he did the very best he knew. He rubbed my legs and my chest,
but he did not put my warm cloth on me; he thought I was so hot
I should not like it. Then he gave me a pailful of water to drink;
it was cold and very good, and I drank it all; then he gave me
some hay and some corn, and thinking he had done right, he went away.
Soon I began to shake and tremble, and turned deadly cold; my legs ached,
my loins ached, and my chest ached, and I felt sore all over.
Oh! how I wished for my warm, thick cloth, as I stood and trembled.
I wished for John, but he had eight miles to walk, so I lay down in my straw
and tried to go to sleep. After a long while I heard John at the door;
I gave a low moan, for I was in great pain. He was at my side in a moment,
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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 A Lover's Complaint by William Shakespeare: To appertainings and to ornament,
Accomplish'd in himself, not in his case,:
All aids, themselves made fairer by their place,
Came for additions; yet their purpos'd trim
Pierc'd not his grace, but were all grac'd by him.
'So on the tip of his subduing tongue
All kind of arguments and question deep,
All replication prompt, and reason strong,
For his advantage still did wake and sleep:
To make the weeper laugh, the laugher weep,
He had the dialect and different skill,
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